Kiss replaces Magic on NI DAB. Thank goodness for internet radio.

Peter Henderson

At 2.00 AM this morning (actually heard the change), London R&B/hip hop station replaced easy listening Magic 105.4. I really liked Magic and frequently listened. GRRRRRRR. At least my son will be happy.

Strangely, the bitrate for Kiss is the same as it used to be when it was last on the multiplex i.e. 128 kbps rather than Magic's 118 kbps.

Still, given the crappy choice on the NI multiplex, thank goodness for internet radio. At least I can still listen to Magic on my Pure Evoke Flow.

egal

I wish it carried Gold. But, as you say, internet radio is the bee's knees.

Peter Henderson

egal wrote: »

I wish it carried Gold. But, as you say, internet radio is the bee's knees.

Personally, I would like to see either Absolute or Gold replacing Q102.9 which is has really low volume for some reason. Or even Magic.

Hopefully, Magic will return once we get the extra space next year when the ROI VHF TV transmitters close.

The Pure Evoke Flow is a good radio although it could go a bit louder. I've been told the extra speaker helps conciderably.

We still have it down here from preseli.
But I've noticed since the last change [a month ago iirc?] the volume on the commercial radio stations is much lower than the bbc radio channels.

Why would that be?

Peter Henderson

I haven't noticed any other commercial stations with low volume, only Q102.9

At one stage it was virtually unlistenable, but seems to have come up a bit (though it's still low) over the last week or so. .

As I say, it would be much better if this station were replaced with one of the nationals that we can't get, preferably Absolute.

Hopefully, plans are in place to introduce Digital One immidiately DSO takes place in the ROI. Given the circumstances i.e. rubbish DAB in NI, this is the least Ofcom and Comreg can do.

However, it wouldn't surprise me that 2 years from now, we'll still have this crap choice on DAB, even with band III being cleared.

SRB

Musically, Magic and Downtown are very similar, so I suppose it does offer a choice of sorts.

Peter Henderson

SRB wrote: »

Musically, Magic and Downtown are very similar, so I suppose it does offer a choice of sorts.

Except when Downtown is in either country or Candy Devine mode. Then I have no choice (i.e. there's absolutely nothing for me to listen to on DAB).

I liked Magic. I'm annoyed it's gone

SRB

Fair Point - I gave up on DAB years ago, as you say, thank goodness for internet radio and in my house anyway, Radio 10 Gold.

Peter Henderson

It can only get better SRB.

Hopefully, when band III clears next year we should have Digital One and around 30 plus stations.

When I was in Blackpool a couple of years ago I could receive at least 40 stations on DAB. I also had patchy reception of a couple of other multiplexes (so probably about 50 odd with a roof aerial). It's what DAB should be like here.

Yep, 10 Gold is good and I see Arrow Classic Rock is still there. Some of the German oldies stations are also good (antenna 5 oldies for example) and I also listen to the various Carolines along with Luxie and Big L. County Sound Guildford is also a nice wee station.

watty

Peter Henderson wrote: »

Except when Downtown is in either country or Candy Devine mode. Then I have no choice (i.e. there's absolutely nothing for me to listen to on DAB).

I liked Magic. I'm annoyed it's gone

I remember the launch of Downtown when I was a kid (in Co. Antrim, not far from Jordanstown really). Candy Devine still there? :eek:
I had a home made aerial in Attic for Manx Radio. Radio North Sea, 208 and Caroline really history already by then. My parents mostly had R3, R4 and occasionally R2 or Ulster in house. I only briefly listened to R1.

I used my Mum's washing line to listen to Shortwave radio.

Now I sometimes listen to those SW stations via Satellite also Dutch, German Music stations on Satellite. My R4 FM is Satellite receiver to an itrip type gadget. Limerick is too far.

SRB

Yup, Candy Divine and indeed Big T are still there, in fact up until about 4 years ago they were still using the original (installed late 1975) desks in the on air studios. John Rosborough has recently returned too.
Anyhow back on topic - noticed grumblings elsewhere that Magic had gone, so it's not just in NI and obviously nothing to do with the two stations being of a similar format.

Peter Henderson

Anyhow back on topic - noticed grumblings elsewhere that Magic had gone, so it's not just in NI and obviously nothing to do with the two stations being of a similar format

Why couldn't they have repaced Magic with Absolute in NI, rather than Kiss ? That surely would have been more logical since Absolute is a ntional station ?

SRB

It's not a Bauer station, Peter.

Peter Henderson

SRB wrote: »

It's not a Bauer station, Peter.

Are Classic FM and Talksport Bauer stations ?

SRB

No, neither is UCB, but while is it easy enough for Bauer to change one of it's own stations on it's own mux, changing the agreement by which those other stations are carried would be a different matter altogether. From their (Bauer's) point of view Downtown and Magic are similar format stations (during peak hours, anyway).

reboot

egal wrote: »

I wish it carried Gold. But, as you say, internet radio is the bee's knees.

RTE Gold and BBC NI mux coming in loud and clear near Castlewellan on an aerial and amp in the roofspace,receiver is a twelve volt DC car radio powered by solar.How weird is that?

Mr. Rabbit

reboot wrote: »

RTE Gold and BBC NI mux coming in loud and clear near Castlewellan on an aerial and amp in the roofspace,receiver is a twelve volt DC car radio powered by solar.How weird is that?

Obviously you're probably receiving the Armagh BBC DAB transmitter along with Clermont Cairn.

Unless they've activated DAB at the Newcastle transmitter.

reboot

This setup has operated for over a year now, log periodic aerial fortunately picking up both transmissions pointing North and South ,if you know what I mean.Band 3 mast head amp and aerial in roofspace,no clear path to be seen,no mobile phone service.Could not say where N.I Mux coming from but thanks for the info.

Mr. Rabbit

If you're not getting the one and only commercial multiplex then it's most likely you're reveiving the BBC stations from the Armagh DAB transmitter.

I did read somewhere that there are plans for BBC DAB at the Newcastle transmitter site, along with either Kilkeel or Camlough.