Do RTE Radio mhave intentions to broadcast on DAB in NI eventually ?

Mr. Rabbit

Discovered this piece of info. while browsing:

http://www.rte.ie/radio/dab.html

We have examined the provision of RTÉ DAB in Northern Ireland, but this is not technically feasible at present.

Why is it not technically feasible ?

I wonder if they'll put in a proposal to broadcast up here on DAB once the band is cleared, especially in light of the recent developments with regard to the new Saorview Lite service ?

Seems as if they are keen to come onto DAB in the North though.

The Cush

I'd guess it's technically possible as the RTÉ DAB frequency used down here 12C (227MHz) is also available north of the border and would require coordination with the UK authorities.

Most likely reason is economic when you consider south of the border there is approx 56% RTÉ DAB coverage and no commercial stations and no further plans to extend coverage or launch commercial services.

Can't see any further movement on DAB south of the border until post TV ASO, 2013-15 possibly which might include an NI dimension.

Mr. Rabbit

Yep, would have thought there would have been no problem with 12 C being used up here as it would have been a similar situation to the BBC multiplex.

It'll be interesting to see what the situation is after the election, although I would nimagine the agreements that are in place (e.g the mini mux) probably wont change.

It did say the new RTE mini mux would carry some radio stations, presumabely RTE Radios One, 2FM, RNaG, and Lyric FM. So in a sense they will be on a digital platform in NI.

reboot

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Discovered this piece of info. while browsing:

http://www.rte.ie/radio/dab.html



Why is it not technically feasible ?

I wonder if they'll put in a proposal to broadcast up here on DAB once the band is cleared, especially in light of the recent developments with regard to the new Saorview Lite service ?

Seems as if they are keen to come onto DAB in the North though.

I have mentioned in other threads that RTE Dab is not difficult to receive in parts of the North.
In parts of S Down with a Dab antenna in the roofspace,and band three amp,BBC and RTE Muxs coming in loud and clear for the past two years.

Mr. Rabbit

I have mentioned in other threads that RTE Dab is not difficult to receive in parts of the North

Can't get it here despite excellent analogue radio reception from Clermont Cairn, and that's with a DAB aerial (folded dipole) at around 38 feet on the chimney.

STB

DAB will never suceed without a commercial arm.

The existing commercial stations are not as dedicated to DAB as one might think.

reboot

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Can't get it here despite excellent analogue radio reception from Clermont Cairn, and that's with a DAB aerial (folded dipole) at around 38 feet on the chimney.

Can't honestly say where I am receiving the RTE Dab signal from ,but it has been pointed out to me that the BBC transmitter may be at Armagh.
I am using a log periodic,cost £15 I think from a store beginning with M ,the mention of M and aerials would bring the wrath of some folk down on me again.
As for content I play RTE Gold in the background most days,music of the 50,60,70,and80.No DJs no commercials,just the music.
RTE choice can sometimes be of value and re-transmits BBC world service at times.I hope Sunshine make it onto Dab soon.

MACHEAD

As with most things it'll probably come down to money. Who pays, how much, is there a busuness plan etc. And of course not forgetting that the UK Govt. may already have plans for that part of Band III.

Mr. Rabbit

Yep, RTE Gold isn't bad reboot.

I still can't see why RTE transmitters on DAB sites in the North isn't technically feasible, in the same way that the BBC DAB multiplex is broadcast from different sites but on the same frequency throughout the UK.

Having the RTE multiplex on DAB up here would go some way in addressing the fact that we've only one commercial multiplex and a measly 20 stations in total. It would also solve the problems with the closure of 567 Khz and all Ireland reception.

Interestingly, the Belfast media festival which was held in Belfast about a year ago involved RTE and BBC, but not the commercial operator in NI
here (i.e. Bauer Media)

http://www.belfastmediafestival.co.uk/sessions_room2_10.45.cfm

which gave the uimpression RTE Radio was widely avalable on the DAB platform up here when it wasn't.

Oh well, as you say MACHEAD, maybe it's all down to money.

watty

DAB costs lots and no-one commercial wants the double carriage cost.

Outside of UK it's regarded as a Failure and that Regulator/Gov/BBC is in Denial about it in UK.

Mr. Rabbit

watty wrote: »

DAB costs lots and no-one commercial wants the double carriage cost.

Outside of UK it's regarded as a Failure and that Regulator/Gov/BBC is in Denial about it in UK.

Problem is watty, the UK government and the BBC have spent a lot of time and money convincing listeners to buy DAB radios and chuck their old analogue sets. It would be highly embarrassing if they had to go over this all over again for DAB +.

