Radio Ga-Ga

[caddyman]

Bah.

I am getting interference on my DAB radio - that is to say that it sounds like the station is broadcasting under water. It hasn't done this before and it's annoying. The entire point of splashing out on DAB all those months ago was to compensate for the poor FM reception in these parts.

It's my own fault I guess. I mean, if I will live atop a hill only a few miles from central London, why should I expect anyone to go to the expense of providing a decent signal to someone so remote?

Grumble.

Comments

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

Please mention it to squeezypaws. She's involved with the transmission beacons and is always having to check signal ragne etc. On a number of occasions she has said to people that they should let her know if their reception is duff, and I reckon she'd probably like to know about it.

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I dunno who squeezypaws is and her LJ is fgriends only. I see she is a Furtle-pal though, so I see a spot of delegation coming on.

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

I dropped her a comment referring her to your post too.

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

*door opens dramatically.

Did someone call?

Hello, Anita mentioned your post - please do tell me where you live (full postcode if not shy) and I can probably tell you what's happening. I oversee 20 local DAB multiplexes so if you're within one of mine I may be able to help - and even if you're not I can have a stab at finding out.

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

The technical term for the interference you refer to is "boiling mud".

Oh and as you've mentioned its central london (where there are three multiplexes) can you tell me which service you're noticing the interference on so I can narrow down which mux it is.

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

When I say service I mean radio station.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

*Stands back in amazement and looks around for hidden microphones*

Not quite central London, being in Whetstone, right oop t'Northern Line. Postcode is N20 9HJ and it was Radio 2 what was playing up, so it was. I was having difficulty with me Wogans as it were...

Re: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

Please help! My boy's awful when his wogans are wobbly!

Re: Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition

[squeezypaws.livejournal.com]

As it is a BBC service that was affected it isn't on one of our multiplexes (I work in the evil commercial sector). I've given the BBC Broadcast Support Team a call and it was news to them too but they'll pass it down to the London team to investigate.

They have some general advice here (of the "have you tried wiggling your aerial" variety):

http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/index.shtml

And I notice from this page that they're fiddling with Hemel Hempstead today:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/transmitters/index.shtml

Admittedly planned work doesn't usually start before 10am, and OK you're not exactly near Hemel but cos of SFN Gain whereby you get a bit of oomph from several transmitters in the vicinity, sometimes one going off
can cause a disproportionately big effect.

If it is bugging you to the extent that you want to pursue it, drop an email to broadcast.support.centre@bbc.co.uk

[ladkyis.livejournal.com]

WOW!!!
I wonder what it would take to get that sort of service in the NHS??