Category: Digital

Youthcomm Radio Joins DAB

Page last updated on December 19th, 2020 at 12:28 pm

Youthcomm Radio has joined the Hereford and Worcester DAB multiplex, using 112 kbps joint stereo. This is in addition to the 106.7 FM service for Worcester and the surrounding areas.

The station is a youth orientated community radio service, playing hit music alongside local news and info. The station first launched on FM in 2008.

Update (19/12/2020): Youthcomm Radio left the Hereford and Worcester DAB multiplex on the 14th, after only a handful of days. The reason is unknown, but it could be because the transmission was a test transmission ahead of a full launch at a later date, there is a license issue which needs to be resolved, or the station has opted not to broadcast on dab.

New Volunteer Led DAB Station for Bath

Page last updated on November 5th, 2020 at 09:23 pm

Update 05/11/2020: Radio Bath has launched on the Bath and West Wiltshire multiplex, using normal DAB in mono at 56 kbps. This is below standard, but may be satisfactory if there is a high proportion of speech based content.

Tomorrow (5th November 2020) will see the launch of a new volunteer led local station for Bath.

Radio Bath will be available on the Bath and West Wiltshire DAB multiplex. The transmission method is unconfirmed, and the station has not yet appeared on the multiplex. However, the multiplex has an excess of empty capacity available, so the use of DAB+ is unlikely.

The station is led entirely by volunteers, and is in the process of becoming a charity. Any profits will be invested back into the local area.

Hot Radio Joins DAB

Poole based community station Hot Radio has joined DAB. The station can now be found on the South Hampshire DAB multiplex, extending the coverage area of the station.

The station is using 56 kbps mono LSF. As the station is using the original DAB format, all DAB radios should receive the station.

If you are within the coverage, you may need to re-scan your DAB radio to be able to receive the station.

Mearns FM

Mearns FM, the locally focused community station for South Aberdeenshire has joined the Aberdeen local DAB multiplex, extending coverage to most of Aberdeenshire.

The station first launched in 1993 as Stonehaven Community Radio, and became full time 11 years ago. The station is available in Laurencekirk on 105.7 FM, Inverbervie on 106.2 FM, and Stonehaven on 107.3 FM.

The bit rate is not yet confirmed, but the station appears to be using normal DAB, which means all DAB radios should receive the station when within the coverage area.

Riverside Radio Launches on DAB+

South West London based community station Riverside Radio has joined the Trial London small-scale DAB multiplex, ahead of an official launch of the new service on the 1st August 2020. The station is using 32 kbps DAB+ stereo.

Riverside Radio has been an online station for the past 5 years, launching as Wandsworth Radio in 2015, and expanding to cover neighbouring areas in 2019.

Riverside Radio is a locally focused service for the Lambeth, Merton, Richmond, and Wandsworth area, with a strong commitment to local news.