DAB in Ireland: RTE multiplex closed

Pangea

When will Dab realistically be up and running across Ireland?
The radio system we have at the moment seems so old fashioned.
Here in Donegal we can barley get our local stations sometimes , cant wait for this old system of fuzzyness and noise to be done away with!

byrnefm

I can pick up the two Northern Ireland Muxes (with the aid of rabbit ears!) from my house in Letterkenny .. I suspect it'll be a long time before I pick up any Irish DAB (or DAB+) from here!

watty

DAB has poorer coverage for same number of transmitters and simply cuts out suddenly if signal is too weak.

RTE has no money. I think over €40M borrowed for DTT roll out.
Don't expect
1) Further DAB rollout any time soon
2) Don't expect existing local stations to queue up to pay to be on a platform with less coverage, fewer listeners and more cost.

scout353

Just got a DVB-T stick on ebay. Not picking anything up in DTT but only using little aerial supplied. Trying to pick up DAB broadcasts but nothing coming through. On the settings menu I have the following options....

T-DAB L Band 1452960 KHz - 1490624KHz
T- DAB VHF 174928 KHZ - 239200 Khz
Canada DAB L Band
Korea DAB VHF
China DAB VHF

Any ideas on where I should be scanning for Irish DAB?

The Cush

scout353 wrote: »

T-DAB L Band 1452960 KHz - 1490624KHz
T- DAB VHF 174928 KHZ - 239200 Khz
Canada DAB L Band
Korea DAB VHF
China DAB VHF

Any ideas on where I should be scanning for Irish DAB?

T- DAB VHF 174928 KHZ - 239200 Khz

bkehoe

scout353 wrote: »

Just got a DVB-T stick on ebay. Not picking anything up in DTT but only using little aerial supplied. Trying to pick up DAB broadcasts but nothing coming through. On the settings menu I have the following options....

T-DAB L Band 1452960 KHz - 1490624KHz
T- DAB VHF 174928 KHZ - 239200 Khz
Canada DAB L Band
Korea DAB VHF
China DAB VHF

Any ideas on where I should be scanning for Irish DAB?

I'm guessing from your posts that you're somewhere in Waterford? Are you sure the card itself supports DAB - it may just be that the software is universal. Also most of these things come with an antenna more suitable for UHF TV rather than the lower frequencies like what DAB uses. But if you have a manual channel option, try 9B - 204.64MHz and try positioning the antenna in different places perhaps...

Martynet

Hei guys,

I'm happy owner of TX-P50V10E TV and have a question... At the moment, I'm using just irish analog channels on my TV, cos when I bought it and searched for channels, that was all, TV found :-). That was actually first time I realized, that Ireland is a bit behind with DVB-T and it really suprised me... anyway, I found this topic and would like to dive in again as it seems that there is a bit of DVB-T here in Ireland :-) I live in Dublin, Sandyford... What do I need to get those channels working? Is there any special settings or custom firmware for Panasonic plazmas to make it work.
Thanks for any help
cheers

bkehoe

Hi Marty. Sorry but this thread is about DAB - Radio, not TV. I suggest you post your query in a new thread (there is DVB-T in Ireland for many years as a trial by the way).

White Horse

I read this on another forum. BBC are planning to install a expanded range of transmitters for Northern Ireland. Howver, in order to ensure good reception in border area, several of the transmitters are south of the border.

Can this be correct?



Peter - BBC Present/ Future DAB stations¦
All these sites have had been placed on the BBC's list and have planning applications pending. Some of the sites are already on air... I have this on very good authority.

Armagh IH 8914465 114 52 12B 10C / 12D
Ballycastle ID077423 2 150 40 10C / 12D
Ballynahinch IJ362524 1 100 15 10C / 12D
Black Mountain IJ278727 10 301 210 12D / [12B*] 10C
Brougher Mountain IH350527 5 309 44 12B / 12D 11D
Camlough IJ 056246 5 340 50 10C / 12D
Carnmoney Hill IJ336 829 1 207 27 12D
Clermont Carn (Louth) IB174733 5 510 60 12D
Colinward IJ 317803 1 335 35 12D 10C
Craigballyharky (Pomeroy) IH734756 2 232 15 11C / 11D / 12D
Divis IJ 287750 115 12B / [12D*] 10C
Enniskillen IH233457 0.5 61 26 12D
Kilkeel IJ281180 2 254 58 10C /12D
Larne ID394037 0.2 111 22 12D
Leitrim IJ252425 2 312 35 10C /12D
Limavady IC711296 7 356 30 12B / 12D 11C / 12C
Lisbellaw IH309410 1 91 20 11D /12D
Londonderry IC404175 6.3 168 96 12B / 12D 11C
Maddybenny More IC846376 1.5 84 74 12D
Newcastle (NI) IJ362303 5 251 42 10C / 12D
Strabane IH 3939475 274 231 12B / 12D 11C / 11D
Tully Hill (Sligo) ID008028 5 195 25 10C / 11C /12D
Treated as co-sited*

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=IJ287750&PGSTART=150#pagebar

The Cush

White Horse wrote: »

I read this on another forum. BBC are planning to install a expanded range of transmitters for Northern Ireland. Howver, in order to ensure good reception in border area, several of the transmitters are south of the border.

