The board of Manx Radio have said in the latest annual report that they want to close 1368 AM in 2019 because the equipment is at end of life and they don't think replacing it would be good value for money.
Manx Radio 1368 to close ?
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Originally Posted by Resonance:
“Shame for the Caroline North broadcasts. Still, it's a couple of years away yet.”
“Shame for the Caroline North broadcasts. Still, it's a couple of years away yet.”
Hopefully Caroline will get the AM licence for 2017.
Northern supporters could get Caroline put on the Manchester minimux or other muxes? Or go for AM community licence(s) for round 4 which may be in say 2018 before 1368 closes?
Is there any part of the Isle of Man where people are dependent on AM? Is there no room on the FM band for a supplementary service so Manx Radio AM can move to FM?
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“Is there any part of the Isle of Man where people are dependent on AM? Is there no room on the FM band for a supplementary service so Manx Radio AM can move to FM?”
“Is there any part of the Isle of Man where people are dependent on AM? Is there no room on the FM band for a supplementary service so Manx Radio AM can move to FM?”
http://www.tynwald.org.im/business/o...15-GD-0040.pdf
Annual report P24 FM will also be switched off sometime after 2020, leaving just DAB+ and internet distribution.
This is excellent news for Caroline, two more years of possible AM broadcasts if the partnership continues, that's great news
Originally Posted by vinnielo:
“Time to get island-wide DAB up and running then!”
“Time to get island-wide DAB up and running then!”
There was a DAB experimental licence which ran on the island a number of years back for a couple of years. Several variants of Manx Radio along with Virgin Radio, if I remember correctly.
Not sure why it closed or why it was never renewed.
Originally Posted by Maggie_King:
“The board of Manx Radio have said in the latest annual report that they want to close 1368 AM in 2019 because the equipment is at end of life and they don't think replacing it would be good value for money.”
“The board of Manx Radio have said in the latest annual report that they want to close 1368 AM in 2019 because the equipment is at end of life and they don't think replacing it would be good value for money.”
How old is the transmitter ?
I thought it came into service in October 1978 (slightly before the changes on 1st November that year), replacing the old 232 metre and 188 metre transmitters.
Surely it's not that old ?
Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“Annual report P24 FM will also be switched off sometime after 2020, leaving just DAB+ and internet distribution.”
“Annual report P24 FM will also be switched off sometime after 2020, leaving just DAB+ and internet distribution.”
Some time after 2020 isn't very specific. Surely FM won't go until enough people are listening on DAB, unless the other stations on the island want too stop broadcasting on FM also.
A FM transmitter was added to Peel 2014 but AM and FM costs much more than a DAB+ and internet slot to run, so they are looking at potential cost savings.
Found a better link to the latest report with more details on p22
http://mm.aiircdn.com/147/5810c5303f593.pdf
the AM transmitters are 25 and 35 years old and the mast is 50+ years old and getting more expensive to support.
Originally Posted by Fred Rickwood:
“How old is the transmitter ?
I thought it came into service in October 1978 (slightly before the changes on 1st November that year), replacing the old 232 metre and 188 metre transmitters.
Surely it's not that old ?”
“How old is the transmitter ?
I thought it came into service in October 1978 (slightly before the changes on 1st November that year), replacing the old 232 metre and 188 metre transmitters.
Surely it's not that old ?”
Found a better link to the latest report with more details on p22
http://mm.aiircdn.com/147/5810c5303f593.pdf
the AM transmitters are 25 and 35 years old and the mast is 50+ years old and getting more expensive to support.
I have heard Manx Radio on AM and it sounds better than stations in Great Britain. I would not have thought from hearing it that the transmitte was old. I thought there was just one transmitter on 1368?
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“I thought there was just one transmitter on 1368?”
“I thought there was just one transmitter on 1368?”
One is a backup
Quote:
“Our AM transmitter at Foxdale did experience a fault necessitating it being taken out of
service for a day while the fault was identified and repairs undertaken. However,
coverage was not affected as we were able to bring the aging backup transmitter into
service.”
