Coverage

Manchester DAB’s Ofcom-predicted indoor coverage reaches around one million adults across Manchester and Salford.

Coverage is based on modelling and may vary by location, building type, receiver and local conditions.

Our transmission network

Manchester DAB operates a multi-transmitter network covering Manchester and Salford. Our transmitters form an overlapping network to maximise signal coverage. In the unlikely event of a failure at any one site, the remaining transmitters continue to deliver coverage across much of the area.

For audio and multiplexed signal distribution, we use a highly robust carrier-grade network to deliver your output, along with all other services, to each transmitter — 24/7, every day of the year.

Audio quality

The audio quality of your broadcast signal is measured in kilobits per second (kbps). Manchester DAB uses DAB+ encoding, which can deliver near-FM audio quality at 40kbps, occupying 30 capacity units (CUs) at error protection level 3-A.

The greater the capacity used to carry your service, the better the audio quality — and the higher the carriage charge. Similarly, longer contracts attract lower rates. We recommend booking and pre-paying for 12 months’ carriage at 40kbps for the best value.

All-inclusive rates

Our carriage rates are all-inclusive. Provided your radio service’s programming output can be delivered over the internet at an acceptable quality level, there are no additional charges for encoding, multiplexing or monitoring. The only exception is if your signal needs attention to meet our specification — in that case, we can supply a ‘black box’ for a one-off charge of £200.

Should your audio drop out, we can arrange alerts from our Network Operations Centre, which monitors all signals received, encoded, multiplexed and distributed around the clock.