Digital radio switchover gets poor reception

On Wed, 26 May 2010 21:05:33 +0100, Mark Carver wrote:

I think it's probably because Chesterfield's transmit allocations for
R1-4 are only 300 kHz below HM's. That wouldn't make transposition
impossible, but more difficult than the 700 kHz gap with SC ?

When did BBC Radio 1-4 VHF FM transmissions start from Chesterfield,
because I see no mention of it on the rather old map for Sutton Coldfield
with relays coverage at

http://tx.mb21.co.UK/gallery/suttoncoldfield/maps.php

However the BBC, as a courtesy to their listeners, do list this as a
relay to the Arqiva (48% owned by Canada Pension Plan Investment Board)
VHF FM transmitter at Sutton Coldfield at

http://www.bbc.co.UK/reception/transmitters/radio/england_fm.shtml#Sutton

On May 26, 10:44*pm, Paul Ratcliffe
wrote:
On Wed, 26 May 2010 21:05:33 +0100, Mark Carver
wrote:

Anyway, here's a laugh! This morning at 1128 my R4 was automatically
displaced replaced by R Sheff, and 'traffic' flashed on the radio. The
'traffic flash' was timed exacly right for me to be treated to a
gramophone recording by The Jackson Five.

I think Mr. W means 10:28 not 11:28.

Apologies. I was late for a 1030 meeting, so you're right.

I switched to Sheff manually
just afterwards, to hear a real traffic flash about three minutes
later. Now, time-honoured custom dictates that traffic flashes on
Sheff are just before the hour, then at 20 past and 20 to. So they
hoisted the traffic flag at the wrong time and then had the traffic
flash at a different but equally wrong time.

They seem to be on the hour and the half hour from what I can see.
Not according to their website. I quote:
Listen to the latest travel bulletins on Radio Sheffield: 20 to, 20
past and just before every hour.



They might have been playing their travel jingle on 'Pre Fade' (a sort of
rehearsal mode on the mixing desk), and the trigger still got sent to the RDS
computer. I don't know whether Paul R's clever software has made it that far
north yet ? :-)

Indeed it has :-) and although the logging to disk is sadly not turned
on, there's enough history to screen scrape, which reveals TA active:
10:27:29-10:27:31
10:27:32-10:29:12

10:30:45-10:31:24
10:59:25-10:59:53
11:30:52-11:31:34

The fundamental problem with the way it is driven, on this station using
sub-audible embedded tones, leaves the system open to undesired
mis-triggering, which seems to be what happened on this occasion between
10:27:29 and 10:29:12.
Some stations do it properly (IMHO) using GPIs off the playout system.

It's wonderful to get the facts from the horse's mouth. Sorry to gush.

Bill

J G Miller wrote:
On Wed, 26 May 2010 21:05:33 +0100, Mark Carver wrote:

I think it's probably because Chesterfield's transmit allocations for
R1-4 are only 300 kHz below HM's. That wouldn't make transposition
impossible, but more difficult than the 700 kHz gap with SC ?

When did BBC Radio 1-4 VHF FM transmissions start from Chesterfield,
because I see no mention of it on the rather old map for Sutton Coldfield
with relays coverage at

http://tx.mb21.co.UK/gallery/suttoncoldfield/maps.php

That map was published before Chesterfield was equipped as an FM relay, note
it also talks about Hereford, a site that was replaced by Ridge Hill about 20
years ago.

I have a 1989 BBC Tx booklet that shows Chesterfield as a planned future site,
relaying HM. However a later 1992 booklet lists it as 'on air', and a SC relay.


--
Mark
Please replace invalid and invalid with gmx and net to reply.

www.paras.org.uk

The fundamental problem with the way it is driven, on this station using
sub-audible embedded tones, leaves the system open to undesired
mis-triggering, which seems to be what happened on this occasion between
10:27:29 and 10:29:12.

Not that surprising really, what sort of frequency?..

Some stations do it properly (IMHO) using GPIs off the playout system.

Clever software or not (and it really isn't that clever at all), the old
garbage in garbage out adage still applies.

--
Tony Sayer

Ian Jackson wrote:
However your most likely R Berks Txs are Windsor Castle 95.4, and
Henley 94.6, the RDS would switch you to Hannington from about
Wokingham-ish westward.

Radio Berkshire from Windsor Castle is a very poor signal indeed. It
used to be good but, around ten years ago, it suddenly went very weak -
so weak that, when a couple of miles to the north or to the east of
Slough (for example, when passing Heathrow on the M25), it gets
completely swamped by a London pirate station. I suspect that the aerial
fell down, and nobody noticed. Near Beaconsfield, I have to use the
Henley signal.

I've only ever had the Windsor Castle Tx burst through on RDS TA when
I've been LOS to the castle itself. Passing on the M4, or on the roof of
the short term car park at LHR T5 !

What restricts Hannington's signal in East Berks is adjacent channel
interferrence from BBC Surrey Reigate on 104.0, as well as probably some
London pirates.

