OK, so I’m off to England later this month for a well-earned vacation. I’ve looked into some of the techno stuff: So far I learned that the battery charger for my digital camera will work if I just get a plug adapter. And I know that my (US) pager will not work, and neither will my (US)cell phone. But what about my AM/FM Sony Walkman? What kind of radio broadcasts do they have over there? I know the correct answer lies in matters of bands, frequencies, and MHz, but what’s up with that? Will I be able to tune in some, all, or none of the British airwave offerings? And should I take plenty of batteries with me for my kids’ Gameboys, or are batteries not especially more expensive in England than they are in the US? Come to think of it, is anything cheaper in England than it is in the US, cuz if it is I’ll bring and empty suitcase and fill it with whatever looks like a good deal. (Tea biscuits?) Come on! Give me a little guidance, people!
Sorry I don’t know the answer to your questions about the radio frequencies and batteries, but I can tell you that NOTHING is cheaper in England than it is here in the States, at least not in any city I’ve ever lived. Think of Manhattan with a lousy currency exchange. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved spending a month there, but it wasn’t cheap.
Things that are cheaper in England:
- things with alcohol in them (wine, beer, Boris Yeltsin)
- cheese
- soccer, cricket, rugby (league and union ;)), field hockey (to watch that is)
- Cuban cigars
- the BBC (not by much though)
- PAL-standard TV sets
Pretty much everything else is more expensive. Expect to pay as much for a litre of petrol (gasoline) there as you’d pay for a gallon in the U.S. (3.7 L). On the other hand, you probably won’t drive as far (much smaller country).
Eh, looks to me like radio won’t be a problem.
The call signs I bolded sound just like those in the U.S.A., so assuming they’re referring to the frequencies, I don’t think you have to worry about not being able to catch “Lady Marmalade” four times an hour while you’re over there. 