BANDSCAN THREAD

JDxtra

80s Synth Pop wrote: »

I wish Phever could be played like that on Alexa.



"Alexa play Phever on tune in" ....... "I can't find"
"Alexa play Fever I R L on tune in" ....... "I can't find"
"Alexa play Fee Ver Earl on tune in" ....... "I can't find"
"screw it, Alexa, play 80s Synth Pop on spotify"... "OK"

Similar problem with Google devices. You can of course cast it to the smart speaker, but I suppose that defeats the purpose.

Infoanon

Easy also off air tonight due to 'technical ' difficulties.

Hot and Kiss are running the gauntlet for the moment.

As an aside : 21 years today since Pulse (and the original Club ) closed down - Phantom also closed but reappeared later.

Declan A Walsh

Anglers wrote: »

Heard the same from a another source yesterday. Pirates deffo need to lay low over the next 4 weeks nationwide

Is it a secret?

end of the road

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Is it a secret?

comreg apparently do the rounds around this time of the year.
or at least have been apparently known to do so in the past.

JDxtra

Hot FM seem to be the only main pirate on at the moment in Dublin.

Declan A Walsh

JDxtra wrote: »

Hot FM seem to be the only main pirate on at the moment in Dublin.

Does that mean there are still some minor pirates on, i.e. the low-powered ones like Disco?

JDxtra

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Does that mean there are still some minor pirates on, i.e. the low-powered ones like Disco?

They may be on, but I cannot detect them from here. The main pirates (those with near-city wide coverage) are all off with the exception of Hot.

Dipole Keith

I’m picking up a dance station on 102.5FM in Dublin, Signal is weak, no station IDs the audio is a little on the high side plus I’m not getting RDS

castle2012

Dipole Keith wrote: »

I’m picking up a dance station on 102.5FM in Dublin, Signal is weak, no station IDs the audio is a little on the high side plus I’m not getting RDS

I wonder did retro move back to 102.5?

Declan A Walsh

castle2012 wrote: »

I wonder did retro move back to 102.5?

You mean the dance station RetroNow, not to be confused with weekend oldies station Retro FM!

castle2012

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

You mean the dance station RetroNow, not to be confused with weekend oldies station Retro FM!

Yes I mean retro now

TAFKAlawhec

An FM/VHF, AM/MW & DAB bandscan taken at Whitehead, Co. Antrim at the end of last week...

