I guess everyone saw this potential "fly in the ointment" yesterday on BBC news website....?<br><br><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14052944">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14052944</a><br><p>
<i>Ofcom is considering using the airwaves freed up when FM radio goes digital to provide rural broadband. So-called white spaces devices are currently being trialled for use in the spectrum gaps freed up by the digital TV switchover. Ofcom believes they would work equally well in the FM spectrum. There is no set date for the switchover from FM to digital radio although the government is keen for it to happen in 2015. Some think that date is unrealistic due to the slow take-up of digital radio and the current lack of coverage. White space technologies have been gathering momentum in
recent months. They take advantage of spare spectrum bands that have not
been licensed for any other use. This makes them attractive to
communications firms because they get to use for free what would
otherwise be extremely expensive.</i></p><p>IF (big IF) this is true, it seems like a big kick in the teeth for community radio in the UK. Frankly I'm not sure I believe it - the entire FM waveband is only 20MHz - seems like a lot for analogue radio, but for high speed data its diddly-squat. 20MHz is equivalent to one WiFi channel. Imagine sharing one channel in a typical neighbourhood - moreover, the 88-108MHz signals will propagate much further (=interfere) than today's (2400MHz) WiFi signals. Furthermore, it will be very difficult to get good antenna performance at FM band frequencies with a device which will also be using TV white space frequencies - and there is a lot more bandwidth available up at the TV frequencies.<br>
</p><p></p>Hopefully it's just a BBC journalist who has muddled his MHz with his Watts as they normally do!<br><br>Glyn<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On 8 July 2011 09:11, Ian Hickling <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:transplanfm@hotmail.com">transplanfm@hotmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
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<p>No - not too technical - just getting accurate.<br>
Regarding your resume Nick:<br>
<br>
1) We want more community stations to join the throng<br>
<i>True<br></i>2) We can't, coz' there ain't any room left on the spectrum<br>
<i>Untrue - the present allocation and protection system is neither realistic nor efficient.<br></i>3) Those already on the spectrum are getting interfered and fettled with by<br>commercial radio stations who are either on the same wavelength, over<br>
modulating, too much power or just generally being a complete pain in the<br>arse !<br>
<i>Untrue. Partly attributed to inadeqate planning but mostly people using atrociously badly designed receivers in conditions where low-power signals can't perform properly. If any other licensed stations are over-deviating it is blatantly obvious and Ofcom will jump on them from a great height.</i><br>
4) The solution is to shift the bigger boys onto digital services to free up<br>FM frequencies the BBC for example hogging 50% of space in some areas<br>?? er I think ?<br>
<i>Correct - but BBC and Classic together as the 5 national FM services occupy 42% of Band II almost exclusively. These will definitely not migrate away from FM until an internationally-agreed digital format is in place and the audience has accepted its use. </i><i>I reckon on at least 8 years before that can be achieved.<br>
</i>5) Lots more community stations as they are only on peanuts watts ! and<br>possibly a bit of room for manoeuvre for those already getting trodden on<br>only 1 mile outside their own MCA<br>
<i>Not necessarily - because the licensing and mainly the funding regimes won't be able to cope. Your own problem is able to be resolved as we've discussed. You simply have to push harder. As your MCA is Measured Coverage Area, by definition you will certainly not be receivable outside it!</i><br>
<br>
</p><p><span>------------------------------------</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><b><span style="color: rgb(38, 38, 38);">Ian Hickling<br></span></b><b><span>Partner<br>transplan UK<br></span></b></p><br>
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<div>
