SDL National multiplexes
Stations on SDL National multiplex
Absolute Rad 80sAwesome Radioheat radioJazz FM StereoKisstoryMagic ChilledMellow MagicPlanet RockPremierChristianShare RadioSunrise RadiotalkRADIOtalkSPORT2UCB 2Virgin RadioMasts transmitting SDL National multiplex
Tuesday, 28 June 2016
R
Richard Cooper8:20 AM
Norwich
Hi, Brian! Great work on adding the Sound Digital Data to UKFREE.TV! This won't, of course, placate Planet Rock fans who aren't covered yet! The SDN D2 network will hopefully expand over time, but I'm not holding my breath - are you? Richard, Norwich.
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
H
Harry7:03 PM
Oldham
You just wonder whether if a radio digital switchover ever happened, this SDL Mux would be confined to only certain masts (like the ones in the map above) and other smaller masts serving smaller locations will only receive BBC, Local and Digital One
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Harry's: mapH's Freeview map terrainH's terrain plot wavesH's frequency data H's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 3 July 2016
C
Chris Barker4:50 PM
The introduction SDL further discredits the UK's DAB network.
'National' stations have been relegated to it - including the successful Planet Rock to which there is no real alternative (and was already degraded to poor quality mono about 3 years ago) - also JazzFM and Virgin.
But SDL only really has SE England coverage. Its owners may claim 75% of the population, but in area terms it's hopeless. No reach to SW England, E Anglia, the majority of Wales, Northern England and Scotland. It doesn't cover more than half the M5 and M6, and none of the M74. So the stations which were moved from D1 now have much less coverage.
There will be those who defend matters by telling us about 'local' DAB stations, but these are almost all truly awful. Just current 'hits', adverts and a bit of inane chatter.
I live near Yeovil, a town of over 40,000 people. A DAB transmitter was opened nearby about 4 years ago, but it only carries the BBC stations. We can get all of these (except the Asian and excellent World Service in better quality on FM). Why does this not have D1 and SDL?
So, rather than the DAB network improving and growing - in quality and coverage - I see it declining.
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Tuesday, 5 July 2016
H
Howard11:23 AM
Sadly I have to agree with Chris. DAB is profoundly disappointing in terms of content and even sound quality. It's the triumph of quantity over quality, cash over creativity. We now have corporate-dominated 'local' playlist stations, truly dreadful audio on ClassicFM and even on Radio 3 most days. Access to World Service is a strong plus, though again marred by gruff low-bit audio.
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Sunday, 17 July 2016
N
Nick Anderson7:25 PM
The new "trial Portsmouth" DAB multiplex broadcasting from Fort Widley near Portsmouth carries up to 15 local stations, many of which are locally based, and now give a great signal between Fareham and Chichester on the car radio. The best thing that has happened to the central south in radio and the stations cater for all tastes.
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Wednesday, 20 July 2016
H
Harry9:53 PM
Oldham
Chris Barker: I half agree with you, but your interpretation of the coverage area is very off the mark. Have a look at the transmitter locations on the map above.
You say SDL isn't available in Northern England.
Have you heard of the Winter Hill and Emley Moor transmitters before?
Virtually the whole of Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire (certainly with a line of site) can receive coverage from Winter Hill
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Harry's: mapH's Freeview map terrainH's terrain plot wavesH's frequency data H's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Sunday, 21 August 2016
The signal is overkill in London, the amount of overlaps there is just a joke, those transmitters that overlap can shut down and go into areas with no coverage of this network. Latest RAJAR figures have proved that Absolute 80s and Planet Rock ALONE have lost well over 50-60% of all listening since leaving D1 because the new network is far from calling itself National, it may be a way of 'saving money' to broadcast but that would be because there is literally no coverage, they should have started by matching with D1 and going on those transmitters to just become a way for stations to get onto Digital when D1 is full, which I understand it now is...
DAB is going to die if this continues to be the case, just an insider, a community station in Suffolk has been quoted 38000 per year to broadcast on DAB!!!! That's a local signal too!!
Ofcom may say FM is full and in areas such a London and Manchester, yes, it is but in smaller areas such as towns there seems to be a few slots on the band that are still available.
DAB will only survive if the 'national' networks are just that and if local DAB networks are more affordable to the local stations. Currently, FM is still winning and consumers if anything now are discouraged from buying a digital radio..... I love the idea of DAB but it needs to improve.... fast!
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Sunday, 18 September 2016
I suggest that in order to check the actual coverage of SDL National that you do a full auto-tune on your DAB radios. The Postcode Checker on the Digital Radio UK site says that we should NOT receive this SDL National multiplex in our part of the East Riding of Yorkshire BUT after re-setting the Pure and Roberts DAB/DAB+/FM radios they are all receiving the SDL stations including the new station added last week 'Union JACK'.
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Friday, 4 November 2016
F
fred11:50 AM
SDL National has absolutely no presence down here in the southwest, in particular Cornwall!
How can this be resolved? I know it's due to the sparse population down here but to miss out is not on. How can pressure be applied to Sound Digital (D2 National?), I'm open to ideas and willing to help in any campaign to get SDL on the CARADON HILL mast.
Fred
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Thursday, 15 December 2016
J Peter Wilson
11:08 AM
Bridlington
11:08 AM
Bridlington
fred: Commercial radio is a business and therefore has to pay its way. Therefore stations on Digital 1 are paying for around 160 transmitters to reach around 90% of the UK population, including where you live in Cornwall, and the stations on Digital 2/SDL National have made the business decision to cover 75% of the population from just 45 transmitters at a much lower cost.
The commercial radio and listener-supported radio stations on these two multiplexes have to balance their books so they have to make decisions that enable them to run their operations by either being on Digital 1 or Digital 2.
All the existing stations on Digital 2/SDL would have to agree to pay more for their transmission cost to reach Cornwall. Alternatively you might get some of the stations to place their service on the Cornwall local multiplex as the Wireless Group have done on the Aberdeen local multiplex with talkRADIO, talkSPORT 2 & Virgin Radio. Otherwise wait until a small-scale multiplex is available near to where you live and see if any of the stations that you like can be added as Angel Digital and Chris country have done in other parts of the UK.
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J's: mapJ's Freeview map terrainJ's terrain plot wavesJ's frequency data J's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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