The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

stephend2000

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

dxhound2005 wrote: »

When I was growing up in an area with no electricity, listening to the very limited output available on the radio was not an exercise for the technophobe. The wet battery had to be taken to the local town every couple of weeks to be charged. The dry battery was the size of a brick. No signal could be heard unless an external aerial, replete with egg insulators, was run from the chimney to a nearby tree. So I don't buy the argument that there are many people from that era who couldn't master the much simpler kit around these days.

There was no RTE on long wave until 2004, so they were able to manage without it for decades. The medium wave signal was not even able to cover all of Ireland effectively, hence the local transmitters in Dublin and Cork. So listeners in GB would have to have been technically competent to get good reception in London for example.

+1


It seems to be conveniently forgotten that these 'old people' being referred to here are of the generation who produced the first wave of 'modern technology'.

One thing most people now regarded as old have learned is that things change, life moves on and new technology replaces old.
They lived through the old fixed vale radio moving to transistors and portable and old 78s to vinyl 33 1/3 and single 45s .... cassette tapes and digital tapes and CDs and DVDs and BluRays.

Yet they are not capable of moving from LW?

Some perspective is needed and in particular some acceptance should be shown for those who have lived through and enjoyed the most disruptive technology time period man has ever known.

Just tell people what they need to do if they want to continue to listen.

This is the generation that invented a lot of the devices we regard as necessary to our daily lives!

I 100% agree. Maybe that money saved can be used to develop a newer technology that will benefit the newer generation

Money saved are you joking ? it doesn't cost a lot to keep a transmitter in operation in the grand sceme of things, RTE actually waste a lot more money than keeping a single transmitter operating.

By the way the move to DAB is of no benefit to the Public over FM. Moving on and embracing newer technology is fine provided there is some benefit and in the case of DAB there's 0.

stephend2000

Deleted User wrote: »

Money saved are you joking ? it doesn't cost a lot to keep a transmitter in operation in the grand sceme of things, RTE actually waste a lot more money than keeping a single transmitter operating.

By the way the move to DAB is of no benefit to the Public over FM. Moving on and embracing newer technology is fine provided there is some benefit and in the case of DAB there's 0.

That’s why they aren’t progressing in upgrading their DAB network. Maybe that money can be pumped into a newer RTE player, new content, new channels etc.

Yes that would be better in my opinion, personally I never use the RTE player but I'm sure plenty do.

I'm not so sure we need another RTE TV channel , the quality of material on the 2 stations is not so great, apart from watching the news there's nothing I watch really. I'd listen to Radio 1 more.

burnsey1987

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Does anyone under 30 even listen to radio any more?

Well I’m 31, so not too far off, and I listen to many different radio stations via different types of media.

Nationwide radio & local stations I listen to on my handheld FM receiver which cost about 12 quid in Argos & uses up 2 x AA cells every couple of months (good luck with getting anywhere near that battery life on a DAB radio).

UK radio stations I generally get on my Freesat TV, and on medium & long wave to a lesser extent, in situations where I’m not near a TV (eg. in the car, out the back).

For radio stations that I can’t get via conventional means, then I use apps and the web. IP-based broadcasting most certainly has its merits, don’t get me wrong, but to suggest that it renders every other transmission medium irrelevant is a bit like saying that walking is obsolete now that we have cars IMO

Mickey Mike

Looking ahead, even now as I go into electronic stores and look at modern radios. most of them are FM/DAB now, just a handful of MW and even less with LW bands. It is important that we have a good FM service throughout the island of Ireland and get a mini DAB+ system to run in the UK, and we'll leave it at that.

Did someone here post a video of the closure of MW 567 ? anyway notice how RTE of course went into a electrical shop and asked a young sales man "when was the last time you were asked for a MW radio ? " and the chap said no one ever came in looking for a MW radio.

Notice the trick question ? no one will go into a shop and say have you got an FM radio now will they ? no, because everyone automatically accumes a radio will have FM/MW and/or LW.

So naturally no, no one will go in and ask for a Medium Wave Radio, RTE of course trying to portray there were no listeners to 567 when in fact there were plenty, my Mother/Aunt are two people I know, back then they transmitted different programming a lot more then they do now on 252 which must have been quiet convenient for them, now they really only have FM and sometimes they transmit different programming via 252 and I expect when 252 is gone they'll try convince people to use their wonderful "digital" app !

Mickey Mike

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Did someone here post a video of the closure of MW 567 ? anyway notice how RTE of course went into a electrical shop and asked a young sales man "when was the last time you were asked for a MW radio ? " and the chap said no one ever came in looking for a MW radio.

Notice the trick question ? no one will go into a shop and say have you got an FM radio now will they ? no, because everyone automatically accumes a radio will have FM/MW and/or LW.