Can this be correct?

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=IJ287750&PGSTART=150#pagebar

Discussed previously. Only correct if you can link to an official source.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=67649983#post67649983
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68168781#post68168781
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68770413l#post68770413

Peter Henderson

The Cush wrote: »

Discussed previously. Only correct if you can link to an official source.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=67649983#post67649983
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68168781#post68168781
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=68770413l#post68770413

So far, Jordy's predictions on this are all coming true so you never know.

I gather Maddybenny More has just come into service.

pool10

i havent kept a close eye on this thread but i was hoping if someone could tell me if Dab was available in west cork, clonakilty specifically.

bkehoe

No.
Maybe a tiny chance of getting RTE with a large external aerial - see http://www.digitalradio.ie/images/DAB_Dec09_hiRes.jpg .

Elmo

Anyone know what the situation is with the RTÉ Digital Radio channels? Are they fully licensed to continue into the future? Anyone know of procedures that the BCI, the Department or RTÉ carried out before launching the new services?

watty

If you have usb DTT stick, better chance nationwide on it than DAB for the RTE Digital Radio.

The Cush

Elmo wrote: »

Anyone know what the situation is with the RTÉ Digital Radio channels? Are they fully licensed to continue into the future? Anyone know of procedures that the BCI, the Department or RTÉ carried out before launching the new services?

The RTÉ DAB channels are here to stay but no further rollout in the present economic climate.

This from a recent Irish Times

Call for investment to expand DAB radio
IAN CAMPBELL

Fri, Oct 29, 2010

MIXED MESSAGES emerged from yesterday’s Digital Radio Conference in Belfast, depending on the country of origin of the people to whom you talked.

From Australia there was evidence that DAB (digital audio broadcasting) was no longer the sole preserve of public service broadcasters. Closer to home, RTÉ highlighted how digital radio in Ireland would be stuck at 56 per cent population coverage and remain solely in the hands of the State broadcaster until a new regulatory structure and more investment came along.

Joan Warner, chief executive of Commercial Radio Australia, said her organisation had brokered a deal with the Australian government to incentivise the rollout of non-public service DAB stations.

“Every incumbent commercial broadcaster was given the spectrum to run more than one station with no restrictions on what they could do with them,” she said.

The government also gave a guarantee that there would be no new digital-only operators allowed into the five major cities where existing stations would invest in a digital rollout. It worked.

A year on and about 18 new stations have launched in each city. Warner said a few were already making money.

“At this stage we are seeing sponsorships rather than the traditional 15- and 30-second ad slots, but advertising agencies are very excited about it. They have been buying stations for a day and extending their presence on to the accompanying websites.”

An emerging phenomenon is “pop-up stations” which cover special events. A dedicated digital channel was set up by one of the country’s leading music stations for three months to exclusively promote pop artist Pink as she toured the country.

The perception is that niche content is the secret to digital success but there are other drivers, according to Ms Warner, such as better quality audio and ease of use.

In Italy, where analogue radio coverage is notoriously patchy in many parts of the country, the improved broadcast quality is a major selling point.

Despite its progress with DAB, Australia has no deadline for turning off analogue. “We are not interested in talking about a switch-off until government gives us the commitment that the whole industry will move,” Ms Warner said. “Otherwise you end up with a digital divide between metropolitan and country people.”

In Ireland, the debate about a digital switchover for radio is not on anyone’s agenda. To date, the public service broadcaster RTÉ has reached 56 per cent population coverage with its DAB service, offering a choice of seven stations.

About 230,000 people, or 7 per cent of the population, now own a DAB radio in Ireland.

Increasing this number dramatically will depend on Government intervention, according to JP Coakley, director of operations at RTÉ.

“A recurring theme of this conference is that there needs to be some sort of Government support and national agreement to steer a migration to digital.”

The countries that had made the most progress, like Britain and Australia, had a national plan in place that involved commercial and public players, he said. Until the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland agreed on a regulatory framework and the Government was committed to funding, DAB in Ireland would not grow beyond its existing public service footprint.

To bring in commercial stations, the State would need a separate transmission infrastructure – using the same masts but with different antennae. Mr Coakley estimated that about €15 million would be needed.

