All posts by Michael Rogers
Below are all of Michael Rogers's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.
It would certainly be interesting to know audience statistics for all transmitters. Where there is - de facto! - coverage by FM or DAB, then MW may justifiably become superfluous. BUT published plans indicate that there will be areas with BBC local radio coverage now on MW which will then have zero coverage - unless many infill DAB transmitters including a commercial multiplex are built. Two big ifs! The DQF consultation curiously does not mention DAB replacing AM local BBC radio. The official ostrich-mode response to DSO and CCI problems may have something to do with scepticism regarding official proclamations re radio... We hear nothing of provision for a national emergency. (Blackberry is a pinprick, but indicative of the vulnerability of modern communications.) A small number of MW stations with emergency capability would best meet the requirement. The short list of "protected" MW transmitters might well be intended for this, ie Radio 5 plus selected others. Re BBC budget cuts : if there were an independent public board to determine BBC budgetary expenditure, major programme production and duplication costs would be slashed without diminishing quality. It is important that all with an interest respond to the consultation and write to MPs and local authorities. Our local council is now taking up the issue at BBC and government levels.
| link to this comment |
I get the impression that this is the thinking at government level, the assumption being that no emergency is foreseeable which would cripple communications significantly, so FM, DAB, DTT, DSat etc. combined would provide enough cover. Let's hope such assumptions are never put to the test!
As long as MW local radio is replaced with an equally audible DAB or FM signal, I will be happy to have less interference when listening to foreign AM stations!
| link to this comment |
Gareth smart: It is not the ability to access other regions the BBC is going to remove but whole BBC One regions, they will not be accessible in any way (other than by Freeview) if they are removed from satellite. (Briantist, 13.10.11)
Not good news for viewers forced to switch to satellite because they cant get a freeview
signal...
| link to this comment |
Mark: and BBC Radio Derby is one of the local radio stations that has yet to find a home on DAD as there is no local radio multiplex operating in Derbyshire.(Briantist,13.10.11)
BBC Radio Devon is in the same category, but MW is not included in the "safe" list, so is due to be switched off. Bereft of Freeview and DAB reception, some will be left with no BBC local radio and no BBC regional television news. Hmmm...
| link to this comment |
It looks as though it is mainly the brief switching outages at Huntshaw Cross, not work at Ilfracombe, Coombe Martin or Challacombe. I guess its gonna hurt: no regional BBC radio or TV and the libraries are closing... Still,
we have nice views :-)
| link to this comment |
HD was ok yesterday, as was SD. Brief engineering outages are being listed on this page, presumably there is ongoing work at HX,
but I have not noted any longer outages.
| link to this comment |
Paul: Signal 92%, Quality 97% at 50miles N of Caradon. If the problem persists, insert a 3dB
or 6dB attentuator between coax and box and/or bypass any booster amplifier. It could be that your signal is too strong.
| link to this comment |
Ofcom has announced further reduction of some DAB bitrates to get more stations and more revenue in. Subjectively, music does not sound as pleasing on low bitrates as on FM. In the current economic climate, the overall costs of full versus delayed switchover to DAB and use of FM must have become an unwelcome issue. 198kHz and regional MW transmitters will be sacrificed. Coverage and service provision in many areas may well suffer, particularly on the road and on home portable receivers. It's called progress. Sad, as DAB could have become a great success, had it been better planned from the outset. One should nevertheless contribute to the current public consultation.
| link to this comment |
TIME SIGNAL: Or use a "radio controlled" digital clock, which synchronises with the
very accurate time signal from Rugby or
Braunschweig.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday 11 October 2011 9:20AM
Experience since the beginnings of DSO strangely gives rise to the audacious suspicion that sell-off profit is the main priority and that interference and reception issues are an irritation to be ignored as far as possible, with the odd sop dispensed to appease the masses. The auction-off of the 600 and 800MHz bands portends more excitement to come.