THE ROCK 99.4

Rock Solid

Was driving around West Dubln tonight and noticed a station on 99.4 THE ROCK, Signal and audio nice, playing soft rock and liners saying there launching today at 6pm, I checked Bai.ie and no mention of it, anybody know more about it?

end of the road

Rock Solid wrote: »

Was driving around West Dubln tonight and noticed a station on 99.4 THE ROCK, Signal and audio nice, playing soft rock and liners saying there launching today at 6pm, I checked Bai.ie and no mention of it, anybody know more about it?

http://radiotoday.ie/2015/08/nova-aims-nationwide-as-rock-returns/

thesandeman

Posted about it in the Galway forum earlier. The music on the tests has been brilliant anyway. Hope the DJ's it whatever are half as good. We'll find out in five minutes.
It's been great for overnight when all there is to listen to on normal radio is repeats of stuff I've already listened to the morning before or 2FM or GBFM tapes.

thesandeman

First song T-Rex Ride A White Swan. I love them already.

Edit: A little fanfare/announcement at the transition from test to live would have been nice. It's still playing jingles that it will go live 27 minutes ago. Hope the first host hasn't slept it out!

Edit again: First dj is E.W Cauldwill? @ 7:07am. He didn't really launch it with a bang though.

Max Headroom

If it anything to do with Nova, and it is...god help us all........:)

kazoo106

Their signal on 99.4 is almost non existent in Dundalk town centre, its actually stronger in North and West Dublin on 99.4. This is probably because they are going through the Newstalk Stack on loughanlae, Baileboro - This is actually bayed towards Dublin and is 90 degrees to Dundalk. This is the reason Newstalk have a local relay for Dundalk. Christmas FM also had this problem in 2014 - (not 2013 as they were using a different site and antenna array closeby)

Fuzzy Clam

Theres an issue with the audio somewhere in the system. Often when a liner is played, the sound is low at first and then suddenly cuts in. It doesnt sound like a processing fault but maybe in the automation. Noticed also that the DJ can sound lost under the music at times, as if they cant fade the music when they talk over.
Dosent sound as good as it could (and did )
Oh, and the processing a bit on the heavy side imo.
The mic audio is naff. I remember the original Choice/ Rock and it sounded a lot better.

shabba man

Yes, this is a quasi national classic rock station headed by Croucho 100. IT is not listed as an RSL, and I'm told it is a trial station to see if a national classic rock station would have a viable listenership. There are lots of stories knocking about as to how permission was given for this station, but I think the the biggest question mark in this matter is firmly over the heads of the BAI. Surely it is an absolute disgrace that the BAI can issue any kind of licence without going thru the very procedures that they have put in place.

As for the station itself, lots and lots of techie issues, and at times another radio station cutting across their audio. Sound like a very average pirate station at the moment

Declan A Walsh

shabba man wrote: »

As for the station itself, lots and lots of techie issues, and at times another radio station cutting across their audio. Sound like a very average pirate station at the moment

I assume you are picking it up in Dublin. I have noticed this spillover too - I think it is BBC Radio 1. While 99.7 seems to be the main frequency in Dublin for BBC Radio 1, I noticed it recently on 99.4 with weak reception, since Heat stopped broadcasting.

However, from my read of the article on Radio Today, Dublin is not the focus of these temporary broadcasts so 99.4 may be the frequency for Co. Louth and is spilling over into Dublin. I think that is the problem really.

SimonMaher

shabba man wrote: »

Yes, this is a quasi national classic rock station headed by Croucho 100. IT is not listed as an RSL, and I'm told it is a trial station to see if a national classic rock station would have a viable listenership. There are lots of stories knocking about as to how permission was given for this station, but I think the the biggest question mark in this matter is firmly over the heads of the BAI. Surely it is an absolute disgrace that the BAI can issue any kind of licence without going thru the very procedures that they have put in place.

As for the station itself, lots and lots of techie issues, and at times another radio station cutting across their audio. Sound like a very average pirate station at the moment

Just a couple of points for clarity here. I have no involvement with The Rock/Nova etc - just like to see us keeping as close to facts as we can!

