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The 'AM death watch' thread... |
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#176 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Essex
Posts: 3,858
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Quote:
Andy Sennitt spotted this news on radio.nl. Summary of his translation.
Last Wednesday, three high power AM stations of France Info, the news channel of the public broadcaster, were switched off to save costs, 837 north of Nancy 200kw, 792 north of Limoges 300kw, 945 SW of Toulouse 300kw. France Info is currently available on more than 260 FM frequencies. Nevertheless there are still areas where the station is not well-received on FM. Radio France has decided not to invest in DAB+. Transmitters to be dismantled after the summer. In the Netherlands it's planned to turn off the mediumwave transmitter of Radio 5 in 2015, but an official notice has not yet been released. http://radio.nl/793867/france-info-h...s-uit-de-lucht The problem in the majority of France is that, unlike Britain, their national stations have to rely on a network of low power FM transmitters with large gaps in between. A legacy that means it is difficult to just switch off AM until a new nationwide platform is available. |
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#177 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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Yes, the Dutch commercial stations were rolling out national DAB+ coverage much quicker than anticipated (and quicker than required by license). The public broadcaster needed to keep up but was in the middle of budget cuts. They found budget for their national DAB+ rollout by switching off Radio 5 on AM two years earlier than originally planned.
Two years of power consumption of a MW transmitter is quite a lot. |
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#178 |
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Join Date: May 2004
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Pity that they cannot just get on and do the same here, switch off Medium Wave and Long Wave and invest the savings in DAB coverage.
The BBC has given notice R4 LW and local wave MW will close under the DFQ cuts. but no confirmed date, maybe waiting DAB rollout, a survey and Trust approval? http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/10/mw-s...c-local-radio/ |
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#179 |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Bristol UK
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Quote:
I think when more DAB sets are in cars and vans (in a year or 2) Bauer will switch off Absolute AM, Also the transmission contracts for Gold and Smooth AM will finish 2015-2017 and may not be renewed.
The BBC has given notice R4 LW and local wave MW will close under the DFQ cuts. but no confirmed date, maybe waiting DAB rollout, a survey and Trust approval? http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/10/mw-s...c-local-radio/ |
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#180 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
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After a lot of time and money has been spent on maintenance work on the Droitwich 198 and 693 aerials I don't see the BBC in any rush to close these services.
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#181 |
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Herts
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Settlement of Dynamically Switched Meters, Elexon, 30 April 2014, Page 9
"Suppliers and LDSOs have previously raised concerns about continuity of service, given a previous announcement by the BBC that it planned to discontinue long wave broadcasting. However, the BBC and ENA have recently reached an agreement to keep the RTS infrastructure working until March 2020." http://www.elexon.co.uk/wp-content/u...ation-v0_3.pdf |
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#182 |
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: East Perthshire
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Quote:
I think when more DAB sets are in cars and vans (in a year or 2)
http://radiotoday.co.uk/2012/10/mw-s...c-local-radio/ Car makers have not, and are still not embracing DAB. Despite the publicity (or more accurately marketing spin) put out, most new cars - and I'm talking about the ones that most people buy, not high end makes or models - come with an AM/FM/CD built in to the dash. I'm currently looking at a new car and none of the ones I've test driven offer DAB. Only one had a USB slot, and none had a 3.5 jack for an mp3 or external /DAB receiver. All had the option available but at a considerable price premium which is something that most buyers won't pay. Personally, I build in to my budgeting the price of an after market head unit and better speakers to replace the crap that comes with a new car, but I am a radio geek. Most buyers are not, and as long as the car stereo can receive Radio 2/Heart etc. etc. and play a CD they are satisfied. |
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#183 |
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Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Scotland east
Posts: 2,842
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Why do people want to see the end of AM broadcasting? If it wasn't for Am then the pirate stations of the 60s would have had no audience, so the resulting opening up of radio in the UK wouldn't have happened?
The main problem with AM is interference from digital devices. I used to be CRT tv that caused the whistles, but now it's modern circuitry. Get a valve AM set (plenty in junk shops etc), a decent long wire aerial and listen to the quality of the signal. |
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#184 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 428
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Quote:
What makes you think that there will be a lot more in car DAB in a year or two?