“Our AM transmitter at Foxdale did experience a fault necessitating it being taken out of
service for a day while the fault was identified and repairs undertaken. However,
coverage was not affected as we were able to bring the aging backup transmitter into
service.”
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“Is there any part of the Isle of Man where people are dependent on AM? Is there no room on the FM band for a supplementary service so Manx Radio AM can move to FM?”
“Is there any part of the Isle of Man where people are dependent on AM? Is there no room on the FM band for a supplementary service so Manx Radio AM can move to FM?”
With the Isle of Man being where it is, any new frequencies would need to be carefully looked at in Wales, Scotland and North West England - which probably means it would be very difficult to find frequencies now, particularly as it would need to cover the whole island as the AM version carries Tynwald sessions.
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“Some time after 2020 isn't very specific. Surely FM won't go until enough people are listening on DAB, unless the other stations on the island want too stop broadcasting on FM also.”
“Some time after 2020 isn't very specific. Surely FM won't go until enough people are listening on DAB, unless the other stations on the island want too stop broadcasting on FM also.”
For a relatively self-contained community like the Isle of Man, a DAB+ multiplex covering the island makes perfect sense. Manx Radio and the other local stations currently use multiple high-power transmitters on various FM frequencies to cover the hilly island - perfect conditions for a more efficient SFN.
All existing FM stations (Manx, Energy, 3FM) could be carried on the SFN, along with Manx Radio's TT pop-up services and Tynwald coverage. There'd still be plenty of room for a selection of other services - for instance, community radio or selected UK stations. It would lead to increased choice and better reception for islanders.
The only people I can see who would be irritated by such a move would be Radio Caroline fans on the UK west coast!
Originally Posted by Eitshal:
“The only people I can see who would be irritated by such a move would be Radio Caroline fans on the UK west coast!”
“The only people I can see who would be irritated by such a move would be Radio Caroline fans on the UK west coast!”
It's not only during the Radio Caroline end of month collaborations that I listen to Manx Radio ------ it's an excellent station in it's own right.
Remember it's been on air since 1964 so must be doing something right ----
Please don't post that it's available on line --- I know --- but I don't stream from my mobile phone to the car radio which is where I do most of the listening.
Regards
Originally Posted by Eitshal:
“For a relatively self-contained community like the Isle of Man, a DAB+ multiplex covering the island makes perfect sense.”
“For a relatively self-contained community like the Isle of Man, a DAB+ multiplex covering the island makes perfect sense.”
From a technical perspective it may make sense, but if most people listen to radio on FM on the Isle of Man, it doesn't make sense.
Also, considering the number of stations, what difference does it make whether it is DAB+ or just DAB?
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“From a technical perspective it may make sense, but if most people listen to radio on FM on the Isle of Man, it doesn't make sense.
Also, considering the number of stations, what difference does it make whether it is DAB+ or just DAB?”
“From a technical perspective it may make sense, but if most people listen to radio on FM on the Isle of Man, it doesn't make sense.
Also, considering the number of stations, what difference does it make whether it is DAB+ or just DAB?”
Back in 2009 DAB set ownership was 40%, the figure is probably higher now.
http://radiotoday.co.uk/2009/11/dab-...n-isle-of-man/
If there is still a lot of sets unable to upgrade then stations on a new mux could stay standard DAB if these sets can't be updated to DAB+. Some stations may prefer to go DAB+ to reduce operating costs.
Originally Posted by oscar1:
“It's not only during the Radio Caroline end of month collaborations that I listen to Manx Radio ------ it's an excellent station in it's own right.
Remember it's been on air since 1964 so must be doing something right ----
Please don't post that it's available on line --- I know --- but I don't stream from my mobile phone to the car radio which is where I do most of the listening.
Regards”
“It's not only during the Radio Caroline end of month collaborations that I listen to Manx Radio ------ it's an excellent station in it's own right.