> From: <a href="mailto:office@ccr-fm.co.uk" target="_blank">office@ccr-fm.co.uk</a><br>> To: <a href="mailto:cma-l@commedia.org.uk" target="_blank">cma-l@commedia.org.uk</a><br>> Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 15:29:11 +0100<br>
> Subject: [cma-l] FW: The Telegraph: Government still won't commit to digital radio switchover date<br>> <br>> It's all gone extremely technical and possibly over the heads of the<br>> majority of community radio laymen.<br>
> <br>> I see it quite simply as this (but correct me if I am wrong)<br>> <br>> 1) We want more community stations to join the throng<br>> 2) We can't, coz' there ain't any room left on the spectrum<br>
> 3) Those already on the spectrum are getting interfered and fettled with by<br>> commercial radio stations who are either on the same wavelength, over<br>> modulating, too much power or just generally being a complete pain in the<br>
> arse !<br>> 4) The solution is to shift the bigger boys onto digital services to free up<br>> FM frequencies the BBC for example hogging 50% of space in some areas<br>> ?? er I think ?<br>> 5) Lots more community stations as they are only on peanuts watts ! and<br>
> possibly a bit of room for manoeuvre for those already getting trodden on<br>> only 1 mile outside their own MCA<br>> <br>> This ladies and gentlemen is how I see it, furthermore we are experiencing<br>> it, which confirms that regardless of the down to earth slightly uneducated<br>
> language the fact remains that our view on things is possibly the correct<br>> view and those in the Ivory Towers have still got the curtains closed, the<br>> blinkers on and the ear muffs on their empty heads.<br>
> <br>> Regards<br>> <br>> Nick<br>> <br>> -----Original Message-----<br>> From: <a href="mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk" target="_blank">cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk</a><br>> [mailto:<a href="mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk" target="_blank">cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk</a>] On Behalf Of Alan Coote<br>
> Sent: 07 July 2011 10:59<br>> To: 'cma-l'<br>> Subject: Re: [cma-l]The Telegraph: Government still won’t commit to digital<br>> radio switchover date<br>> <br>> More bad news for DAB<br>> <br>
> <a href="http://RadioForums.co.uk" target="_blank">RadioForums.co.uk</a><br>> <br>> DAB broadcasts have ceased in Portugal, with public-service broadcaster RTP<br>> handing back its licence to the regulator. RTP was simulcasting six national<br>
> stations, covering 74% of the population on 44 transmitters, including 9 in<br>> the Azores and 7 in Madeira. Although no digital-only stations were offered,<br>> RTP said it had invested £5.7million in the DAB project to date, with annual<br>
> costs of £300,000 per year, which was unsustainable given the small number<br>> of listeners.<br>> <br>> The country’s Regulatory Authority for the Media described the DAB project<br>> as a “failure”, caused by problems “that also occurred in other countries,<br>
> such as the costs of simulcast, the price of receivers, a lack of<br>> coordination with the automotive industry... and feared marginalization of<br>> local radio stations.” The Portuguese Association of Broadcasting said “the<br>
> technology never had opportunity to take hold, given the delay in the<br>> implementation of DAB, due mainly to the limited interest shown by industry,<br>> listeners and radio broadcasters.” The regulator is retaining the<br>
> frequencies for radio broadcasts, allowing use for DAB+ in the future. RTP<br>> has also temporarily ceased shortwave transmissions of RDP Internacional to<br>> save money.<br>> <br>> Meanwhile, in Spain, many DAB transmitters have also been switched off this<br>
> recently, after the government gave permission for minimum coverage to be<br>> reduced from 50% to 20%, leaving only Madrid and Barcelona with DAB signals.<br>> This forms part of a new “technologically neutral” digital radio plan for<br>
> Spain, paving the way for DAB+ and pilot services of DRM/DRM+<br>> <br>> Alan<br>> <br>> Alan Coote<br>> Managing Director <br>> The Bay Radio<br>> Office 01202 580200<br>> Studio 01202 571028<br>
> Mobile 07801 518858<br>> <br>> Email <a href="mailto:alan.coote@thebayradio.com" target="_blank">alan.coote@thebayradio.com</a><br>> Web <a href="http://www.thebayradio.com" target="_blank">www.thebayradio.com</a><br>
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