Radio BGM, Llanelli’s multiple-award-winning community and hospital radio station, has invested in a DHD SX2 audio mixing console and XC3 Core signal processor in an upgrade to its main studio. The system was supplied by DHD distribution partner Broadcast Solutions Connect.
Radio BGM was established in 1974 at Bryntirion Hospital before relocating in 1990 to its current studio near the main entrance of Llanelli’s Prince Philip Hospital. The station broadcasts in English and Welsh on 94.9 FM as well as online and via mobile apps. The dedication of its largely volunteer staff has helped secure numerous Hospital Broadcasting Awards including Station of the Year in 2025, placing Radio BGM as the best hospital radio station in Wales.
“The Radio BGM team required a facility which can handle all current and foreseen broadcast requirements as well as presenting operators with a user interface they can master quickly and easily,” says Rupert Brun, UK-based technical representative at Broadcast Solutions Connect.
“Hospital radio is an important sector in many countries, not least the UK which has over 150 stations on air. The staff are mostly volunteers with a wide range of experience and technical skills. Radio BGM’s team were impressed by the configurability of the DHD audio consoles, allowing them to use personalised configurations which provide the precise information and functions they need.
“DHD control surfaces provide a wide range of configuration options in a compact footprint. Each console connects to a dedicated or shared core processor via Ethernet cables carrying the audio, power and control data, in this case to the XC3. The XC3 integrated at Radio BGM includes analog inputs and outputs plus a 64 x 64 Dante AoIP interface. Dante greatly simplifies installation and allows the routing to be changed easily if required to match the evolving workflow.
“We also integrated the DHD Views App which displays complete mixer control views on a separate monitor screen, plus the Assist App which allows a technician to support DJs remotely. The technician can also control faders and central modules using a web browser.”
DHD SX2 mixing systems are based on a four-fader central surface plus an optional number of modular six-fader expansion surfaces. All faders are dust-resistant and motorised. Each module can be chained with others. Integral display screens allow operators to see exactly how their console is performing both from connectivity and signal level perspectives. Each expansion module allows the addition of a second layer accommodating up to 20 faders. Features can be extended simply by adding optional license codes to the DSP core, allowing extra faders, busses and clean feeds.
The DHD XC3 IP core comprises up to two dual-core DSP modules which combine into 1U. These jointly support up to 48 stereo faders and 72 stereo busses. DHD IPx expansion modules can be added to accommodate 128 channels of AES67/Ravenna IP audio in/out and up to 512 Dante channels. A companion module, the XC3 Concentrator, allows easy interconnection of multiple DHD IPx modules, control surfaces, and I/O modules.
