17 hours ago, domhnall said:

I actually do not know a single person that does not have a mobile phone.

Without thinking too hard, I can recall 5 people just in the road I live in who do not have a mobile phone (and the road only has 16 houses).

 

Mobile phone ownership is nowhere near 100% in certain areas of the country, neither is mobile phone coverage.

 

[rant]Assuming that everyone has one is incorrect and will remain so for sometime (maybe until the older ones have gone to their maker), and why some of the banks (e.g. HSBC) requiring a mobile to send confirmation codes to is so wrong.[/rant]

Just now, PetrolDave said:

Without thinking too hard, I can recall 5 people just in the road I live in who do not have a mobile phone (and the road only has 16 houses).

 

Mobile phone ownership is nowhere near 100% in certain areas of the country, neither is mobile phone coverage.

 

[rant]Assuming that everyone has one is incorrect and will remain so for sometime (maybe until the older ones have gone to their maker), and why some of the banks (e.g. HSBC) requiring a mobile to send confirmation codes to is so wrong.[/rant]

Holy shmoly!

How can little Britain with a population of 60M not have complete coverage ?.

14 minutes ago, Ryeman said:

Holy shmoly!

How can little Britain with a population of 60M not have complete coverage ?.

Because the mobile operators concentrate their network spending where people live to get the maximum return on their investment, there are still some villages with NO mobile coverage from any operator and significant areas away from the main roads where coverage is poor - as an example my brother lives in the county town of Wiltshire (Trowbridge) but in most of the houses on his street the ONLY mobile operator that provides even voice coverage is EE (when I'm staying with him I have to use WiFi Calling).

Edited 5 April, 20197 yr by PetrolDave

There is not even AM/FM/MW Radio coverage all over the UK, let alone Digital Radio, or GPS all over.

Drive roads where you want to know about road closures and you can have no Radio or Mobile Phone / Broadband coverage.

So in Scotland you can not be sure of even getting BBC Radio Scotland for the length of a journey for 'traffic alerts'.

Not that the Scottish Governments have bothered to do anything about that, or various Transport Ministers'.

They talk about Winter readiness and are pretty clueless really.

Edited 5 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

What is the point of government that allows profit margins over basic safety of communication.

3% of Australians don’t have mobile coverage either but with a population of only 25M and a continent as large as ours there is some excuse.

There is a UK Government then 3 countries with their Governments.

Things like GPS not being available can be because of military / defence establishments, or Airports, or the Military Exercises taking place currently off Scotland.

Same thing with Mobile Reception, say as Nuclear Submarines are exiting the coastal waters.

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-47748031

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-47799660

 

Edited 5 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

5 hours ago, Ryeman said:

What is the point of government that allows profit margins over basic safety of communication.

3% of Australians don’t have mobile coverage either but with a population of only 25M and a continent as large as ours there is some excuse.

Mainly planning restrictions that prevent masts being erected.

50 minutes ago, Luckypants said:

Mainly planning restrictions that prevent masts being erected.

The mobile operators have special permission that, in most cases, excludes them from needing planning permission provided the masts are under a certain height (which used to be 15 metres).

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. So 4 Countries.

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47325041

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 5 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

20 minutes ago, PetrolDave said:

The mobile operators have special permission that, in most cases, excludes them from needing planning permission provided the masts are under a certain height (which used to be 15 metres).

Those restrictions were still in place in Wales until February this year. So we are well behind the curve. Things are improving now with the impetus from the 'Blue Light' network which will use commercial masts for data. 

 

Oh. Skoffski beat me to it. 

Edited 5 April, 20197 yr by Luckypants

9 hours ago, Ryeman said:

Holy shmoly!

How can little Britain with a population of 60M not have complete coverage ?.

 

Well our regulator decided not to set geographic coverage requirements when licensing spectrum. Plenty places with only 2g or no coverage 

9 hours ago, Skoffski said:

There is not even AM/FM/MW Radio coverage all over the UK, let alone Digital Radio, or GPS all over.

Drive roads where you want to know about road closures and you can have no Radio or Mobile Phone / Broadband coverage.

So in Scotland you can not be sure of even getting BBC Radio Scotland for the length of a journey for 'traffic alerts'.

