[cma-l] MiniDAB

[Tony Bailey]

The thread is really about small scale DAB so: MiniDAB - it's a 
technically clever setup although as Phil points out will in some ways 
be less effective in metropolitan areas.  London now has a total of six 
digital multiplexes using up the equivalent of nearly half the FM band 
in Band 3 without a single community station slot.  There are probably 
30 odd prospective CR licensees in the city and the sensible solution 
would be a city-wide single transmitter CR mux.  MiniDAB would need too 
many channels to do the job, unless someone can come up with a narrow 
band version.  Has there been a spectrum usage/ benefit analysis of 
small scale?

Tony Bailey

On 08/03/16 18:10, Phil Edmonds wrote:
> It's interesting to "compare and contrast" these small scale DAB 
> trials with the "Access Radio" pilots.
>
> Hopefully I've got the time scales "more or less" right here (someone 
> do please correct me if I'm wrong.)
>
> 2001 - Radio Authority sort applications from interested parties to 
> take part in Access Radio trial.
>
> 2002 - Pilot stations launched "12 month" trial.
>
> 2003 onwards - numerous "extensions" of trial licences. Ultimately 
> until 31st December 2005.
>
> 2003/4 Legislation for Community Radio proceeds.
>
> 2004 Full time Community Radio licences advertised.
>
> 2005 First "Community Radio Licenced" station launches.
>
> 2006 Most of the pilots commence full licence.
>
> 2006/7 'Round One' Community Radio licences launch.
>
>
> Between 2002 pilots starting and the opportunity for others to apply 
> and start broadcasting under a Community Radio licence several years 
> down the line there were many "interested parties" ready and waiting 
> "biting at the bit" to get a licence and go "on-air".
>
> Sounding familiar with the situation today with interested parties 
> with the small scale DAB?
>
> So I can see a perfectly reasonable argument for Ofcom to extend the 
> trials.
>
> However I'd be asking for reassurances that just like the Access Radio 
> pilots that the relevant "processes" needed to get licencing for 
> others to apply to be "part of the party" is put in place while these 
> extensions are in place. Logic dictates this must be the "general 
> plan" unless Ofcom are just going to roll over a second extension.
>
> However this is were my analogy with the Access Radio pilots hits a 
> road block. In areas with 'high demand', lets case study Greater 
> Manchester here, not only did Ofcom find "space" for the two 
> "incumbent" access radio pilot stations to stay on-air, but also 
> numerous other "new comers" on FM.
>
> This probably won't be the case of multiple "interested parties" to 
> operate DAB multiplexes in addition to the incumbent pilot.
>
> Having said that Greater Manchester is an unusual conurbation in such 
> high density of "radio stations" in one urban conurbation. That's 
> probably only equalled by the Greater London conurbation who, in the 
> main, haven't even had the same bite of the "FM cherry" for community 
> radio operators.
>
>
>
> On the other hand I could just argue to just get the nationals and 
> regional's off FM in the majority of "mainland" UK were there is DAB 
> equivalence, let the smaller Community and Commercial stations have 
> higher TX powers on clear frequency allocations to give decent field 
> strength in their core service areas and encourage receiver 
> manufacturers to build sets that display the FM RDS station names in 
> the same "station list" as the DAB stations for users to select from 
> and everyone would be happy!
>
> Phil.
>
>

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