mpx wrote: ↑Mon Sep 20, 2021 2:56 pm
Albert H wrote: ↑Tue Sep 14, 2021 11:59 am
We've just done a complete installation of two comprehensive studios, processing, link gear, monitoring and transmission site installation in the Czech Republic - licence issued 23/8/21, on air 11/9/21. The people here are completely clueless bozos.... Or they're just lazy!
Well good for you.
I think it's unfair to be labelling people as "clueless bozos". I would imagine there is considerably less 'red tape' and obstructions to broadcast in the Czech Republic.
The fastest we've managed in the UK - from issue of licence to launch day - was just over 3 months. The "red tape" is trivial (and certainly nothing compared to some parts of the EU).
The only thing that takes much time is getting the inspections done by OFCOM's "engineers":
They're
truly clueless bozos, and just go around ticking boxes on their hugely complicated inspection forms. I remember one of the "issues" they complained about was that there wasn't a
water Fire Extinguisher in the studio. I asked what kind of fires were likely in a studio, and I pointed out that there were three CO
2 extinguishers in there. They muttered some nonsense about "regulations".
They couldn't understand how we could add an extra data subcarrier to the multiplex to return transmission site data and alarms (standard practice in most of the world).
They also had no idea about feedlines and antennas, and had never seen a ⅝ over ⅞ vertical colinear groundplane before. They couldn't fathom that the antenna would provide omnidirectional gain at the expense of upward and downward radiation.... They measured the output power of the main and reserve transmitters into an out-of-calibration Bird Thruline with an uncalibrated load on the end. Their frequency counter was out by >1500Hz - my off-air referenced counter showed that the rigs were both within 100Hz of their specified frequency. They hadn't got a sampling probe for their spectrum analyser with them.....
In the end, they took photographs of all the measurements from MY test gear, and attached printouts of the photos to the back of their forms. Effectively I certified the system myself - then they had the temerity to present me with a bill for their "inspection"!!!
It took a month to get them out to site, and they suggested that they were "doing me a favour" - as if this was outside their usual remit!