<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:v =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m =
"http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.23588"><!--[if !mso]>
<STYLE>v\:* {
BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML)
}
o\:* {
BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML)
}
w\:* {
BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML)
}
.shape {
BEHAVIOR: url(#default#VML)
}
</STYLE>
<![endif]-->
<STYLE><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0cm;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:612.0pt 792.0pt;
margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></STYLE>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></HEAD>
<BODY lang=EN-GB link=blue bgColor=white vLink=purple>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>I find it very hard to get worked up about that
54dBuV/m contour at 10m. It seems to work very well as a practical
guideline to the required field strength for satisfactory reception in
typical cases. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>Ofcom has looked at the issue several times,
including a careful review in 2011 as part of planning DAB coverage, and every
time has come to the conclusion that 54dBuV/m VHF FM at 10m height makes a
perfectly good proxy for what actual field strength is required at the
windowsill for typical portable radio reception.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>It fits well with what I've found in
practice - a rooftop level of 54dBuV/m is fine for transistor portables on
windowsills, 60dBuV/m better for general indoor reception. Cars seem very happy
with 42-48dBuV/m. Your mileage may vary!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>Of course it's true that more transmitter power
may be needed in towns to achieve these field strengths, and I'm not arguing for
one second that a "25W for all" approach would be realistic, but
the 10m target field strength levels are not the issue - you
still need 54-60dBuV/m for reliable reception, even in a densely built up area.
</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>What may change for an urban or hilly
setting is the power needed to achieve that level at a given position. But the
answer to getting that right is not to say you need a greater field strength at
the receiver - that's still 54dBuV/m at 10m - it's down to using good
quality propagation prediction software that can take urban clutter etc into
account and tell you what transmission power and location is likely to provide
that field strength. At least in a town there is more chance of finding a block
of flats or other relatively high structure that can help.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>Ofcom clearly does to some extent take into
account that 25W does not always delivered the desired signal at 5km - that's
shown by Ian Hickling's recent analysis showing that 34 CR stations have more
than 25W+25W in use. It's also noticeable that three-quarters of existing
licencees could improve their effective strength by up to 3dB by using
their horizonatal 25W clearances, but aren't doing so. Yes, it's a signifcant
extra cost for quite a small gain, but every little helps, and it's hard to
argue with Ofcom for more power if you aren't already using everything
allocated.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>It's also the case that many stations could with
a bit of effort/cost find more advantageous transmitter locations to make
the most of their 25+25 allocation. Just for example, 25W at the top
of a tower block in Glasgow or Leeds should give a comfortable 5km 54dBuV/m
range in most locations across the cities. Again, there's usually a cost to a
remote TX site, but if it makes a huge difference to the station's likely
coverage and/or income you have to do the sums and decide.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>The effects of TX height are
really very important to coverage in hilly terrain. I noticed the
other day that Speysound CR broadcasting from Cairngorm with 68W power
comes through at excellent car radio strength in the hilly suburbs of
Dingwall, some 80km away. But they do have a rather favourable TX site at 1100m
ASL!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri><FONT size=2
face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV></FONT>I'm not familiar with Bollington and its
neighbouring 'hamlet' to the south-west, except from what I see on maps. If
the present antenna is on the tower of Clarence Mill you'd think it would
provide reasonable coverage to the wider area, but it seems to me that,
again just for example, 25W+25W on a 10m elevation in the Kerridge /
Hollin area would provide excellent coverage of Bollington as well much
stronger coverage of its, ahem, neighbouring settlement to the south west.