Car makers have not, and are still not embracing DAB. Despite the publicity (or more accurately marketing spin) put out, most new cars - and I'm talking about the ones that most people buy, not high end makes or models - come with an AM/FM/CD built in to the dash. I'm currently looking at a new car and none of the ones I've test driven offer DAB. Only one had a USB slot, and none had a 3.5 jack for an mp3 or external /DAB receiver. All had the option available but at a considerable price premium which is something that most buyers won't pay. Personally, I build in to my budgeting the price of an after market head unit and better speakers to replace the crap that comes with a new car, but I am a radio geek. Most buyers are not, and as long as the car stereo can receive Radio 2/Heart etc. etc. and play a CD they are satisfied. With a couple of brands you don't even have a choice anymore because all (or nearly all) their models come with a DAB radio as standard. BMW fits 100% of their cars with DAB, VW 89%, Audi 88%, Ford 77%, Vauxhall and Mercedes around 60%. |
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#185 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 25,460
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Quote:
Why do people want to see the end of AM broadcasting? If it wasn't for Am then the pirate stations of the 60s would have had no audience, so the resulting opening up of radio in the UK wouldn't have happened?
The main problem with AM is interference from digital devices. I used to be CRT tv that caused the whistles, but now it's modern circuitry. Get a valve AM set (plenty in junk shops etc), a decent long wire aerial and listen to the quality of the signal. |
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#186 |
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Join Date: Sep 2005
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Quote:
With a couple of brands you don't even have a choice any more ...
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#187 |
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Join Date: May 2004
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Quote:
As DigMorris said the main problem with AM is interference from digital devices. I used to be CRT tv that caused the whistles, but now it's modern circuitry.
Some broadcasters, like France Info, BBC world service 648 and the Russians, decided the costs are too much, CRI have decided to keep AM 1440 and 558 but low power, As Colin London said Europe 1 and RTL decided to keep LW as rural parts of France do not get the stations on FM if they could extend FM (which they can't) they would switch LW off. Lagardère who run Europe 1 were hoping a digital satellite radio service would be up and running to maybe replace Europe 1 on LW, http://www.onde-numerique.fr/on/?p=2098 but seems delayed, or cancelled, leaving DAB+ to finally start in France (much to the annoyance of Lagardère and RTL), but will take time to roll out to rural areas.. http://www.onde-numerique.fr/on/?p=2098 |
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#188 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Essex
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Based on AutoExpress top 5 selling UK Cars:
#1 Ford Fiesta (Feb 2014) DAB: Standard on 5/9 variants, Option on 3/9 FM: Standard on 3/9 variants #2 Ford Focus (Nov 2013) DAB: Standard on 8/10 variants, Option on 1/10 FM: Standard on 2/10 variants #3 Vauxhall Corsa (2014) DAB: Standard on 2/10 variants, Option on 8/10 FM: Standard on 8/10 variants #4 VW Golf (2014) DAB: Standard on 7/7 variants #5 Vauxhall Astra DAB: Standard on 2/9 variants, Option on 6/9 FM: Standard on 7/9 variants So Ford is pretty good actually, and VW have fully taken the plunge. It is only Vauxhall that has catching up to do. |
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#189 |
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Essex
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Quote:
Why do people want to see the end of AM broadcasting? If it wasn't for Am then the pirate stations of the 60s would have had no audience, so the resulting opening up of radio in the UK wouldn't have happened?
The main problem with AM is interference from digital devices. I used to be CRT tv that caused the whistles, but now it's modern circuitry. Get a valve AM set (plenty in junk shops etc), a decent long wire aerial and listen to the quality of the signal. If you want a 'valve-sound' might be better to run a DAB radio PCM output into an upconverting valve/hybrid DAC Although a 128kbps AAC internet radio stream might be even better.
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#190 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 2,004
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I can't understand why Absolute still run the 1260khz fill in for Guildford on AM- the 105.8FM signal throughout the area is rock solid.
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#191 |
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Quote:
I can't understand why Absolute still run the 1260khz fill in for Guildford on AM- the 105.8FM signal throughout the area is rock solid.
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#192 |
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Join Date: May 2004
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Quote:
I can't understand why Absolute still run the 1260khz fill in for Guildford on AM- the 105.8FM signal throughout the area is rock solid.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/radio...amaps/MCAs.htm If Absolute AM is switched off within a couple of years if DAB and internet radio listening in cars increases, they will probabily give the AM licence, maintenance contract and switch off all AM sites at the same time, rather than phased? http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/article/1...-am-switch-off |
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#193 |
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Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Shropshire
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Why do people want to see the end of AM broadcasting? If it wasn't for Am then the pirate stations of the 60s would have had no audience, so the resulting opening up of radio in the UK wouldn't have happened?
