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?
In this section
Tuesday, 3 January 2012
R
Richard Newman11:52 AM
Hi,
Does anybody out there know when DAB radio will
be available on our Skriaig transmitter.
| link to this comment |
Saturday, 7 January 2012
I've given up on trying to listen to my local radio station (BBC Radio Lancashire) on DAB. I've opted for an internet radio. Not really the solution I was looking for but it's infinitely more reliable than DAB in my location.
| link to this comment |
Joe: The thing with BBC local radio stations on DAB is that the DAB multiplexes they are on are commercial ones.
BBC Radio Lancashire is on the "Central Lancashire" DAB multiplex whose transmitters are at Winter Hill and Pendle Forest.
I would try and get the radio to the side of the building that faces one of the transmitters so as to try and seek out the best signal. Or at least so there are as few a walls as possible in that direction. Keep your DAB radio away from sources of interference, including your computer.
| link to this comment |
Sunday, 8 January 2012
M
michael9:56 AM
This exemplifies one of the ongoing shortcomings of DAB : in many locations the radio has to be placed where there is a signal, not where one would like it to be. A roof-top or exterior aerial may be the only solution even - fine for a fixed hi-fi system, but less so for portable reception as hitherto. Still, you are fortunate if you can receive local BBC via DAB at all. If
an operator deems the target area unremunerative to operate a commercial mux : no local BBC. I trust there will be an ad-hoc solution in the medium term.
| link to this comment |
Monday, 9 January 2012
M
Mark5:48 PM
The solution in the medium term is for £30 million to be set aside to pay for the transmitter rollout to 90%+ coverage, but the planned timetable for this work to be done is over the three years from 2013-15 (something to do with digital TV switchover work taking priority).
The BBC, commercial radio and the DCMS will each pay a third share towards this.
One of the main attractions of local radio is sports coverage and none of the BBC local radio commentaries are transmitted on the internet. Joe, why don't you listen to the station on FM if you are anywhere near Lancashire.
| link to this comment |
Tuesday, 10 January 2012
M
michael11:47 AM
The Grand Plan looks okay-ish. The big imponderable will be the final de-facto coverage, especially BBC local radio. Given the discrepancies between DSO
promises and practice, a modicum of uncertainty is not unjustified.
| link to this comment |
Sunday, 15 January 2012
michael: I thought the most recent tests showed that tested coverage was much better than the predictions? Ofcom | An approach to DAB coverage planning interim statement - Summary of responses and update on further work
| link to this comment |
M
michael9:30 AM
I very much hope this proves to be the case, Brian! Ofcom certainly suggests indoor reception will be satisfactory. Current observations of local DAB reception indoors and on the road from existing transmitters, however, compare unfavourably with FM and AM - except at higher elevation. The licensed commercial mux from Huntshaw Cross is behind schedule, but should be empirically indicative once operational.
| link to this comment |
M
Mark6:44 PM
michael:
Now North Devon from Huntshaw Cross is due in early February - delayed due to bad weather.
| link to this comment |
Monday, 16 January 2012
M
michael9:10 AM
Yep - fingers crossed! How soon might BBC Radio Devon be broadcasting on 10C from Huntshaw? Prediction from Ofcom consultation document: "Map 1 demonstrates what coverage within the North Devon PPA would look like once Huntshaw Cross was on-air. The Huntshaw Cross transmitter would provide indoor coverage to 52.56% ... of households and 66.99% ... of major roads." (No mention of minor roads.)
| link to this comment |
Select more comments
Your comment please