 |
Press Releases
One hundred Devonians sign up for UK's first medium wave digital radio trial on Radio Devon
|
On St George's Day, 23 April 2007, 100 Devon radio listeners will be eagerly tuning into Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Devon using a brand new technology to UK listeners, Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM).
Μύ
The trial, which lasts for a year, will re-use a current medium-wave frequency in the Plymouth area (855MW) to broadcast Radio Devon as a digital service.
Μύ
DRM is an emerging technology which has been designed to facilitate digital radio at frequencies below 30 MHz.
Μύ
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ already uses this technology to broadcast short wave transmissions of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service to some parts of Western Europe and North Africa.
Μύ
An audience panel of 100 has been recruited from listeners to Radio Devon and users of bbc.co.uk/devon. Members of the panel have been given radios which are capable of receiving DRM as well as the existing FM and DAB transmissions.
Μύ
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ intends to conduct research with this panel over the coming year to explore their experience of DRM and help inform its future digital radio strategy.
Μύ
Robert Wallace, Managing Editor, Radio Devon, said: "It's great for Devon to be at the forefront of testing this new digital medium-wave technology. We're looking forward to hearing how our panel of listeners get on with their digital reception of Radio Devon."
Μύ
Notes to Editors
Μύ
The trial is now fully signed up. Radio Devon switched off its MW transmitter in Plymouth on 1 April in preparation for the trial. The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ first started to use 855MW in Plymouth in November 1978.
Μύ
The first service to be broadcast was Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4. When Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Devon started just over four years later, the frequency was transferred over to the new station.
Μύ
The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ is working with the transmission provider National Grid Wireless in this trial. National Grid Wireless will be supplying, commissioning and operating the transmission equipment needed for the trial, as well as assisting in the engineering measurement of the transmissions and validation of the results.
Μύ
The two companies intend to publish the results of the trial by the middle of 2008.
Μύ
JR
Μύ
|
Printable version