Do you use the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast?
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Weather
Forum Discription: What is it up to?
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10667
Printed Date: 10 May 25 at 6:19am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Do you use the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast?
Posted By: HughJames
Subject: Do you use the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast?
Date Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 10:37am
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I am a final year student at Plymouth University, studying Navigation and Maritime Science, and I am undertaking research into the current usage and public image of the BBC Radio 4 shipping forecast amongst yachtsmen, both professional and recreational. My hypothesis aims to highlight how recent technological advances within the yachting sector may have impacted the use of longer term services such as the BBC Radio 4 long wave shipping forecast. With the usage of the internet, smartphones and ‘apps’ on a continual increase, and the heavy investment seen by marine companies in this area, it may seem that the consumer is constantly being pointed towards a digital age of ‘one device fits all’ (mobile phones, multi-display chart plotters etc.). As fellow mariners and professionals, I wish to invite you to partake in this research and share your viewpoint regarding the relevance of the BBC broadcast within this current mobile generation. If you could find time to complete the following survey, I would be extremely grateful. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bbcshippingforecast - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/bbcshippingforecast I look forward to listening to your opinions. |
Replies:
Posted By: Pierre
Date Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 1:26pm
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Radio 4 shipping forecast. It is a comforting and reliable baseline indication as to what to expect. Also very pleasant to drop off to in bed. |
Posted By: Quagers
Date Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 2:24pm
| Not listened to a R4 ever, ashore I use web services and free GRIB files. Offshore if we're in data range/have a sat phone we will still use GRIBs or internet forecasts. Will occasionally listen to the VHF shipping forecast but only because its there, rarely tells us anything new. |
Posted By: SoggyBadger
Date Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 2:30pm
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The R4 Shipping Forecast is there for people who make their living from the sea not for recreational boaters.
------------- Best wishes from deep in the woods SB |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Jan 13 at 3:48pm
This. |
Posted By: blueboy
Date Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 7:30am
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internet, smartphones and ‘apps’ are not awfully useful for most when you are half-way between the Scillies and the Fastnet. Whether a fisherman or a yottie. Sorry, got bored doing your survey. Relevance of questions was unclear. |
Posted By: Quagers
Date Posted: 31 Jan 13 at 8:46am
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There is only about a 12/16hr period out there where you can't get signal. Short enough that if you get the latest forecast before you cross and back it up with VHF there won't be any nasty surprises. And if you want more up to date info, thats why we invented Sat phones. I did think the survey was missing some relevant options, for instance 'its the most accurate/detailed' couldn't be selected as to why I used my primary method (gribs) afloat.
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Posted By: StephanieG
Date Posted: 27 Jan 16 at 3:36am
oh, it was closed
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Posted By: Buzz
Date Posted: 28 Jan 16 at 5:12pm
| On survey boats in the North Sea we used to listen to the shipping forecast and the synopsis without fail. Now there are lots of other sources but the shipping forecast is the one you can rely on. The survey was closed by the way. |
Posted By: EddyP
Date Posted: 17 Feb 17 at 2:38pm
I happened to hear it the other day for the first time since I was a child and it made such a difference actually being able to make some sense of it. 
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