15th January 1988

Caroline 558 went off the air to enable a new telescopic aerial mast to be constructed on the Ross Revenge and the front mast to be extended to 90' by welding sections of copper pipe on top of the existing structure.

24th January 1988

Using this new aerial array Caroline 558 returned with a stronger signal than was possible with the temporary aerial, but it still did not provide a facility for a separate Dutch language station to broadcast simultaneously.

February, March and April 1988

Further shortwave broadcasts took place from the Ross Revenge on a number of frequencies generally relayed the normal Caroline 558 programmes.  

1st May 1988

Following successful completion of these tests a new station was launched from the Ross Revenge on shortwave using the call sign World Mission Radio (WMR) broadcasting a range of sponsored religious programmes in Dutch and English.

mid-May 1988  

A new 135' Valcon carbon fibre mast was installed on the Ross Revenge, however, almost as soon as it had been erected the mast cracked at its base and it proved necessary to attach guy wires to hold it in place.

late May 1988

Caroline 558 programmes were simulcast on 819kHz as test transmissions for a new Dutch station - Radio 819.

30th May 1988

The separate Dutch language service began on 819kHz, but the following morning it ended abruptly when the carbon fibre Valcon mast melted, and split in half. Attempts were made to rig up a temporary system using a 'sausage aerial' strung from the remaining half of the Valcon mast to the 558 aerial mast, but this caught fire within minutes of the transmitter being switched on.

9th July 1988  

Caroline 558 gave up its frequency during the daytime to the (financially lucrative) Dutch language station, which now broadcast using the call sign Radio 558.

22nd October 1988

Tuning tones were heard on 819kHz and when Radio 558 came on the air the programmes were relayed in parallel on both 558kHz and 819kHz. An announcement was made that, after three months on its temporary frequency, Radio 558 had now become Radio 819 once again, but programmes continued to be broadcast on both frequencies until 5th November 1988.

5th November 1988

At midday Radio Caroline resumed 24 hour programming on 558kHz.