Not that the Scottish Governments have bothered to do anything about that, or various Transport Ministers'.

They talk about Winter readiness and are pretty clueless really.

 

Why would the Scottish Government deal with broadcasting? That's not within their jurisdiction. 

They spend enough on Transport Scotland http://transport.gov.scot

& http://trafficscotland.org

 which only cares about trunk routes and many need to rely on radio for getting Traffic News, Snow Gate closures etc if they are closing while you are travelling.

the Scottish Government could give more thought to coverage over the country where reception is not received and never has been, 

that was what Local / Community Radio Licences were about, Radio Tay as an example which can not even be received on the border of Perthshire & Aberdeeshire when on the A93. or between there and the A939. 

http://trafficscotland.org/trafficscotlandradio   Lots of use if no radio reception or broadband reception in parts of Scotland while travelling.

It is not all about keeping the Central Belt moving, but then that is not how it seems.

One Transport Minister for Scotland after another as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Mobile Websites & Smart Phone apps, where there are places with no Mobile phone reception is just fandabbydozzy.

 

 

 

 

Edited 5 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

1 hour ago, domhnall said:

 

Well our regulator decided not to set geographic coverage requirements when licensing spectrum. Plenty places with only 2g or no coverage 

Seems they were licensed to maximise profits above any sort of requirement to ‘serve’ all.

4 hours ago, PetrolDave said:

The mobile operators have special permission that, in most cases, excludes them from needing planning permission provided the masts are under a certain height (which used to be 15 metres).

When I see a bell tower in Britain I see a mobile phone hotspot.

Merc’s conversion  -

https://electrek.co/2019/04/05/mercedes-benz-breaks-ground-new-battery-factory/

17 hours ago, Ryeman said:

When I see a bell tower in Britain I see a mobile phone hotspot.

Neither of the 2 churches in my town have mobile phone antennas on their towers - they're both in Conservation Areas and nobody wanted the hassle of working out how to disguise them.

The GO seems to be Octopus Go. -

 

On 05/04/2019 at 20:39, Skoffski said:

They spend enough on Transport Scotland http://transport.gov.scot

& http://trafficscotland.org

 which only cares about trunk routes and many need to rely on radio for getting Traffic News, Snow Gate closures etc if they are closing while you are travelling.

the Scottish Government could give more thought to coverage over the country where reception is not received and never has been, 

that was what Local / Community Radio Licences were about, Radio Tay as an example which can not even be received on the border of Perthshire & Aberdeeshire when on the A93. or between there and the A939. 

http://trafficscotland.org/trafficscotlandradio   Lots of use if no radio reception or broadband reception in parts of Scotland while travelling.

It is not all about keeping the Central Belt moving, but then that is not how it seems.

One Transport Minister for Scotland after another as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Mobile Websites & Smart Phone apps, where there are places with no Mobile phone reception is just fandabbydozzy.

 

 

 

 

George 

 

They can give as much thought to coverage as they like but they have the same power to do anything about it as you or I. Broadcasting and telecoms are reserved matters so it's the secretary of state fir digital, culture, media and sport you need to blame. He's in London at 100 Parliament Street. 

I know that, the licence fee funded BBC, and various Secretaries of State in what ever Department of Westminster and all those that go through that DCM&S job as part of the career path in Cabinet.  Jeremy Wright MP  

There have been some beauts recently. Karen Bradley MP, John Whittingdale MP, Sajid Javid MP , Maria Miller MP.

All of them get plenty of news coverage themselves for one reason  or another.

Matt Hancock MP will be a right laugh i would imagine. Never going to be Prime Minister though.

He should maybe have Damian Green MP as right hand man and adviser unless John Whiiingdale MP can find some 'advisor with time on her hand'.

 

@domhnall

Maybe you can tell us how hard working they all were, up with the larks and working for the people, not the party or their own ambitions.

Reading Twitter & the Press to see what the latest scandal they get themselves involved in or what they said or were overheard saying.

 

 

Like i said the Scottish Government spend a lot on provision of something that where those most needing that can not simply get radio reception,

but i read what the BBC said in 2009,2011 and 2015 about improved coverage and where it was to be, Glasgow, Aberdeen etc and how it is talk.

Talk about improving the percentage of areas getting reception in various announcements.

