DAB Stations - New Trials

Charles Slane

Three stations have appeared as part of the DB Digital Broadcasting trial in Dublin - All 80's, Radio Ri Ra and UCB.

Brian CivilEng

Picked them up this morning, the reception is very muddy, both on the DAB and DAB+ versions of the channels. I can get perfect reception on the RTÉ mux but these are unlistenable. I'm in Raheny so well within the range. Hopefully they'll improve as the test continues.

Bit disappointed that the extra channels will be just two more iPod on shuffle channels, and a christian station. Really can't see the need for them in this day and age. It would take Radio 4 to force me to buy another DAB radio, barely use the one I have as it is. RTÉ Choice is still the only useful thing there and most of it's good content is already available in podcast form.

dabfan

Coverage is limited to the east...

http://www.dbdb.ie/content/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/DAB_Dublin.jpg

Its to protect the services in the UK using the same channel - 12A (A condition of the license)

mcmxci

They're showing up on my dial but I can't actually listen to them. I can see each of UCB, RíRá and All 80s, as well as the DAB+ of each station, even though I don't have a DAB+ receiver.

Big Tone

Can't see the point of DAB/+ in this day and age in this world of mobile radio apps such as TuneIn Radio, coupled with deals like "all-you-can-eat-data" bundles. Plenty of single station apps out there too featuring interactivity to Facebook, studio email etc. Why didn't Dusty Rhodes do just that?

L1011

Big Tone wrote: »

Can't see the point of DAB/+ in this day and age in this world of mobile radio apps such as TuneIn Radio, coupled with deals like "all-you-can-eat-data" bundles. Plenty of single station apps out there too featuring interactivity to Facebook, studio email etc. Why didn't Dusty Rhodes do just that?

There isn't the network capacity to handle every car on the M50 pulling in a different station. For multiple (well, a decent number of 'multiple') recipients, broadcast is still the way to go.

decies

Can't see Dab ever doing much in this country unless they shut down the FM service and force us to listen to it. The DAB trails in the south east here seem to be just aimlessly drifting along with little or no content . Tune in app , I phone and all you can eat data and I am sorted . People want wide choice hence growth of satellite tv , same goes for radio, it needs more than rte gold etc for people to get excited. Internet radio is the future ( in this country ) embrace it , it ain't going away.

puffishoes

decies wrote: »

Can't see Dab ever doing much in this country unless they shut down the FM service and force us to listen to it. The DAB trails in the south east here seem to be just aimlessly drifting along with little or no content . Tune in app , I phone and all you can eat data and I am sorted . People want wide choice hence growth of satellite tv , same goes for radio, it needs more than rte gold etc for people to get excited. Internet radio is the future ( in this country ) embrace it , it ain't going away.

the future? it's been around for nearly 20 years.

welcome to 2012

bkehoe

decies wrote: »

The DAB trails in the south east here seem to be just aimlessly drifting along with little or no content . .

Any time I look the multiplex is quite full...today it has the following;

4FM
Beat 102-103
KCLR96fm (DAB+)
Phantom FM
Radio Nova
RTE 2XM (DAB+)
South East Radio
Tipp FM
UCB Ireland
WLR FM (DAB+)

Out of all those, only 1 is available across the same region (Beat) and on DAB I find the quality of the audio substantially better than FM.
In the past it's also had Sunshine 106.8 and Talksport as well as temporary stations such as Christmas FM and Zenith Classic Rock.

I often listen to 4FM and Nova and have a DAB radio in my car and find the coverage excellent around most of Wexford and Waterford.

Infoanon

bkehoe wrote: »

on DAB I find the quality of the audio substantially better than FM.

What bit rate are the stations running at ?

bkehoe

Infoanon wrote: »

What bit rate are the stations running at ?

Beat, which is the easy one to compare to FM which is why I mentioned it is normally running at 160k but for the last month has been at 192k although I can't say I noticed any difference from the extra bitrate.

