I watched the Department of Culture, Media & Sport committee hearing
yesterday. Although this was nominally concerned with Local Radio in
England, the questions also touched on Wales, Northern Ireland and
Scotland.

One of the BBC witnesses said that Radio Scotland carries localised
news bulletins. My understanding is that this is not exactly true.
AIUI there are opt-outs for Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries but the rest
of Scotland receives common output. For Glasgow (where I live) this
would not be technically possible as Glasgow and Edinburgh receive FM
from the same transmitter. Was the statement made misleading?

As an aside, I understand Radio Scotland DAB is transmitted in local
commercial multiplexes. I wonder, if you drive from one area to
another will the radio automatically retune to find Radio Scotland or
is manual tuning needed? Also, if you live in an area where two local multiplexes can be received (eg west Edinburgh) will the radio choose
the stronger of the two?

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On 02/12/2022 10:01, Scott wrote:

I watched the Department of Culture, Media & Sport committee hearing yesterday. Although this was nominally concerned with Local Radio in England, the questions also touched on Wales, Northern Ireland and
Scotland.

One of the BBC witnesses said that Radio Scotland carries localised
news bulletins. My understanding is that this is not exactly true.
AIUI there are opt-outs for Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries but the rest
of Scotland receives common output. For Glasgow (where I live) this
would not be technically possible as Glasgow and Edinburgh receive FM
from the same transmitter. Was the statement made misleading?

Yes

As an aside, I understand Radio Scotland DAB is transmitted in local commercial multiplexes. I wonder, if you drive from one area to
another will the radio automatically retune to find Radio Scotland or
is manual tuning needed? Also, if you live in an area where two local multiplexes can be received (eg west Edinburgh) will the radio choose
the stronger of the two?

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and
from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out programmes ?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 02/12/2022 11:10, Mark Carver wrote:

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and
from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out programmes ?

There used to be a local service for Aberdeen I think but I doubt
whether it has one now. Probably either some historical reason or
Wohnort incorrect.

It is fortunately looking now as if the SNP have not got the numbers to
get partition but they seem very keen to get control of the BBC in
Scotland and run it rather like the North Korean broadcaster as with the
SNP comic that sticks to the party line on everything.

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On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 12:10:00 +0000, MB <MB@nospam.net> wrote:

On 02/12/2022 11:10, Mark Carver wrote:

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and
from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out
programmes ?

There used to be a local service for Aberdeen I think but I doubt
whether it has one now. Probably either some historical reason or
Wohnort incorrect.

It is fortunately looking now as if the SNP have not got the numbers to
get partition but they seem very keen to get control of the BBC in
Scotland and run it rather like the North Korean broadcaster as with the
SNP comic that sticks to the party line on everything.

Yes, I would tend to agree. I find with Radio Scotland studio guests
in particular seem to adopt a 'girning' (as my granny would put it)
tone where everything is someone else's fault (usually the Tories) and
there is no individual responsibility. Drugs - lack of support.
Obesity - supermarkets to blame. Single mothers - benefits must be
too low. The likes of Muriel Grey and and Lesley Riddoch are never
happy about anything. BTW, I write this not as a Conservative.

BBC Scotland channel is pretty dire. BBC Alba probably attracts
funding out of all proportion to the Gaelic speaking population. Scot
Squad is spectacularly unfunny.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 11:10:50 +0000, Mark Carver
<mark.carver@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 02/12/2022 10:01, Scott wrote:

I watched the Department of Culture, Media & Sport committee hearing
yesterday. Although this was nominally concerned with Local Radio in
England, the questions also touched on Wales, Northern Ireland and
Scotland.

One of the BBC witnesses said that Radio Scotland carries localised
news bulletins. My understanding is that this is not exactly true.
AIUI there are opt-outs for Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries but the rest
of Scotland receives common output. For Glasgow (where I live) this
would not be technically possible as Glasgow and Edinburgh receive FM
from the same transmitter. Was the statement made misleading?

Yes

As an aside, I understand Radio Scotland DAB is transmitted in local
commercial multiplexes. I wonder, if you drive from one area to
another will the radio automatically retune to find Radio Scotland or
is manual tuning needed? Also, if you live in an area where two local
multiplexes can be received (eg west Edinburgh) will the radio choose
the stronger of the two?

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and
from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out >programmes ?

I assume the PI code is different in Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries
also?

I assumed this would only work in the same multiplex. Does this mean
if I drive to Cumbria listening to Classic FM on DAB, the radio will automatically retune to the new multiplex?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 02/12/2022 14:58, Scott wrote:

On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 11:10:50 +0000, Mark Carver
<mark.carver@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and

from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out
programmes ?

I assume the PI code is different in Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries
also?

There are no local muxes in those areas (Only in Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Ayr, Tayside, and Aberdeen)

I assumed this would only work in the same multiplex. Does this mean
if I drive to Cumbria listening to Classic FM on DAB, the radio will automatically retune to the new multiplex?

Should do, yes.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 15:18:10 +0000, Mark Carver
<mark.carver@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 02/12/2022 14:58, Scott wrote:

On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 11:10:50 +0000, Mark Carver
<mark.carver@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and

from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out
programmes ?

I assume the PI code is different in Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries
also?

There are no local muxes in those areas (Only in Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Ayr, Tayside, and Aberdeen)

I forgot that, though also Inverness according to the Radio
Listener's Guide.

I assumed this would only work in the same multiplex. Does this mean
if I drive to Cumbria listening to Classic FM on DAB, the radio will
automatically retune to the new multiplex?

Should do, yes.

What would happen if the radio was off in Cumbria and I turned it on
in the West Midlands? Would it be able to locate the new multiplex
from a standing start?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Fri 02/12/2022 15:29, Scott wrote:

On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 15:18:10 +0000, Mark Carver
<mark.carver@invalid.invalid> wrote:

On 02/12/2022 14:58, Scott wrote:

On Fri, 2 Dec 2022 11:10:50 +0000, Mark Carver
<mark.carver@invalid.invalid> wrote:

Looking on Wohnort, it seems all the local muxes in Scotland have BBC
Radio Scotland with a PI Code of C435, except the Aberdeen mux where
it's C635, so I'd expect switching between muxes (and possibly to and

from FM) in all areas except Aberdeen. Does Aberdeen have any opt out
programmes ?

I assume the PI code is different in Orkney, Shetland and Dumfries
also?

There are no local muxes in those areas (Only in Glasgow, Edinburgh,
Ayr, Tayside, and Aberdeen)

I forgot that, though also Inverness according to the Radio
Listener's Guide.

I assumed this would only work in the same multiplex. Does this mean
if I drive to Cumbria listening to Classic FM on DAB, the radio will
automatically retune to the new multiplex?

Should do, yes.

What would happen if the radio was off in Cumbria and I turned it on
in the West Midlands? Would it be able to locate the new multiplex
from a standing start?

AFAIK Classic is transmitted on the D1 mux nationally so there is no
such thing as 'retuning' per se, it will just continue playing unless
you drive into a DAB-hole.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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On 02/12/2022 17:01, Woody wrote:

What would happen if the radio was off in Cumbria and I turned it on
in the West Midlands?  Would it be able to locate the new multiplex
from a standing start?

More or less, it would do a quick scan and soon find the D1 English
frequency etc. Chances are it will have still been scanning anyway,
while switched 'off'

AFAIK Classic is transmitted on the D1 mux nationally so there is no
such thing as 'retuning' per se, it will just continue playing unless
you drive into a DAB-hole.

The D1 mux is on a different frequency in Scotland (12A), than it is in England/Wales/NI (11D)

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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