Today FM and Newstalk broadcasting sites

lucernarian

I wasn't sure if broadcasting or terrestrial deserved this query but this forum generally discusses radio more often so...

I haven't been able to locate any current list of broadcasting sites for Today FM or indeed for Newstalk and this is of interest as when I last checked in Drogheda, I came across an FM vhf2 frequency which was broadcasting Today FM but it seemed very localised. I can't remember the frequency sadly.

I also wanted to find some current source on current newstalk broadcast locations, sites and ERPs. Just for curiosity's sake really.

Any help appreciated!

The Cush

The BAI would have this information but they don't appear to publish it, the equivalent PSB technical parameters are available here - http://www.comreg.ie/radio_spectrum/technical_parameters.542.1071.html

lucernarian

Yeah, I've seen those PSB ones before but I've no info on the independent radio sites or so on. For specific sites like Mt. Oriel and Lughad, there is extra info available as they're involved in international spectrum coordination between Ireland and UK

byte

Something like this? Don't know who uploaded it, or its source, but I've kept the link for convenience.

http://irishtx.host22.com/Irish_FM_Radio_Rev1.0.0.pdf

The Cush

byte wrote: »

Something like this? Don't know who uploaded it, or its source,

Thanks for the link, explains why Newstalk isn't the best where I live, 500W vs 2.5kW for the main radio stations from Woodcock Hill and 4FM/95FM's 5kW :eek:

byte

Can Newstalk get away with a bit lower power because it's mono as opposed to stereo? Though that power is a fair bit lower.

watty

Maybe 1/2 power ..

lucernarian

byte wrote: »

Something like this? Don't know who uploaded it, or its source, but I've kept the link for convenience.

http://irishtx.host22.com/Irish_FM_Radio_Rev1.0.0.pdf

Thanks for the help. Sadly that doesn't have the 96.5 MHz frequency that LMFM use in Drogheda for the last 3 or so years and i wanted to find out more about its ERP and antenna type. It mixed up LMFM's main frequencies from Mt. Oriel and Saggart too.

I'm really surprised that Comreg only have a "coming soon" on its site for the commercial operators' info.

The Cush

lucernarian wrote: »

It mixed up LMFM's main frequencies from Mt. Oriel and Saggart too.

This from the index page

UPDATES:
25th August 2014
Added first revision of Irish FM Radio. It has a lot of blanks and errors so any information please drop me an email.

***

Contact:
If you have any additions/corrections/suggestions please drop an email to: irishtx10@outlook.com

Need a bit of help filling in the blanks,

http://irishtx.host22.com/

lucernarian

The Cush wrote: »

This from the index page

Thank you. I haven't viewed their homepage, just the PDF document. Either way I don't know some of the details needed to update the document like ERPs so I'm hoping that an official or authoritative list can be published soon.

watty

lucernarian wrote: »

I'm really surprised that Comreg only have a "coming soon" on its site for the commercial operators' info.

Comreg promised adverts and packages of Internet suppliers would specify MINIMUM speeds and expected PEAK TIME average speeds over SEVEN years ago.
All the suppliers still only quote PEAK speeds, which are meaningless on Mobile.

It will not surprise me at all if they have "coming soon" still next year. These are the people that wrongly claim Mobile is Broadband, have never measured or enforced Mobile Licence compliance, that design all spectrum sales to only maximise revenue and have an official agenda to end all Terrestrial TV.

byte

byte wrote: »

Something like this? Don't know who uploaded it, or its source, but I've kept the link for convenience.

http://irishtx.host22.com/Irish_FM_Radio_Rev1.0.0.pdf

Cheers for that. Seems to explain why my parents near Listowel have their radio signals drowned out by Radio Kerry on some radios. They have LOS to Knockanore with 97.6 Radio Kerry on 4 times higher power than the other services. Probably overloading the tuner.

Antenna

Karsini wrote: »

Cheers for that. Seems to explain why my parents near Listowel have their radio signals drowned out by Radio Kerry on some radios. They have LOS to .

what are the 'some radios' ?

