[cma-l] Community Radio Transmission Coverage

Mon Jan 2 09:50:02 GMT 2017

At the risk of incurring terminal boredom, can I make the case for careful professional planning?

The very existence of your station relies solely on its ability to reach a commercially-viable audience.
Why not spend time getting this right from the outset?
This has been my chosen niche for some 30-odd years and the basis of one half of our business.
I have lost count of the number of CR stations that we have visited or contacted which for one reason or another are not achieving the coverage they need or asked for - or indeed for which they have been licensed.
An astounding 83% of all currently-operational Community Radio stations fall into that last category - 83%!
Even if you have continual access to pots of money - and who can say that -  why waste it on "horrendous fees" paid to Arqiva and the like who seed you as another mobile phone company?
OK - if you're already in operation and not optimally, this is all behind you.
So now's the chance, with Ofcom showing some interest, to properly appraise where you need to improve and hopefully save precious revenue expenditure at the same time.

There are several organisations and individuals who will help you with this - and most like us will look at your situation in initially at no charge.
Get more than one opinion - just as you would if you were costing a large investment project - which this is!
I will always tell Clients if I think they are getting a better/cheaper deal from someone else - even if we feel we can't compete.
We just hate to see people spending hard-earned cash on the wrong things.
Enough said - sorry.

Ian Hickling

Partner

[https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/2SkDsnIzSZgRbNnNKBSiwxiFhFQWRGV55mTjVL23fulnJpstZmYxeKrrYefY4qxiSgkMrAETld64XINLXCsujE_zI5gAsQyWeCWvHixcrNYtar3Sij4YlVBgN2NSQ-n2DsgZvrnpWZlfwCQ=s0-d-e1-ft#http://www.transplanuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/transplan_UK_weblogo_190x60.png]<http://www.transplanuk.com/>

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton, NEWBURY, RG20 6QS

________________________________
From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> on behalf of Neil Munday <neilm at susyradio.com>
Sent: 01 January 2017 20:31
To: The Community Media Association Discussion List
Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022

Hi Nigel

Good to hear from you and a Happy New Year to our friends at Eden fm Penrith!

I'm a little out of touch with Ofcom directly as my Colleague is our direct liaison officially. Keeps it simple!

I have discussions at an engineering level occasionally, when needs must for some pointers,  but that's all.

This Q of 5km rattles around and around. And we both know from various sites it can become tricky with finding a good location to place a transmitter and antenna without good accessibility and horrendous fees! Sometimes to keep moving locations constantly changes the coverage, costs money and can have disastrous consequences when a vital piece of kit fails in the process.

Anyway something to discuss over a jar next time we meet!

Regards to all and I hope that Cumbria has a good winter this year.

Neil

On Sun, 1 Jan 2017 at 17:21, admin <admin at edenfm.co.uk<mailto:admin at edenfm.co.uk>> wrote:

Hi Neil

Happy New Year to the Susy

gang.

<<If not re calculate, re

adjust coatings and apply for a change. >?>

Changes are not up

for discussion with Ofcom at present.

After the

consultation results are reported, we will know where/when on the list

changes be requested. My guess is that is some time away.

Before that,

there is no option to discuss any

changes.

Cheers.

-Nigel-

Eden FM Radio Ltd
Office : 01786 899 101
Studio: 01768 899

107
Web: www.edenfm.co.uk<http://www.edenfm.co.uk>
Twitter:

@EdenFmRadio
Facebook : @edenfmonline

Mostyn Hall, Friargate, Penrith CA11 7XP

----- Original Message -----

From:

Neil Munday<mailto:neilm at susyradio.com>

To: The Community Media Association

Discussion List<mailto:cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>

Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2016 9:19

AM

Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy

Radio's licence until 2022

Thank you Ian, a better than good application included an extensive

coverage business model. Ours was based on 20 plus years of RSL experience

covering the same area from the same tx site on FM and from a second site in

AM. How we work within the community, what we have and are giving back to the

community etc ...

The business model is not static either it has to evolve as the station

evolves, readjusting the parameters.

