I've always wondered how many are actually listening to these SS Mux's though.. very very few imo with so many other choices available
yes this is a good question, and something the stations paying to be on SSDAB will be wondering. As I have commented before 95% of my radio listening is in the car, and most SSDAB coverage are too small or low powered meaning drop outs in the coverage area. Poole does it, Southampton does it Winchester and Portsmouth (trial not been there since it went fully licensed) too. As a part time radio anorak I might put up with it, but real listeners won't.
This situation reminds me of when community radio first launched and there were power levels around 25w, at least with analogue it would get hissy and switch to mono, not ideal but you could still listen, the DAB breaking up - on/off is very intrusive if actually trying to listen to the content!
I think we need more power (ERP) on SSDAB ultimately.
My comments on coverage are purely based on the areas I visit and have experiences of, hopefully there are some areas where SSDAB coverage is actually useable, London perhaps?
A lot of these coverage problems are because people use "free" sites instead of paying a bit for the good ones. When multiplexes take the time to carefully use coverage tools to protect other multiplexes, pick the right antennas, and use the right site, the coverage is often great.
But many of them use the wrong site, wrong antennas, or similar, and then they end up with very little power and blame Ofcom and everyone else.
Some of these have really good coverage; I can get 50 miles of almost full motorway coverage out of Loughborough and Rugby, as was mentioned this week.
Others, we know, have problems. I can drive from the outskirts of Leicester, through it, and out the other side in about 5 minutes at night because the 40% rule makes the coverage really small.
Other multiplexes, like Northampton, don't cover the town center (and presumably that's why they have no services on them and Nlive went on Rugby, not Northampton) because they picked the wrong site way outside the town center.
There are reasons for everything, and maybe someone should create a scoring system to rate which multiplexes have good coverage and which don't.
I agree. Just spending a tiny bit more, doing some more research and evaluation, or putting in a small filler tx (though I have a feeling that might be quite a logistical headache) could solve the problems. Bedford near me is terrific on its one tx, as is Colchester. I've found others though, High Peak and Salisbury being prime examples, to have patchy signal in urban areas and many drop outs. Salisbury could be solved with a small filler in the city centre, 10w I would say.
Also if South Herts are reading, Hemel needs a transmitter! 😅
Colchester has a 500w up apparently, but then I don’t know what site they are using.
As for South Herts, Hemel should be covered?
500w is very good, I think the Essex DAB tx for the town is 500w too.
So the outskirts of Hemel on the east side is fine but as you go down towards the Plough roundabout and the town centre it's gone, and too patchy on the west side
A lot of these coverage problems are because people use "free" sites instead of paying a bit for the good ones. When multiplexes take the time to carefully use coverage tools to protect other multiplexes, pick the right antennas, and use the right site, the coverage is often great.
they have to use 'free' less ideal sites to fit into the commercial model. There simply isn't enough money around from small scale radio to pay ssdab mux operators the money needed for them to then pay Arqiva, or WIG, or $cell site tower co. as demonstrated by UKDABnetworks with Winchester (Arqiva site).
Several of these multiplexes seem to be doing quite well on commercial sites. I don't think it's true that it doesn't work for anybody.
Bristol uses several commercial sites. Luton and several others in round 5 are using sites owned by those companies you name.
I've always wondered how many are actually listening to these SS Mux's though.. very very few imo with so many other choices available
yes this is a good question, and something the stations paying to be on SSDAB will be wondering. As I have commented before 95% of my radio listening is in the car, and most SSDAB coverage are too small or low powered meaning drop outs in the coverage area. Poole does it, Southampton does it Winchester and Portsmouth (trial not been there since it went fully licensed) too. As a part time radio anorak I might put up with it, but real listeners won't.
This situation reminds me of when community radio first launched and there were power levels around 25w, at least with analogue it would get hissy and switch to mono, not ideal but you could still listen, the DAB breaking up - on/off is very intrusive if actually trying to listen to the content!
I think we need more power (ERP) on SSDAB ultimately.
My comments on coverage are purely based on the areas I visit and have experiences of, hopefully there are some areas where SSDAB coverage is actually useable, London perhaps?
