IcePack
London [Swanwick] have your flight plan. Brize ring the London sector on a direct line when you are active and you will be given a "MALBY" join as this is standard procedure. That is in effect your joining clearance. You will follow whatever procedure and instructions are given by Brize until you are transfered to the London Freq [normally 134.750] and on the appropriate London SSR code.......normally selected with the initial clearance because when you take-off the London computer automatically activates the flight as soon as it "sees" you. Normal join level is FL80, but can be changed tactically. Brize and London have an excellent working relationship and the transfer process for both in and out traffic is normally problem free.
The sector you join is Sector 23 [called Bristol sector]. It is normally joined to at least one other sector due staff shortage...normally with Sector 5 [Brecon sector]. Sometimes....and for a variety of reasons such as time of day or chronic staff shortage or poor supervision.....several other sectors are joined on as well. Despite many safety awareness and customer service guidelines, there is a definite trend towards frequency saturation. What is the cure? Easy....complain about the R/T congestion as soon as possible so that the tapes can be impounded and investigated.......or do nothing and lump it!