Back to coverage

Did you do your calculations correctly

Did you allow for losses in cables

Are you using Vertical and Horizontal transmission (this does not mean

two antenna by the way).

Is your tx site in the best possible place to get max coverage without

being blocked by other hills, mountains etc

Do an assessment. Drive around with the worst car radio you have and

listen.

If not re calculate, re adjust coatings and apply for a

change.

 Best wishes for the new year.

Neil

Ps

If there is any CR who would like to visit or ask a question then please

do. It has always been our policy to try and assist others if we can. I can

explain the basics  but can try and arrange for our transmission engineer

to be available at your visit or find out a more detailed answer if one is

required!

We have given offers of help and or advice to or engineering support to

several CR stations and several pop up RSLs over the years country

wide.

N

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 at 20:39, Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com<mailto:transplanfm at hotmail.com>>

wrote:

Nick

I think we may have had this conversation, but as

an

exponent of this subject in a

practical sense can I explain what happens in

real life?

Th "5km

radius" was always the example used by Ofcom to give Applicants a

typical range for a Community Radio operation.

It was never a rule or a limit.

For some time recently it has seemed that Ofcom

has been expressing 5km as some kind of limitation or norm - but I have

always opposed this as wrong and indeed impractical whenever it has cropped

up with our Clients.

There is a parallel

"non-rule" of power being limited to 25W vertical plus 25W horizontal,

As I'm sure I've pointed out before - out of the 303

CR stations licensed, 38 (16% of those currently on air) have been

allocated more than that "norm" - because they have shown Ofcom that

it was necessary to fulfil their business model.

The rest presumably haven't bothered -  have

been too scared to put their case - or have thought just 25W was

enough or all they would get.

And an amazing

85% of stations are not using the other half (the horizontal

component) of their allocated power - effectively throwing away

around 40% of their licensed coverage.

Why would you want to do that?

>From the outset the premise from Ofcom was

"Tell us your Community - and tell us how you propose to cover it"

Your situation Nick as we have discussed is a little

different.

There are (or were) other outside

reasons why you are being prevented from serving audience demand and I think

now is the right time to put some more weight behind your very

just cause.

Ian

Hickling

Partner

[http://www.transplanuk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/transplan_UK_weblogo_190x60.png]<http://www.transplanuk.com/>

Office: 016 3557 8435  (07h to 22h

GTS)

Car: 075 3098 0115 (only responds when

driving)

6 Horn Street, Compton,

NEWBURY, RG20

6QS

________________________________

From: cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> <cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk>> on behalf of

Canalside's The Thread <office at thethread.org.uk<mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>>

Sent: 30 December 2016 12:11

To: 'The Community Media

Association Discussion List'

Subject: [cma-l] FW: Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence

until 2022

From: Canalside's The Thread [mailto:office at thethread.org.uk<mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>]

Sent: 30 December 2016

11:56

To: 'Canalside's The

Thread' <office at thethread.org.uk<mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>>

Subject: RE: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence

until 2022

Neil et al

It’s not a scream, it is as always with moi an observation

to facts. The fact (s) being that either the rules are 5km or they are not.

For some their hats have been nailed on, for others there

has been

flexibility and for others it appears as if there has been a

free-for-all.

Knowing all the problems (dare I say ongoing problems) you

would have thought a simple explanation could have been given as to what

process and what rules we are working to.

Why doesn’t anyone listen to the facts ?

the facts are we were told this was a rule --- others have said it isn’t a

rule it is an advisory, others have said it now doesn’t exist and is

what

you put down on your application. Too late of course for the

rookies who had their original dabble over ten years ago.

The official folk on this matter    ie:- Mr

and Mrs Ofcom state it is a rule ………… well that’s gone bon voyage and

straight out the window when you look at what is going on ……………. Hence

confusion

abound.

For example :- if it is a nailed down, no questions asked

5km ruling, then we may as well all go home and chuck all the kit on the

fire and throw the towel in as we will never be able to survive.

It

is clear common sense (there’s that word again) that we rely a little bit on

luck in the fact that our transmitters ‘bleed-out’ slightly for another 2 or

3km so that we can at least hook in a few just outside the official

area.