A lot of these coverage problems are because people use "free" sites instead of paying a bit for the good ones. When multiplexes take the time to carefully use coverage tools to protect other multiplexes, pick the right antennas, and use the right site, the coverage is often great.
But many of them use the wrong site, wrong antennas, or similar, and then they end up with very little power and blame Ofcom and everyone else.
Some of these have really good coverage; I can get 50 miles of almost full motorway coverage out of Loughborough and Rugby, as was mentioned this week.
Others, we know, have problems. I can drive from the outskirts of Leicester, through it, and out the other side in about 5 minutes at night because the 40% rule makes the coverage really small.
Other multiplexes, like Northampton, don't cover the town center (and presumably that's why they have no services on them and Nlive went on Rugby, not Northampton) because they picked the wrong site way outside the town center.
There are reasons for everything, and maybe someone should create a scoring system to rate which multiplexes have good coverage and which don't.
I agree. Just spending a tiny bit more, doing some more research and evaluation, or putting in a small filler tx (though I have a feeling that might be quite a logistical headache) could solve the problems. Bedford near me is terrific on its one tx, as is Colchester. I've found others though, High Peak and Salisbury being prime examples, to have patchy signal in urban areas and many drop outs. Salisbury could be solved with a small filler in the city centre, 10w I would say.
Also if South Herts are reading, Hemel needs a transmitter! 😅
Colchester has a 500w up apparently, but then I don’t know what site they are using.
As for South Herts, Hemel should be covered?
Hemel is a black spot for South Herts. It really needs a tx to fill the gap.
Been down a search rabbit hole, but some news that'd best be suited to this thread. As someone who did a bit of Work Experience in the mid 90s for a local newspaper, The Shropshire Star article has a terrible opening paragraph.
The team behind the station, which will also be heard over much of Shropshire, is aiming to start broadcasting early in the New Year.
TCMR has been given an Ofcom licence and the projected launch is on Monday, February 2, although whether that date is met will depend on some preparatory matters relating to the DAB multiplex for Telford and Shrewsbury - the digital method by which the station will be broadcast.
KIC Radio has officially launched on DAB+, bringing a fresh, vibrant sound to listeners across Walsall and Wolverhampton. The move marks a major milestone for the station, expanding its reach and making it easier than ever for audiences to tune in across the West Midlands. KIC Radio will continue to champion new music, local voices, and community stories, while giving young people a platform to be heard on a professional digital broadcast network.
The DAB+ launch also strengthens KIC Radio’s commitment to developing the next generation of media talent through its KIC Inspire volunteer programme.
A new radio station is set to launch in Gloucester next year. Severn Radio will be the city’s first commercial radio station since Severn Sound joined Heart FM in 2008. The new radio station is set to focus on Gloucestershire news, delivered by a team of experienced presenters and journalists.
Next to local news, the station will feature upbeat music from the 80s through to today’s hits. Directors said the station is set to start streaming shortly, with a launch date to be announced soon. Severn Radio will be available to listen to via their website, an app, smart speakers, and plans to launch on DAB in the future.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
If its so difficult and takes all this time what happens if you're running a service on it and there is a fault? Will you be running on partial coverage for 6 months waiting for a key?
What could possibly go wrong over xmas and new year then? Am surprised at Brentwood delay, given they're already based there, with an FM antenna. Do hope they've resolved the weak signal at first proposed for Basildon, which Ofcom pointed out in feedback. Hopefully ELED fully live soon
A lot of these coverage problems are because people use "free" sites instead of paying a bit for the good ones. When multiplexes take the time to carefully use coverage tools to protect other multiplexes, pick the right antennas, and use the right site, the coverage is often great.
they have to use 'free' less ideal sites to fit into the commercial model. There simply isn't enough money around from small scale radio to pay ssdab mux operators the money needed for them to then pay Arqiva, or WIG, or $cell site tower co. as demonstrated by UKDABnetworks with Winchester (Arqiva site).
Several of these multiplexes seem to be doing quite well on commercial sites. I don't think it's true that it doesn't work for anybody.
Bristol uses several commercial sites. Luton and several others in round 5 are using sites owned by those companies you name.
