NO MORE 198LW - Digital Radio Switchover

[mlines]

No more 198 Long Wave.....

.....could be the end of the world in more ways than first expected.

I have alway been led to believe that one of the launch criteria for nuclear submarines was the absence of a signal from the BBC on Long Wave

I understood that if a submarine looses all contact with the UK it goes through a series of self launch decisions (based on the idea that if it has lost all contact we must have been wiped out in a surprise attack). One of the criteria is a listen for Radio 4 on Long Wave. As long as the dulcit tones of the Archers still rings out then everything is assumed to be ok.

I hope they remember this before they turn off too many transmitters.

M

 

[arto]

So where does the Digital Economy Act say that LW / AM broadcasts will be switched off?

The act is not the clearest thing in the world, but looking at the text at http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?activeTextDocId=3699621 I can see nothing that says that this will happen.

Evidence, please. (And that doesn't mean an article from the Daily Mail or Express).

 

[BrendanS]

35 and 36. It's an enabling act, it's not required to lay out the full details in the act itself

 

[Bobobolinsky]

More undemocratic statutory instruments then. In South Africa there is a weather forecast net run by amateurs. Unless the government is going to do something, perhaps the RYA should set up a ham net, transmitting on SSB/2M. Timed broadcasts. Again, in South Africa, the main ports transmit a VHF forecast, but of course as with many government things, it is unreliable. As part of the digital act the government could relax the SSB requirements and bring SSB under the auspice of the VHF licence. I am sure however that dedicated SSB receivers would be available, even scanners to allow long distance coms. Before anyone pipes in I am aware of the problems with SSB. There is a sat dab company in real trouble, perhaps the government would think of purchasing the company and transmitting by black cube. Car radios and ship radios are already available for that net.

http://www.sirius.com/marineweather

 

[arto]

So if it's an enabling act, can someone explain to me where the statement that AM (as distinct from FM) stations are going away? I'm just curious as to what is actually happening, as opposed to the rumour mill.

And is there anyone with a DAB car radio who can confirm that it doesn't work? (I remember hearing the same thing about FM in a car not working, but it seems to work fine).

 

[DogWatch]

So if it's an enabling act, can someone explain to me where the statement that AM (as distinct from FM) stations are going away? I'm just curious as to what is actually happening, as opposed to the rumour mill.

And is there anyone with a DAB car radio who can confirm that it doesn't work? (I remember hearing the same thing about FM in a car not working, but it seems to work fine).

I can listen to Radio7 all the way from Cheshire to Gwynedd without a problem, although of course I could hear the compression and it didn't work at all!

In fact I have never yet turned my dab radio on and it not work, but of course it doesn't work at all and I am delusional to think it does. All new technology should be viewed with suspicion and smashed with a Luddite vigour.

 

[robp]

Although I do have one DAB receiver, I have to confess that I don't know too much about the subject. (Bit bad for someone in the audio industry)

However I will be surprised if the audiophiles among us don't make, or haven't already made, their views heard. I'm not being a luddite, honestly, but a live concert currently broadcast on R3 FM can theoretically be better quality than a studio recording.

I understand that DAB+ uses AAC coding and the quality is superior to that of DAB but no plans to broadcast. Even then, would the sound quality be anywhere near a decent FM Stereo broadcast? Plus, the issues already mentioned about the cost of new apparatus and ditching nearly new receivers is not very pallatable.

There have been other mess-ups regarding the digital switch over and I wonder if there will be some backtracking later on.

Other European countries do not seem to have embraced it quite like our government. Is this another backward step that was being taken without thinking things through properly?

 

[Lady Campanula]

In South Africa there is a weather forecast net run by amateurs. Unless the government is going to do something, perhaps the RYA should set up a ham net, transmitting on SSB/2M. Timed broadcasts. Again, in South Africa, the main ports transmit a VHF forecast, but of course as with many government things, it is unreliable.

The MCA are responsible for the provision of Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts around the UK, by international treaty. The MCA is 'advised' by the shadowy 'MSI Group' - members include long-retired forecaster F. Singleton ( who won't hear a word of criticism of anything ) and the RYA's cruising manager ( likewise ).

One tried to find out what the 'MSI Group' ( or Lunch Club, as it's called within the MCA ) actually debated, agreed or disagreed about. Despite the MCA's public policy of 'openness' and a full Freedom of Information Request, details of minutes of their meetings were denied. Secrecy rules the (air) waves....

Freedom of Information Act 2000: Request for Information

Your request for information has been dealt with in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the response is set out below as per your original request.

.....The minutes are not a matter of public record and as such I cannot grant you access to them. If you could specify which meeting, agenda item or topic of interest that you require information regarding, then I may be able to provide this for you.

I hope you find this information useful.

Yours sincerely

Richard Jackson
MSI Policy Lead
Navigation Safety

So we don't know whether the 'well-fed grandees' of that advisory group have been active or passive, awake or asleep, useful or just 'out to lunch' on our concerns about Maritime Safety Information Broadcasts.

P'rhaps this quango-and-a-half is one that could do with some vigorous pruning in the months ahead.....