Those options and others should have been apparent right from the
start.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>
<DIV>Don't get me wrong, I'm not arguing that Ofcom couldn't do a lot more to
relax some of the power/spectrum restrictions, and maybe doesn't put as much
effort or innovation into it as it could. However, arguing that the
54dBuV/m at 10m guiideline is inadequate doesn't seem to me to be a productive
way forward - it's a complete diversion.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri>Alex</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Calibri></FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=alan.coote@5digital.co.uk
href="mailto:alan.coote@5digital.co.uk">Alan Coote</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
title=cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk
href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">'The Community Media Association
Discussion List'</A> ; <A title=bobtyler@btinternet.com
href="mailto:bobtyler@btinternet.com">'ROBERT TYLER'</A> ; <A
title=ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk
href="mailto:ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk">ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk</A>
</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, September 30, 2014 10:06
AM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [cma-l] Extending Community
Radio on FM</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><A name=_MailEndCompose><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">It’s
amazing that 54dBuV/m at 10m has been maintained for so long when it has
little resemblance to the vast majority of setups. When projected to antennas
at a more normal 1.5 – 2.5 metres above ground level, the field strength needs
to be significantly greater.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The
other very significant practical issue is that the field strength required to
cover dense urban, urban and open country is different. Greater power
helps in towns and cities due to the losses (refractions, reflections and
absorptions) which affect the wanted signal.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">This
is very apparent in lower power stations (like community radio) as the fringes
of coverage are often in areas which the station wishes to reach.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">If
we accepted that 25W does not always = 5km, I wonder therefore if Ofcom should
take this more into account when licensing stations? An additional benefit
would be that spectrum is better managed and (ref’ to Ian’s original post)
more groups would end up getting licensed.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Kind
Regards</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Alan<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><A href="http://www.letstalkbusinessonline.com/"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Hear Alan Every
Week on Let’s Talk Business The UK’s Premier Radio Programme For Current and
Future Entrepreneurs - Now Broadcast To 4.3 Million People </SPAN></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Email
- </SPAN><A href="mailto:alan.coote@5digital.co.uk"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">alan.coote@5digital.co.uk</SPAN></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Phone
- 0800 949 6655<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Mobile
- 07801 518858<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Twitter
- </SPAN><A href="http://www.twitter.com/TheAlanCoote"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">@TheAlanCoote</SPAN></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">Web
- </SPAN><A href="http://www.5digital.co.uk/"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">http://www.5digital.co.uk</SPAN></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><IMG
id=Picture_x0020_1 border=0 alt=cid:image001.gif@01CE03CD.223AC920
src="cid:D67F38F61F724391851CF077F019A621@wwpc04" width=200
height=71><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt">The
Media Production, Broadcasting and Training
Company<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; COLOR: #1f497d; FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; PADDING-LEFT: 0cm; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: #b5c4df 1pt solid; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 3pt">
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"
lang=EN-US>From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt" lang=EN-US>
cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk
[mailto:cma-l-bounces@mailman.commedia.org.uk] <B>On Behalf Of </B>Two Lochs
Radio<BR><B>Sent:</B> 29 September 2014 18:17<BR><B>To:</B> ROBERT TYLER; The
Community Media Association Discussion List;
ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re: [cma-l] Extending
Community Radio on FM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Bob</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">You're right
about the original signal specs being based on the assumption of outdoor
aerials, but receivers were much less sensitive at the time, and by happy
chance the improvements in receiver sensitivity have approximately
counteracted the move to indoor whip aerials, so the planning based on the
same 54dBuv/m signal level at 10m height still gives a useful guide as to the
required signal for robust coverage.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">When the BBC VHF
service first began they worked to a definition of 60dBuv/m needed for good
service in mono (later 66dBuV/m for stereo), and 48dBuV/m (later
54dBuV/m for stereo) as the 'nominal limit of satisfactory
reception'. Ofcom still uses this, summarizing it like
this:</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"><IMG
id=_x0000_i1025 border=0 src="cid:EE58C3A4E707410381AE6DBDCE58900F@wwpc04"
width=402 height=245></SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I would be
cautious about assuming much better selectivity or sensitivity on modern FM
receivers - there are plenty of shower, bedside clock-radio and other
cheapy FM radios that tell a different tale!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">I was interested