Looking up details Luton is planning to use a non commercial communications site Farley Hill which also has FM community radio, run by a company called Wireless Infrastructure Group (WIG mentioned earlier?) https://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=1592
rather than the broadcast sites Winsdon Hill or Zouches Farm.
For the West London mux the tall Egham uni building is being used, rather than a mast.
Been down a search rabbit hole, but some news that'd best be suited to this thread. As someone who did a bit of Work Experience in the mid 90s for a local newspaper, The Shropshire Star article has a terrible opening paragraph.
The team behind the station, which will also be heard over much of Shropshire, is aiming to start broadcasting early in the New Year.
TCMR has been given an Ofcom licence and the projected launch is on Monday, February 2, although whether that date is met will depend on some preparatory matters relating to the DAB multiplex for Telford and Shrewsbury - the digital method by which the station will be broadcast.
KIC Radio has officially launched on DAB+, bringing a fresh, vibrant sound to listeners across Walsall and Wolverhampton. The move marks a major milestone for the station, expanding its reach and making it easier than ever for audiences to tune in across the West Midlands. KIC Radio will continue to champion new music, local voices, and community stories, while giving young people a platform to be heard on a professional digital broadcast network.
The DAB+ launch also strengthens KIC Radio’s commitment to developing the next generation of media talent through its KIC Inspire volunteer programme.
A new radio station is set to launch in Gloucester next year. Severn Radio will be the city’s first commercial radio station since Severn Sound joined Heart FM in 2008. The new radio station is set to focus on Gloucestershire news, delivered by a team of experienced presenters and journalists.
Next to local news, the station will feature upbeat music from the 80s through to today’s hits. Directors said the station is set to start streaming shortly, with a launch date to be announced soon. Severn Radio will be available to listen to via their website, an app, smart speakers, and plans to launch on DAB in the future.
Except there was no one interested for the Gloucester SS Mux when it was advertised at the start of this year.
Interesting finds, that Gloucester one had slipped under my radar! After the earlier Gloucester mux (which received no applicants as you've already mentioned), a Cheltenham and Tewkesbury mux has been advertised in round 8, but I haven't seen anything regarding that one. I wonder when the list of applicants for round 8 will be published?
With these ones I'm wondering if the 40% coverage rule becomes difficult, considering that the main population centres of Gloucester and Cheltenham are pretty close together. This could have put off potential applicants.
Been down a search rabbit hole, but some news that'd best be suited to this thread. As someone who did a bit of Work Experience in the mid 90s for a local newspaper, The Shropshire Star article has a terrible opening paragraph.
The team behind the station, which will also be heard over much of Shropshire, is aiming to start broadcasting early in the New Year.
TCMR has been given an Ofcom licence and the projected launch is on Monday, February 2, although whether that date is met will depend on some preparatory matters relating to the DAB multiplex for Telford and Shrewsbury - the digital method by which the station will be broadcast.
KIC Radio has officially launched on DAB+, bringing a fresh, vibrant sound to listeners across Walsall and Wolverhampton. The move marks a major milestone for the station, expanding its reach and making it easier than ever for audiences to tune in across the West Midlands. KIC Radio will continue to champion new music, local voices, and community stories, while giving young people a platform to be heard on a professional digital broadcast network.
The DAB+ launch also strengthens KIC Radio’s commitment to developing the next generation of media talent through its KIC Inspire volunteer programme.
A new radio station is set to launch in Gloucester next year. Severn Radio will be the city’s first commercial radio station since Severn Sound joined Heart FM in 2008. The new radio station is set to focus on Gloucestershire news, delivered by a team of experienced presenters and journalists.
Next to local news, the station will feature upbeat music from the 80s through to today’s hits. Directors said the station is set to start streaming shortly, with a launch date to be announced soon. Severn Radio will be available to listen to via their website, an app, smart speakers, and plans to launch on DAB in the future.
Except there was no one interested for the Gloucester SS Mux when it was advertised at the start of this year.
Interesting finds, that Gloucester one had slipped under my radar! After the earlier Gloucester mux (which received no applicants as you've already mentioned), a Cheltenham and Tewkesbury mux has been advertised in round 8, but I haven't seen anything regarding that one. I wonder when the list of applicants for round 8 will be published?
