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All posts by Pete

Below are all of Pete's postings, with the most recent are at the bottom of the page.

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DAB local radio gaps | Digital radio
Monday 19 November 2012 3:53PM

Not sure why the BBC are currently putting out promotional maetrial on BBC TV for digital radio on the grounds of it provides better audio quality. This is not the case as BBC DAB is broadcasting BBC Radio 4 in the evenings in MONO (including many programmes made in STEREO). So by far the better quality is now FM IN (((STEREO))). Also during the Olympics the bit rate was lowered on BBC Radios 1, 1 Xtra, 2, 4, 5 Live and BBC World Service. The BBC deparately needs more DAB capacity to increase the sound quality of its channels.

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Where is the extra capacity coming from for these extrs HD services on Freeview. I thought it was already full to capacity ? Will standard Freeview viewers like myself lose any services to make way for these ?

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I would say it is not an improvement in Local Radio quality on DAB, but National Radio. Someone at the BBC is still choosing whether the extra sports broadcasts on BBC 5 Live sports Extra means that he either he/she reduces BBC Radio 4 to 80kbps and plunges it from (((STEREO))) to mono or reduces the posh boys Radio 3 DAB from their elite 192 kbps to 160 kbps (the same as Classic FM : DAB, which seems like a misnomer). Luckily from my point of view for the first time this year Radio 4 has won the bit rate battle and is in (((STEREO))) on a Friday night. YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!

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I would say it is not an improvement in Local Radio quality on DAB that we need, but an vast improvement in DAB bit rate & quality on National Radio in order to make DAB more attractive. Someone at the BBC is still choosing whether the extra sports broadcasts on BBC 5 Live sports Extra means that he either he/she reduces BBC Radio 4 DAB to 80kbps and plunges it from (((STEREO))) to mono, or reduces the posh boys' Radio 3 DAB from their elite 192 kbps to 160 kbps (the same as Classic FM : DAB, which seems like a misnomer). Luckily, from my point of view, for the first time this year Radio 4 has won the bit rate battle and is in (((STEREO))) on a Friday night. So ANY QUESTIONS & THE FRIDAY PLAY were both in (((STEREO))) with 128kbps YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!

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Digital radio section | Digital radio
Friday 30 November 2012 9:31PM

I would say it is not an improvement in Local Radio quality on DAB that we need, but a vast improvement in DAB bit rate & quality on National Radio in order to make DAB more attractive and to sell more radios and encourage DAB in cars. Someone at the BBC is still choosing whether the extra sports broadcasts on BBC 5 Live sports Extra means that he either he/she reduces BBC Radio 4 DAB to 80kbps and plunges it from (((STEREO))) to mono, or reduces the posh boys' Radio 3 DAB from their elite 192 kbps to 160 kbps (the same as Classic FM : DAB, which seems like a misnomer). Luckily, from my point of view, for the first time this year Radio 4 has won the bit rate battle and is in (((STEREO))) on a Friday night. So ANY QUESTIONS & THE FRIDAY PLAY were both in (((STEREO))) with 128kbps YIPPPPEEEEEE!!!

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BRIAN : Can you please remove the previous post above.

Sorry I copied and pasted more text than I intended, trying to correct a small spelling mistake and the grammar in my previous text. That will teach me to block text !!

My computer has copied half the page !!

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Digital radio section | Digital radio
Wednesday 5 December 2012 2:52PM

Why are the BBC allowed to put out promtional material on both TV & Radio, especially Radio 4 (featuring DOCTOR LOVE) implying that BBC DAB radio gives better sound quality, when it patently does not, especially now the BBC have chosen to put Radio 4 into mono most evenings on DAB (last Friday being a one-off, it would appear).

They can't have it both ways, on the one hand writing to me saying it is up to them how they choose to distribute their capacity, but then telling fibs to the national public regarding the sound quality. I wouldn't care but an OfCom spokesperson told me last week that if the BBC need extra capacity on DAB, they only have to ask for it (and presumably pay for it). If the BBC are spending so much money on new DAB transmitters, surely they can put up the cash for another full or at least part Multiplex to give all their DAB channels a decent sound quality and at the very least allow BBC Radios 4 & 4 Extra enough bits to broadcast in (((STEREO))) 24/7. Thjis will encourage more people to buy the new technology. I note most BBC Radio Local stations have a higher bit rate than BBC Radios 4 & 4 Extra.

Criminal !!

This whole DAB roll out has not been thought through at all well.

I don't see how BBC DAB radio will ever get into all the nooks and crannies that LW, AM & FM does, ever !! Esapecially the Scottish, Welsh and Lake Districr crannies (and nooks).

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Digital radio section | Digital radio
Wednesday 5 December 2012 3:04PM

Michael

TALKTALK: monthly bill including broadband, all UK Calls (evening + weekends incl. 0845 & 0870 numbers) + FREE International Calls (inc US mobiles) 24/7 + Value Line Rental and half price call package. TOTAL COST = £12.75 per month inc VAT

T-MOBILE : Monthly Cost (inc 300 texts, 300 minutes to mobiles and Free Unlimited Landline calls 24/7 ) = £5.25 per month inc VAT

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS / TV BILL (excluding TV Licence) = £17.50 per month (inc. VAT)

I have Freeview by the way !!

I never dial 0871 or 0844 or 09 numbers.

BEAT THAT > Who cares about 4G or 5G ?

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Digital radio section | Digital radio
Friday 21 December 2012 10:51PM

I cannot believe that the BBC cannot find funding to acquire a bit more spectrum/ a whole or part multiplex, for a higher quality sound on their DAB radio channels. Just consider how much greater the uptake of DAB radio sets and DAB in cars will be (and this will not make "D-LOVE" a liar any more. Many people are still reluctant to dip their toes into DAB, because of its poorer audio quality and coverage. The BBC could save a few bob by switching off transmitters every time there is duplication of programmes on BBC ONE / BBC TWO / BBC NEWS CHANNEL. Ditto BBC R4 & BBC WORLD SERVICE on Freeview & 1 & 1 EXTRA overnight. This will also cut doen their electricity bill.

At the very least it should buy enough capacity to have BBC R4 & 4 XTRA in stereo 24/7 and drastically improve sound quality on BBC WORLD SERVICE so it can bring back some of its lost music, drama & comedy programmes.

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Digital radio section | Digital radio
Friday 21 December 2012 10:55PM

BBC Radio Scotland is not on 88-91 FM, that is BBC Radio 2 (88.0 - 90.2 MHz to be precise). Radio Scotland is further down the dial as far as I remember.

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