[cma-l] Ofcom announces trials to help small stations join digitalradio
Canalside's The Thread
office at thethread.org.uk
Wed Feb 25 12:33:28 GMT 2015
Is the 100w erp / 25 watts fm ie:- 5km a RULE or just a GUIDELINE ???
I just want to be sure so that we don’t get hoodwinked again, it’s a long
walk up that garden path
.. if you remove the 100 and replace it with a
letter ‘T’ you get the word Twerp mmm ??? looking at what’s
gone on, quite apt really LOL :-)
_____
From: Ian Hickling [mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com]
Sent: 25 February 2015 11:20
To: Associated Broadcast Consultants; Canalside's The Thread
Cc: The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Ofcom announces trials to help small stations join digitalradio
Ofcom is specific (page 11) as to the likely coverage and a cap of 100W ERP.
That answers the "localness" question - Ofcom has said unofficially that it
is envisaging coverage that will be on a par with a conventional
well-planned 25W FM RSL
Let's not get too hung up on the "multiplex" aspect.
Technically there is nothing to prevent a single service being radiated over
a small area in a separate frequency block from the established local muxes.
Ofcom has now said it won't use 11A but will look for other
locally-available frequencies dependent on existing Band III usage for other
purposes - a sensible move.
The only reason that I can see for specifying a mini-mux for the trials is
to evaluate the multiplexing process - not to look at the commercial
viability of the formula.
But it was said at the meetings that it could provide an opportunity for an
enterprising CR operation to offer coverage to commercial interests and
thereby generate valuable revenue.
I've had six separate messages this morning alone asking for advice and
prices for installation - both for a trial and for a permanent service from
existing CR operators, LPAMs and independent entrepreneurs.
I feel Ofcom is likely to be swamped with Applications and may need to
revise the scale of this trial.
If so - surely a big opportunity for the CMA and its membership?
_____
Date: Wed, 25 Feb 2015 09:23:57 +0000
From: info at a-bc.co.uk
To: office at thethread.org.uk
CC: cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom announces trials to help small stations join
digitalradio
Yes Nick - it's open to all - not just Community stations - anyone with an
inclination to do it (I wouldn't be surprised if Arqiva threw their hat in
the ring). Two things to remember:-
1. This low cost technology is not "plug and play yet". It takes some
expertise. If you have a Linux expert and someone who knows radio
engineering then you are most of the way there.
2. Just like "high cost DAB" remember that the technology enables a
number of stations on one frequency - this fundamentally changes how you
think about a trial and an ongoing service. You'd have the Mux operator who
holds the Wireless Telegraphy licence, and then you'd have stations on that
Mux (who all need a Digital Services licence - kerr-ching!). The Mux
operator may or may not also be one of the stations on the Mux.
Cost - that's part of the reason for the trials to understand. For this
trial Ofcom are offering to supply all the kit AND backhaul links for 1
year. So only cost is incidental stuff like installation, site rental,
electricity etc.
Going forward after the 1 year trial (if permitted) then a lot of the Mux
encoding and modulation can be done with free software on average to good
spec PC's. The expensive bit would be the part that generates the radio
waves and the amplifier and filter that comes after that. Finger in the
air guess £10k for that. But remember cost could be shared across a number
of services on the Mux. The backhaul links may or may not be expensive
depending on what is needed - could range form a few £hundred one-off cost,
to thousands of pounds per year link rental depending on the solution.
It will be interesting to see how local Ofcom want to make these DAB areas.
In my opinion, if they are too small there are unlikely to be enough radio
services to fill it - making it financially challenging and a waste of
spectrum. So I feel the Mux areas need to be sufficiently large (but not as
silly-large as current hi-cost DAB areas) to solve those two issues.
Glyn
--
Glyn Roylance - Principal Consultant
Associated <http://www.a-bc.co.uk/> Broadcast Consultants
On 24 February 2015 at 17:44, Canalside's The Thread
<office at thethread.org.uk> wrote:
Sorry about this chaps
. I did say I would rest for a week, but I have just
seen this. We wouldn’t mind avin’ a dabble here.
Is this open to Community Radio as in small Local or does small Local
include whoever wishes to call themselves small local ? and, is it now a
free-for-all for anyone wanting to have a go ? ie:- internet Stations who
are not on FM
will they get preference or will existing Community licence
holders get a chance to go digital.
Also, if everyone does end up on DAB, does that not open the door for the
DCMS to flick the FM switch to ‘off’ ?? or will this never happen ?
I’m not rocking Boats here, I’m just looking for some clarification.
How much is low cost ? come on tecky chaps, we’re in your ball
park area now.
I did however fall off my chair laughing when I read the next bit
see below
Radio interference
Since the operation of a new system may cause interference to existing
users, you or your supplier may consider it necessary to carry out
compatibility tests before you apply for your licence. Once installed and
operating, your system must not cause undue interference to any other
wireless telegraphy equipment. If it does, you may need to stop operating
until the cause of the interference has been rectified. Ofcom cannot offer
any protection against interference radiated by other authorised services,
or by industrial, scientific and medical equipment; however, if you do
experience interference, please contact the Ofcom Licensing Centre on 0300
123 1000
the last bit should read ‘’However, if you do experience
interference, please contact the Ofcom Licensing Centre on 0300 123 1000 and
they firstly tell you what you already know, not give you a logical
explanation as to why it can’t be tweaked and will do absolutely sod all
about it’’ :-) LOL
Tongue in cheek of course
funny though, If we didn’t laugh, we’d go
nuts
Please advise
is anyone else having a DABble ? pardon the pun
Nick
_____
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk] On Behalf Of CMA-L
Sent: 24 February 2015 10:11
To: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
Subject: [cma-l] Ofcom announces trials to help small stations join
digitalradio
Ofcom has today confirmed
<http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/small-scale-dab/sta
tement/Small_scale_DAB_trials_statement.pdf> plans for trials of a new
technology that could provide small radio stations across the UK with an
affordable way to broadcast on DAB digital radio.
Known as ‘small scale DAB’, the new approach is best suited for broadcasting
to small geographic areas, ideal for community and local radio stations.
Small scale DAB is cheaper than current systems because it is uses software
freely available from opendigitalradio.org, rather than relying on often
expensive hardware equipment.
Ofcom is planning up to ten UK trials which will help inform Ofcom’s work on
identifying suitable frequencies for broadcasting smaller digital stations
and help understand how these services could be licensed.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is funding Ofcom’s work on how
small stations could access DAB digital radio.
Ofcom is today inviting
<http://licensing.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/radio/digital/small-scale-trial-mult
iplex-licensing/Application_form.rtf> applications to take part in the
trials, which are expected to run for nine months. The deadline for
applications is 3pm on 7 April 2015.
A <http://media.ofcom.org.uk/news/2015/small-scale-dabradio/> news release
is available on Ofcom’s website.
\\
Community Media Association
--
http://www.commedia.org.uk/
http://twitter.com/community_media
https://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
Canstream Internet Radio & Video
http://www.canstream.co.uk/
https://twitter.com/canstream
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