With these ones I'm wondering if the 40% coverage rule becomes difficult, considering that the main population centres of Gloucester and Cheltenham are pretty close together. This could have put off potential applicants.
GFM has good coverage on FM and is available quite far from the city centre so it would be difficult to justify them investing in SSDAB if the 40% rule means they have to hobble it and undoubtedly achieve much worse coverage than it has on FM. The low uptake on later round SSDAB muxes, even if well-priced like South Glos, can't be encouraging stations in small cities to set them up either. In any case, the commercial mux is Muxco so they could probably get more favourable carriage costs on there compared to if it's a NOW Digital or Bauer mux, but they haven't gone on there.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
Im not sure whats going on with the Kent ones, last I heard was that Ashford, Medway & Swale was due on before xmas. Now its radio silence from them again 🙄 Don’t seem to be a fan of replying to emails.
Been down a search rabbit hole, but some news that'd best be suited to this thread. As someone who did a bit of Work Experience in the mid 90s for a local newspaper, The Shropshire Star article has a terrible opening paragraph.
The team behind the station, which will also be heard over much of Shropshire, is aiming to start broadcasting early in the New Year.
TCMR has been given an Ofcom licence and the projected launch is on Monday, February 2, although whether that date is met will depend on some preparatory matters relating to the DAB multiplex for Telford and Shrewsbury - the digital method by which the station will be broadcast.
KIC Radio has officially launched on DAB+, bringing a fresh, vibrant sound to listeners across Walsall and Wolverhampton. The move marks a major milestone for the station, expanding its reach and making it easier than ever for audiences to tune in across the West Midlands. KIC Radio will continue to champion new music, local voices, and community stories, while giving young people a platform to be heard on a professional digital broadcast network.
The DAB+ launch also strengthens KIC Radio’s commitment to developing the next generation of media talent through its KIC Inspire volunteer programme.
A new radio station is set to launch in Gloucester next year. Severn Radio will be the city’s first commercial radio station since Severn Sound joined Heart FM in 2008. The new radio station is set to focus on Gloucestershire news, delivered by a team of experienced presenters and journalists.
Next to local news, the station will feature upbeat music from the 80s through to today’s hits. Directors said the station is set to start streaming shortly, with a launch date to be announced soon. Severn Radio will be available to listen to via their website, an app, smart speakers, and plans to launch on DAB in the future.
Except there was no one interested for the Gloucester SS Mux when it was advertised at the start of this year.
Interesting finds, that Gloucester one had slipped under my radar! After the earlier Gloucester mux (which received no applicants as you've already mentioned), a Cheltenham and Tewkesbury mux has been advertised in round 8, but I haven't seen anything regarding that one. I wonder when the list of applicants for round 8 will be published?
With these ones I'm wondering if the 40% coverage rule becomes difficult, considering that the main population centres of Gloucester and Cheltenham are pretty close together. This could have put off potential applicants.
There is plenty of space on the main Gloucestershire mux so DAB+ at 24k or 32k on there is a possibility. It gives good coverage of Gloucester & Cheltenham from Churchdown Hill.
I have been involved in many projects admittedly not in radio but involving technical installations, if they are installing and are doing it properly there is a lot of bureaucracy when dealing with building management and if they have had to do a lot of planning permission and possibly having to draw up wayleave agreements to get to their equipment then it is not surprising installation is done right up to the wire. You then hit the issue of the installing company or resources of the talented people being available over a very busy period. Installation is easier but you then come across weather conditions which have not been great this week and stumbling on obstacles that were not their when you did the site survey because some other company/person has put something there temporarily and then forgot about.
I have lots of sympathy for the operators whose work here may not be their full time job. I have zero sympathy for the keyboard warriors on here who are only interested in receiving a test tone or lighted bar on a signal meter and are not the least bit interested in the entertainment these services hope to broadcast. Good luck to these guys trying to get their before the deadline and hope all goes well and don't forget to enjoy the small break they may get over the Christmas period.
