Help with TV/radio stations?
In this section
Thursday, 21 March 2013
M
michael 5:52 PM
"Neverwhere" - I missed it, thinking it must be a prophetic vision of the future of local radio...
Seriously : are there any binding official updates on when and where local BBC radio will be on DAB? Fundingis reportedly ringfenced.
Plan B to receive BBC local radio is a laptop with mini-hifi in a backpack to receive webradio via wifi. The official coverage maps assume Norfolk topology to confirm we can even now receive local BBC on DAB. G4 doesn't know where we are. And we couldn't afford the streaming rates if ever it did.
Steam had a lot going for it!
| link to this comment |
M
Mark7:13 PM
@ michael
My understanding of the position is as follows:
To launch this year:
28 March BBC Northampton
late March/early April BBC Wales (NE Wales & W Cheshire)
June BBC Gloucestershire
August BBC Wales (Mid & West Wales)
September BBC Hereford & Worcester
Also in 2013 (no firm dates): BBC Derby, BBC Surrey
No dates yet for BBC Lincolnshire, BBC Cumbria, BBC Suffolk, BBC York, BBC Somerset.
The funding for further rollout of transmitters is provisionally agreed and will become legally binding on all of the parties that signed the MoU if the Government agrees to proceed with a switchover (decision due October 2013, the switchover would probably happen around 2019 or 2020).
Subject to a positive switchover decision local multiplexes will be rolled out to 90% coverage by December 2015, and to "FM equivalent" levels by March 2017.
| link to this comment |
Saturday, 23 March 2013
S
Steve P12:30 AM
Wrexham
if the Government agrees to proceed with a switchover (decision due October 2013, the switchover would probably happen around 2019 or 2020).
NO CHANCE
There's an election coming. Drop kick into the long grass.
| link to this comment |
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
Mark5:52 PM
The 2015 election is irrelevant because all of the major parties are in favour of a digital switchover, provided the 50% threshold is met. There is no difference between Labour and the Conservatives on this and radio won't be a major election issue anyway, the economy will dominate matters.
At the Radiodays conference the Dutch spokesman said that they expect to switch off FM in 2023.
| link to this comment |
Sunday, 24 March 2013
S
Steve P1:48 AM
Wrexham
2015 is relevent to a 2013 unpopular decision.
And parties will see that people love FM.
| link to this comment |
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
S
Steve P1:49 AM
Wrexham
PS Holland is very flat, so perhaps can do digital radio.
| link to this comment |
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
M
michael6:51 PM
Terrain and freqency are significant factors determining signal penetration. LW and MW get almost everywhere, FM achieves reasonable coverage. DAB at twice FM frequencies will always struggle and need more relays to match FM coverage. Even then, there will be more dead-spots than now. Too late now, but DRM on MW (and LW) would have offered the best service to almost everywhere. Webradio is neat, but, compared to the portable transistor radio, relatively expensive and less portable.
| link to this comment |
S
Steve P6:59 PM
Wrexham
WHY is it too late now?
| link to this comment |
Steve's: mapS's Freeview map terrainS's terrain plot wavesS's frequency data S's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Monday, 25 March 2013
M
michael8:53 PM
My sentiment entirely, yet I feel like a lone voice in the desert. The Mighty have put their faith in DAB and shall not be moved - and have no need of reflection. DRM "test transmissions" continue, so there is a modicum of hope that DRM may one day be acclaimed. Wide swathes of valuable short-wave and other frequencies are becoming wastelands. One day, someone might notice and goggle DRM...
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 26 March 2013
M
Mark6:08 PM
According to a DCMS paper DRM was dropped due to the night-time interference issue:
"DRM is the replacement for SW/MW radio and provides better audio quality using low bit rates. A BBC consumer trial in 2007 found that whilst the service was more resilient than MW during the daytime, reception at night-time suffered from interference."
http://www.gov.uk/govern….pdf
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please