[cma-l] "digital radio switchover date"

Fri Jul 8 09:53:55 BST 2011

I guess everyone saw this potential "fly in the ointment" yesterday on BBC
news website....?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14052944

*Ofcom is considering using the airwaves freed up when FM radio goes digital
to provide rural broadband. So-called white spaces devices are currently
being trialled for use in the spectrum gaps freed up by the digital TV
switchover. Ofcom believes they would work equally well in the FM spectrum.
There is no set date for the switchover from FM to digital radio although
the government is keen for it to happen in 2015. Some think that date is
unrealistic due to the slow take-up of digital radio and the current lack of
coverage. White space technologies have been gathering momentum in recent
months. They take advantage of spare spectrum bands that have not been
licensed for any other use. This makes them attractive to communications
firms because they get to use for free what would otherwise be extremely
expensive.*

IF (big IF) this is true, it seems like a big kick in the teeth for
community radio in the UK.  Frankly I'm not sure I believe it - the entire
FM waveband is only 20MHz - seems like a lot for analogue radio, but for
high speed data its diddly-squat.  20MHz is equivalent to one WiFi channel.
Imagine sharing one channel in a typical neighbourhood - moreover, the
88-108MHz signals will propagate much further (=interfere) than today's
(2400MHz) WiFi signals.  Furthermore, it will be very difficult to get good
antenna performance at FM band frequencies with a device which will also be
using TV white space frequencies - and there is a lot more bandwidth
available up at the TV frequencies.

Hopefully it's just a BBC journalist who has muddled his MHz with his Watts
as they normally do!

Glyn

On 8 July 2011 09:11, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> No - not too technical - just getting accurate.
> Regarding your resume Nick:
>
> 1) We want more community stations to join the throng
> *True
> *2) We can't, coz' there ain't any room left on the spectrum
> *Untrue - the present allocation and protection system is
> neither realistic nor efficient.
> *3) Those already on the spectrum are getting interfered and fettled with
> by
> commercial radio stations who are either on the same wavelength, over
> modulating, too much power or just generally being a complete pain in the
> arse !
> *Untrue. Partly attributed to inadeqate planning but mostly people using
> atrociously badly designed receivers in conditions where low-power signals
> can't perform properly. If any other licensed stations are over-deviating it
> is blatantly obvious and Ofcom will jump on them from a great height.*
> 4) The solution is to shift the bigger boys onto digital services to free
> up
> FM frequencies the BBC for example hogging 50% of space in some areas
> ?? er I think ?
> *Correct - but BBC and Classic together as the 5 national FM services
> occupy 42% of Band II almost exclusively. These will definitely not migrate
> away from FM until an internationally-agreed digital format is in place and
> the audience has accepted its use. **I reckon on at least 8 years before
> that can be achieved.
> *5) Lots more community stations as they are only on peanuts watts ! and
> possibly a bit of room for manoeuvre for those already getting trodden on
> only 1 mile outside their own MCA
> *Not necessarily - because the licensing and mainly the funding regimes
> won't be able to cope. Your own problem is able to be resolved as we've
> discussed. You simply have to push harder. As your MCA is Measured Coverage
> Area, by definition you will certainly not be receivable outside it!*
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> *Ian Hickling
> **Partner
> transplan UK
> *
>
>
>  > From: office at ccr-fm.co.uk
> > To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
> > Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 15:29:11 +0100
> > Subject: [cma-l] FW: The Telegraph: Government still won't commit to
> digital radio switchover date
> >
> > It's all gone extremely technical and possibly over the heads of the
> > majority of community radio laymen.
> >
> > I see it quite simply as this (but correct me if I am wrong)
> >
> > 1) We want more community stations to join the throng
> > 2) We can't, coz' there ain't any room left on the spectrum
> > 3) Those already on the spectrum are getting interfered and fettled with
> by
> > commercial radio stations who are either on the same wavelength, over
> > modulating, too much power or just generally being a complete pain in the
> > arse !
> > 4) The solution is to shift the bigger boys onto digital services to free
> up
> > FM frequencies the BBC for example hogging 50% of space in some areas
> > ?? er I think ?
> > 5) Lots more community stations as they are only on peanuts watts ! and
> > possibly a bit of room for manoeuvre for those already getting trodden on
> > only 1 mile outside their own MCA
> >
> > This ladies and gentlemen is how I see it, furthermore we are
> experiencing
> > it, which confirms that regardless of the down to earth slightly
> uneducated
> > language the fact remains that our view on things is possibly the correct
> > view and those in the Ivory Towers have still got the curtains closed,
> the
> > blinkers on and the ear muffs on their empty heads.
> >
> > Regards
> >
> > Nick
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
> > [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of Alan Coote
> > Sent: 07 July 2011 10:59
> > To: 'cma-l'
> > Subject: Re: [cma-l]The Telegraph: Government still won’t commit to
> digital
> > radio switchover date
> >
> > More bad news for DAB
> >
> > RadioForums.co.uk
> >
> > DAB broadcasts have ceased in Portugal, with public-service broadcaster
> RTP
> > handing back its licence to the regulator. RTP was simulcasting six
> national
> > stations, covering 74% of the population on 44 transmitters, including 9
> in
> > the Azores and 7 in Madeira. Although no digital-only stations were
> offered,
> > RTP said it had invested £5.7million in the DAB project to date, with
> annual
> > costs of £300,000 per year, which was unsustainable given the small
> number
> > of listeners.
> >
> > The country’s Regulatory Authority for the Media described the DAB
> project
> > as a “failure”, caused by problems “that also occurred in other
> countries,
> > such as the costs of simulcast, the price of receivers, a lack of
> > coordination with the automotive industry... and feared marginalization
> of
> > local radio stations.” The Portuguese Association of Broadcasting said
> “the
> > technology never had opportunity to take hold, given the delay in the
> > implementation of DAB, due mainly to the limited interest shown by
> industry,
> > listeners and radio broadcasters.” The regulator is retaining the
> > frequencies for radio broadcasts, allowing use for DAB+ in the future.
> RTP
> > has also temporarily ceased shortwave transmissions of RDP Internacional
> to
> > save money.
> >
> > Meanwhile, in Spain, many DAB transmitters have also been switched off
> this
> > recently, after the government gave permission for minimum coverage to be
> > reduced from 50% to 20%, leaving only Madrid and Barcelona with DAB
> signals.
> > This forms part of a new “technologically neutral” digital radio plan for
> > Spain, paving the way for DAB+ and pilot services of DRM/DRM+
> >
> > Alan
> >
> > Alan Coote
> > Managing Director
> > The Bay Radio
> > Office 01202 580200
> > Studio 01202 571028
> > Mobile 07801 518858
> >
> > Email alan.coote at thebayradio.com
> > Web www.thebayradio.com
> > The Bay Radio, 25B Elliott Road, Bournemouth, BH11 8LQ
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
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