When will FM be switched off

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#461395 21-Apr-2011 17:00

Not all are ethnic (see my signature) :P

Main benefit of digital is better quality audio andore channels on one frequency.

My understanding was a trial was done but mediaworks and rnz had different ideas on what version (HD radio vs the other one) should be used. I'm sure someone will correct me on that if I am wrong.

So yes, trial was done. Nothing came of it.

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

richms

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#461410 21-Apr-2011 18:00

Apparently there is one station in auckland with HD radio on it or something. Noone I know has a reciever for it so I have no idea if that is true or not.

The in between ones I was referring to are the ones that are 0.4MHz from the main stations, last I checked the cheese was just LPFM? Some indian crowd have started up on 106.2 which is full power here, was big FM till that folded. I dont think anyone forsaw that happening /sarcasm.

Richard rich.ms

ZollyMonsta

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#461414 21-Apr-2011 18:22

Yeah I think big fm was bought by some Indian company... Or something like that.
It's hard enough for the commercial stations to make money these days, let alone a new start up trying to survive. Yep, I'm LPFM/Internet/Cable TV. 5 years on air this July. Anyway, back to topic.. (what was it again?) lol

Anything near 1watt requires APRA/PPNZ music licensing. Transmitter must be within certain specs else expect a visit from the radio inspector. Those cheap Chinese ones (a la Trademe in silver case with dial knob and external frequent buttons) are illegal and the worst ones out there.

Cheap rubbish.

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

richms

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#461417 21-Apr-2011 18:29

Ah crap, I would have liked to have know that before buying a "7 watt" one off ebay!

Whats wrong with them? Just crap audio or actual signal issues? I figured running it on low should have got me ok coverage thruout the house etc.

Richard rich.ms

ZollyMonsta

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#461423 21-Apr-2011 19:02

Is it a HLLY by any chance?

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

richms

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#461441 21-Apr-2011 20:20

ZollyMonsta: Is it a HLLY by any chance?

No, its 320669305021 - I got that instead of the yellow looking one because it has high and low, so I figured that if I only ever used low it should last longer.

Richard rich.ms

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#461448 21-Apr-2011 20:42

Yeah I think that's a rip off of the HLLY one.. If you look you'll see a HLLY auction warning of them. LOL

It's slightly illegal to use it.. so don't get caught due to:

* Power Output (up to 7 watts)
* Changeable Power and Frequency buttons on outside of unit.
* Power output Min is 1.5watts (LPFM can only be 1 watt)

Check out my LPFM Radio Station at www.thecheese.co.nz - Now on iHeart Radio, TuneIn and Radio Garden

As per the usual std disclaimer.. "All thoughts typed here are my own."

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richms

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#461452 21-Apr-2011 20:47

ZollyMonsta: Yeah I think that's a rip off of the HLLY one.. If you look you'll see a HLLY auction warning of them. LOL

It's slightly illegal to use it.. so don't get caught due to:

* Power Output (up to 7 watts)
* Changeable Power and Frequency buttons on outside of unit.
* Power output Min is 1.5watts (LPFM can only be 1 watt)

the 1.5 is out the socket. the 1 watt limit is EIRP. Since it will be inside anyway, I expect it will be well down outside, assuming it is even able to get 1.5 out which I doubt because its coming from asia where car stereos are 1000w and computer speakers are 2000w ;)

If I put it in a tupperware box, the buttons are now on the inside, so thats not a problem ;)

Richard rich.ms

lonney

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#461579 22-Apr-2011 13:39

With analogue TV vacating VHF high band (174–230 MHz) someone might look at DAB in that segment. There are also digital standards for the FM band http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-band_on-channel#FM_methods . Australia has started DAB+ transmissions, NZ might follow at some point. More about DAB here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcasting

sbiddle

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#461591 22-Apr-2011 14:14

The problem with DAB is that it's been a market failure. Even in the UK uptake has been poor with plans to shut down existing broadcasts by 2015 pretty much canned.

lxsw20

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#461647 22-Apr-2011 18:28

Hmmm, $18, I don't know if id risk it....

lonney

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#461711 23-Apr-2011 02:18

sbiddle: The problem with DAB is that it's been a market failure. Even in the UK uptake has been poor with plans to shut down existing broadcasts by 2015 pretty much canned.

Maybe, but I think it's more to do with how they implemented it. Not the technology it self.

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#461725 23-Apr-2011 08:41

lonney:
sbiddle: The problem with DAB is that it's been a market failure. Even in the UK uptake has been poor with plans to shut down existing broadcasts by 2015 pretty much canned.

Maybe, but I think it's more to do with how they implemented it. Not the technology it self.

There is nothing wrong with the technology (except for the terrible audio quality on DAB due to the codecs used) but if the launch of a platform doesn't deliver any return on investment then it's questionable whether we should bother. When VHF spectrum is freed up in NZ we could well seel a DAB+ network launched, and I know the trials worked pretty well.

The UK was a classic example where DAB should have been a winner - crowded spectrum and a DAB network that had fantastic coverage, but with talk now of not even hitting 50% of the total radio listening share by 2015 that's hardly a big success.

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#461726 23-Apr-2011 08:44

Both Germany and Finland have shut down their DAB networks due to lack of interest 10yrs after launch.

Edit, it seems the Germans will relaunch DAB+ latter this year.

Cyril

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#461732 23-Apr-2011 09:31

Well, DAB+ of course :)

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