FM/VHF Band II

87.8 - RTE Radio 1 (Clermont Carn) (1)
88.1 - BBC Radio 2 (Sandale, ENG) (2)
88.4 - BBC Radio 2 (Douglas/Carnane, IoM)
88.7 - BBC Radio 2 (Cambret Hill, SCO) (3)
89.0 - Manx Radio (Snaefell, IoM) (4)
89.1 - BBC Radio 2 (Larne) (4)
89.3 - BBC Radio 2 (Holme Moss, ENG) (5)
89.5 - BBC Radio 2 (Darvel, SCO)
89.7 - BBC Radio 2 (Stranraer, SCO) (6)
90.1 - BBC Radio 2 (Divis) (7)
90.3 - BBC Radio 3 (Sandale) (2)
90.6 - BBC Radio 3 (Douglas/Carnane)
90.9 - BBC Radio 3 (Cambret Hill) (3)
91.2 - Energy FM (Snaefell) (4)
91.3 - BBC Radio 3 (Larne) (4)
91.5 - BBC Radio 3 (Holme Moss) (5)
91.7 - BBC Radio 3 (Darvel)
91.9 - BBC Radio 3 (Stranraer) (6)
92.1 - BBC Radio 3 (Black Hill, SCO)
92.3 - BBC Radio 3 (Divis) (7)
92.5 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Sandale) (2)
92.8 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Douglas/Carnane)
93.1 - BBC Radio Scotland FM (Cambret Hill) (3)
93.2 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Carnmoney Hill)
93.3 - BBC Radio Scotland FM (Girvan, SCO) (8)
93.5 - BBC Radio Ulster FM (Larne)
93.9 - BBC Radio Scotland FM (Darvel)
94.1 - BBC Radio Scotland FM (Stranraer) (6)
94.3 - BBC Radio Scotland FM (Black Hill)
94.5 - BBC Radio Ulster FM (Divis) (7)
94.7 - BBC Radio Scotland FM (Sandale) (2)
95.3 - BBC Radio Ulster FM (Carnmoney Hill) (9)
95.3 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Cambret Hill) (9)
95.6 - BBC Radio Cumbria (Sandale) (2)(10)
95.6 - BBC Radio 4 FM (South Knapdale, SCO) (10)
95.8 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Black Hill)
96.0 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Divis)
96.5 - West Sound (Carin Pat (Stranraer), SCO)
96.7 - Q Radio, Belfast (Black Mountain) (7)
97.1 - Downtown (Larne)
97.2 - Manx Radio (Douglas/Carnane) ACI from 97.1
97.4 - Cool FM (Black Mountain)
97.7 - BBC Radio 1 (Sandale) (2)
98.0 - BBC Radio 1 (Douglas/Carnane)
98.3 - BBC Radio 1 (Cambret Hill) (3)
98.5 - BBC Radio 1 (Girvan) (8)
98.7 - BBC Radio 1 (Larne)
98.9 - BBC Radio 1 (Holme Moss) (5)
99.1 - BBC Radio 1 (Darvel)
99.3 - BBC Radio 1 (Stranraer) (6)
99.5 - BBC Radio 1 (Black Hill)
99.7 - BBC Radio 1 (Divis) (7)
99.9 - Classic FM (Sandale) (2)
100.2 - Classic FM (Douglas/Carnane)
100.3 - Heart, Scotland (Black Hill) (11)
100.5 - Q Radio, Newry & Mourne (Camlough) Weak
101.1 - Classic FM (Holme Moss)
101.3 - Classic FM (Darvel)
101.7 - Classic FM (Black Hill)
101.9 - Classic FM (Divis) (7)
102.4 - Energy FM (Beary Park, IoM) ACI from 102.5
102.5 - Q Radio, Belfast (Carnmoney Hill)
102.7 - RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta (Clermont Carn) (1)
103.0 - West Sound (Cambret Hill)
103.5 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Larne)
103.7 - BBC Radio nan Gaidheal (South Knapdale) Good mono signal
104.3 - BBC Radio 4 FM (Darvel)
105.0 - Three FM (Douglas/Carnane)
105.2 - Smooth Radio, Scotland (Black Hill) (11)
105.5 - Today FM (Clermont Carn) (1)
105.8 - U105 (Black Mountain) (7)
106.2 - Three FM (Beary Park)
106.6 - Three FM (Snaefell) Strongest 3FM signal, stereo with little hiss
107.1 - Argyll FM (Ballygroggan, SCO)
107.6 - Q Radio, Mid Antrim (Cross Hill, Larne) Strong signal, stronger than BBC & Downtown from Larne
107.9 - Bangor FM (Conlig) Community station, 25 watts, very weak

Notes..

(1) Signals from Clermont Carn on 87.8, 102.7 and 105.5 were weak but listenable. Nothing on 95.2 & 97.0 due to ACI.

(2) Sandale puts in a good signal here, strongest of all the BBC national TXs from Britain.

(3) For just 128 watts, mixed polarisation at a distance of 57 miles, Cambret Hill put in a surprisingly good solid mono signal.

(4) As can be expected, these stations ACI'd with each other though Manx Radio often won out.

(5) Could either be South Knapdale, but prevailing conditions of Classic FM on 101.1 would suggest Holme Moss (Classic does not broadcast from South Knapdale, though Radio nan Gaidheal was received on 103.7)

(6) Just across the North Channel, 31 watts with vertical polarisation at a distance of 33 miles. Good mono signal.

(7) FM radio signals from Divis and Black Mountain were strong, but suffered badly from multipath interference when RX telescopic aerial was vertical - changing it to horizontal largely cured this problem.

(8) 100 watt relay, vertical polarisation at a distance of 49 miles.

(9) & (10) Received station depended on orientation of receiving aerial and small changes in location.

(11) Both commercial stations from Black Hill were extremely weak, just strong enough to get a station ID.