Brentwood Council have been hosting Phoenix FM's transmitter for 18 years and for most of that time the caretaker would provide access whenver needed. The problem has been that they've tightened their procedures very recently and this has led to some confusion about how access is given. An agreement has been made now for emergency access to be given and procedures put in place, so I wouldn't expect this to be an issue going forward. It has, obviously, affected the site visit and installation.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
If its so difficult and takes all this time what happens if you're running a service on it and there is a fault? Will you be running on partial coverage for 6 months waiting for a key?
What could possibly go wrong over xmas and new year then? Am surprised at Brentwood delay, given they're already based there, with an FM antenna. Do hope they've resolved the weak signal at first proposed for Basildon, which Ofcom pointed out in feedback. Hopefully ELED fully live soon
Forgive me if I suggest this is rather a naive comment. A considerable amount of planning goes into every DAB installation. No one is sitting around doing nothing - it's more likely they're chasing 10 people simultaneously to get progress on all the work that needs to be done.
However, landlords will not even CONSIDER giving access until legal agreements are in place, let alone arrange dates, etc.
Despite all Heads of Terms being agreed BEFORE the application went in, it took 16 months to finalise the legal agreement with Romford, and 17 months with Brentwood. In both cases there were NO material changes from HOTs. All of the delays were with our poor, overworked and understaffed public servants.
This does not give a lot of wriggle room for installations.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
Forgive me if I suggest this is rather a naive comment. A considerable amount of planning goes into every DAB installation. No one is sitting around doing nothing - it's more likely they're chasing 10 people simultaneously to get progress on all the work that needs to be done.
However, landlords will not even CONSIDER giving access until legal agreements are in place, let alone arrange dates, etc.
Despite all Heads of Terms being agreed BEFORE the application went in, it took 16 months to finalise the legal agreement with Romford, and 17 months with Brentwood. In both cases there were NO material changes from HOTs. All of the delays were with our poor, overworked and understaffed public servants.
This does not give a lot of wriggle room for installations.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
I just re-read the East London application. ELED really hyped up their communications specialists, radio experts, and public sector pros, and they were super confident they'd launch in under 9 months after getting the award.
The company that lost out, Maxxwave, said they already had all the site agreements in place. They're known for quick launches because they already have the sites.
If these sites were such a pain, and the other bidder was promising way better coverage (especially around the Gateway FM area that ELED doesn't cover), wouldn't it have made sense for everyone to just work together?
I just don't get why everything in radio has to be a competition and about one-upping each other.
Brentwood Council have been hosting Phoenix FM's transmitter for 18 years and for most of that time the caretaker would provide access whenver needed. The problem has been that they've tightened their procedures very recently and this has led to some confusion about how access is given. An agreement has been made now for emergency access to be given and procedures put in place, so I wouldn't expect this to be an issue going forward. It has, obviously, affected the site visit and installation.
My experience has been that access and all the paperwork has become far more difficult and requires much more work to get done than it did 20 years ago.
I know that especially over the Christmas break that getting access can be almost impossible to arrange if not organised with plenty of notice beforehand.
The caretakers or works dept that would have just handed a key over may well be in, but the office folks who let them do so are probably not.
I don't envy anyone trying to sort things between now and early January.
Forgive me if I suggest this is rather a naive comment. A considerable amount of planning goes into every DAB installation. No one is sitting around doing nothing - it's more likely they're chasing 10 people simultaneously to get progress on all the work that needs to be done.
However, landlords will not even CONSIDER giving access until legal agreements are in place, let alone arrange dates, etc.
Despite all Heads of Terms being agreed BEFORE the application went in, it took 16 months to finalise the legal agreement with Romford, and 17 months with Brentwood. In both cases there were NO material changes from HOTs. All of the delays were with our poor, overworked and understaffed public servants.
This does not give a lot of wriggle room for installations.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
I just re-read the East London application. ELED really hyped up their communications specialists, radio experts, and public sector pros, and they were super confident they'd launch in under 9 months after getting the award.
The company that lost out, Maxxwave, said they already had all the site agreements in place. They're known for quick launches because they already have the sites.
If these sites were such a pain, and the other bidder was promising way better coverage (especially around the Gateway FM area that ELED doesn't cover), wouldn't it have made sense for everyone to just work together?
I just don't get why everything in radio has to be a competition and about one-upping each other.
