[cma-l] DAB trials

[Two Lochs Radio]

Again, you would think that if Ofcom wants to get full value from this trial, it would be checking the performance of a few different amplifiers in the field, rather than using only one sort of kit throughout. Practical trials of performance and reliability of a few off-the-shelf amplifiers is exactly the sort of useful experience that could come from a trial like this, and be uneconomic for any individual station to do. That would be a real service to the industry, rather than insisting on multiple tests of proven technology such as feeding multiple programmes sources to the transmitter site, which will probably yield little that we don't already know.

I guess one option for a potential pilot user who successfully argues for higher power would be to use a multi-antenna array on the end of the standard-issue Ofcom kit - eg if the kit is based on a single dipole, you could use four stacked dipoles to take it up to around 400-500W erp. That would probably be cheaper than a fresh higher power amplifier, and would be cheaper to run, though it would be getting on for 6 metres high, so it would need a decent sized support structure!

Alex
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Fantasy Radio Office 
  To: Ian Hickling ; cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk 
  Sent: Monday, March 09, 2015 10:51 AM
  Subject: Re: [cma-l] DAB trials


  Thanks for your response Ian, but with respect, that's exactly what I said - Ofcom have 'sourced' suitable transmitters. Whether they've actually been built yet is of no consequence. I wouldn't expect there to be ten units sitting on a shelf just waiting to be delivered.

  I hope the trials prove to be of benefit to the industry. 

  Phil Dawson
  FANTASY RADIO 97FM
  Devizes ,
  Wiltshire


  On 09/03/2015 09:27, Ian Hickling wrote:

    Not so I'm afraid Phil. 
    The information that we have suggests that transmitters for the project will be produced specifically by a UK manufacturer already producing similar equipment for existing broadcasters.
    Ian
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