Save Analogue Radio campaign

I received theis e-mail from KF5CCN. After seeing what happened with analog TV, don't hesitate to think for a second that analog broadcast radio is safe.

A National Campaign to maintain essential traditional analogue broadcast radio for everyday listening and for use in times of national emergencies.
The pressure is on to replace traditional analogue radio broadcasting with Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) radio.

Indeed, the UK Government has provisionally set 2015 as the date when the world wide standard frequency modulation (f.m.) services are to disappear from the Band II 87.5 to 108MHz (v.h.f. f.m. band), to be replaced with DAB radio transmissions.

Eventually, the analogue services on long waves (198kHz) and medium waves (500kHz to 1.6MHz) will also be replaced by digital transmissions.

Obsolete radio receivers:

Several million non-DAB equipped radio receivers could be made obsolete, if the Band II plans are implemented – requiring people of all income groups to purchase new receivers. The 'digital effect' is already apparent as very few manufacturers now produce analogue-only receivers.

Practical considerations and technical difficulties:

Unfortunately, the Government's plans don't take into account the large number of practical considerations and technical difficulties involved with the present forms of digital transmissions – particularly when radio broadcasting is involved because of the 'digital delay' effect (known as Latency). The problems are likely to be difficult to overcome because most listeners use portable receivers, utilising simple antennas (aerials).

So, in response to the Government's proposals I am planning to organise a national campaign urging the Government to retain analogue broadcasting on Band II v.h.f. f.m. and on long and medium waves, while maintaing the DAB radio services on Band III.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need further information on the complex problems that are in store for the radio listener in the UK – if the Government's seemingly ill-considered plans proceed.

Thank you.

Rob Mannion, G3XFD
Dr. R. B. Mannion G3XFD
Editor Practical Wireless magazine

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