Remember it's been on air since 1964 so must be doing something right ----
Please don't post that it's available on line --- I know --- but I don't stream from my mobile phone to the car radio which is where I do most of the listening.
Regards”
It will still be another 2 years before 1368 closes and by then more UK community AM transmitters might relay Caroline, or might be easier to stream in a car, or Caroline will be more likely on more DAB muxes and car adaptors will be cheaper?
Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“It will still be another 2 years before 1368 closes and by then more UK community AM transmitters might relay Caroline, or might be easier to stream in a car, or Caroline will be more likely on more DAB muxes and car adaptors will be cheaper?”
“It will still be another 2 years before 1368 closes and by then more UK community AM transmitters might relay Caroline, or might be easier to stream in a car, or Caroline will be more likely on more DAB muxes and car adaptors will be cheaper?”
Yes who knows what the future brings ---- I already have a DAB/DAB+ car adaptor.
Still be a shame to lose Manx Radio though -----
Regards
Originally Posted by wns_195:
“From a technical perspective it may make sense, but if most people listen to radio on FM on the Isle of Man, it doesn't make sense.
Also, considering the number of stations, what difference does it make whether it is DAB+ or just DAB?”
“From a technical perspective it may make sense, but if most people listen to radio on FM on the Isle of Man, it doesn't make sense.
Also, considering the number of stations, what difference does it make whether it is DAB+ or just DAB?”
With only the BBC multiplex on-air currently, the Isle of Man is almost a virgin market for DAB. No new digital radio deployment in the late 2010s should be using the ancient MP2 codec when AAC+ is a proven technology.
Anyone buying an old-style DAB radio now deserves what they get. I was amazed to see a number of non-tickmarked radios for sale in a large supermarket just this week. Surely it's time to get these off the shelves.
Originally Posted by Eitshal:
“Anyone buying an old-style DAB radio now deserves what they get.”
“Anyone buying an old-style DAB radio now deserves what they get.”
That's very harsh !
If someone sees a digital radio at Tesco with a shelf label saying New, why on earth should they expect it to be already obsolete? Ditto with John Lewis and Sainsbury's own brands. These companies are simply ripping people off.
Originally Posted by Eitshal:
“I was amazed to see a number of non-tickmarked radios for sale in a large supermarket just this week. Surely it's time to get these off the shelves.”
“I was amazed to see a number of non-tickmarked radios for sale in a large supermarket just this week. Surely it's time to get these off the shelves.”
Absolutely. All digital radios should be fit for purpose. At the very least, they should be obliged to include a prominent warning that many DAB+ stations will never be receivable.
Originally Posted by Eitshal:
“With only the BBC multiplex on-air currently, the Isle of Man is almost a virgin market for DAB. No new digital radio deployment in the late 2010s should be using the ancient MP2 codec when AAC+ is a proven technology.
Anyone buying an old-style DAB radio now deserves what they get. I was amazed to see a number of non-tickmarked radios for sale in a large supermarket just this week. Surely it's time to get these off the shelves.”
“With only the BBC multiplex on-air currently, the Isle of Man is almost a virgin market for DAB. No new digital radio deployment in the late 2010s should be using the ancient MP2 codec when AAC+ is a proven technology.
Anyone buying an old-style DAB radio now deserves what they get. I was amazed to see a number of non-tickmarked radios for sale in a large supermarket just this week. Surely it's time to get these off the shelves.”
According to the Radiotoday link I posted earlier there are already a large number of DAB sets. There is no reason why the new local mux can't have R Manx and the former AM optout programmes at 128k stereo MP2 for backwards compatability and other stations in AAC DAB+.
Here are the details of the DAB trial on the Island that ran between 2002 and 2003. Operators were Virgin Radio and Crown Castle.
The Isle of Man government decided not to pursue DAB because of costs:
http://www.wohnort.org/dab/ukloc.html#IoM
The Isle of Man government decided not to pursue DAB because of costs:
http://www.wohnort.org/dab/ukloc.html#IoM
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