“In the current economic climate it’s not going to happen immediately,” he said, “but the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has targeted 2012-13 as when we might see a phasing-in of a service beginning in the large population areas.”

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...282230089.html

White Horse

White Horse wrote: »

I read this on another forum. BBC are planning to install a expanded range of transmitters for Northern Ireland. Howver, in order to ensure good reception in border area, several of the transmitters are south of the border.

Can this be correct?



Peter - BBC Present/ Future DAB stations¦
All these sites have had been placed on the BBC's list and have planning applications pending. Some of the sites are already on air... I have this on very good authority.

Armagh IH 8914465 114 52 12B 10C / 12D
Ballycastle ID077423 2 150 40 10C / 12D
Ballynahinch IJ362524 1 100 15 10C / 12D
Black Mountain IJ278727 10 301 210 12D / [12B*] 10C
Brougher Mountain IH350527 5 309 44 12B / 12D 11D
Camlough IJ 056246 5 340 50 10C / 12D
Carnmoney Hill IJ336 829 1 207 27 12D
Clermont Carn (Louth) IB174733 5 510 60 12D
Colinward IJ 317803 1 335 35 12D 10C
Craigballyharky (Pomeroy) IH734756 2 232 15 11C / 11D / 12D
Divis IJ 287750 115 12B / [12D*] 10C
Enniskillen IH233457 0.5 61 26 12D
Kilkeel IJ281180 2 254 58 10C /12D
Larne ID394037 0.2 111 22 12D
Leitrim IJ252425 2 312 35 10C /12D
Limavady IC711296 7 356 30 12B / 12D 11C / 12C
Lisbellaw IH309410 1 91 20 11D /12D
Londonderry IC404175 6.3 168 96 12B / 12D 11C
Maddybenny More IC846376 1.5 84 74 12D
Newcastle (NI) IJ362303 5 251 42 10C / 12D
Strabane IH 3939475 274 231 12B / 12D 11C / 11D
Tully Hill (Sligo) ID008028 5 195 25 10C / 11C /12D
Treated as co-sited*

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=IJ287750&PGSTART=150#pagebar

Would that mean that I (in Sligo) may receive UK DAB radio if they put up a new tx (Tully Hill (Sligo)?

The Cush

zorro2566 wrote: »

Would that mean that I (in Sligo) may receive UK DAB radio if they put up a new tx (Tully Hill (Sligo)?

Incorrect information, there will be no BBC DAB transmitters south of the border.

The Tully Hill is at The Downtown Radio site in Portglenone in NI, see this post - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69037765#post69037765.

Richard

The Cush wrote: »

Incorrect information, there will be no BBC DAB transmitters south of the border.

The Tully Hill is at The Downtown Radio site in Portglenone in NI, see this post - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69037765#post69037765.

That's true - but could the Sligo poster maybe pick up BBC DAB from one of the NI transmitters?

Homesick Alien

Just got a DAB radio today and disappointed to find none of the private broadcasters are on it! Rte's selection is fairly limited. Does anyone know if it's possible to manually tune in Today fm on DAB?

watty

no
You need FM.

-Al-

...

watty

http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6530.2

Elmo

watty wrote: »

http://radiotoday.co.uk/news.php?extend.6530.2

Dublin Traffic radio still running on FM?

L1011

Elmo wrote: »

Dublin Traffic radio still running on FM?

Its just a show on an existing Community of Interest licenced station, Dublin City FM. But yes.

RobitTV

Guys is there any news on DAB?

Also the trials For dab in Waterford are still running just to let ye know!

watty

yes, another service bites the dust

The Canadian broadcaster CBC has abandoned DAB. At CBC's request, its DAB licences have been revoked. All CBC DAB transmissions have ceased.

Via Damoirl on Twitter

There are more important things than an obsolete version of DAB for RTE to spend money on.

david23

watty wrote: »

yes, another service bites the dust

The Canadian broadcaster CBC has abandoned DAB. At CBC's request, its DAB licences have been revoked. All CBC DAB transmissions have ceased.

This isn't news - CBC made this announcement on 24 June 2010.

Canada is likely to move to the IBOC system used in the USA. This makes sense from a geographical point of view but IBOC could hardly be described as a high quality digital radio system, it's arguably worse than DAB (the MP2 version).

watty

The only "real" Digital radio in US is Sirius Satellite stuff. And it's a financial failure.

If Canada has any sense they will do nothing.

I'm just wondering,I've a 12 element vhf mt leinster aerial with a commanding view out over the irish sea.
Is that suitable for uk dab services and if so what could it possibly help receive?
I obviously receive presely's 20 and 10kw dtt but used receive that tx's low power 1 and 2 kw dtt services prior to dso there but that was with a mast head amp.
fm services from blaenplwyf,arfon and presely reach here with rds.
Location is south wicklow.