The main problem with AM is interference from digital devices. I used to be CRT tv that caused the whistles, but now it's modern circuitry. Get a valve AM set (plenty in junk shops etc), a decent long wire aerial and listen to the quality of the signal. With the increase of broadband internet usage and wireless routers becoming more popular, the interference it is causing on AM is intolerable nowadays. Here at home the AM bands on all my radios (including a very old valve set like you mentioned) are saturated with beeps, buzzes and indescribable noises coming from the aforementioned sources. I can just about hear Absolute Radio and BBC Radio 5 "LIVE" but can not put up with the interference. BBC Radio 4 on LW suffers very badly too.This is coming from me who listened to R.N.I throughout the time when it was being jammed and when Radio Caroline had that awful hetrodyne whistle on 963 kHz during the 1980s. It may become very expensive for AM broadcasters to keep their transmitters on the air when fewer and fewer people are able to listen to it. Indeed, why should they put up with all the interference on AM when those stations and more are available on DAB, FM and online? Last edited by LaurelandHardy : 16-07-2014 at 08:54. Reason: Eye karnt spel! |
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#194 |
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Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Surrey
Posts: 1,023
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If transmitting AM is so expensive, I can't understand why we haven't seen any progress with the switching off of the needless BBC Local Radio AM transmissions. Some stations do split away for sports coverage on AM, but with most stations now on digital they can just split between FM and DAB instead, which BBC London do already. It's now some time since the switch-off trials finished, and I can't see why they haven't at least started with the less controversial areas, where FM and DAB reception is good and that don't use AM for alternative programmes, prime example being BBC Surrey which is still booming away in this area on 1368kHz for no reason that I can see.
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#195 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 428
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Quote:
Based on AutoExpress top 5 selling UK Cars:
#1 Ford Fiesta (Feb 2014) DAB: Standard on 5/9 variants, Option on 3/9 FM: Standard on 3/9 variants #2 Ford Focus (Nov 2013) DAB: Standard on 8/10 variants, Option on 1/10 FM: Standard on 2/10 variants #3 Vauxhall Corsa (2014) DAB: Standard on 2/10 variants, Option on 8/10 FM: Standard on 8/10 variants #4 VW Golf (2014) DAB: Standard on 7/7 variants #5 Vauxhall Astra DAB: Standard on 2/9 variants, Option on 6/9 FM: Standard on 7/9 variants So Ford is pretty good actually, and VW have fully taken the plunge. It is only Vauxhall that has catching up to do. |
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#196 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,570
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Quote:
If transmitting AM is so expensive, I can't understand why we haven't seen any progress with the switching off of the needless BBC Local Radio AM transmissions. Some stations do split away for sports coverage on AM, but with most stations now on digital they can just split between FM and DAB instead, which BBC London do already. It's now some time since the switch-off trials finished, and I can't see why they haven't at least started with the less controversial areas, where FM and DAB reception is good and that don't use AM for alternative programmes, prime example being BBC Surrey which is still booming away in this area on 1368kHz for no reason that I can see.
Quote:
The Trust said "more detailed work" is needed before a decision is made on the DQF proposal to close down some medium-wave transmissions
The detailed work has been going on for 2 years now so presumably not a priority for savings?
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#197 |
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Join Date: Dec 2009
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Quote:
The main problem for broadcasters is that AM transmission costs are more than FM or digital platforms.
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#198 |
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Central Belt
Posts: 12,274
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Quote:
If transmitting AM is so expensive, I can't understand why we haven't seen any progress with the switching off of the needless BBC Local Radio AM transmissions. Some stations do split away for sports coverage on AM, but with most stations now on digital they can just split between FM and DAB instead, which BBC London do already. It's now some time since the switch-off trials finished, and I can't see why they haven't at least started with the less controversial areas, where FM and DAB reception is good and that don't use AM for alternative programmes, prime example being BBC Surrey which is still booming away in this area on 1368kHz for no reason that I can see.
It should have done so a long time ago as well as many other BBC local stations that could be heard conpletely throughout the intended area on AM and FM with no split programming |
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#199 |
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Glasgow
Posts: 1,544
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Celtic Music Radio 1530AM shutdown its medium wave transmitter on 1st July after six and half years on 1530AM broadcasting across the Glasgow area with 100W emrp.
Celtic Music Radio switched over to 95.0 FM across Glasgow and after a few days of test transmissions, Celtic Music Radio 95 FM launched at 12 noon on 1st July 2014. Sad to have lost 1530AM, but reception in Glasgow city centre was very poor due to the building clutter and during winter months, 1530AM suffered from interference including the Gold station in Huddersfield! The Celtic Music Radio programme service is more appropriate to FM transmission. Visit www.celticmusicradio.net |
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#200 |
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Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,570
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In the US Radio Disney is leaving AM (but will still be online and Satellite) and the 23 AM stations are up for sale.
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/new...digital/133166 |
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Although a 128kbps AAC internet radio stream might be even better.