[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by Ethan Rayne

The station name will disappear and those of us who remember it as Rock Radio will cheer from the rafters about this, but I have no doubt the station will continue hopefully run by someone who understands the listeners, expect an announcement end of July.

If Global hang on to it I cant see them keeping the format the same to be honest - if they keep it as rock i expect it to be modernised somewhat. After all they were going to close Planet Rock when they owned it so they wouldnt want another classic rock station i wouldnt think.

Then again for what its worth the radiogoss twitter acc was bandying the awful 'TeamRock' name around...

[Gary Brenton]

Originally Posted by Ethan Rayne

The station name will disappear and those of us who remember it as Rock Radio will cheer from the rafters about this, but I have no doubt the station will continue hopefully run by someone who understands the listeners, expect an announcement end of July.

Well I suppose thats good news if it is being kept as a 'Rock' format because most stations that disappear from DAB end up being something completely different.

I remember a good few years ago when we had a really decent variety on DAB such as Real Radio/ Century/ Capital Life/ Core/ etc... but unfortunately they were short lived and most (if not all) completely changed format.

For what it's worth though, if the industry is to take DAB seriously...then there has to be a variation for everyone and so far for the last 10 years or so, it just seems to be an experiment...

I must have been the first on the bandwagon when DAB was first introduced when there was only about 5-6 stations broadcasting on DAB - albeit all national stations and I think that the only commercial station left on DAB is 'Planet Rock'

[hanssolo]

Originally Posted by Gary Brenton

I remember a good few years ago when we had a really decent variety on DAB such as Real Radio/ Century/ Capital Life/ Core/ etc... but unfortunately they were short lived and most (if not all) completely changed format.

For what it's worth though, if the industry is to take DAB seriously...then there has to be a variation for everyone and so far for the last 10 years or so, it just seems to be an experiment...

I must have been the first on the bandwagon when DAB was first introduced when there was only about 5-6 stations broadcasting on DAB - albeit all national stations and I think that the only commercial station left on DAB is 'Planet Rock'

The original D1 application is still on wikipedia

Digital One Ltd (original application)
Classic FM Classical music GWR (now part of Global Radio)
Classic Gold Rock Rock music NTL
Club dance Dance music TBA
Plays, books and music Comedy, drama and serials TBA
Rolling news service Rolling news ITN
Soft AC Female contemporary music TBA
Sports channel Live sports and comment Talk Radio UK
Talk Radio (now talkSPORT) Talk radio Talk Radio UK (now owned by UTV Radio)
Teen and chart hits Pop and dance music GWR
Virgin Radio (now Absolute Radio) Complementary rock music SMG plc (station is now owned by TIML)

Classic FM still the same and controversially got automatic national FM renewal for being on DAB
Classic Gold Rock is now Planetrock
club,plays and rolling news never survived
Soft AC was Capitallife and is now basically Smooth (or Heart on local muxes)
Sports and talk is still Talksport and controversially got automatic AM renewal for being on DAB
Teen and charts was Core and is now effectively BFBS for service families (or Kiss or Capital for chart music on local muxes)
Absolute still the same and controversially got automatic AM renewal for being on DAB

UCB and Premier were banned from the application as religious owned stations were not allowed but are now.
Primetime took a club/sports slot and is effectively Jazz FM
Absolute and Smooth added decade stations
Amazing wth unsigned artists is trying to get back the last spare slot

Interesting comparing this with Europe where Germany and the Swiss national commercial muxes are doing well.
The Netherlands are tying in FM renews with their muxes to be launched 2013
France's plans are still up in the air as Radio France and the 4 main commercial FM licence holders do not have to be on RNT(DAB), and are trying to stop the new muxes to stop small radio groups launching new services in competition. http://www.worlddab.org/news/france

[Ethan Rayne]

Originally Posted by midlandsfirst

Then again for what its worth the radiogoss twitter acc was bandying the awful 'TeamRock' name around...

If you'd been at the download festival and heard the on site radio station you'd have seen that the name and the branding works well, so much better than Real XS-meh.

[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by Ethan Rayne

If you'd been at the download festival and heard the on site radio station you'd have seen that the name and the branding works well, so much better than Real XS-meh.

Vile name in my opinion - throws up images of teenage fan girls with their Twilight obsessions - Team Edward etc

I could see it working for a modern rock station - that attracts a younger audience but not for a classic rock station (unless as I said before - it will move more in a modern rock direction...)

Just my opinion though

[James Martin 2]

Capital Life, and later just Life was a brilliant station. I know GCap shut it anyway, but I imagine Global would have anyway as it would have been a massive conflict with Heart.