Medium Wave

531 Kringvarp Foroya (Akraberg, FRO) Very weak, barely above carrier
549 Spirit Radio (Carrickroe, IRL) Strong, as good as most from Lisnagarvey
657 BBC Radio Wales (Wrexham, WAL) Weak, muffled audio
693 BBC Radio 5 Live (Multiple sites) SFN network, Fair
720 BBC Radio 4 LW (Lisnagarvey, NIR) Strong
756 BBC Radio Cumbria (Carlsle/Briscoe, ENG) Fair
774 BBC Radio 4 LW (Enniskillen, NIR) Fair
792 BBC Radio Foyle (Derry/Sherrif's Mtn, NIR) Fair
810 BBC Radio Scotland MW (Westerglen, SCO) Very good
837 BBC Radio Cumbria (Barrow-in-Furness, ENG) Fair
846 Radio North (Redcastle, IRL) Weak, unlicenced
855 BBC Radio Lancashire (Preston, ENG) Weak
873 BBC Radio Ulster (Enniskillen) Weak to fair, ACI from 882
882 BBC Radio Wales (Penmon, WAL) Good to Very Good
909 BBC Radio 5 Live (Lisnagarvey) Strong
936 Dales Radio (Hawes) Community station, carrier noted, 150 watts at 144 miles
963 Asian Sound Radio (Haslingden, ENG) Weak to fair
981 Radio Star Country (Emyvale, IRL) Very weak but easy to ID, unlicenced
999 Greatest Hits Radio, Lancashire (Preston) Fair
1026 Downtown (Knock Breckan, NIR) Good
1035 West AM (Symington, SCO) Fair, ACI from 1026
1053 TalkSport (Multiple sites) SFN Network, possibly Dumfries, Fair
1089 TalkSport (Lisnagarvey), Good signal, otherwise appeared to lose SFN sync with other TX on same frequency (Westerglen?)
1152 Clyde 2 (Dechmont Hill, SCO) Fair
1215 Absolute Radio (Lisnagarvey) Good to Very Good
1242 Absolute Radio (unknown) Very weak audio above quick fading carrier
1260 Smooth Radio, North Wales & Cheshire (Farndon) Weak
1341 BBC Radio Ulster (Lisnagarvey) Uber strong
1368 Manx Radio (Foxdale, IoM) Fair to Good
1458 Gold (Ashton Moss, ENG) Weak
1485 BBC Radio 4 LW (Carlsle/Briscoe) Very weak
1503 BBC Radio Stoke (Sideway, ENG) Very weak, just able to ID above carrier
1530 Pulse 2 (Huddersfield) Very weak, quick fading
1548 Forth 2 (Colinswell, SCO) Weak

DAB

Multiplexes received...

11A - SDL (National)
11B - Ayr (local)
11D - Digital One (National)
12B - BBC National (National)
12D - Northern Ireland (Local)

Equipment used - FM & MW: Eton E5 & XHDATA D808 portable radios with telescopic whip & internal ferrite aerials. DAB: POP Nano DAB+ receiver w/ headphone lead for aerial.

Declan A Walsh

Would any of the following that I left in be pirates?

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

An FM/VHF, AM/MW & DAB bandscan taken at Whitehead, Co. Antrim at the end of last week...

FM/VHF Band II


91.2 - Energy FM (Snaefell) (4)

96.5 - West Sound (Carin Pat (Stranraer), SCO)

102.4 - Energy FM (Beary Park, IoM) ACI from 102.5

103.0 - West Sound (Cambret Hill)


Notes..



Medium Wave

531 Kringvarp Foroya (Akraberg, FRO) Very weak, barely above carrier

846 Radio North (Redcastle, IRL) Weak, unlicenced YES!

963 Asian Sound Radio (Haslingden, ENG) Weak to fair

981 Radio Star Country (Emyvale, IRL) Very weak but easy to ID, unlicenced YES!

999 Greatest Hits Radio, Lancashire (Preston) Fair

1035 West AM (Symington, SCO) Fair, ACI from 1026

1152 Clyde 2 (Dechmont Hill, SCO) Fair

1458 Gold (Ashton Moss, ENG) Weak

1530 Pulse 2 (Huddersfield) Very weak, quick fading
1548 Forth 2 (Colinswell, SCO) Weak

Antenna

Declan: only 846 and 981 are.

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

1530 Pulse 2 (Huddersfield) Very weak, quick fading

I presume the 'quick fading' you noted is due to co-channel interference from a transmitter in Glasgow (Radio Ramadam) on the same frequency.

http://tx.mb21.co.uk/gallery/gallerypage.php?txid=2459

THe "quick fading" would be caused by a small difference in carrier frequency between both. It would be possible to have AM carrier frequencies very accurately on frequency with modern technology (using GPS?) , reducing co-channel interference effects, but often not so.

