[cma-l] Community Radio on AM

[Associated Broadcast Consultants]

Thanks to Alex's suggestion we have now updated our Community Radio Map
<http://a-bc.co.uk/community-radio-station-map/> to include the Scottish
not-for-profit stations that do not have a licence code starting "CR".

http://a-bc.co.uk/community-radio-station-map/

Unfortunately the Irish grid converter does not take the format used in the
Ofcom spreadsheet (the letters need converting into map square references).
  So if anyone has suggestions how to bulk convert Irish NGR's to Lat Long
(or UK grid if necessary) then I'm all ears!

-- 
Glyn Roylance - Principal Consultant
Associated Broadcast Consultants <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/>
<http://www.a-bc.co.uk/index.html>


On 24 September 2014 16:58, Two Lochs Radio <tlr at gairloch.co.uk> wrote:

>  Hi Glynn
>
> That's a nice map for browsing, but as far as mapping all transmitters to
> allow assessment of potential interference, it surely isn't the way to go.
> As you'll be well aware you need much more than a simple mapping of
> potential co-channels - you have to take into account image channels and
> the directional power templates of antennas at the very least, even before
> thinking about the intervening terrain.  You also have to take into account
> transmissions in neighbouring countries of course.
>
> I think all that can be done far more effectively in tabular form than on
> a map.
>
> Of course, the elephant in this particular room is not in any case what
> frequencies are or aren't occupied, but what parameters Ofcom applies in
> assessing their potential for mutual interference - eg should a 99%
> confidence level or a 90% confidence level be used, should second adjacent
> channel be regarded as safe or not? Those are what make all the difference
> to the assumed potential for interference between transmitters. Similarly,
> is potential interference acceptable for 0.1% or 1% of the time or
> location? All these parameters are really what set the technical bar as to
> whether or not there are channels available.  Then of course there are
> strategic and political issues, agrements for the BBC to have priority use
> of certain sub-bands etc.
>
> One thing that could be considered for releasing more community radio
> frequencies is for Ofcom to reuse channels more closely on the basis of a
> mutual agreement between stations that they will not complain about the
> remote possibility of mutual interference less than say 1% of the time in
> 10% of their fringe. We have transmitters on the same frequencies just a
> few miles apart, but terrain-limited with no significant mutual
> interference in locations of interest, because we were able to agree not to
> complain about our transmitters interfering with each other! A similar
> thing happens on 96.6 between Nevis Radio (Fort William) and MFR
> (Aviemore) in the Laggan area half way between them. I suspect many groups
> would be willing to accept a service that might be subject to a little
> marginal interference in some limited locations rather thna no licence at
> all.
>
> As for suggestions on the map, which is nonetheless nice to have, could I
> suggest you add in the Scottish not-for-profit stations that operate as
> non-profit community stations, but for historical reasons have commercial
> licences (Cuillin FM, Two Lochs Radio, Lochbroom FM, Argyll FM, Oban FM,
> Isles FM). That would give a more representative picture of community radio
> cover in the northwest of the UK, which otherwise looks a bit empty on the
> map! There are also community op-outs from MFR in the north-east.
>
> Also for adding the Northern Ireland stations there is a batch convertor
> for Irish grid references here
> http://www.osi.ie/calculators/batch.asp?alias=/services/gps-services/co-ordinate-converter
>
> Alex
>
>
>
>
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