However, I do agree that all DAB radios sold in the UK should be DAB + compatable, at the very least least through software upgrade.

david23

There is another layer of local DAB allocated to NI by Ofcom in Channel 10 (one block for each part of the province) but it cannot be used until after TV DSO in the Republic of Ireland.

This layer could be donated to RTÉ for their multiplex, as Digital One going on 11D in NI should free up capacity on Score NI for a few more UK stations when Classic & talkSPORT vacate their slots.

RTÉ cannot use 12C in NI because it has been allocated to a local mux for SW Scotland.

In response to Mr. Rabbit, all new Pure DAB radios being sold in the UK are upgradeable to DAB+ by means of a software update (for which there will be a fee).

Several other countries are now progressing with DAB+, including Germany (which is launching a national mux in August). All DAB+ radios purchased in Germany (or elsewhere) will also receive the MP2 broadcasts in the UK & Ireland.

http://www.wohnort.org/DAB/

Digifriendly

On a similar vein 2 points:
(1) Just bought a Megane car (one of the latest models) - analogue radio but no LW which means if RTE 1 FM signal is poor I can't pick up the station clearly. Also do latest models of these cars not have DAB radios fitted to them?
(2) My Father in law lives in Groomsport, Co. Down (just about 15 miles from Belfast) and can't pick up many of the stations on DAB including Talksport. Methinks that DAB here is a bit of a waste and most people probably listen to it via Freeview/Freesat/Sky.

Mr. Rabbit

Yep, that's the problem with DAB and why car radios could become useless if the government decidse to switch off analogue (I know, it probably wont happen for some time yet but 2015 has been mooted).

The commercial network really is in need of improvement here. At least the BBC are doing something (reception is excellent around here since Carnmoney Hill came on line). Think I saw a future list in which included Bangor at some stage.

Pity we can't get internt radio in the car !

Vince Cable

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Pity we can't get internt radio in the car !

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=69478191#post69478191

watty

Sure you can do Internet radio in car. Not for free though.

L1011

Not for free, or even pretending to be reliable outside of urban areas.

petronius

With the proposed closing of RTE Long Wave 252 in the coming months, has there been any further thoughts on using Freeview/DAB in the North to bring RTE Radio in the North.

I know they switched frequencies 6 or so years ago on FM which made RTE Radio 1 clearer in south county Antrim, but in North and the East LW is the only way I could get RTE Radio.

Mr. Rabbit

petronius wrote: »

With the proposed closing of RTE Long Wave 252 in the coming months, has there been any further thoughts on using Freeview/DAB in the North to bring RTE Radio in the North.

I know they switched frequencies 6 or so years ago on FM which made RTE Radio 1 clearer in south county Antrim, but in North and the East LW is the only way I could get RTE Radio.

Mentioned here:

https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2014-10-15a.167&s=speaker%3A225

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?p=75382778#post75382778

I've just been reading the minutes from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications and their discussions with Jim Jennings and two other RTE executives and it appears that RTE may be looking at DAB in NI as J.P. Coakley (Director of Operations RTE ) said "We should also look at the DAB network in Northern Ireland to see if there is something we can do from the Radio 1 point of view."
Interestingly with regards to FM coverage in the North Jim Jennings said "We now have 85% coverage in the North of Ireland. We are looking at ways that we might be able to boost that. There are gaps in areas, such as the Glens of Antrim, that are difficult to get into, although anybody who travels in Donegal will note that the RHE signal there is stronger than the Radio 1 signal. Therefore, I think there is something that could be done with that signal, and Mr. Coakley is looking at that."

Jim Jennings also intimated that if the Government comes up with €250,000 then the decision to close long wave 252 could be reversed " If the Senator is saying that the Department could come up with €250,000 to pay for long wave in the UK, I could take that decision back to the executive board in RTE, where this was discussed, and the RTE board, where this decision was ratified some time ago. If and when that happens we can deal with it."

see https://www.kildarestreet.com/commit...=speaker%3A225

Digifriendly

Digifriendly wrote: »

On a similar vein 2 points:
(1) Just bought a Megane car (one of the latest models) - analogue radio but no LW which means if RTE 1 FM signal is poor I can't pick up the station clearly. Also do latest models of these cars not have DAB radios fitted to them?
(2) My Father in law lives in Groomsport, Co. Down (just about 15 miles from Belfast) and can't pick up many of the stations on DAB including Talksport. Methinks that DAB here is a bit of a waste and most people probably listen to it via Freeview/Freesat/Sky.

To correct the above. My Megane does have LW but this was disabled when I bought the car. It took me a while to work this out and get LW working. As mentioned elsewhere if 252 LW goes RTE radio will be difficult to receive in some parts of NI. As regards my father in law, he sadly passed away in the summer but could not receive Talksport in his latter days on his DAB radio.

icdg

We don't drag up old threads.