So naturally no, no one will go in and ask for a Medium Wave Radio, RTE of course trying to portray there were no listeners to 567 when in fact there were plenty, my Mother/Aunt are two people I know, back then they transmitted different programming a lot more then they do now on 252 which must have been quiet convenient for them, now they really only have FM and sometimes they transmit different programming via 252 and I expect when 252 is gone they'll try convince people to use their wonderful "digital" app !

Yes I remember it well, it was a news item back in March 2008. I was shocked at that announcement and very wrong of RTE to shut MW 567kwz, what ever about 2fm MW it not that important. As far as today is concerned, there's no point in hoping anything regarding AM broadcasting. And I do agree Mad_Lad a time will come when they'll want to turn off FM.

I'm not sure, Norway is it ? that shut off all FM are having big problems and the national Broadcaster are loosing a lot of listeners as a result and there's no sign of a proper solution.

People don't want DAB they're happy with FM so why give people something they're not asking for ?

Johnboy1951

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not sure, Norway is it ? that shut off all FM are having big problems and the national Broadcaster are loosing a lot of listeners as a result and there's no sign of a proper solution.

People don't want DAB they're happy with FM so why give people something they're not asking for ?

money

it's hardly cheaper to install a new DAb network than to maintain an exisiting FM ?

stephend2000

Deleted User wrote: »

Did someone here post a video of the closure of MW 567 ? anyway notice how RTE of course went into a electrical shop and asked a young sales man "when was the last time you were asked for a MW radio ? " and the chap said no one ever came in looking for a MW radio.

Notice the trick question ? no one will go into a shop and say have you got an FM radio now will they ? no, because everyone automatically accumes a radio will have FM/MW and/or LW.

So naturally no, no one will go in and ask for a Medium Wave Radio, RTE of course trying to portray there were no listeners to 567 when in fact there were plenty, my Mother/Aunt are two people I know, back then they transmitted different programming a lot more then they do now on 252 which must have been quiet convenient for them, now they really only have FM and sometimes they transmit different programming via 252 and I expect when 252 is gone they'll try convince people to use their wonderful "digital" app !

I don’t think the majority of people don’t even know what MW or LW is!

stephend2000

Deleted User wrote: »

I'm not sure, Norway is it ? that shut off all FM are having big problems and the national Broadcaster are loosing a lot of listeners as a result and there's no sign of a proper solution.

People don't want DAB they're happy with FM so why give people something they're not asking for ?

Can we just come to the conclusion that FM will not be shut off anytime soon, we will all probably be dead by that point.

burnsey1987

[Deleted User] wrote: »

it's hardly cheaper to install a new DAb network than to maintain an exisiting FM ?

In a country like Norway I’d be interested in finding out how much these DAB transmitters cost to operate given the terrain and population density

Yeah , you'd wounder the real reason for total FM shut down.

TAFKAlawhec

Deleted User wrote: »

it's hardly cheaper to install a new DAb network than to maintain an exisiting FM ?

I understand that for the likes of the BBC and other PSB multi-station broadcasters, their DAB network is quite cost effective compared to FM/MW/LW. Compared to having nominally 10-11 and a bit* stations on DAB compared to five and a bit* for the analogue network across the UK, the DAB network only needs one transmitter per TX site whereas four (Radio 1-4) are needed for FM per site plus one for MW (Radio 5, often elsewhere) and the Radio 4 LW network (with MW filler sites). The one DAB transmitter will in nearly all cases run less electric power than one FM transmitter at the same site (let alone four of them), the set up of Band III TX aerials can give a bigger gain compared to Band II for the same aperture on the tower or mast - and FM itself is quite more efficient in electrical power & costs of manufacturing TX aerial gain against MW & LW. The one DAB TX also takes up less floor space at a TX site compared to four FM TXs, less air conditioning & water cooling is required etc. Altogether the savings made on this are supposedly more than enough to compensate for DAB requiring more TX sites to cover its higher transmission frequency and more restricted ERP per site requirements to technically maintain its single frequency network. The BBC local stations in England aren't factored in here due to individual stations using sometimes different FM & MW sites to those used for the national stations, and the fact they are carried on local commercial DAB ensembles as opposed to the BBC UK-wide SFN. Similar applies to the BBC radio stations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales that are otherwise usually using the same sites as those used by the BBC's UK wide stations.

For the likes of commercial broadcasters, because of the varied nature of their coverage it becomes more difficult gather constructive information together. It's worth remembering that in the UK there is only one commercial station on FM that has nationwide coverage (Classic FM, which still doesn't match the BBC FM network coverage), though Capital & Heart could be described as having quasi-national coverage given how their branding has gobbled up a lot of old local commercial stations that now only have a few hours per day opt-out. In the Irish Republic, there is similarly one national (Today FM) and one quasi-national (Newstalk) FM networks.