What the government can do is something about Councils and blocking planning permissions in locations. 

But hey-ho why would a devolved Government or even the UK Government have any influence with a the British Broad Casting Company, or even elected members of Local Councils, or even Utilities companies.

 

Maybe if people just need to come to terms with the Government that serves them put talking about being Independent above the needs of the country and basic facilities to all across the country.  More jaw jaw on having powers devolved and a say in matters like Broadcasting which appears to have been about a Scottish TV Channel rather than all being able to get Radio Reception.

 

Roadside improvements are going to be very much needed to go with EV's in a country where tourism is so important, and the countries most valuable products,

drink /food, seafood and timber travel of hilly areas.

So with stopping places with Chargers there needs to be Battery Storage on site, for when Power Cuts, Mobile Reception, land lines, Broadband / Wi-fi as well.

That means more transmitters, that is not that much to ask really in a wealthy country.

 

Edited 7 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

2 hours ago, Skoffski said:

I know that, the licence fee funded BBC, and various Secretaries of State in what ever Department of Westminster and all those that go through that DCM&S job as part of the career path in Cabinet.  Jeremy Wright MP  

There have been some beauts recently. Karen Bradley MP, John Whittingdale MP, Sajid Javid MP , Maria Miller MP.

All of them get plenty of news coverage themselves for one reason  or another.

Matt Hancock MP will be a right laugh i would imagine. Never going to be Prime Minister though.

He should maybe have Damian Green MP as right hand man and adviser unless John Whiiingdale MP can find some 'advisor with time on her hand'.

 

@domhnall

Maybe you can tell us how hard working they all were, up with the larks and working for the people, not the party or their own ambitions.

Reading Twitter & the Press to see what the latest scandal they get themselves involved in or what they said or were overheard saying.

 

 

Like i said the Scottish Government spend a lot on provision of something that where those most needing that can not simply get radio reception,

but i read what the BBC said in 2009,2011 and 2015 about improved coverage and where it was to be, Glasgow, Aberdeen etc and how it is talk.

Talk about improving the percentage of areas getting reception in various announcements.

What the government can do is something about Councils and blocking planning permissions in locations. 

But hey-ho why would a devolved Government or even the UK Government have any influence with a the British Broad Casting Company, or even elected members of Local Councils, or even Utilities companies.

 

Maybe if people just need to come to terms with the Government that serves them put talking about being Independent above the needs of the country and basic facilities to all across the country.  More jaw jaw on having powers devolved and a say in matters like Broadcasting which appears to have been about a Scottish TV Channel rather than all being able to get Radio Reception.

 

Roadside improvements are going to be very much needed to go with EV's in a country where tourism is so important, and the countries most valuable products,

drink /food, seafood and timber travel of hilly areas.

So with stopping places with Chargers there needs to be Battery Storage on site, for when Power Cuts, Mobile Reception, land lines, Broadband / Wi-fi as well.

That means more transmitters, that is not that much to ask really in a wealthy country.

 

18

 

 

@Skoffski not for the first time I'm struggling to follow the reasoning here.  So you are saying that the Scottish Government should accept things the way they are and stop asking for more powers and instead concentrate on fixing things like broadband and broadcasting coverage?  ie the very things over which they have no power? I'd hazard a guess that the reason they would like power over things like energy, telecoms and broadcasting is because they feel that the government in England isn't that interested in far away places like Scotland which is why things are in the poor state which you describe. Their argument would no doubt run that if decisions about the country were taken in the country then they could take steps to address the concerns of people who live here. 

I deal with DCMS on a weekly basis and I can assure you their grasp of matters much beyond Yorkshire is tenuous at best. Their interest in doing anything is even less. The Scottish Government can do things in related areas to help - for example from this month they have given in to something I have lobbied them on for the last 16 years - any new fibre optic cables installed from now until 2029 will not attract business rates, something which often sinks the business case for fibre networks anywhere but the biggest cities. But they have zero powers to do anything directly related to areas like broadband, broadcasting or energy policy.  

@domhnall

I am saying the exact opposite.  More powers of control of the countries infrastucture, transmitters, public broadcasting, communications, it is a country with the Nuclear Deterrent based on it and bases for the UK's defences, early warning stations etc for many decades and yet radio reception to the public is not 100% over the whole Country.

