[cma-l] quick story to tell fellows

Sat Nov 6 19:24:10 GMT 2010

I agree with Ian.  It's probably just a matter of having a look at the
transmitter site location.  Apologies if I'm being patronising - I don't
know how much you know.

25watts is enough to cover considerably further than 5km if you get the
location right, and if there is not a strong local interferer - and
Saddleworth (Key 103 TX location the last I knew) is  a LONG way from Macc.
 I help at an RSL station in S Glos and we get out considerably further than
5km on the same power!

Power has a surprisingly small effect on coverage area - you could double
your power and scarcely detect the difference.  Geography (ie: hills) is far
more important factor.  I strongly suggest you consider alternative
transmitter locations if you have not already. This is relatively easy with
the right computer coverage predictions tools used wisely.    If you have
your transmitter co-located to your studio, it's unlikely to be in an
optimal location - meaning you'll need an STL (studio to transmitter link).
 Sounds scary and expensive, but it needn't be (but could be with the wrong
choice!).

As Ian says there are numerous suppliers with solutions out there.  Plug
time - have a look at www.a-bc.co.uk.  Other broadcast consultants exist!

And once again - apologies if this seems patronising - it's the first time
I've replied to a CMA post, and I don't know many people's background!

Regards, Glyn

On 6 November 2010 12:53, Martin Steers <martin at martinsteers.co.uk> wrote:

>
> I agree that the government could do alot more.. however I do feel they are
> more committed than the previous administration, they reaffirmed their
> digital vision early on, BUT made reference to it being a switch over to
> keep the FM for ILR's and Community stations, they have been working with
> industry to get DAB in all new cars within a few years and to make all DAB
> radios HAVE to have FM (IF that happens)...
>
> DAB is part of the future of digital radio, not the only part.. DAB
> accounts for more digital listening than all other digital platforms, and
> more people listen via the telly than the internet... Internet radio isnt
> the sole future of radio, i know loads of "everyday" people with FM and DAB
> sets.. but the only internet radio i have ever known is owned by a real
> hardcore radio bod..
>
> Stations need to take all opportunities to use every platform, even
> considering using the Radio Player and other platforms (satellite, freeview
> TV, sky etc)
>
> But what we do need to do (and add to the list) is to lobby for a review of
> the power levels limits etc so that we can cater for communities of interest
> NOT just communities of location..
>
> Martin
>
>
> Martin Steers
> martin at martinsteers.co.uk
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* mark polden <markianpolden at hotmail.com>
> *To:* jw at 558.net; office at ccr-fm.co.uk; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> *Sent:* Sat, 6 November, 2010 10:07:21
>
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] quick story to tell fellows
>
> This again comes down to the idea of community radio or community of
> special interest radio. Joseph and myself clearly represent the latter and
> we are hoping next year when we build our new antenna to do a reappraisal of
> this (we are on MW btw).
>
> However as purely community stations this is a difficult situation. We are
> currently in a no mans land of digital switchover will it ever happen or not
> (according to the CEG report) and the current status quo seems unlikely to
> change in the forseeable future. The current government has far too many
> other problems on its plate and it being a political hot potato with very
> little real reason/benefit for a kicking. I personally think that in that
> situation people will see over time that DAB is dead in the water and will
> be overtaken by internet radio listenership increasingly in cars.
>
> Where does that leave the community sector, well we carry on as best we can
> although some smaller community stations will fall by the wayside but I
> would encourage those stations with coverage problems to push their internet
> broadcasting instead.
>
> Mark Polden
> Flame CCR
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
> From: jw at 558.net
> To: office at ccr-fm.co.uk; cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 20:22:48 +0000
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] quick story to tell fellows
>
> I think the concept of Community according to OFCOM need to be re-visit. I
> believe the licence system need to take into consideration of the real need
> to the community. How local is local before it starts to compete with the
> commercial sector? And is such competition always a bad things? How about
> the need of the dispersed community? The current licence system does not
> service communities which are large in number nationally but not
> concentrated enough in a single geographical area to apply for a community
> licence.
> Joseph Wu
> Spectrum Chinese Programme
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Office - ccr-fm <office at ccr-fm.co.uk>
> *To:* 'CMA-L' <cma-l at commedia.org.uk>
> *Sent:* Thursday, November 04, 2010 6:54 PM
> *Subject:* [cma-l] quick story to tell fellows
>
>  Dear All
>
>
>
> Any thoughts on the following chaps ?
>
>
>
> Last night we ran our youth to youth project again. Young people from the
> community get involved in learning radio skills etc etc etc ……………….. we had
> a gang of cubs last night. There are 16 of them all told.
>
>
>
> They have been coming along on a Wednesday for the last 6 weeks and they
> enjoy it. Out of the 16 ………… only 4 of them are listening to Canalside with
> some of the others (possibly through habit and influence from parents)
> listening to the local commercial station ………………………… however …… as mentioned
> last week / pointed out / moaned about yet again / made to look like a
> professional complainer which I am not ------------ 9 out of the group don’t
> listen because THEY CAN’T !         some of them live in Macclesfield,
> which, as the crow flies is at most 2 miles outside the pathetic 5km limit
> <> 25 watts etc etc ‘’not enough to blow your hat off’’   I wouldn’t mind,
> but Bollington is surrounded by 2 miles of fields N/S/E/W     surely this
> area cannot be included in the figures of the 5km ??
>
>
>
> What is the point providing a fantastic service that is open and accesible
> to all and yet the basic fundamental idea of radio is that you listen to it
> ……. If you can’t access it because the facility or rules are bobbins then
> the whole shaaa-bang becomes pointless …………… flogging dead horses spring to
> mind. We need help, not bleedin’ restrictions.
>
>
>
> It irritates, it frustrates and it angers all the volunteers and crew at
> Canalside and we appear to be going around in circles ……….. certainly not
> making any progress.
>
> These guys get involved ……. But don’t stay involved     ie:- listening,
> because they can’t pick it up without hissing and crackling and bloody Key
> 103 coming over the top of us.
>
>
>
> Key 103 by the way when I asked ALL the sixteen cubs       ‘’Does anyone
> know who they are?’’               they hadn’t a clue !
>
>
>
> So ------------ the question is ……………….. why the hell can we not be allowed
> to defend ourselves in our own community and why in liaison with Ofcom can
> we not carefully tweak things so that EVERYONE is permitted to serve their
> own audience or potential audience.
>
>
>
> Beggars belief it really does
>
>
>
> Sorry to moan again ….. but to us ….. this is not parliamentary ivory tower
> debate, this is on the ground level real life …… wake up and smell the
> coffee..
>
>
>
> Regards
>
>
>
> Nick
>
> ------------------------------
>
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