JDxtra

castle2012 wrote: »

I wonder did retro move back to 102.5?

The carrier on 102.5 in my opinion is from Kiss - signal is similar and there's the same slight noise (from the TX?) that you can hear.

tiswasfan

Crazy to see such MW activity across the UK/Scotland/NI/Wales/Manx yet it's dormant here (except Spirit and a few unlicensed stations).

Is MW really 'dead'? Would any operators apply for/run a MW service in Ireland?

JDxtra

For the vast majority of listeners it's not relevant in today's world. I know enthusiasts may say otherwise.

Infoanon

JDxtra wrote: »

For the vast majority of listeners it's not relevant in today's world. I know enthusiasts may say otherwise.

5 live and Talk sport listership figures would suggest there is still interest ie put something interesting on AM.

Against that AM is very expensive to run and the infrastructure can be prohibitive.

TAFKAlawhec

Infoanon wrote: »

5 live and Talk sport listership figures would suggest there is still interest ie put something interesting on AM.

Against that AM is very expensive to run and the infrastructure can be prohibitive.

5 Live & TalkSport now only have a minority of their listenership via MW IIRC, the majority of their audience now listen via other various platforms.

In any case, MW/AM is essentially a dead platform now for commercial radio, at least in the UK. TalkSport already closed a number of their low powered TXs earlier this year (inc. Derry), the BBC have just recently closed another round of their local radio MW outlets and in the last few years have been reducing the ERP of some of their 5 Live transmitters, while Absolute radio back in 2018 closed some relays themselves and got permission to reduce the ERP of the five biggest TX stations they have. Also recently we've seen City Talk in Liverpool on 1548 go off the air, while the three TXs in the English midlands that were carrying Absolute Classic Rock, including 1152 in Birmingham that originally carried BRMB, have also all gone off air. The likes of Bauer & Global that still have MW outlets for local radio stations (some as part of the national group) are essentially running them as a sustaining service for those listeners whilst encouraging them to move to listen to the same station on another platform e.g. DAB, or FM if practical. As the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is still to be largely felt, we might see such MW TX closures accelerate. This is far from unique in the UK, of course.

As a broadcasting platform, it has served the world well for approx a century, but aside from certain narrow scenarios that may suit geography or demographics hardly anyone wants to start up a brand new MW station with the intention of commercial viability. In Britain the only broadcasting sector where MW is still reasonably dominant in its promotion is among stations aimed at Asian communities, where FM has often been hard to get on (bar a few community stations), but even that listenership is starting to move over to DAB.

As a DX'er, I do find it somewhat sad to see the demise of the MW band even if having progressively fewer stations on the air allows, for now, some more "exotic" stations to be heard easier, but the band as we know it is essentially entering its twilight years and now is the time to make the most of it. It's hitting a wall that shortwave hit around fifteen to twenty years ago.

Antenna: I'd say you're probably right about an off-frequency carrier from the Glasgow station on 1530 being responsible for fluctuating co-channel reception. GPS could be used, of course, to obtain an accurate frequency lock but as they're two separate stations with different programming in two well spaced geographic locations where the interference in the main service area is unlikely to manifest, it hardly would be worthwhile.

Declan A Walsh

Energy (Power) AM on 1395kh Medium Wave was on this evening when I was driving around the Ballinteer area. In fairness, these days it tends to be FM pirates which are targeted for raids.

Rock Solid

102.5 were playing Extreme liners and jingles and adverts. Hot Fm still on.

castle2012

Rock Solid wrote: »

102.5 were playing Extreme liners and jingles and adverts. Hot Fm still on.

Ah here we go again. Kiss go's off now extreme comes on. Extreme is the one from last year that nobody was listening to.

Declan A Walsh

castle2012 wrote: »

Ah here we go again. Kiss go's off now extreme comes on. Extreme is the one from last year that nobody was listening to.

Extreme FM used to be on 107.1. I thought Club FM now on 107.1 was the same station, not Kiss FM.

JDxtra

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Extreme FM used to be on 107.1. I thought Club FM now on 107.1 was the same station, not Kiss FM.

