Hi Alan,

Thanks for your thoughts.

On 2011 Nov 8, at 22:39, Alan Melia wrote:

> Hi Walter we were too, but it was a "European" thing: :-)) the EBU defined a
> 9kHz grid. with no thought of history. of usage.

I seem to recall that both MF and LF stations had been at 9 kHz spacing long 
before that. The change was to shift the frequencies to integer multiples of 9 
kHz. The reason (if I remember aright) was to facilitate receivers with digital 
oscillators, though I forget the details. 

At the same time there was a suggestion of 8 kHz spacing to allow more stations 
(given that you would hardly call MF or LF music quality anyway). There was too 
much opposition to that.

I'm not sure it was a European thing - I think these frequencies are agreed 
worldwide.

As for a sense of history, I imagine the feasibility of affordable radios 
mattered more than having to adjust the tuning dial a little. I'm not sure the 
exact frequency is of as much cultural importance as, say, Britain going over 
to decimal currency.

73,
Chris G4OKW