We’re pleased to say that we have signed the contract with our transmission subcontractor, and can announce that the planned launch of the MuxCo Surrey multiplex will be in December 2013.
Find out more about this multiplex here.
Work is underway on this multiplex which is expected to go live in September 2013.
For both Ridge Hill and Malvern TX the transmitters are expected to be delivered this week (8th July). Electrical installation is scheduled from 12th August with antenna work on the 19th. Commissioning is scheduled for 26th August and we anticipate these transmitters will be operational in early September. Bromsgrove will be commissioned from 2nd September, so anticipated operational from mid-September .
Our transmission subcontractor has been undertaking the design work for the contribution network. Current delays relating to the BT distribution network may affect telecom delivery and so may impact on launch dates.
We are currently looking at an end-August launch although BT main spine distribution delays could impact on this.
The multiplexing software/hardware is scheduled to be commissioned on the 12th August, and the transmission hardware & electrical installation at transmitter sites scheduled for dates in August for all three launch transmitters (Preseli, Carmel & Kilvey Hill). Service provider connectivity is scheduled for early August.
The largest obstacle at the moment is that currently all distribution work by BT is on hold because of serious BT issues with ducts. Work is planned for the 17th July which may rectify this. This affects new feeds to the transmitters and in some instances to services too, and although our transmission subcontractor has arranged that commissioning can be undertaken regardless, until this is resolved we won’t have a firm launch date.
We are currently looking at an end July/mid-August launch for this multiplex although BT main spine distribution delays could impact on this.
The multiplexing software/hardware is built, and the hardware & electrical installation at transmitter sites is largely in place for our launch transmitters at Churchdown Hill and Stockend Wood. Connectivity to the multiplex is also largely in place.
The biggest obstacle at the moment is that currently all distribution work by BT is on hold because of serious BT issues with ducts. Work is planned for the 17th July which may rectify this. This affects feeds to the transmitters and although our transmission subcontractor has arranged that commissioning can be undertaken regardless, until this is resolved we won’t have a firm launch date.
Some pictures of the equipment are below:
Here’s a quick update for the New Year. All the Ofcom paperwork is now submitted and in due course they will issue the Ensemble and Service IDs which will enable us to configure services. The telecoms links for all but one of our services are now in.
To demonstrate some of the progress made, below are some pictures from the Moel Y Parc transmitter install. Look closely and you can see the labels.
Work continues as we approach Christmas. The Wrexham Rhos and Moel-y-Parc transmitters are installed and powered-up. 3G Modems for telemetry at these sites are scheduled to be installed this week. St John’s Beacon transmitter, antennas and rack are with the installation contractor, awaiting the OK for installation subject to permissions and weather. This transmitter’s telecoms connectivity is currently providing longest delay.
On the service side the multiplexer rack is installed at Mux Centre and configuration is ongoing – we are awaiting service IDs from Ofcom and BBC which will determine how analogue and digital versions link up. Encoders are installed and tested at Dee, Juice, Nation, Real Radio, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio Wales. SDSL links (the telecoms that get the station output to the multiplex) for Dee is installed, the links for other services start feeding in January.
Below is the multiplexer installed in its rack (on the left). We’re trying to get some pictures of the transmitters and some other parts of the project so you can see how things are taking shape. We hope to have more updates and pictures soon.
Here’s another update on the progress for our Wrexham, Chester and Liverpool multiplex.
We’re pleased to announce that we now have transmitters installed and powered at two of our three sites – Wrexham Rhos and Moel-y-Parc. In addition, the steel work for the mast to support the antenna has been delivered to St John’s Beacon and is awaiting fitting. We’re pushing to get as much done as possible on masts before the seasonal “freeze” on planned work around the Christmas period.
This week also sees multiplexer bay and equipment delivered to our transmission HQ in London and we’re finalising the configuration details. This includes kbit/s, labels, links to FM (where needed) and several other variables to ensure stations present in the way they and their listeners would like.
We’ve also started hooking up service providers to the network, with three down and three more to go.
The transmitter builds are progressing but telecoms delays continue to hamper our ability to currently announce a launch date.
More positively, we’re excited to see our multiplexers commissioned and installed into the rack. Here are a couple of pictures. You can see that there are two IPCs – one is the main and one is the backup; they’re otherwise identical. The multiplexing software is loaded up and all the information on the services is programmed in. The other things in the rack are GPS clocks and routers. This is the heart of our multiplex and we can’t wait to bring the whole thing to life as soon as we can.
Work continues for the launch, here’s a quick update of where things stand.
Our transmitters are arriving in the UK this week and installation will commence immediately. Given the time of the year, weather issues will always remain a variable in the build timetable. The multiplexer (the software that multiplexes the audio) is built and expected to be in place in the next two weeks.
It’s disappointing that delays to some telecoms provision mean that we can’t yet provide a firm date for our launch. We do, however continue to push forwards and hope to be able to provide more information soon.
The summer saw a flurry of orders – for everything; antennas, filters, transmitters, telecom circuits, encoders, routers and a LOT of cable ties. Now we move into the delivery phase with the work being scheduled to install all this stuff; from our transmitters on the masts to delivery of all this encoding equipment and circuits to each radio station. It’s actually a lot less equipment in station’s racks rooms than used to be the case – now it’s about 4U in total, it used to be 16U back in the day.
The line-up stands the same it was at the start of the launch process, no changes there, in case you were curious.
Something we’re offering that’s a bit new is that we will be transmitting a small station logo via the multiplex data on the DAB Carousel. This means that where devices have the functionality they can display this alongside the station’s name.
Our transmission subcontractor advises us that we are on track for our launch this Autumn and we can’t wait. Given the time of year weather is a factor that may impact on transmitter work especially given the very exposed nature of Moel Y Parc so we’re holding off on circulating a definite date at the moment but that’s where we are.