Ilfracombe (Devon, England) DAB transmitter
 | Google map |  | Bing map |  | Google Earth |  | 51.198,-4.138 or 51°11'54"N 4°8'18"W |
Are there any planned engineering works or unexpected transmitter faults on the Ilfracombe (Devon, England) mast?
ILFRACOMBE transmitter - Freeview: Off the air due to a fault from 18 Dec 13:18 until 18 Dec 13:41. . 
UK Free TV shows the coverage area for a radio transmitter as a coloured overlay (orange for FM, other colours for DAB) on the grey map. We have computed the coverage by combining the terrain with the official radiation pattern. A single click will select the transmitter to view the coverage for a single site, and a double click goes to a page showing full details. Click on the buttons in the right-hand corner of the map to choose from different frequencies (or multiplexes for DAB).
Local transmitter maps
ILFRACOMBE Freeview ILFRACOMBE DAB Huntshaw Cross TV region BBC South West West CountryFriday, 17 April 2020
Saturday, 18 April 2020
C
Chris.SE1:42 AM
Richard:
It doesn't look like it from the information that's currently available. DAB reception in the area is very patchy and depends on exact location as to whether you'd likely pick anything up from Ilfracombe or Huntshaw Cross. I doubt signals from any transmitters on the S.Wales coast are strong enough either. You should have good FM reception though, but it may be from one of the Welsh transmitters eg. Haverfordwest in which case you'd find BBC Radio 4 on 104.9MHz. But I would have thought you'd also get FM from Wenvoe.
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Monday, 18 May 2020
R
Richard7:23 AM
Thanks for your thoughts Chris. FM is also very patchy.
From the BBC predictions we don't get any coverage
but with a loft antenna we do get a weak signal,
from Wenvoe I think. Hence the interest in DAB.
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S
StevensOnln19:20 AM
Richard: If you can get a reasonable broadband speed at home, it would probably be far easier to listen via internet radio. It would probably also cost less to buy a few wifi-enabled radios or smart speakers (e.g. Amazon Echo Dot or Google Nest Mini are both available at 44-50 and sometimes discounted to half that) which would also give you easy access to a much wider choice of stations. It's probably worth thinking about before having a new loft/rooftop aerial installed or buying new DAB radios.
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Wednesday, 17 June 2020
R
Richard3:59 PM
Ilfracombe
Thanks for your thoughts on this. We've actually
gone for radio via Freeview for the main radio.
Internet radio is OK but a bit jittery at times.
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Friday, 28 May 2021
M
michael8:54 AM
The BBC is planning to switch off Radio Devon on 801kHz from the Barnstaple transmitter.
That means Radio Devon will only be available
1. via TV sound when nearby and when no-one is watching TV
2. via rooftop aerial and DAB or FM radio plugged into a wall socket
3. via internet and wifi or desktop PC
These options are very limiting, especially if required tech is not available.
Taking a portable radio around as hitherto to listen while doing other things
with a medium-wave radio tuned to Radio Devon 801kHz will no longer
be an option for many in low-lying and coastal areas.
It is unlikely that DAB and/or FM reception will be enhanced.
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Sunday, 30 May 2021
S
StevensOnln110:57 AM
michael: Most of the population of Devon can get reception of Radio Decon on FM and DAB using a portable radio. There are very few people still listening to local radio on AM, which is why most BBC local AM transmitters are being closed as the transmitters are old and it is expensive to continue to maintain and operate or replace then. The required tech for listening online (e.g. a smart speaker) aren't exactly expensive any more and don't require a particularly fast connection to listen to the radio. DAB coverage may get some further enhancements in the future, but it is only likely to happen once a date has been set for FM transmitters to close.
These closures need to be viewed in the wider context that the number of people being affected is very low and that it is disproportionally expensive to continue providing a service that is being used by low and declining numbers of people. If the BBC continued to fund the cost of AM transmitters they would have to cut other things instead.
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C
Chris.SE1:43 PM
StevensOnln1:
Coverage along a lot of that North Devon coast is a bit dismal. You'd be lucky to get anything in Lynton if Arqiva's coverage map is anything to go by https://www.arqiva.com/re….pdf
Mendip's coverage may just about struggle into Minehead, but anything further west isn't that likely.
I'd have thought (my guess) that the saving in running cost (never mind maintenance) of the MW transmitter would be enough to help fund a DAB Local mux on a few of the Freeview Relay masts along that area!
Berrynarbor, Countisbury, Porlock, Carhampton, Woodcombe to name a few possibilities, further in land is Exford. Not considered which might give what coverage, I expect michael will have a better idea.
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Friday, 4 June 2021
J
JYeo10:20 AM
My father in law in central Ilfracombe is impacted by this change. Both FM and DAB signal is not strong enough and MW is still being used at home and in the car as a necessity. Freeview and internet options simply do not apply certain demographics of users.
This change should not have happened without proper consultation and undermines the purpose of BBC local radio.
I have submitted a complaint to the BBC on his behalf, and I urge others to do the same.
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