The Wrexham, Chester and Liverpool multiplex is the first launch for MuxCo and we’re using a variety of new systems to bring the stations to your radios. That’s the good thing about test transmissions – they let you try some different things without it interrupting listeners’ enjoyment when the multiplex is properly live. It’s why, in this test phase, you should be aware that services/barkers may stop, be reconfigured and do strange things!

Our current outlined plan is to to test some more services on Monday. I wanted to flag up, though, that this definitely won’t be happening at midnight tonight – so no need to wait up auto-tuning! Whilst we’re still looking to do something on Monday, some of the things we’ve been doing over the weekend may mean that the next bundle of changes may happen a little later – please don’t be too disappointed – this is just what happens with tests!

Wrexham Rhos has passed Ofcom’s tests this morning so now joins Moel-y-Parc in becoming passed and on the air.

If you’re in the area, we would love to hear your transmission reports. Please send your postcode/location and the signal level/quality to us at [email protected]. You can also guess who our Test Transmission announcers are too…

If your DAB Digital Radio has, er, a few years on the clock, make sure you do a full scan rather than just a UK scan to pick us up.

I’ve just got back from Chairing a brilliant Radio Academy session on RAJAR. I’m sure it’ll be online soon, definitely well worth having a listen.

Whilst I was there, I got an update from our transmission contractors on how today went and I wanted to share it with you.

So… Moel-y-Parc was tested and approved by Ofcom. We had it on for much of the day, but powered it down early this evening. Ofcom will test Wrexham Rhos tomorrow and, should all be fine, it should be on by late morning. The team will then re-activate MYP, meaning  both should be on by around 2pm.

If I don’t see transmission reports on Digital Spy, before I hear from the engineers, I’ll be disappointed.

Hopefully, it’s going to be a busy week for our Wrexham, Chester and Liverpool multiplex.

At the beginning of the week Ofcom will be working with us to do the testing on our initial two transmitters. They should be working on Moel-y-Parc on Monday and Wrexham Rhos on Tuesday. When this has been completed we expect test transmissions to begin from these two sites.

In the test transmissions we’ll be broadcasting six ‘barker’ channels. These are pre-recorded loops that explain that six new channels will be launching soon. These barkers will often be interrupted with gaps and also live feeds of the stations that will replace them.

We’ve got six different presenters to read our announcements – but can you name them all?

If all goes to plan, our tests continue on Friday when we’ll replace one of the barker’s with Dee on DAB and then the following Monday (18th) when we test with live output of Nation Radio, Real Radio, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru.

Juice FM (and the official launch) will be when we add the St. John’s Beacon transmitter in the coming weeks.

This weekend our transmission team and Microwave Link supplier successfully completed the next part of the work necessary for the launch of the WCL mutiplex. They have one more piece of work to do later this week and then we are expecting some commissioning work with Ofcom at the beginning of next week.

Should all of this go to plan, our intention is to start test transmissions from Moel-Y-Parc and Wrexham Rhos on the 13th March.

There is some more work to do on our St John’s Beacon installation, before it (and Juice FM) join the network. We will hopefully be able to update the blog on firmer dates in the coming weeks.

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.