The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

Former Former

Former Former wrote: »

I would imagine the failure of a single obsolete piece of equipment in a field in Meath is a lot more likely than the failure of the Internet.

And if the Internet does fail, the unavailability of Radio 1 Extra will be pretty low down the list of things to worry about.

You're missing the point, if the internet goes down so too will many uplinks to transmitters that now rely on the internet meaning many if not most radio stations will go down.

It's a lot easier to fix a transmitter than a very complicated piece of internet infrastructure , at least you can control your own transmitter, if something happens the internet, then you have no control over it.

Sam Russell

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

Not at all. RTE Radio doesn't have the same shackles as television, shackles that were only placed on RTE television thanks to lobbying by tv3

And by Ray Burke.

One More Toy

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

Even if 252 finally does close in 2019, the campaigners have played a very good game in fairness, 2019 will be 6 years since RTE first wanted to close it and 17 years since Teamtalk 252 closed, I don't think many people would have imagined that lw transmission from Clarkstown would live on for almost 2 decades after the sudden demise of teamtalk 252

Christ now i feel old! I was excited when teamtalk began, if i recall they used to commentate on the world cup from a pub!

marno21

RTE have full control over their transmission infrastructure and uptime if they are on LW.

They can't guarantee that with the Internet given the number of variables involved.

marno21

marno21 wrote: »

RTE have full control over their transmission infrastructure and uptime if they are on LW.

They can't guarantee that with the Internet given the number of variables involved.

Exactly, some people have this mad idea that nothing can happen the internet.

RTE should rent out the LW and even the MW transmitter , I wounder have they even thought about that ?

The Parish Priest.

Deleted User wrote: »

RTE should rent out the LW and even the MW transmitter , I wounder have they even thought about that ?

An old post on this website by user "Infoanon" claims that an offer was made to take over 567 but that it was point blank refused by RTE.

Elmo

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

Not at all. RTE Radio doesn't have the same shackles as television, shackles that were only placed on RTE television thanks to lobbying by tv3

Under the act I don't think it makes a difference

The Parish Priest.

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

An old post on this website by user "Infoanon" claims that an offer was made to take over 567 but that it was point blank refused by RTE.

Really ? why would they do this ? perhaps couldn't care less about making some money !

Are they hell bent on killing MW and LW ?

RTE must be ran by 20 year olds these days lol.

The Parish Priest.

Elmo wrote: »

Under the act I don't think it makes a difference

Well it must do because RTE 2 television can't drop a few hours of children's programs in the mid=morning but 2fm is almost unrecognizable since Dan Healy became boss in 2013

Former Former

kazoo106 wrote: »

Why is it that people in this country want to re-invent the wheel and fix what isn't broken? The Tunein portal was down this week for over a day, while as I post this, the Meteor data network appears down across large parts.
Need I say any more with regard to streaming as a primary service?

If we were talking about shutting down the FM network in favour of streaming, then maybe.

But saying we need long wave because internet tech sometimes fails doesn't make any sense.

kazoo106

I DO think Long Wave should go, I am putting a valid argument up for MW

Sam Russell

I tried to tune a radio to listen to LW in a hospital for an elderly patient. I failed because of the level of interference. (He wanted to listen to BBC R4 - but the same problem existed for RTE 1 LW).

A return the MW makes a lot of sense since MW has been largely vacated.

Mickey Mike

Sam Russell wrote: »

I tried to tune a radio to listen to LW in a hospital for an elderly patient. I failed because of the level of interference. (He wanted to listen to BBC R4 - but the same problem existed for RTE 1 LW).

A return the MW makes a lot of sense since MW has been largely vacated.

Absolutely, me living in Kerry back in the day when 567 khz ran at 500 kw, the reception was truly amazing with no interference. 2fm on 612 khz was not as good, only ran at 100 kw. If R1 LW could run at 500 kw again on a clear frequently ie. 261 it would equally be as good. But its all about money, surely modern Transradio AM TXs would be more efficient.

Mickey Mike

I could feel in my heart FM could get the axe in the next 10 years, as most other countries would have gone ahead, I hope it will be replaced with DAB+, I'm not a fan of Internet radio.

The Parish Priest.

Sam Russell wrote: »

I tried to tune a radio to listen to LW in a hospital for an elderly patient. I failed because of the level of interference. (He wanted to listen to BBC R4 - but the same problem existed for RTE 1 LW).

A return the MW makes a lot of sense since MW has been largely vacated.

There is as much chance of Val Joyce returning to late date than there is of RTE resuming medium wave transmission:D

marno21

Mickey Mike wrote: »

I could feel in my heart FM could get the axe in the next 10 years, as most other countries would have gone ahead, I hope it will be replaced with DAB+, I'm not a fan of Internet radio.

Not a chance.

Turning off FM is a pointless waste of time. The alternatives offer no real advantage over FM to make people switch, and the relieved spectrum doesn't offer the same dividends that the UHF band did.

