Bit late getting to this one, but used to listen to Volmet on 5450KHz
regularly years ago to get local pressure readings (Benson) for a rough
check of instrument calibration. A rather formal male rp voice originally.
Later replaced by a female voice and remember quite clearly the pronunciation
of “Larnaca”, which must have been most uplifting to crews on cold
stormy nights thousands of miles away from home :-).
Anyway, reason for the post is that RAF Volmet used to be a model of clarity
years ago,with words at a clear, measured pace. Now, totally expressionless
computerised voice, at fast pace, often with words and phrases jumbled into
each other, stops midflow, poor modulation quality etc, making it nearly
unintelligable much of the time. Compare that with Shannon Volmet on 5505KHz,
which is completely understandable, even when the s/n is poor. 5450 was just
as sloppy a couple of years ago when I checked and it seems nothing has changed
since.
Doesn’t anyone at management level ever monitor this, or doesn’t anyone care
any more ?...