However, the mix of music was really, really good I remember. I do miss it.

[crusher19860138]

Originally Posted by midlandsfirst

In centre of Walsall and cant get BBC Radio WM, Free Radio (Birmingham or Black Country) without bubbling.

Saying that though - As i only listen to Rock (Classic not modern) and country, there is no station on FM in this area that I would listen to anyway so doesnt really matter either way to me. Only station I listen to is Real XS but that will probably be going/changing soon anyway.....

Most of my listening is online nowadays

Steve

Walsall used to be solid Beacon Radio years ago,more stations nowadays does not mean better choice for the listener!

[Jamie6767]

Im not interested in the DAB only stations. I only listen to LBC, R4, R5L and Kiss.

I have a mega FM aerial on the roof that gives superb signal feeding round the house. I have a DAB bedside thingy, but FM everywhere else. I sold another DAB I owned as I had no use for it.

It will be a sad day when FM is ever switched off.

[calderjon]

Why will it be a sad day Jamie? Honestly don`t understand why. Its about the sound, the audio, surely the delivery medium is not REALLY important?

[Jamie6767]

A sad day because I would be forced to renew my kitchen system, and my living room system (I recently restored a 1979 Sharp music centre I bought off ebay that now sits next to my newer digital stuff, and I find I am using the Sharp far more for the simple 'one button' type convenience rather than faffing about with remotes), my car system etc.

A sad day as I will lose some stations from FM stereo to DAB mono.

A sad day because when I listen to my FM radio on my phone, I can still make out whats going on in poor signal areas. With live streaming or DAB it works or it doesnt - no middle ground.

When you have a very high quality FM signal as I do (Hertfordshire), DAB has little appeal.

[Peter the Great]

Originally Posted by Jamie6767

Im not interested in the DAB only stations. I only listen to LBC, R4, R5L and Kiss.

I have a mega FM aerial on the roof that gives superb signal feeding round the house. I have a DAB bedside thingy, but FM everywhere else. I sold another DAB I owned as I had no use for it.

It will be a sad day when FM is ever switched off.

No one has said that FM will be completely switched off! It will be used for community stations which makes sense. Broadcasting National radio on FM is useless because you need numerous frequencies. Outside the main Cities station choice on FM is dreadful and with the exeption of Classic FM and the 4 BBC National networks you are left with dull, repetative commercial stations that all sound the same. DAB offers much better choice.

[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by calderjon

Why will it be a sad day Jamie? Honestly don`t understand why. Its about the sound, the audio, surely the delivery medium is not REALLY important?

That all relies on the sound quality being better (or at least equal to) FM though - In the West Midlands, Kerrang! is on 64Kbps mono - so therefore DAB is a step back in that case as there is no way that even comes close the sound quality of their 105.2fm frequency.

Also its yet more money for people to splash out to upgrade their radios - how many people have several radios - one in each room in some cases. Some people (pensioners etc) rely on their radio for company - they either have to buy several new radios (inc outdoor aerials in some areas) or carry a new one from room to room. Just after they have had to buy freeview boxes etc...

Steve

[Martin Phillp]

Originally Posted by Peter the Great

No one has said that FM will be completely switched off! It will be used for community stations which makes sense.

Small scale commercial radio would also stay on FM where the TSA would be considerably smaller than the DAB multiplex.

This would benefit the likes of Radio Jackie who'd otherwise pay for carriage on a multiplex which covers the whole of London and the home counties.

[Peter the Great]

Originally Posted by Gary Brenton

Well I suppose thats good news if it is being kept as a 'Rock' format because most stations that disappear from DAB end up being something completely different.

I remember a good few years ago when we had a really decent variety on DAB such as Real Radio/ Century/ Capital Life/ Core/ etc... but unfortunately they were short lived and most (if not all) completely changed format.

For what it's worth though, if the industry is to take DAB seriously...then there has to be a variation for everyone and so far for the last 10 years or so, it just seems to be an experiment...

I must have been the first on the bandwagon when DAB was first introduced when there was only about 5-6 stations broadcasting on DAB - albeit all national stations and I think that the only commercial station left on DAB is 'Planet Rock'

What you just mentioned isn't variety though. Sure there have been some good DAB stations like Primetime Radio and Oneword that have dissapeared. But stations like Life and Core were the usual unimaginative dull formats that were already being and are still being done to death.

[calderjon]

But surely a decent online stream relayed via an fm transmitter indoors would allow all the "old" technology to co-exist with the new.

I agree - DAB is awful - Ive not listened much but when I have, its been really distorted - nothing like a good strong FM signal.

Shout cast streams do match FM though.