The whole area is tricky, partly because of its proximity to London, and
the resultant large number of official and pirate stations there.

The commercial station for Windsor and Sluff use Slough Power Station's
chimney (Time 106.6FM) to serve the area.

On Wed, 26 May 2010 18:29:20 +0100, "Woody"
wrote:

I can get Freeview pretty well here, but they can't on t'other
side of
town (yet).

I've been told the whole area is a no-go for DAB.



And where, Albert, is 'here?'

Halesworth, in Suffolk. We get our TV from Tacolneston which is party
over the horizon. Not sure where the DAB signal emanates from, but the
lights of Mendelsham are very visible out of the back window, pity
they can't make more use of it. The FM signal is brilliant though,
I'll miss it

Further down the road my aunt couldn't get Freeview as she was hidden
from both Sudbury and Aldeburgh, and further down the road again my
phone stops working. I suspect the problems may be with directional
signals aimed away from Johnny Foreigner

All that is possible for them to do is interrupt a CD
etc, if your radio is tuned to them before you insert that CD.

Or effectively turn up the volume if you have turned it down to an inaudible level.

--
Graham.

%Profound_observation%

In article , Albert Ross
scribeth thus
On Wed, 26 May 2010 18:29:20 +0100, "Woody"
wrote:

I can get Freeview pretty well here, but they can't on t'other
side of
town (yet).

I've been told the whole area is a no-go for DAB.



And where, Albert, is 'here?'

Halesworth, in Suffolk. We get our TV from Tacolneston which is party
over the horizon. Not sure where the DAB signal emanates from, but the
lights of Mendelsham are very visible out of the back window,

Http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/mendlesham/index.php

Thats the one for D1...

pity
they can't make more use of it. The FM signal is brilliant though,
I'll miss it

Tac there ...


Further down the road my aunt couldn't get Freeview as she was hidden
from both Sudbury and Aldeburgh, and further down the road again my
phone stops working. I suspect the problems may be with directional
signals aimed away from Johnny Foreigner

Or them not wanting to spend on coverage there...

--
Tony Sayer

On Fri, 28 May 2010 12:09:14 +0100, tony sayer
wrote:

In article , Albert Ross
scribeth thus
On Wed, 26 May 2010 18:29:20 +0100, "Woody"
wrote:

I can get Freeview pretty well here, but they can't on t'other
side of
town (yet).

I've been told the whole area is a no-go for DAB.



And where, Albert, is 'here?'

Halesworth, in Suffolk. We get our TV from Tacolneston which is party
over the horizon. Not sure where the DAB signal emanates from, but the
lights of Mendelsham are very visible out of the back window,

Http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/mendlesham/index.php

Thats the one for D1...

Oh I hadn't realised! In that case the local shop may have lied! I
went in to buy an FM portable for mother and just happened to ask
about the quality of the DAB sets they had on sale. She told me they
didn't work in the town. Well maybe like the Freeview not in *parts*
of the town but we should be able to get it over here. Not that I
particularly want to . . . when they put on the high intensity lights
Mendlesham almost casts shadows on my bedroom wall.

pity
they can't make more use of it. The FM signal is brilliant though,
I'll miss it

Tac there ...

Works on her portable with the aerial down (sounds better with it up
though)

Freeview is almost faultless with a stacked pair and an amp, I suspect
more of the town will get a usable signal when the power is turned up.

Further down the road my aunt couldn't get Freeview as she was hidden
from both Sudbury and Aldeburgh, and further down the road again my
phone stops working. I suspect the problems may be with directional
signals aimed away from Johnny Foreigner

Or them not wanting to spend on coverage there...

That too, a lot of places don't have mains gas and I think some still
don't get ADSL. OTOH we have Real Food, fresh fish and a refreshing
lack of antisocial behaviour and traffic jams so you have to select
where you live according to your priorities

they can't make more use of it. The FM signal is brilliant though,
I'll miss it

Tac there ...

Works on her portable with the aerial down (sounds better with it up
though)

Freeview is almost faultless with a stacked pair and an amp, I suspect
more of the town will get a usable signal when the power is turned up.


Well your 19 miles from Taccy and I'd have thought that it would have
been fine there, doesn't seem to be that much in the way of
obstructions. Course they might not be putting that much that way cos of
Johnny Furrigner!...

Further down the road my aunt couldn't get Freeview as she was hidden
from both Sudbury and Aldeburgh, and further down the road again my
phone stops working. I suspect the problems may be with directional
signals aimed away from Johnny Foreigner

Or them not wanting to spend on coverage there...

That too, a lot of places don't have mains gas and I think some still
don't get ADSL. OTOH we have Real Food, fresh fish and a refreshing
lack of antisocial behaviour and traffic jams so you have to select
where you live according to your priorities

Yep lovely old place Suffolk. My first wife hailed from Long Melford
very happy memories of the pubs there and the mad things that went on
).

Still haven't been to Southwold for a while now the Adnams just across
the road from the brewery is excellent


cheers...

--
Tony Sayer