[cma-l] Extending Community Radio on FM

Mon Sep 29 12:32:54 BST 2014

Bob, and everyone,

Regarding 102.2, you can see how often it is re-used on our new FM
Frequency Viewer map <http://a-bc.co.uk/fm-frequency-viewer-map/> - looks
like it is used 8 times in GB - slightly less than the average re-use of
9.3.

Frequency Viewer Map:- http://a-bc.co.uk/fm-frequency-viewer-map/
Frequency Re-use chart:-
http://a-bc.co.uk/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/UK-VHF-FM-Frequency-Re-use-300x97.gif

Regarding extra FM protection in the UK I had not heard of this - can you
provide a reference?  Indeed I'd expect the rules to be common across
Europe - and from what I had read before now I believed it was.  (Not to
say implementation is the same though ;-)

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

On 28 September 2014 20:09, ROBERT TYLER <bobtyler at btinternet.com> wrote:

> Tony
>
> It is my understanding that the British specification for the FM (then
> VHF) band was established before the Second World War. At the time it was
> considered that only the two BBC services would be on VHF. I believe that
> the specifications laid down are still current and are based on roof top
> aerials, as it was considered that to receive VHF such an aerial would be
> required.
>
> Also for some reason, we in the UK also decided to employ  extra
> separation/guarding, in order to prevent ANY possibility of  the Home
> Service Bedford transmitter interfering with the Home Service Dover
> transmitter or Crewe Relay. In other words, we have more space between
> services than any other country in Europe. In many respects we have the
> perfect VHF/FM transmitter network.
>
> Of course then, it was not expected that the reception of radio would
> extend to telescopic aerials or tiny coil antenna, thereby making the roof
> top aerial redundant. Nor even then, was the prospect of commercial or
> community radio in the future mix. As a side issue, a few commercial
> stations and many community radio station are in allocated BBC spectrum at
> the behest of Dear Old Aunty.
>
> The mystery of so called 'expertise' in planning the VHF/FM spectrum has
> remained in the hand of the regulators. I do remember asking my MP sometime
> in the 70's  to lodge a written question about an available frequency to
> The Home Secretary, only to receive the reply that 101 point something was
> 'used to track otters" .
>
> I did have it confirmed that 102.2 was assigned wrongly and should have
> been able to accommodate several UK allocations but apparently the spectrum
> had been badly assigned at a too high a power in the East of England, (flat
> terrain)  thereby rendering the space sterile for a large part of the
> country.
>
> In summary there are many issues (and many question) surrounding spectrum
> allocation and the regulator of the day always hold the mystery ticket. The
> 'beauty contest' of selecting future licence holders compounds the decision
> process. The reality is that the only policy is to switch to DAB so any FM
> debate is a waste of time.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Bob
>
>   ------------------------------
>  *From:* Tony Bailey <ravensound at pilgrimsound.co.uk>
> *To:* The Community Media Association Discussion List <
> cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>
> *Sent:* Sunday, 28 September 2014, 10:01
> *Subject:* Re: [cma-l] Extending Community Radio on FM
>
>  If we are talking about ITU-R BS 412-9 Planning Standards for
> Terrestrial FM sound broadcasting at VHF, it dates from 12/1998 and
> incidentally, is a Recommendation.  Of course, we aren't far enough away
> from other countries to not follow it.  To take up an earlier point, the
> recent statements about VHF no-go areas clearly needs to be challenged.
> For example, Central Bedfordshire which is basically Bedford county minus
> Luton and Bedford.  Apart from the fact that it is a very irregular area,
> it is some 30 km wide, well beyond the range of the 5 km standard.  From
> information available online, there are a number of channel groups around
> 15 db/uV (60-45) in Biggleswade, which is a relatively "hot" location.  One
> wonders what "rules" are being applied to generate these blanket exclusions.
>
> Regards,  Tony Bailey
>
> On 27/09/14 17:18, Ian Hickling wrote:
>
>  Alan - I don't recognise most of the scenario you describe here as being
> the UK Regulation system that we're working in today.
> Protection Ratios set up by IBA and RA were adopted by the ITU 50 years
> ago and are unlikely to change?
> Not really indicative of any positive progress then.
> In my experience Ofcom doesn't do much on an "ad hoc" basis - quite the
> opposite.
> Commercial operators and indeed all licensed broadcasters are more than
> adequately protected in technical terms and all expect signal corruption on
> occasions when it's caused by unavoidable atmospheric conditions.
> Enhancement of coverage by any broadcaster is not easy - and is approached
> by Ofcom on a low-priority and individual merit basis - unless of course
> pressure is brought to bear.
> I would think we can all quote examples of that apparently happening.
> Commercial stations had power and frequency allocated in exactly the same
> was as is used for Community Radio - desired coverage against regional
> spectral occupancy.
> Standalone or mini-mux DAB is a long way off and should not be offered as
> an excuse for not dealing with the present and very real need for a
> seed-change in spectrum manipulation for best efficiency.
> There are scores of local stations out there which are ready to go on air
> and around half of them will be refused for what appear to be insecure and
> what we are told are incontestable reasons.
> This is not the form of Democracy that we should expect from a UK
> Government and its Agencies.
>
>  ------------------------------
> From: alan.coote at 5digital.co.uk
> To: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk; info at a-bc.co.uk
> Date: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 14:06:28 +0100
> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Community Radio on AM
>
>  The FM protection ratios were set up using a specs' based on the
> selectivity and sensitivity of radios in the 60s. The IBA, Radio Authority
> and Ofcom planned licences based on their analysis of available frequencies
> using this spec'. It became an ITU standard so is very unlikely to change.
>
>
> Fitting new stations on an ad-hoc basis has the danger of commercial
> operators being disadvantaged through interference, however occasional.
>
> Picking up Nick's point about Silk FM getting more power, this has
> happened numerous times around the UK. It's because commercial stations are
> licenced to use a preallocated and cleared frequency by Ofcom. Should a
> licenced station make a case that either Ofcom's analysis was wrong, or
> over time the area has changed, then Ofcom will need to reflect that by
> permitting changes to the coverage.
>
> This is of course a totally different scenario from the way community
> stations start life.
>
> At the end of the day Ofcom is full of people whose job it is to run
> things by the rules. There is absolutely no advantage to them doing
> otherwise.
>
> In my view a better baton to wave is for access to DAB via standalone
> stations - here the rules aren't even set.
>
>  Kind Regards
> Alan
>
>
>
> Hear Alan Every Week on Let's Talk Business The UK's Premier Radio
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