The rest I've added the bitrates as follows;
4FM - 128k
Beat 102-103 - 192k
KCLR96fm (DAB+) - 64k
Phantom FM - 128k
Radio Nova - 160k
RTE 2XM (DAB+) - 80k
South East Radio - 128k
Tipp FM - 128k
UCB Ireland - 112k
WLR FM (DAB+) - 80k

Infoanon

Eamonn O'Cuiv was on RTE radio tonight talking about the need for a second Irish language service.

He then mentioned that the service already existed - RiRa - but was only available on the internet........

He also said €2m should be available to the service.......

€2m a year to provide a DAB service seems extraordinary

decies

puffishoes wrote: »

the future? it's been around for nearly 20 years.

welcome to 2012

I mean portable devices like I phone etc lol

decies

bkehoe wrote: »

Any time I look the multiplex is quite full...today it has the following;

4FM
Beat 102-103
KCLR96fm (DAB+)
Phantom FM
Radio Nova
RTE 2XM (DAB+)
South East Radio
Tipp FM
UCB Ireland
WLR FM (DAB+)

Out of all those, only 1 is available across the same region (Beat) and on DAB I find the quality of the audio substantially better than FM.
In the past it's also had Sunshine 106.8 and Talksport as well as temporary stations such as Christmas FM and Zenith Classic Rock.

I often listen to 4FM and Nova and have a DAB radio in my car and find the coverage excellent around most of Wexford and Waterford.

Of those only 4fm would only Interest me to be honest , crystal clear bbc radio on Internet radio can't believe I had to listen to mw for so long

Fran1985

Infoanon wrote: »

Eamonn O'Cuiv was on RTE radio tonight talking about the need for a second Irish language service.

He then mentioned that the service already existed - RiRa - but was only available on the internet........

He also said €2m should be available to the service.......

€2m a year to provide a DAB service seems extraordinary

Hey, do ya know what show that was on and roughly what time? Would be interested in listening back.

craoltoir

Drivetime. Around 20 past six yesterday.

goingpostal1

Is it still just the ten RTE stations which are available on DAB in the west of the country ?

bkehoe

Yeah, just RTE. The Dublin trial may be simulcast outside Dublin next year.

goingpostal1

I love DAB, it combines the simplicity of an FM radio with the sound quality of a good quality internet stream. Some of the streams on TuneIn are rubbish quality, especially when you listen with headphones. And there is too much choice on TuneIn, I can never make up my mind what to listen to and stick to my choice for more than 5 minutes before changing the channel.

delux

There isn't the network capacity to handle every car on the M50 pulling in a different station. For multiple (well, a decent number of 'multiple') recipients, broadcast is still the way to go.

I've noticed my DAB radio signal goes when i drive under the bridges on the M50!
(only briefly though )

bkehoe

delux wrote: »

I've noticed my DAB radio signal goes when i drive under the bridges on the M50!
(only briefly though )

What kind of radio and what kind of antenna do you have?

Greenman

goingpostal1 wrote: »

I love DAB, it combines the simplicity of an FM radio with the sound quality of a good quality internet stream. Some of the streams on TuneIn are rubbish quality, especially when you listen with headphones. And there is too much choice on TuneIn, I can never make up my mind what to listen to and stick to my choice for more than 5 minutes before changing the channel.

What genre do you listen to?

Johnny Johnson

Will RTE ever provide DAB to the rest of the country. The coverage is a disgrace.

delux

What kind of radio and what kind of antenna do you have?

I'd have to double-check the exact model number but i think it's this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-CDX-DAB6650-Car-player-Radio/dp/B0007P538M

dabfan

Tech updates here...

https://twitter.com/dabtrial

Cardinal Richelieu

Johnny Johnson wrote: »

Will RTE ever provide DAB to the rest of the country. The coverage is a disgrace.