[david1956]

Originally Posted by Jamie6767

Im not interested in the DAB only stations. I only listen to LBC, R4, R5L and Kiss.

I have a mega FM aerial on the roof that gives superb signal feeding round the house. I have a DAB bedside thingy, but FM everywhere else. I sold another DAB I owned as I had no use for it.

It will be a sad day when FM is ever switched off.

Why. Regardless of the size of your aeriel all you will be able to get is Heart, Heart, Heart and Heart.

[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by calderjon

But surely a decent online stream relayed via an fm transmitter indoors would allow all the "old" technology to co-exist with the new.

But then 99% (if not 100%) of the legal fm transmitters have abysmal sound quality with music. Plus you have to have an isp with 'unlimited data' too. I do - but people on other isps dont

[Peter the Great]

Originally Posted by midlandsfirst

but if its about the sound and the audio then round here Kerrang! is on 64Kbps mono - so therefore DAB is a step back in that case as there is no way that even comes close the sound quality of FM.

Also its yet more money for people to splash out to upgrade their radios - how many people have several radios - one in each room in some cases. Some people (pensioners etc) rely on their radio for company - they either have to buy several new radios (inc outdoor aerials in some areas) or carry a new one from room to room. Just after they have had to buy freeview boxes etc...

Steve

Well with Kerrang you are lucky to have it on FM. Most areas don't have this sort of station at all on FM! Also what's the point of listening to stations outside your TSA? They mostly all have the same boring format and most of them if not already will end up being a syndication of Heart.

[calderjon]

Originally Posted by midlandsfirst

But then 99% (if not 100%) of the legal fm transmitters have abysmal sound quality with music. Plus you have to have an isp with 'unlimited data' too. I do - but people on other isps dont

Hmm must be a solution somewhere along the line.

I think the days of unlimited data are on the way.

One thought, I use Bluetooth between my iphone and car head unit and the sound is superb.

Just a matter of time before the technology is there I guess for the mainstream.

[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by Peter the Great

Well with Kerrang you are lucky to have it on FM. Most areas don't have this sort of station at all on FM! Also what's the point of listening to stations outside your TSA? They mostly all have the same boring format and most of them if not already will end up being a syndication of Heart.

We are (if Kerrang is your sort of thing of course) - but just because we are lucky to have it on FM - doesnt mean that we should take a step back by moving to DAB - surely the idea of new technology is to improve on the previous tech.

And regarding other stations - not always - BBC Shropshire is far far better than BBC WM to listen to in my opinion. Amongst other shows, there is a weekly country music show on BBC Shropshire - not on WM. So there is a benefit in some cases...

Steve

[Peter the Great]

Originally Posted by midlandsfirst

We are (if Kerrang is your sort of thing of course) - but just because we are lucky to have it on FM - doesnt mean that we should take a step back by moving to DAB - surely the idea of new technology is to improve on the previous tech.

And regarding other stations - not always - BBC Shropshire is far far better than BBC WM to listen to in my opinion. Amongst other shows, there is a weekly country music show on BBC Shropshire - not on WM. So there is a benefit in some cases...

Steve

And what makes you think that you won't pick up a multiplex outside your TSA? My local multiplex is for Reading and Basingstoke but I can also pick up the South Coast multiplex. With an external aerial I could also pick up the London multiplexes. They are still also adding transmitters to improve reception.

[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by Peter the Great

And what makes you think that you won't pick up a multiplex outside your TSA? My local multiplex is for Reading and Basingstoke but I can also pick up the South Coast multiplex. With an external aerial I could also pick up the London multiplexes. They are still also adding transmitters to improve reception.

Well you are lucky to pick up another multiples, I cant even get the Wolverhampton multiplex without an external aerial so stand no chance of Shropshire...and dont forget an external aerial is yet more money for people on top of the new radios they have to buy.

[Peter the Great]

Originally Posted by midlandsfirst

because an external aerial is yet more money for people on top of the new radios they have to buy. I cant even get the Wolverhampton multiplex without an external aerial so stand no chance of Shropshire...

But you need an external aerial to get decent reception on FM stations outside you area?

[midlandsfirst]

Originally Posted by Peter the Great

But you need an external aerial to get decent reception on FM stations outside you area?

nope - I can get stations from Shropshire, Stoke etc on a standard FM portable radio

[James Martin 2]

I use an FM TX made by a company called Linex. Someone on here suggested they're technically illegal in the UK - they seem very powerful; stereo reception is possible 2-3 houses away, and the car will pick it up crystal clear a good 250-300m away.

However sound quality is very good, although I do pile on the processing in Breakaway.