Forgive me if I suggest this is rather a naive comment. A considerable amount of planning goes into every DAB installation. No one is sitting around doing nothing - it's more likely they're chasing 10 people simultaneously to get progress on all the work that needs to be done.
However, landlords will not even CONSIDER giving access until legal agreements are in place, let alone arrange dates, etc.
Despite all Heads of Terms being agreed BEFORE the application went in, it took 16 months to finalise the legal agreement with Romford, and 17 months with Brentwood. In both cases there were NO material changes from HOTs. All of the delays were with our poor, overworked and understaffed public servants.
This does not give a lot of wriggle room for installations.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
I just re-read the East London application. ELED really hyped up their communications specialists, radio experts, and public sector pros, and they were super confident they'd launch in under 9 months after getting the award.
The company that lost out, Maxxwave, said they already had all the site agreements in place. They're known for quick launches because they already have the sites.
If these sites were such a pain, and the other bidder was promising way better coverage (especially around the Gateway FM area that ELED doesn't cover), wouldn't it have made sense for everyone to just work together?
I just don't get why everything in radio has to be a competition and about one-upping each other.
It’s the radio business. It’s called ego.
If I remember the other bid included Time FM, probably lucky the guys involved in the community services currently running are involved. Chances are they'll still be around
I've been involved with lots of commercial multiplexes and a number of small scale ones.
After doing small scale, I have an even deeper respect for Arqiva! Now, many of their sites on their own masts, so access/planning permission etc is something you never have to think about. On the sites that they don't own, they have all the direct relationships and a lot of full timers who have those conversations day in day out. Their systems and history means everything is relatively smooth running.
When you're doing SSDAB you're on your own. Now each operator has a variable amount of background and knowledge, so there's no size that fits all, but things that I've noticed...
1. Good sites know they're good sites (and have other people on there) - there's often significant negotiation to get a deal that works.
2. It's not there main job - they often own the building - with someone else managing it. They don't often care that much and it can generate issues for them - planning, access etc. They can be very very slow. Even if you think you've got an agreement that may change.
3. The changes post-Grenfell have added significant processes for everyone
4. Even if it's going well, getting access can be difficult, again - accessing the roof isn't something everyone can do.
5. Getting a telecom line into somewhere that doesn't have an address (the roof) can be difficult - a lot of going round the houses
6. Many SSDAB have done deals with access to locations owned by stations on their multiplex. Both sides need each other, but it means there's less demand to lock in contracts, and some people can be averse to contracts. This can often add to the complexity.
7. Council planning decisions can take months to process, or unexpected complaints can delay things
8. The planning, negotiating, contracting are all interlinked and can be hard to unpick
9. Ofcom, who are genuinely very helpful, unfortunately because of the law, have limits with how flexible they can be with regards to changes/timings - even if sensible.
10. Many SSDABs suffer from lack of time (because of volunteers) and money (as these businesses can be quite marginal). In the commercial world, to a certain degree, you can throw money at a problem to fix it (usually buying people's time). That's difficult to do for some SSDAB where there isn't much money.
It's so easy to underestimate how difficult this stuff is.
Forgive me if I suggest this is rather a naive comment. A considerable amount of planning goes into every DAB installation. No one is sitting around doing nothing - it's more likely they're chasing 10 people simultaneously to get progress on all the work that needs to be done.
However, landlords will not even CONSIDER giving access until legal agreements are in place, let alone arrange dates, etc.
Despite all Heads of Terms being agreed BEFORE the application went in, it took 16 months to finalise the legal agreement with Romford, and 17 months with Brentwood. In both cases there were NO material changes from HOTs. All of the delays were with our poor, overworked and understaffed public servants.
This does not give a lot of wriggle room for installations.
The three ELED transmitter sites are tricky - difficult access to equipment rooms or roofs. Also, two of the sites are difficult to get keys for too as they are owned by local councils, who have very strict procedures about what keys you can get and when. (You'd like to think you can just book meetings/pickups but ...!) So installation has taken much longer than originally expected, but all equipment has been installed except the antenna at Brentwood - so hopefully we will see ELED on air very soon.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
I just re-read the East London application. ELED really hyped up their communications specialists, radio experts, and public sector pros, and they were super confident they'd launch in under 9 months after getting the award.
