05-07-2017, 05:56 AM
Those audio links to the FM transmitters varied considerably in quality. My first experience of FM quality was in the 1960s from Holme Moss, and subjectively it was first class. I still have 7.5 ips tapes of broadcast concerts bearing testimony to the bandwidth.
However, when we moved to Cambridge in the mid- 1970s, quality from the 'local' Tacolneston transmitter was, by comparison with Holme Moss, abysmal, subjectively sounding like 8kHz bandwidth with associated phase distortion. I assume that was a PO 'music circuit' feed.
The only answer for hi fi at that time in Cambridge was a multi-element aerial aimed at Wrotham - not only 15kHz bandwidth, but also stereo! However, the distinctly fringe reception created a signal/noise problem. It was some years later that East Anglia got a decent stereo FM service, I guess with the advent of the BBC PCM distribution which, I understand, exploited the disused 405 line TV video coax cable links.
Was there ever use of microwave links for 15kHz bandwidth audio to FM transmitters?
Martin
However, when we moved to Cambridge in the mid- 1970s, quality from the 'local' Tacolneston transmitter was, by comparison with Holme Moss, abysmal, subjectively sounding like 8kHz bandwidth with associated phase distortion. I assume that was a PO 'music circuit' feed.
The only answer for hi fi at that time in Cambridge was a multi-element aerial aimed at Wrotham - not only 15kHz bandwidth, but also stereo! However, the distinctly fringe reception created a signal/noise problem. It was some years later that East Anglia got a decent stereo FM service, I guess with the advent of the BBC PCM distribution which, I understand, exploited the disused 405 line TV video coax cable links.
Was there ever use of microwave links for 15kHz bandwidth audio to FM transmitters?
Martin
BVWS Member