In saying all that, the raft of stations on both the UK "national" commercial DAB ensembles that are mostly in mono is a question of wherever the owners of such stations are actually penny-pinching on costs to be one these networks at the sacrifice of audio quality, or wherever they believe it is better to push towards having more spin-off stations being broadcasts and believing that listeners in general don't care too much that they're in mono? Maybe an extended push towards DAB+ exclusively and phasing out DAB MP2 is what's required though even then it's no guarantee of getting back stereo stations at a decent quality.



* "a bit" referring to BBC Radio 4s LW opt outs.

burnsey1987

The mast for the former DLF 153 kHz transmitter at Donebach, Germany is due to be demolished within the coming days according to this page... http://mediumwave.info/news.html

It ceased broadcasting on 31/12/2014

burnsey1987

burnsey1987 wrote: »

The mast for the former DLF 153 kHz transmitter at Donebach, Germany is due to be demolished within the coming days according to this page... http://mediumwave.info/news.html

It ceased broadcasting on 31/12/2014

Sad that a transmitter antenna can meet such a horrid end.

burnsey1987

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Sad that a transmitter antenna can meet such a horrid end.

True. I’d be interested in seeing how much it was costing to maintain the mast. Considering that high-power transmission masts are usually built on flood plains for good ground conductivity I’d be surprised if the land had any significant value as a development site. Either way I hope RTÉ/2RN Networks aren’t getting notions...

Well at least 252 site is to be preserved after shut down isn't it ? whether this includes the antenna who knows.

I'd love the money to be able to get 567 on air at full output, I'd love to change it to solid state.

I'd love to set up a SW station, Radio Ireland International,RRI nice ring to it ! 500 MW of power, advertisement main source of revenue.

Gerry Wicklow

Deleted User wrote: »

Well at least 252 site is to be preserved after shut down isn't it ? whether this includes the antenna who knows.

I'd love the money to be able to get 567 on air at full output, I'd love to change it to solid state.

I'd love to set up a SW station, Radio Ireland International,RRI nice ring to it ! 500 MW of power, advertisement main source of revenue.

Absentmindedly looking out the window.....
Dear Santa, I have been a good boy.........

dxhound2005

Deleted User wrote: »

Well at least 252 site is to be preserved after shut down isn't it ? whether this includes the antenna who knows.

I'd love the money to be able to get 567 on air at full output, I'd love to change it to solid state.

I'd love to set up a SW station, Radio Ireland International,RRI nice ring to it ! 500 MW of power, advertisement main source of revenue.

That would be RII. Just as well since RRI is already taken by Indonesia.

dxhound2005

dxhound2005 wrote: »

That would be RII. Just as well since RRI is already taken by Indonesia.

Sorry , got confused lol

Are you not thinking about radio Romania International ?

dxhound2005

RRI was in my mind because I was so used to seeing it in the old days in DX reports. There were lots of local Indonesian stations in the 120 and 90 metre bands which were favourite targets for listeners in Scandanavia. I have heard the international service in English on 9525 and 15150 kHz in the past. RRI is certainly valid for Romania as well, but I didn't make the association.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Republik_Indonesia

dxhound2005

dxhound2005 wrote: »

RRI is certainly valid for Romania as well, but I didn't make the association.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Romania_International

Their English broadcasts on SW can be quiet interesting.

Mickey Mike

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Well at least 252 site is to be preserved after shut down isn't it ? whether this includes the antenna who knows.

I'd love the money to be able to get 567 on air at full output, I'd love to change it to solid state.

I'd love to set up a SW station, Radio Ireland International,RRI nice ring to it ! 500 MW of power, advertisement main source of revenue.

It would be great and to do it properly, surely it can be funded by the license fee and government. I much rather MW 567 over LW 252. We'll keep in mind "miracles do happen"

No chance, Digital first campaign going on at RTE now, youth and digital first and there's no future in radio as far as RTE are concerned.

There's always someone looking for MW transmitters though so why not sell/lease it ?

burnsey1987

RTE1 absolutely booming on 252 in my house in Limerick tonight, even in rooms where I usually get a lot of interference. Good selection of music on Czech Radio 270 also. Very rarely can I pick that up with a usable signal this far out since they replaced the old rigs with a 50kW

Conditions are pretty good tonight, perhaps due to the solar flare.

I noticed U.S Hams coming in clear on 40 meters earlier.

burnsey1987

Deleted User wrote: »

Conditions are pretty good tonight, perhaps due to the solar flare.

I noticed U.S Hams coming in clear on 40 meters earlier.

That's amazing!!!