The company that lost out, Maxxwave, said they already had all the site agreements in place. They're known for quick launches because they already have the sites.
If these sites were such a pain, and the other bidder was promising way better coverage (especially around the Gateway FM area that ELED doesn't cover), wouldn't it have made sense for everyone to just work together?
I just don't get why everything in radio has to be a competition and about one-upping each other.
It’s the radio business. It’s called ego.
If I remember the other bid included Time FM, probably lucky the guys involved in the community services currently running are involved. Chances are they'll still be around
I think you've misunderstood my point, I wasn't saying the other bid was better in every way.
Both applications have their good sides. They were almost complete opposites – where one was good, the other wasn't so great, and vice versa.
I'm not sure why they didn't just work together. It seems to me that in this situation, 2+2 would have made 5.
This seems to happen a lot with these competitive bids that have been submitted.
Comments
500w is very good, I think the Essex DAB tx for the town is 500w too.
So the outskirts of Hemel on the east side is fine but as you go down towards the Plough roundabout and the town centre it's gone, and too patchy on the west side
Several of these multiplexes seem to be doing quite well on commercial sites. I don't think it's true that it doesn't work for anybody.
Bristol uses several commercial sites. Luton and several others in round 5 are using sites owned by those companies you name.
Hemel is a black spot for South Herts. It really needs a tx to fill the gap.
An earlier search (unrelated to radio I must add), gets me this about Severn FM.
Except there was no one interested for the Gloucester SS Mux when it was advertised at the start of this year.
What could possibly go wrong over xmas and new year then? Am surprised at Brentwood delay, given they're already based there, with an FM antenna. Do hope they've resolved the weak signal at first proposed for Basildon, which Ofcom pointed out in feedback. Hopefully ELED fully live soon
https://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=1592
rather than the broadcast sites Winsdon Hill or Zouches Farm.
For the West London mux the tall Egham uni building is being used, rather than a mast.
The bid for Guildford and Woking had problems with costs at the Guildford broadcast site (Kane FM uses). So will be interesting to see what site the new bid by Radio Woking will use?
https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/12/radio-woking-works-on-small-scale-dab-bid/
Also the Swansea bid in round 3 had to find a lower cost sites, assuming Like radio will progress the installations for its new round 6 bid?
Interesting finds, that Gloucester one had slipped under my radar! After the earlier Gloucester mux (which received no applicants as you've already mentioned), a Cheltenham and Tewkesbury mux has been advertised in round 8, but I haven't seen anything regarding that one. I wonder when the list of applicants for round 8 will be published?
With these ones I'm wondering if the 40% coverage rule becomes difficult, considering that the main population centres of Gloucester and Cheltenham are pretty close together. This could have put off potential applicants.
GFM has good coverage on FM and is available quite far from the city centre so it would be difficult to justify them investing in SSDAB if the 40% rule means they have to hobble it and undoubtedly achieve much worse coverage than it has on FM. The low uptake on later round SSDAB muxes, even if well-priced like South Glos, can't be encouraging stations in small cities to set them up either. In any case, the commercial mux is Muxco so they could probably get more favourable carriage costs on there compared to if it's a NOW Digital or Bauer mux, but they haven't gone on there.
I'm sure if much better planned then all of this would be easily achievable but once again it's an example of unorganised chaos with small-scale DAB. Human instinct, leaving everything to the last minute, or almost.
I'm very much dubious about the ability to get the remaining Kent based Muxes on air given the impending timescales unless certain individuals are sacrificing their Turkey dinners this year!
Im not sure whats going on with the Kent ones, last I heard was that Ashford, Medway & Swale was due on before xmas. Now its radio silence from them again 🙄 Don’t seem to be a fan of replying to emails.
There is plenty of space on the main Gloucestershire mux so DAB+ at 24k or 32k on there is a possibility. It gives good coverage of Gloucester & Cheltenham from Churchdown Hill.