No Declan, Club was not related. Surprised Extreme imaging got played on 102.5. Haven't heard it myself, just seems to be back to back music at the moment.

turbocab

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

5 Live & TalkSport now only have a minority of their listenership via MW IIRC, the majority of their audience now listen via other various platforms.

In any case, MW/AM is essentially a dead platform now for commercial radio, at least in the UK. TalkSport already closed a number of their low powered TXs earlier this year (inc. Derry), the BBC have just recently closed another round of their local radio MW outlets and in the last few years have been reducing the ERP of some of their 5 Live transmitters, while Absolute radio back in 2018 closed some relays themselves and got permission to reduce the ERP of the five biggest TX stations they have. Also recently we've seen City Talk in Liverpool on 1548 go off the air, while the three TXs in the English midlands that were carrying Absolute Classic Rock, including 1152 in Birmingham that originally carried BRMB, have also all gone off air. The likes of Bauer & Global that still have MW outlets for local radio stations (some as part of the national group) are essentially running them as a sustaining service for those listeners whilst encouraging them to move to listen to the same station on another platform e.g. DAB, or FM if practical. As the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic is still to be largely felt, we might see such MW TX closures accelerate. This is far from unique in the UK, of course.

As a broadcasting platform, it has served the world well for approx a century, but aside from certain narrow scenarios that may suit geography or demographics hardly anyone wants to start up a brand new MW station with the intention of commercial viability. In Britain the only broadcasting sector where MW is still reasonably dominant in its promotion is among stations aimed at Asian communities, where FM has often been hard to get on (bar a few community stations), but even that listenership is starting to move over to DAB.

As a DX'er, I do find it somewhat sad to see the demise of the MW band even if having progressively fewer stations on the air allows, for now, some more "exotic" stations to be heard easier, but the band as we know it is essentially entering its twilight years and now is the time to make the most of it. It's hitting a wall that shortwave hit around fifteen to twenty years ago.

Antenna: I'd say you're probably right about an off-frequency carrier from the Glasgow station on 1530 being responsible for fluctuating co-channel reception. GPS could be used, of course, to obtain an accurate frequency lock but as they're two separate stations with different programming in two well spaced geographic locations where the interference in the main service area is unlikely to manifest, it hardly would be worthwhile.

I would say Fm is not far behind,ask any 18 to 30 year ild do they listen to fm radio,I know from that age group in work they dont listento fm at all . the smartphne has killed fm radio for the younger generation,even the high end smartphones dropped the fm tuner on them.The commerical stations chasing the younger audiences are wasting ther e time ,

castle2012

JDxtra wrote: »

No Declan, Club was not related. Surprised Extreme imaging got played on 102.5. Haven't heard it myself, just seems to be back to back music at the moment.

Was extreme not the same guys who have pirate fm? I taught they gave it up to focus on pirate fm? I could be wrong.
Anyway if it is them they should stick to what there good at and they where good at pirate fm

JDxtra

castle2012 wrote: »

Was extreme not the same guys who have pirate fm? I taught they gave it up to focus on pirate fm? I could be wrong.
Anyway if it is them they should stick to what there good at and they where good at pirate fm

That is not correct.

castle2012

JDxtra wrote: »

That is not correct.

Ah yea I'm getting comfused with NowFm, they where the same as pirate

JDxtra

turbocab wrote: »

I would say Fm is not far behind,ask any 18 to 30 year ild do they listen to fm radio,I know from that age group in work they dont listento fm at all . the smartphne has killed fm radio for the younger generation,even the high end smartphones dropped the fm tuner on them.The commerical stations chasing the younger audiences are wasting ther e time ,

Correct. Even in a car, the expectation is at least Bluetooth, but preferably full app connectivity like Android Auto / Apple Car Play so they can stream from Spotify etc.

Sunnyboy11

JDxtra wrote: »

Correct. Even in a car, the expectation is at least Bluetooth, but preferably full app connectivity like Android Auto / Apple Car Play so they can stream from Spotify etc.

Turbocab is spot on with everything he has commented on, FM is dead and almost buried here in Ireland. Very little people listen to FM whether it is legal or otherwise and that’s it whether you like it or not. You only have to look at commercial radio in Ireland and see why they are struggling, the answer very little listeners I rest my case.