in your reference to "the Home Service Bedford transmitter". What was that? I
understood the VHF Home Service for the southeast began in 1955 on much the
same site as today - Wrotham in Kent (there was 120kW at Wrotham,
Norwich and Sutton Coldfield to start with). Bow Brickhill which now serves
Bedford on VHF wasn't set up until the 1980s as I recall, and was mainly as a
result of the need to cover the burgeoning Milton
Keynes.</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">It's not correct
that in 1955 it was thought there would be only two services on VHF - the
Third programme was already 9 years old and went onto VHF simultaneously
with the Home Service and the Light Programme. </SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">When the BBC
first planned it all for three services the band was one-third its
present size (88.0-94.6 MHz), and as for us having more space between stations
than any other country in Europe - a quick look at a transmitter map of
Northern Europe both historically and today would show that not to be
true. Southern Europe (okay, Italy really) is another story of
course!</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Alex</SPAN><o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></P></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: black 1.5pt solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0cm; MARGIN: 5pt 0cm 5pt 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 4pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0cm; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0cm">
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">----- Original
Message ----- <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4" class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">From:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
title=bobtyler@btinternet.com href="mailto:bobtyler@btinternet.com">ROBERT
TYLER</A> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">To:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> <A
title=cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk
href="mailto:cma-l@mailman.commedia.org.uk">The Community Media Association
Discussion List</A> ; <A title=ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk
href="mailto:ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk">ravensound@pilgrimsound.co.uk</A>
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Sent:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Sunday,
September 28, 2014 8:09 PM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt">Subject:</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; FONT-SIZE: 10pt"> Re: [cma-l]
Extending Community Radio on FM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Tony<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">It is my
understanding that the British specification for the FM (then VHF) band was
established before the Second World War. At the time it was considered that
only the two BBC services would be on VHF. I believe that the specifications
laid down are still current and are based on roof top aerials, as it was
considered that to receive VHF such an aerial would be required.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Also for some
reason, we in the UK also decided to employ extra separation/guarding,
in order to prevent ANY possibility of the Home Service Bedford
transmitter interfering with the Home Service Dover transmitter or Crewe
Relay. In other words, we have more space between services than any other
country in Europe. In many respects we have the perfect VHF/FM transmitter
network.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Of course then, it
was not expected that the reception of radio would extend to telescopic
aerials or tiny coil antenna, thereby making the roof top aerial redundant.
Nor even then, was the prospect of commercial or community radio in the
future mix. As a side issue, a few commercial stations and many community
radio station are in allocated BBC spectrum at the behest of Dear Old Aunty.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">The mystery of so
called �expertise� in planning the VHF/FM spectrum has remained in the hand
of the regulators. I do remember asking my MP sometime in the 70�s to
lodge a written question about an available frequency to The Home Secretary,
only to receive the reply that 101 point something was �used to track
otters� . <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">I did have it
confirmed that 102.2 was assigned wrongly and should have been able to
accommodate several UK allocations but apparently the spectrum had been
badly assigned at a too high a power in the East of England, (flat
terrain) thereby rendering the space sterile for a large part of the
country. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">In summary there
are many issues (and many question) surrounding spectrum allocation and the
regulator of the day always hold the mystery ticket. The �beauty contest� of
selecting future licence holders compounds the decision process. The reality
is that the only policy is to switch to DAB so any FM debate is a waste of
time. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Hope this
helps<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Tahoma','sans-serif'; COLOR: black">Bob<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="BACKGROUND: white" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: black"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></DIV></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR><BR>Reply -
cma-l@commedia.org.uk<BR><BR>The cma-l mailing list is a members' service
provided by the Community Media Association -
http://www.commedia.org.uk<BR>Twitter:
http://twitter.com/community_media<BR>http://www.facebook.com/CommunityMediaAssociation<BR>Canstream
Internet Radio & Video:
http://www.canstream.co.uk/<BR>_______________________________________________<BR><BR>Mailing
list guidelines:
http://www.commedia.org.uk/about/cma-email-lists/email-list-guidelines/<BR>_______________________________________________<BR><BR>To
unsubscribe or manage your CMA-L mailing list subscription please
visit:<BR>http://mailman.commedia.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/cma-l</BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>