Elmo

Section103 of the broadcasting act relates to both TV and Radio. RTÉ cannot unilaterally close LW nor can they set up a new service aim at Ex-pats without government permission, they must inform the Dept of comms who can sit on it for 5 years.

The Cush

Elmo wrote: »

Section103 of the broadcasting act relates to both TV and Radio. RTÉ cannot unilaterally close LW nor can they set up a new service aim at Ex-pats without government permission, they must inform the Dept of comms who can sit on it for 5 years.

No problems there, the DFA are actively involved with this - https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2017/march/minister-mchugh-rte-irish-in-britain/

Elmo

The Cush wrote: »

No problems there, the DFA are actively involved with this - https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2017/march/minister-mchugh-rte-irish-in-britain/

That's fine but DFA are not DCCEA, and the BAI have to carry out an SIA and minister must consult with stakeholders

Sam Russell

Sam Russell wrote: »

I tried to tune a radio to listen to LW in a hospital for an elderly patient. I failed because of the level of interference. (He wanted to listen to BBC R4 - but the same problem existed for RTE 1 LW).

A return the MW makes a lot of sense since MW has been largely vacated.

The same level of interference will interfere with MW, especially in a hospital with all the electrical interference from electronic devices.

One problem though with 252 is the power has been turned down so much that even if you tune in for most web sdr receivers in the U.K it's practically wiped out and they won't change the frequency because they want people to have these problems.

Mickey Mike

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The same level of interference will interfere with MW, especially in a hospital with all the electrical interference from electronic devices.

One problem though with 252 is the power has been turned down so much that even if you tune in for most web sdr receivers in the U.K it's practically wiped out and they won't change the frequency because they want people to have these problems.

We have to face the fact that MW and LW had their day. Like you say electrical interference and it's all around us, where one is really stuck, we'll the best solution is Satellite for a whole range of channels. Best thing to do when LW is switched off is to totally dismantle the 2 txs, and forget about it.

The Parish Priest.

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

There is as much chance of Val Joyce returning to late date than there is of RTE resuming medium wave transmission:D

Val Joyce, now there was an amazing voice ! I used to listen to Val on my walkman in bed on my School Summer holidays many years ago.

He really had such a fantastic voice. Shame he's no longer on radio. There's very few quality presenters on radio today.

Sam Russell

Deleted User wrote: »

The same level of interference will interfere with MW, especially in a hospital with all the electrical interference from electronic devices.

MW is more efficient for a hetrodyne (if I recall correctly) as it has more selectivity. Also, MW is quite empty now. LW has a skip distance that means it is not great in London. (again iirc).

marno21

marno21 wrote: »

Not a chance.

Turning off FM is a pointless waste of time. The alternatives offer no real advantage over FM to make people switch, and the relieved spectrum doesn't offer the same dividends that the UHF band did.

Absolutely and it would render many old radios useless too, I have some quality radios up to 45 years old that really show how junk modern radios are. To think what people throw out or buy when you can buy a much older hand built radio of usually much superior quality.

Sam Russell

Sam Russell wrote: »

MW is more efficient for a hetrodyne (if I recall correctly) as it has more selectivity. Also, MW is quite empty now. LW has a skip distance that means it is not great in London. (again iirc).

There are tonnes of MW stations , the band is still quiet crowded.......

Macers

As per planning permission, Condition 4 of Planning Permission DA120158 which expires on 29/05/2017 states;

‘In the event of the proposed communications structure and associated equipment becoming obsolete and being decommissioned, the developer shall at their expense, remove the mast and antennae and return the site to its original condition.’

Mast to go.

The Parish Priest.

Tullamores 567 mast has been sitting there doing nothing for a decade

galtee boy

marno21 wrote: »

Not a chance.

Turning off FM is a pointless waste of time. The alternatives offer no real advantage over FM to make people switch, and the relieved spectrum doesn't offer the same dividends that the UHF band did.

The 50m sales mark for DAB radios was passed in the UK recently, so the Brits seem to like it. Haven't the UK Govt given some sort of indication that if DAB listenership passes xx %, they will give serious consideration to FM switch off ? Of course in the UK, the migration of all the local radio stations and Five Live from MW to DAB was a huge boost for DAB listening. Whatever about DAB v FM, DAB is a winner over MW.

Antenna

Macers wrote: »

As per planning permission, Condition 4 of Planning Permission DA120158 which expires on 29/05/2017 states;

‘In the event of the proposed communications structure and associated equipment becoming obsolete and being decommissioned, the developer shall at their expense, remove the mast and antennae and return the site to its original condition.’

Mast to go.

That is for a separate mast on the site utilised by mobile phone networks

"retention of a 30 metre high communications
tower with associated equipment attached and
with an equipment container at ground level all
within a chain-link fence compound using
existing access"