Our problem of course is that where we (Canalside) are based

you have to travel at least 1 and half miles N / S / E / W before you reach

people again outside of Bollington or else all we are broadcasting

to

are sheep and cows ………………. This has been explained a hundred times, but to

no avail.

You (Neil) mentions topography etc

etc           once again

we have missed the point ……………. Either we operate to a 5km system or we

don’t. The moment Ofcom/DCMS start shuffling things around and

giving

lee-way to some who are down a ditch or behind a tree then what’s good for

the goose is good for the gander kicks into gear.

The whole thing is a cock-up ……………….. however, the

‘’’cock-up’’’ can easily be rectified if people are permitted to discuss and

then tweak what is necessary so that a Community Radio Station

can

cover the Community it is meant to be serving.

Common sense (there’s that word yet again) is then applied

once more so that ‘some’ Stations don’t start getting carried away with

themselves bearing in mind that we are LOCAL Radio and not

REGIONAL

Radio. You don’t have to be an expert to work this out. Some

people of course would like to split hairs on this matter in order to put a

pointless case forward or to get what they want. They may fool some people

but they certainly don’t fool me and never have.

It’s very similar to the discussion I had with

Martin     re:-

restrictions.

We simply lift all the restrictions and let everyone

‘’’get-on-with-it’’’     if all of a sudden

Station

‘A’ that has been operating on £55,000 per-annum suddenly

goes up to £130,000 per-annum with 6 of the Trustees Holidaying in the

Maldives for 8 weeks then the alarm bells start ringing. Hence why I have

always said    ‘’regulate the SPEND’’ and not the

earn’

Not difficult, but made difficult by people who want it to

be difficult.

That leads me finally onto Davids observation regarding the

‘’’consultation’’’        I think the

reason why there’s only 14 Stations as opposed to 250 commenting is because

everyone has malaise

and has basically ‘given

up’

My personal feelings on all these matters have been

expressed via message boards, via consultations, via meetings with CMA /

Ofcom / DCMS / Politicians ……….. the problem is if you are

dealing

with people who simply won’t play ball you are always going

to be up against it.

The only option we have is to soldier on and do something

yourself ---- in various quarters I/We have done this --- it would of course

be more effective if we actually did something about it as

a group

instead of having consultations.

I

have over the years taken a good long hard look at myself and my

observations … I have done it to try and make myself back off and convince

myself that actually I am totally wrong and that all

the rules and

regulations and processes are correct. I have searched in every nook and

cranny and sadly I actually don’t think I am wrong --- I actually think I am

spot on and that’s why I don’t shut up. I would not be doing our fraternity

justice if I did

roll over and died.

So to conclude      I don’t scream

nor do I rant, I merely make forthright observations that looking Back over

the years 9 times out of 10 are correct --- I just wish someone would take

the Bull

by the Horns and sort it all out ….. then tell me that I was

wrong …… sadly they won’t be able to.

I

have even done the ultimate bit      ‘’put the

money where the mouth is’’      let’s do it the way

I have suggested, give it a try, if it doesn’t work (which it only won’t

work if it is not

regulated correctly) and see what

happens.

Happy New Year everyone    onwards and

upwards to Dumptyland

Nick

From: Neil Munday [mailto:neilm at susyradio.com]

Sent: 30 December 2016

10:20

To: The Community

Media Association Discussion List <cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at mailman.commedia.org.uk>>;

office at thethread.org.uk<mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>

Subject: Re: [cma-l] Ofcom

extends Susy Radio's licence until 2022

Rather than scream about it on here if you would

like a conversation I will explain our restrictions and our topography which

cause this against our official coverage area if which some we don't cover

effectively.

Call me 07767767689

Neil Munday

Operations Director

Susy Radio 103.4

On Fri, 30 Dec 2016 at 10:17, Canalside's The Thread

<office at thethread.org.uk<mailto:office at thethread.org.uk>>

wrote:

Reigate, Redhill, Horley, Crawley,

Gatwick    ???

