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General Vintage Technology Discussions For general discussions about vintage radio and other vintage electronics etc. |
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19th Mar 2018, 1:14 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
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BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
The Daily Mail reports the BBC has cancelled plans to switch-off FM radio broadcasts and force millions of listeners to tune into digital transmissions
The corporation is set to announce FM will remain as part of a 'hybrid' future that will operate alongside DAB and the internet. 'We all once thought that DAB was the only digital future of radio, but audiences want choice,' BBC Director Bob Shennan will tell a radio industry conference in Vienna. Read the full story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-FM-radio.html Courtesy of SouthGate Amateur Radio News.
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19th Mar 2018, 1:46 pm | #2 |
Octode
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Great news for me as I continue restoring my Bush SRG86, I can enjoy FM for years to come
I like that they are offering the choice of analogue, I don't know many people who have DAB radios and I believe FM is still the choice for many drivers. The only people I know who use DAB have receivers in new cars, but to my knowledge not all new vehicles are equipped with DAB receivers. In my view DAB will soon be dead as internet radio on the move becomes more viable. Its infinitely more flexible and more diverse in content. |
19th Mar 2018, 1:47 pm | #3 |
Dekatron
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Interesting development- probably many of us suspected that this was happening in effect, but to see it as official policy is something of an about-turn on the previous party line. Running parallel FM/DAB transmission infrastructure can't please the bean-counters and is something of a loss of face for policy-makers. The capital-intensive parts of the FM network- senders and masts- must be quite elderly now, so presumably this implies commitment to future investment?
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19th Mar 2018, 2:07 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Does anyone know the age of the BBC VHF FM transmitters? It may require looking at again when large capital costs for replacements are due. Appreciate they rent the equipment but Arqiva will want a return in the long run so costs will be born by the BBC and eventually the licence payer with increased fee or poorer programming.
There is a paragraph on AM broadcasting in the UK on this url. Abosolute Radio has applied to switch off some of its AM transmitters, they will lose 5% audience but save 50% of their transmission costs. Ignore the part about switching off FM, that has been superseded by yesterday’s BBC announcement. https://www.radioinfo.com.au/news/uk...-ready-turn-fm Edit, just noticed turretslugs comment about equipment age.
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19th Mar 2018, 2:10 pm | #5 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
FM switchoff has always been very unpopular within the BBC because it would mean a large reduction in their audience share (which is why the commercial groups want it, of course). I get the impression that the government has lost interest in the issue and sees FM switchoff as an unnecessary vote loser.
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19th Mar 2018, 2:28 pm | #6 | |
Hexode
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Link to the full text of Bob Shennan's speech
http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/spe...name=corporate It's interesting (but perhaps not surprising) to note that he doesn't mention AM. Quote:
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19th Mar 2018, 2:43 pm | #7 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
On main stations, the last big VHF FM re-engineering project that I remember was in 1987 / 1988 when Radio 1 started on VHF and - at Sandale, anyway - the old ST&C transmitters were replaced with Marconi transmitters. So they'll be coming on thirty years old now. Some new FM relay stations, like at Keswick Forest, up the Whinlatter road, were installed in the 1990s.
Someone from Arqiva will have more info, likely. I don't know what happened after '97.
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19th Mar 2018, 2:46 pm | #8 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
I don’t read that as cancelled the planned FM switch off, more like a postponement which of course could be never, the word cancelled is not there.
Para. 13.
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19th Mar 2018, 2:55 pm | #9 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
At last the light dawns! Having just stuck my neck out on an FM stereo generator, I'm now feeling a little smug...but in any case it's a darned good system, with years if not decades left in it. I wonder whether we'll end up with internet and FM, whilst DAB sinks slowly into the dustbin of history.
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19th Mar 2018, 3:03 pm | #10 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Personally I think that inevitably, FM will be switched off but that is now much farther into the future. Hopefully FM will stay for the foreseeable future and will probably see many of us 'oldies' out! At least it means I can continue to use my superb Leak Troughline for some considerable time.
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19th Mar 2018, 3:03 pm | #11 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
BBC managers have to be very circumspect in their public pronouncements, as the Beeb is required to promote digital radio (effectively DAB) as part of its charter. That's why it runs those infuriating 'DAB is wonderful' ad campaigns periodically.
I read this statement as the BBC taking a stand against switching off its national FM networks simply to force people to use DAB. That doesn't exclude the possibility of a future switchoff if it becomes appropriate. |
19th Mar 2018, 3:15 pm | #12 |
Dekatron
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
I can see all the terrestrial stations going in the future and it all left to IP, it will be after my time but reading that speech you can see where the emphasis is.
At least there is a reprieve for FM, how permanent time will tell. My children don’t listen to VHF/DAB only internet radio of some kind, sometimes just a music stream, even in the car it’s usualy pre recorded music CD or MP3 not the radio.
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19th Mar 2018, 4:02 pm | #13 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Perhaps the BBC has looked at what's happening in Norway, decided they didn't like the reaction of the populace to the withdrawal of FM, and felt it prudent to hold off commitment to DAB for an indeterminate period to avert the same consequences here?
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19th Mar 2018, 4:11 pm | #14 |
Hexode
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
There's also the fact that there is no pressure to vacate the VHF bands as unlike UHF nobody else wants to use them.
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19th Mar 2018, 5:54 pm | #15 |
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
If the BBC disenfranchises a significant lump of its audience by switching off FM then it weakens its own case for a universal licence fee. Maybe someone high up has just realised this.
It may be that bookies are now taking bets on which will be switched off first: DAB or AM. FM could outlast one or both of them. A high sound quality DAB+ SFN for national stations could one day see FM left for regional and local stations, but I am not holding my breath. |
20th Mar 2018, 9:23 am | #16 |
Octode
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Good. Time to put some new batteries in the Beolit and take the biggest hammer I have to the first Pure Evoke I can find.
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20th Mar 2018, 9:48 am | #17 |
Heptode
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BBC wants to keep FM radio for longer.
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20th Mar 2018, 9:50 am | #18 |
Dekatron
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Re: BBC wants to keep FM radio for longer.
Yes, see here:
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/....php?p=1027501 Common sense prevailing at last. Nick |
20th Mar 2018, 9:50 am | #19 |
Dekatron
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Brilliant news for any wireless or radio enthusiast.
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20th Mar 2018, 9:55 am | #20 |
Dekatron
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Re: BBC Shelve FM Switch Off.
Well nothing is forever, I'm sure DAB will close one day. If you're only going to be satiated by the inclusion of the word 'cancelled', then dream on. This is great news in my opinion!
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A digital radio is the latest thing, but a vintage wireless is forever.. |