BBC Frequencies – A Journey Around the World

Directions: Using the site, http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/ , students will learn more about radio frequencies and world regions.

Find out more about the BBC and its schedules.

There are some interesting FAQS that will help you answer the following questions:

1) What is GMT and would our time be ahead or behind GMT? Why is there a one hour difference between summer and winter?

2) If you want to listen to the BBC by radio, what frequency in MHz, would a 22m band correspond to?

3) Why can receiver bands be labeled in either wavelengths or

frequencies?

4) If you wanted to improve your reception, what 3 factors might you want to avoid?

5) How does short wave radio make use of the ionosphere to broadcast over long distances?

6) This website recommends not placing your short wave radio near microwave ovens or computers. Why?

7) Here’s what it’s like to listen in North America . The BBC broadcasts on FM, AM, and XM ( satellite) radio station. What

do you think the “F”, “A” and “X” stand for?

8) We’re now going to look at East Asia. What do you notice about the frequencies and number of bands available for transmission between noon and midnight versus those available at night? Why?

9) Let’s travel to Central Europe. Is the pattern you saw above

repeated?

10) Now that you have an idea of the role short wave radio frequencies play in our world it’s time you got out and saw the sights. Pick 5 countries to explore and learn about their:

a. type of government

b. major religions

c. who is in charge

d. life expectancy

e. something interesting from the overview not found elsewhere

11) Plot each of the countries you have chosen on a world map.

12) List each countries latitude and longitude.