Ain't much better in parts of Dublin!! My DAB channels are down the last couple of days. DAB frequently carries too many repeats IMHO, RTE 1 repeats extracts of the John Murray Show and Pat Kenny in the evenings. Also it appears with budget cuts around the World in the International Radio Services and retirements quite a number of the RTE Choice programs will be gone soon.

bkehoe

delux wrote: »

I'd have to double-check the exact model number but i think it's this one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-CDX-DAB6650-Car-player-Radio/dp/B0007P538M

Wow, you've been a long time in car DAB user. That was the first DAB radio I got in my car back in late 2005 when they first came out. The quality of the tuner is good but it's all dependent on the type of antenna you're using. At the time it came out there were very few car DAB aerials on the market so most people fitted them using an Autoleads splitter on the original FM antenna on the car. This can have very variable results from very poor to good. I've never seen anything less than full signal on all the roads and underpasses around Dublin on the RTE mux.

As a benchmark I can receive the new DBDB trial as far South-West as Kilcullen on the M9 and it's variable in and around Newbridge. This is with a Pure Highway 300di and a Hirschman antenna. On tests in the SE this gives comparable results to the original Highway with a Blaupunkt antenna.

http://www.dabonwheels.co.uk/DAB_car_aerials.html is the place to get all sorts of antennas as well as in-car DAB radios. Any of the body mount antennas from there would be a direct replacement for the original antenna fitted to your car and have separate leads for FM and DAB.

bkehoe

Cardinal Richelieu wrote: »

Ain't much better in parts of Dublin!! My DAB channels are down the last couple of days. DAB frequently carries too many repeats IMHO, RTE 1 repeats extracts of the John Murray Show and Pat Kenny in the evenings. Also it appears with budget cuts around the World in the International Radio Services and retirements quite a number of the RTE Choice programs will be gone soon.

You need to retune. Due to an issue with the service ID codes assigned to the RTE digital only services, changes in the multiplex configuration have been implemented which mean the favourites you have stored will be invalid and need reassignment. If you do an auto tune and trim station list on your radio I imagine all will be good once again.

bkehoe

Today Raidio Ri-Ra has appeared on the South-East multiplex, running at 128k Stereo. I wonder if All80s will be coming soon?

I've updated the following table from my previous post with the new bit rates.

bkehoe wrote: »

Beat, which is the easy one to compare to FM which is why I mentioned it is normally running at 160k but for the last month has been at 192k although I can't say I noticed any difference from the extra bitrate.

The rest I've added the bitrates as follows;
4FM - 128k
Beat 102-103 - 160k
KCLR96fm (DAB+) - 56k
Phantom FM - 112k
Radio Nova - 160k
RTE 2XM (DAB+) - 80k
South East Radio - 128k
Tipp FM - 128k
UCB Ireland - 80k
WLR FM (DAB+) - 64k

SPDUB

I've been listening to All 80's and they appear to be saying they are launching on Sept 1st

dabfan

Ensemble ID was changed yesterday to "DAB Ireland Mux2" and the twitter account states an increase in the audio bit rates Monday.

DF

Charles Slane

Christmas FM has been added.

Markbrie

Just been given a DAB radio, to be honest I can't see the point of it at all. There are very few stations compared to FM band. Don't get me wrong there are some good stations on it. I would be grateful if someone could tell me more about it. Thanks

decies

It's a chockate tea pot if its only going to carry Irish stations anyways . People want more choice .

Technocentral

decies wrote: »

It's a chockate tea pot if its only going to carry Irish stations anyways . People want more choice .

"Chockate tea pot" or not its no different than FM in the sense that it carries only Irish stations, the main advantage is (at least in my part of dublin) that the signal and sound quality is way better than FM.

Technocentral

Markbrie wrote: »

Just been given a DAB radio, to be honest I can't see the point of it at all. There are very few stations compared to FM band. Don't get me wrong there are some good stations on it. I would be grateful if someone could tell me more about it. Thanks

The quality is significantly better than FM, think of it as HD compared to Standard Definition if it was TV broadcasts.

Markbrie

To be honest guys I have listened to it on 3 different radios and don't see any difference in sound but in regards to signal it seems to keep breaking up where FM doesn't. Are there any plans to improve this service reception wise and also with the addition of new stations. Thanks