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You might be amused to know that my mother is now deeply bored of the phone kit and phone system details I am showing her (please don’t stop sharing it, I’m loving it) but I suspect my dad would be bored instead about the radio and human interest aspect of this (and would also be deeply squeamish to talk in detail about meeting my mother, someone he broke up with 32 years ago) so it balances out l reckon #radio #capitalradio #phreaking #VintagePhoning #1980s #retrochatroom

@lpbkdotnet I just complimented you on something you then apologised for, you must be British or Canadian 😂.

I’d say maybe upgraded to an electronic exchange - timing is right - I am very very limited in knowledge here, but I’m aware of the switchover to System X in that period. Hoping the radio parts of fediverse might chip in on whether the radio station had any idea this was going on, or even any people who also called in, or whether the timing of the switchover to an electronic exchange triggers any memories for them.

@lpbkdotnet ok this is amazing detail - I have friends of friends in THG but it’s not something I have detailed knowledge of.

@mark I love this! Both of them maybe thinking
“Wait, I’m not the only imposter here?!”

Oh my goodness. I think this is the only place on the internet nerdy enough to help me locate this info.

My parents met on a what was effectively an unofficial chat room hosted by capital radio (London). In the 1980s, Capital Radio used to leave their switchboard open at night (unintentionally, they didn’t realise it was happening) and people would call the regular radio phone and just end up in what was effectively a giant group call for Londoners late at night. (I say Londoners due to the reach of the radio rather than the phone line itself, people wouldn’t know the number unless they listened in).

I understand they changed how the phone system worked later in the 80s and closed this loophole off.

So what I’m after is…
- the nature of the switchboard that allowed this to happen - edit now answered
- what change would have blocked this later on - edit now answered
- any historic info on the period it was left open, or personal accounts - still pending, trying other social media too for this

#radio #capitalradio #phreaking #VintagePhoning #1980s #retrochatroom