       Good Lord !

         that’s the largest

5km I’ve ever seen in my life !

If someone could explain this process (as in from the

outset) I would be very grateful.

I know we have been here before with this discussion, but

along with other issues you can see surely why people get

frustrated.

Owing to restrictions we (Canalside) are OFFICIALLY on 5km

----- and NO !!   we didn’t ask for it, we were led up a garden

path which clearly was wrong. All we are asking for is a

small

‘tweak’ because the rules have now

changed.

Is anyone asking the necessary questions in the correct

places ?  or are we just drifting along aimlessly

?

Please please explain to me why some have 5km and some

have 10km and some have

15km

and the answer dare not be   ‘’Because they asked for

it’’

as far as I

am aware everyone asked originally to ‘cover’ their

Community     we certainly did

but were told ‘’you’re not allowed because????’’

And the circus continues with everyone operating under

different rules ??

It’s bonkers

!

these so called restrictions have got a hell of lot to answer for along

with the clots that dreamt them up in the first

place

Well done though to Susy on the extension to the

licence

Onwards and Upwards for 2017

Nick

From:

cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk> [mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l-bounces at mailman.commedia.org.uk>]

On Behalf Of CMA-L

Sent: 23 December 2016 11:58

To:

cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

Subject: [cma-l] Ofcom extends Susy Radio's licence

until 2022

Susy Radio is pleased to announce that the station's

licence has been officially extended for another 5 years until 2022. Susy

Radio, broadcasting on 103.4FM and online from

its studio in

Merstham, Surrey, came on air as a fully licensed 24/7 community station

in July 2012 following many years of occasional

broadcasts.

Susy's

Programme Director Geoff Rogers said "I'm so pleased that Susy Radio is

going to be given the opportunity to continue its work as the official

local community radio station for East Surrey and North Sussex. We look

forward immensely to the new

opportunities to work with and serve

the community in the next five years."

Chairman Alan French noted "This reflects so well on all

who have been involved with Susy Radio from its beginning to the present

day and made it the great community radio station it has become today.

Thank you to all the volunteer

staff.”

Further

information

Susy

Radio 103.4 is the official Community Radio station covering Reigate,

Redhill, Horley, Crawley and Gatwick with all places in between. Susy

Radio is run entirely by volunteers and has a excellent working

relationships with many local community groups,

local authorities,

other broadcasters and

journalists.

Susy

Radio is funded by a split between grants and donations vs advertising and

operates as a "Not for Profit" Limited

company.

More

information:

Neil

Munday

Operations

Director

Susy Radio 103.4

neilm at susyradio.com<mailto:neilm at susyradio.com>

\\

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

_______________________________________________

Reply -

cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

The cma-l mailing list

is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association

-

http://www.commedia.org.uk

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/community_media

http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation

Canstream Internet

Radio & Video:

http://www.canstream.co.uk/

_______________________________________________

Mailing list

guidelines:

http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/

_______________________________________________

To unsubscribe or

manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:

http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

_______________________________________________

Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by

the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/community_media

http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation

Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/

_______________________________________________

Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/

_______________________________________________

To unsubscribe or manage your

CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:

http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

_______________________________________________

Reply -

cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

The cma-l mailing list is a members' service

provided by the Community Media Association -

http://www.commedia.org.uk
Twitter:

http://twitter.com/community_media
http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation
Canstream

Internet Radio & Video:

http://www.canstream.co.uk/
_______________________________________________

Mailing

list guidelines:

http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/
_______________________________________________

To

unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please

visit:
http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l

_______________________________________________

Reply - cma-l at commedia.org.uk<mailto:cma-l at commedia.org.uk>

The cma-l mailing list is a members' service provided by the Community Media Association - http://www.commedia.org.uk

Twitter: http://twitter.com/community_media

http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation

Canstream Internet Radio & Video: http://www.canstream.co.uk/

_______________________________________________

Mailing list guidelines: http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/

_______________________________________________

To unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please visit:

http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/pipermail/cma-l/attachments/20170102/65a43621/attachment.html>