No RefLink

bonehead

Hi Guys,

Does anybody know of a way to listen in on the ref if there is no reflink?
I'm talking about games at the Sportsground in Galway for Connacht Matches.

Is there a scanner or anything that I can use, I don't know lots about this area and don't want to get a scanner for the wrong frequency.

At the moment you can tune into Galway Bay FM but they don't have a feed from the ref either.

Thanks a mill.

danthefan

It wouldn't be broadcast at the Sportsground.

irishbucsfan

Broadcasting the reflink requires local radio licensing. I don't think Connacht would bother with all that.

bonehead

Hi guys,

Ya I agree, I can't see us transmitting but..
I'm wondering if there is a way to listen in on the Ref without a reflink
is there a scanner that I can buy, what's the frequency of the ref's walkie talkie ?
is it encrypted or anything like that??

the_blackstuff

This is a good question. There must be some way of picking up this signal at the grounds. Id imagine all the referees must be using the same equipment. Anybody know what frequencies they are broadcasting at?

phog

bonehead wrote: »

Hi Guys,

Does anybody know of a way to listen in on the ref if there is no reflink?
I'm talking about games at the Sportsground in Galway for Connacht Matches.

Is there a scanner or anything that I can use, I don't know lots about this area and don't want to get a scanner for the wrong frequency.

At the moment you can tune into Galway Bay FM but they don't have a feed from the ref either.

Thanks a mill.

A scanner would surely pick it up, don't know much about them and years ago I assked a simlar question on the hobby radio forum but didn't a reply. Best bet would be to borrow a scanner for an evening and check it out. I was also thinking it might be a bit of fun to listen into the a teams comms during a game.

Not sure how legal it is to use a scanner in such a manner.

Tomtom364

Id imagine the refs and teams comms are all encrypted to prevent anyone from spam broadcasting to the refs or anything. Always thought the reflinks were a copy of some sort of the refs mic and not picking up the orignal signal. (this would also explain why ref links often only had the refs mic and not that of the touch judges or tmo)

OldRio

I think you can pick up the link on a normal VHF radio and it is not encrypted.

phog

Tomtom364 wrote: »

Id imagine the refs and teams comms are all encrypted to prevent anyone from spam broadcasting to the refs or anything. Always thought the reflinks were a copy of some sort of the refs mic and not picking up the orignal signal. (this would also explain why ref links often only had the refs mic and not that of the touch judges or tmo)

I seriously doubt that they're that sophisticated and as for not hearing the A/Rs, I think it's what is rebroadcast as opposed to what is picked up.

Tomtom364

They could easily be using something like this

http://www.crescentcomms.com/thekit.html

Dosn't sound overly sophisticated for a professional sport to me.

crescentcomms wrote:

Current Users

Among others, below are a few of our satisfied ongoing customers:

Premiership Football

Premiership Rugby

Royal Yachting Association

Rugby Football Union

Scottish FA

Watford Football Club and Manchester City Coaches

EDIT: Video on the site states the the Heineken cup, 6 Nations and Top14 also use this company.

phog

Tomtom364 wrote: »

They could easily be using something like this

http://www.crescentcomms.com/thekit.html

Dosn't sound overly sophisticated for a professional sport to me.



EDIT: Video on the site states the the Heineken cup, 6 Nations and Top14 also use this company.

So no mention of teams or RaboDirect using them. I've seen some teams use what look like VHF radios.

Tomtom364

phog wrote: »

So no mention of teams or RaboDirect using them. I've seen some teams use what look like VHF radios.

This particular company no, but I can only imagine there are others offering similar services.

justsomebloke

ok I'm afraid I'm going to lock this up as I'm not sure what the legalities of scanners are here in Ireland especially for the purposes of listening to non public broadcast.