Some cheap radios have dire selectivity on FM, its probably like the selectivity of Crystal sets on MW.
came across another such radio sometime ago playing in the background of a premises -a Morphy Richards FM/MW clock radio (Model No 28044) - strong FM signals would bleed over others a few MHz either side !
And the FM antenna wire hanging out the back is so thin it will easily get cut!

craoltoir

Have a look at this:
http://www.fmscan.org/net.php?pxf=Newstalk%20106-108%20FM&itu=IRL&rg=

I don't know if it is accurate!

watty

Antenna wrote: »

w
Some cheap radios have dire selectivity on FM, its probably like the selectivity of Crystal sets on MW.
came across another such radio sometime ago playing in the background of a premises -a Morphy Richards FM/MW clock radio

Same owner as the once good, now junk Roberts. Glen-Dimplex.

Built down to lowest cost Asian repackaged.

Other once famous names are now Asian junk rebadged by Argos.

You can get excellent Asian (or specifically Chinese) Electronics of good Design and Quality Manufacture. But not at the prices the re-labellers are paying. Hence Quality Electronics is almost history. Philips sold their label separately to TV maker and other Home Electronics Gadget Makers.

Brand or Price or Manufacturing Origin isn't a reliable guide any more.

RED L4 0TH

byte wrote: »

Something like this? Don't know who uploaded it, or its source, but I've kept the link for convenience.

http://irishtx.host22.com/Irish_FM_Radio_Rev1.0.0.pdf

Excellent to have that byte. 2rn/RTENL used to have a list of analogue radio frequencies from their mast network available as a PDF document, but it doesn't seem to be there anymore.

http://www.2rn.ie/broadcast/analogue-radio/

The Cush

RED L4 0TH wrote: »

2rn/RTENL used to have a list of analogue radio frequencies from their mast network available as a PDF document, but it doesn't seem to be there anymore.

It's still available on this page - http://www.2rn.ie/broadcast/saorview-coverage-checker/, not sure if that's by accident or design.

L1011

Antenna wrote: »

what are the 'some radios' ?

From my experience living nearly under an RTENL mast (w/iRadio and I think Today) and a Highland mast in the past; nearly all of them.

Recently enough I had to go out and use the (extremely selective) Sony tuner in the car to *find* 2FM and tune it in specifically on the house radio there as it was finding a mix signal of the various stations every 0.1Mhz!

marno21

Rev 1.0.1 of the frequencies list now up. Added new Spirit relay and corrected LMFM frequencies. Any info very much appreciated as I don't know too much outside Munster area apart from the PSBs etc.

http://irishtx.host22.com/Irish_FM_Radio_Rev1.0.1.pdf

The Cush wrote: »

Thanks for the link, explains why Newstalk isn't the best where I live, 500W vs 2.5kW for the main radio stations from Woodcock Hill and 4FM/95FM's 5kW

Woodcock Hill's 107.0 frequency is reused in NE Co. Cork so in SE Co. Limerick that may cause it to be weaker/more noisy

byte wrote: »

Can Newstalk get away with a bit lower power because it's mono as opposed to stereo? Though that power is a fair bit lower.

Newstalk aren't supposed to be fully national anyway so I presume the lower powers are to stop substantial interference between transmitters.

lucernarian wrote: »

Thanks for the help. Sadly that doesn't have the 96.5 MHz frequency that LMFM use in Drogheda for the last 3 or so years and i wanted to find out more about its ERP and antenna type. It mixed up LMFM's main frequencies from Mt. Oriel and Saggart too.

I'm really surprised that Comreg only have a "coming soon" on its site for the commercial operators' info.

Not a frequent visitor to Louth/Meath so not sure if all that info is correct. Did the Leinster stations late night hence the sin of mixing up 95.5/95.8

Karsini wrote: »

Cheers for that. Seems to explain why my parents near Listowel have their radio signals drowned out by Radio Kerry on some radios. They have LOS to Knockanore with 97.6 Radio Kerry on 4 times higher power than the other services. Probably overloading the tuner.

Shouldn't be too much of an issue all the same. Radio Kerry from Knockanore still is only relatively medium power compared to other TX sites and Listowel should be far enough from Knockanore to not cause overloading

byte

Well, now I know who made it! Kudos!

Fair play to ya, it's a handy resource.

L1011

The north Dublin local station FM relays are in Balbriggan, don't know the licenced power but it should be in the bowels of the BAI site.