I have been involved in many projects admittedly not in radio but involving technical installations, if they are installing and are doing it properly there is a lot of bureaucracy when dealing with building management and if they have had to do a lot of planning permission and possibly having to draw up wayleave agreements to get to their equipment then it is not surprising installation is done right up to the wire. You then hit the issue of the installing company or resources of the talented people being available over a very busy period. Installation is easier but you then come across weather conditions which have not been great this week and stumbling on obstacles that were not their when you did the site survey because some other company/person has put something there temporarily and then forgot about.
I have lots of sympathy for the operators whose work here may not be their full time job. I have zero sympathy for the keyboard warriors on here who are only interested in receiving a test tone or lighted bar on a signal meter and are not the least bit interested in the entertainment these services hope to broadcast. Good luck to these guys trying to get their before the deadline and hope all goes well and don't forget to enjoy the small break they may get over the Christmas period.
However, landlords will not even CONSIDER giving access until legal agreements are in place, let alone arrange dates, etc.
Despite all Heads of Terms being agreed BEFORE the application went in, it took 16 months to finalise the legal agreement with Romford, and 17 months with Brentwood. In both cases there were NO material changes from HOTs. All of the delays were with our poor, overworked and understaffed public servants.
This does not give a lot of wriggle room for installations.
I just re-read the East London application. ELED really hyped up their communications specialists, radio experts, and public sector pros, and they were super confident they'd launch in under 9 months after getting the award.
The company that lost out, Maxxwave, said they already had all the site agreements in place. They're known for quick launches because they already have the sites.
If these sites were such a pain, and the other bidder was promising way better coverage (especially around the Gateway FM area that ELED doesn't cover), wouldn't it have made sense for everyone to just work together?
I just don't get why everything in radio has to be a competition and about one-upping each other.
I know that especially over the Christmas break that getting access can be almost impossible to arrange if not organised with plenty of notice beforehand.
The caretakers or works dept that would have just handed a key over may well be in, but the office folks who let them do so are probably not.
I don't envy anyone trying to sort things between now and early January.
It’s the radio business. It’s called ego.
If I remember the other bid included Time FM, probably lucky the guys involved in the community services currently running are involved. Chances are they'll still be around
After doing small scale, I have an even deeper respect for Arqiva! Now, many of their sites on their own masts, so access/planning permission etc is something you never have to think about. On the sites that they don't own, they have all the direct relationships and a lot of full timers who have those conversations day in day out. Their systems and history means everything is relatively smooth running.
When you're doing SSDAB you're on your own. Now each operator has a variable amount of background and knowledge, so there's no size that fits all, but things that I've noticed...
1. Good sites know they're good sites (and have other people on there) - there's often significant negotiation to get a deal that works.
2. It's not there main job - they often own the building - with someone else managing it. They don't often care that much and it can generate issues for them - planning, access etc. They can be very very slow. Even if you think you've got an agreement that may change.
3. The changes post-Grenfell have added significant processes for everyone
4. Even if it's going well, getting access can be difficult, again - accessing the roof isn't something everyone can do.
5. Getting a telecom line into somewhere that doesn't have an address (the roof) can be difficult - a lot of going round the houses
6. Many SSDAB have done deals with access to locations owned by stations on their multiplex. Both sides need each other, but it means there's less demand to lock in contracts, and some people can be averse to contracts. This can often add to the complexity.
7. Council planning decisions can take months to process, or unexpected complaints can delay things
8. The planning, negotiating, contracting are all interlinked and can be hard to unpick
9. Ofcom, who are genuinely very helpful, unfortunately because of the law, have limits with how flexible they can be with regards to changes/timings - even if sensible.
10. Many SSDABs suffer from lack of time (because of volunteers) and money (as these businesses can be quite marginal). In the commercial world, to a certain degree, you can throw money at a problem to fix it (usually buying people's time). That's difficult to do for some SSDAB where there isn't much money.
It's so easy to underestimate how difficult this stuff is.
I think you've misunderstood my point, I wasn't saying the other bid was better in every way.
Both applications have their good sides. They were almost complete opposites – where one was good, the other wasn't so great, and vice versa.
I'm not sure why they didn't just work together. It seems to me that in this situation, 2+2 would have made 5.
This seems to happen a lot with these competitive bids that have been submitted.