BBC - 60 new DAB transmitters in 2011
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV The BBC Trust's Public Purpose Remits require that the BBC will improve DAB coverage, to meet the requirements of the Digital Economy Act and other expectations.
To improve the national coverage by five percentage points will require the provision of 60 new DAB transmitter sites.
It should be noted that there are diminishing returns for these new transmitter sites - a large number of smaller transmitters are required to fill in the coverage gaps.
Help with TV/radio stations?
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Thursday, 6 January 2011
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tony10:30 AM
Bridport
We have recently been blessed with our very own DAB transmitter in Bridport. At the moment we only get the BBC stations but I do get the commercial stations from Stockland but as this is a doubly obstructed path, reception is s bit iffy. Can you tell me who to contact to find out what and when we in Bridport will have some commercial stations.
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tony's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Saturday, 5 February 2011
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Richard6:08 AM
Peterborough
Briantist: Have you heard any news about MuxCo and their 'planned' DAB launches?? Apart from the occasional update of the website, they just seem to have died. The news is very sparse, other than a snippet to say, they were unable to launch in any of the areas they had been awarded licences, due to 'remapping', as mandated by the Digital Economy Act.
Frankly, I don't honestly believe they will launch their services. It's been 3 years since the licensing process commenced, and nearly 2 since BBC Lincs. was meant to have gone live on DAB (as part of the MuxCo ensemble).
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Richard6:12 AM
Peterborough
Incidentally, I would point out to folks: how are you meant to listen to internet radio during a power-cut?? Or broadband outage?? Not easy, is it?? Also, where is the internet feed for the radio coming from?? From your broadband provider?? But what if it's one that has usage capped, or a download limit?? Or if you're unfortunate to have a long telephone line?? Or one of those awful, aluminium-jointed efforts in Milton Keynes....
DAB is simply a better, and analogous technology to traditional/FM radio. It uses a live, over-the-air broadcast, not over the internet. This means you can power it with batteries, take it outside for a picnic etc. Many people can't seem to appreciate this.
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
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Richard6:17 AM
Peterborough
Actually, assuming that the local commercial DAB operators that won licences 3 - 4 years ago ran into financial problems, or liquidation, would Ofcom just be able to re-tender the licence, as if it was an fm station?? Or would it need to launch a £multi-million consultation, ask the minister for a statement, launch a public inquiry lasting for 4 years, etc...
So, you can already see that, despite the BBC making an economic case to put local radio on DAB, this has only been successful in areas that have already launched. Areas that have yet to launch aren't experiencing local radio, and look unlikely to, anytime soon.
If the BBC are bringing coverage to an area for the first time, would it not be prudent to launch with a temporary line-up, including local radio, until the bureaucratic stages have been resolved??
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Richard: The BBC are specifically barred from owning the local radio multiplexes by primary legislation.
Yes, Ofcom has the right to withdraw a multiplex licence if the licence breaks the terms of the licence, which includes the on-air dates.
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Richard: My phone has a battery in it, it works perfectly well without power to listen to the radio. As does my little portable DAB radio.
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Richard1:48 PM
Peterborough
Briantist: On that basis alone, MuxCo have failed!!
Closer inspection of the website shows they have some plans to launch in 2011. We shall see.
And yes, I know phones often have radio receivers built-in, so does mine. I'm just pointing out to the naysayers that DAB is more of a robust, mainstream delivery system than internet radio (only good if you're tied to a desk/table).
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Richard: I wasn't talking about a radio, I was talking about using the this app - https://market.android.co…ayer .
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Joe
10:34 PM
10:34 PM
Richard. To listen to my local radio station, Radio Lancashire, is not possible on DAB without an external aerial, so I have either to revert to fm or listen on my Internet radio. Although I am capped at 10gb there's not an issue of being over my limit.
Internet radio has a distinct advantage over dab and that's being able to listen to programmes when you want rather than just when they are broadcast. My favourite station or rather the podcasts are from BBC 7. I do wish they would catalogue them better though because they can be a little troublesome to locate at times.
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