Listeners in and around Cambridge will be able to hear Cambridge 105 on digital radio after the community station was selected to take part in a nationwide trial.
Cambridge 105 will shortly be available to anyone with a DAB radio. It’s expected the trial will start in the next eight weeks and last for nine months.
The system uses software that runs on low-cost and readily available computer equipment rather than bespoke broadcasting equipment or ‘hardware’.
It means small scale stations such as Cambridge 105 will be able to broadcast on the next generation platform that has previously been the preserve of the major broadcasting groups.
Up to ten groups have been selected by Ofcom with three different technical modes being tested.
Cambridge 105 has joined forces with UKRD, the company behind local station Star Radio, for the only split site test in the country. It will use Cambridge 105’s site at the OLEM church on Hills Road and the Star Radio facility at the Gog Magog Hills to broadcast a multiplex of stations, all of them new to DAB in Cambridge. One of the features of DAB is that it can reuse the same frequencies at relatively short distances.
It’s anticipated the signal will be clearly available in Cambridge City Centre with good coverage across Milton, Fulbourn, Hinxton, Thriplow, Haslingfield and Grantchester.
Steve Potter, director, Cambridge 105 said: “This trial opens up new avenues for both stations and listeners. We hope to demonstrate it’s technically possible for stations of all sizes to be heard on the DAB system. If successful it will make Cambridge 105 available to many more listeners.
“We’d like to thank our friends at the Catholic church and UKRD for helping to make this possible.”
In addition to Cambridge 105 and Star Radio, listeners will also be able to tune to Gaydio, Chris Country, Core Radio.