So more powers as well as the tax powers, spending, budgets etc.

As to neverendums, that can go back a few generations, and the important day to day and year after year or decade after decade things like transport can get 

worked on.  The A9 Dualing had been decades in the talking about, the A77 as well, the A96, the A90 north of Aberdeen etc etc.

Alex Salmond MP & MSP was OK, as is Nicola Sturgeon MSP as they get driven around.

 

What is it exactly you do as a job / employment /profession and who do you work for,

and what are you trained in and qualified in other than Scottish or European Law?

 

 

I think the Scottish Government when in talks should be thinking of Scotland as a whole and not accept some as always being in a hole.

Talk with David Mundell MP and his cronies, not always just point scoring.

More devolved powers than the limited ones they get and try to get.

 

As for the Westminster Secretaries of State you talk of, those think North is Birmingham and their official visits to Scotland are when ordered to and they will be in Official Transport.

 

You do deal with who you deal with, seems like that might be an issue, lots of yes men and women around.

Many on the Gravy Train of Expenses. 

Edited 7 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

3 minutes ago, Skoffski said:

@domhnall

What is it exactly you do as a job / employment /profession and who do you work for,

and what are you trained in and qualified in other than Scottish or European Law?

 

 

I think the Scottish Government when in talks should be thinking of Scotland as a whole and not accept some as always being in a hole.

Talk with David Mundell MP and his cronies, not always just point score.

 

As for the Westminster Secretaries of State you talk of, those think North is Birmingham and their official visits to Scotland are when ordered to and they will be in Official Transport.

 

You do deal with who you deal with, seems like that might be an issue, lots of yes men and women around.

Many on the Gravy Train of Expenses. 

 

George

 

I deal with the people who make the decisions, there's not an awful lot of point in talking to anyone else. I've met Mr Mundell a number of times. He's (how to put this kindly?) somewhat changeable in his positions and views. He's never had too firm a grasp on what we've discussed, he has difficulty in absorbing the detail let's just say.  A bit like Mr Javid when he was at DCMS. We struck a deal over mobile coverage rollout in exchange for legal changes to make it easier to deploy masts and fibre. This was when he was the Sec of State in the coalition government. A few months later after the election when he was in the same job but in a fully tory government he told us that although we'd delivered our side and announced lots of investment, he wasn't delivering his side because he'd made those promises as a coalition Minister, and now as a Tory minister he wasn't bound by anything he's promised as a coalition Minister. 

And I'm baffled by your fascination with expenses. Yes, I claim expenses. Why should I be out of pocket because my employer wants me to fly to London and Dublin? Why should I pay for the hotels and food I need while I'm doing these things for them? No one should be left out of pocket because their employer wants them to do things. My expenses in a month can quite quickly mount up to well over half of what I get paid. If I had to pay for these things myself I'd have to quit. I suspect most people would be unhappy if they had to fund their employer's business too - except for altruistic souls like yourself who would obviously happily donate their pay to help support their employer's activities. I admire your generosity. 

 

Do not be silly now.

A man like you must know how much waste takes place, and talking about talking.  Travelling to meetings that can be done over modern communications devices.

Many people travelling to meet a person or a couple of them when actually that person could have moved their backside with their sidekicks, 

except they need to be near Westminster because the bell might ring and they need to be there to vote.

Then in your other job you know about the countries Communications requirements for Defence and the spending on that.

 

Nobody should be out of pocket.  But some are just too close to things and outsiders looking in or 'sitting in' listening and doing a job and too worried to rock boats and risk employment.

But that is understandable in the Private Sector, as for Politicians, there are always options and alternatives, never downward though.

If they have to leave Politics to spend more time with the family there as a career move to the House of Lords there so they can spend more time in London.

That is always a good one for Liberal Democrats.

 

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26911952

 

http://bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36276570

 

 

Edited 7 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

Fiat are hooking up with Tesla to pool their "fleets" for emission regulations so that Fiat can avoid - or reduce - their liability for fines under the EU's tighter regs, due in 2021.

Makes one wonder:

> Are the other companies doing enough to avoid fines?

> Which ones are going to be hit and how hard?

> How much of the rapid expansion of the EV market is driven by the imminent new regs with their massive fines for shortfalls in compliance?