This broadcast from The Rock is most certainly an RSL as licenced by the BAI. Anybody who wants can apply for an RSL (or Temporary Radio Licence as they are known here) from the BAI. There are no restrictions on what these temporary licences can be used for - they have to show they add diversity, can operate properly and all the usual stuff but testing a format is a perfectly legitimate use of Temporary Radio Licences. In this case it is to examine audience interest in the format (as stated in newspaper articles etc about the licence). These licences are granted by a three stage process within the BAI (I know this having applied for Temporary Licences regularly going back to 2004!). <PLUG> 8Radio.com is back on air on FM in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway from October 17th via this very process! </PLUG>

Simon

Declan A Walsh

SimonMaher wrote: »

Just a couple of points for clarity here. I have no involvement with The Rock/Nova etc - just like to see us keeping as close to facts as we can!

This broadcast from The Rock is most certainly an RSL as licenced by the BAI. Anybody who wants can apply for an RSL (or Temporary Radio Licence as they are known here) from the BAI. There are no restrictions on what these temporary licences can be used for - they have to show they add diversity, can operate properly and all the usual stuff but testing a format is a perfectly legitimate use of Temporary Radio Licences. In this case it is to examine audience interest in the format (as stated in newspaper articles etc about the licence). These licences are granted by a three stage process within the BAI (I know this having applied for Temporary Licences regularly going back to 2004!). <PLUG> 8Radio.com is back on air on FM in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway from October 17th via this very process! </PLUG>

Simon

Actually, it was 2003, Simon! That would have been your first temporary license for Phantom- the same year Phantom ceased as a pirate! 2004 was the year of the second run and also the year it won the competition for the permanent license.

SimonMaher

Fair play Declan, your recall is better than mine. You're right of course, we applied for the first temporary licence for Phantom after pirate Phantom had closed in 2003. It was a real gamble for us at that stage - we had no idea if we were going to be granted the licence in the first place (given our bold past) but in fairness to the BAI, once we proved our credentials they were happy to give us 30 days. The temporary licence process is a lot more complicated now I can tell you!

Simon

Max Headroom

Max Headroom wrote: »

If it anything to do with Nova, and it is...god help us all........:)

Apologies if anyone finds this post above offensive and provocative, it was meant as a joke..hence the smiley..:)

shabba man

Just to keep as close to the facts as possible Simon, I didn't say it was not an RSL, I merely stated that it was not LISTED as an RSL on the BAI website(at the time of posting). This may seem pedantic, I know, but if this is still the case then why is it not listed as such. And if there is a viable audience for this format what will the next step be? Expression of interest?

SimonMaher

shabba man wrote: »

Just to keep as close to the facts as possible Simon, I didn't say it was not an RSL, I merely stated that it was not LISTED as an RSL on the BAI website(at the time of posting). This may seem pedantic, I know, but if this is still the case then why is it not listed as such. And if there is a viable audience for this format what will the next step be? Expression of interest?

Yes, that is pedantic. You went on to say that "Surely it is an absolute disgrace that the BAI can issue any kind of licence without going thru (sic) the very procedures that they have put in place". Now, it would not be pedantic to say that statement is just factually incorrect and you should probably withdraw it.

It is clear from the date on the website list (May 2015) that it hasn't been updated since then. A quick call would confirm the proposed stations and dates.

The next step (presumably) would be for the promoters of the service to request the BAI to begin an Expression of Interest phase in the particular licence. Same as it would be for everyone. Totally up to the BAI as to whether they do that or not.

Simon

Trick of the Tail

Pity it's not on in Waterford!

Declan A Walsh

I heard Jack Hyland on The Rock this evening. It's great to hear him on the radio again, after he was removed from Phantom last year (now TXFM).

Poppin Fresh

There RDS is currently displaying "11 09 01 We are coming back we shall avenge US allahu akbar". Any explanations as to why this is happening?

Trick of the Tail

Really? That's not good! Bai would be unamused I'd say!

StonyIron

Sounds like they've something very very odd going on with their RDS!

That's been reported on a Cork forum too which has nothing to do with radio. I'd say it'll be on the news somewhere before long.

Wise Old Elf

I'm getting dead air for them in Limerick (105.5).
Is their licence up or is it connected to the RDS stuff above I wonder.

More Music

Poppin Fresh wrote: »

There RDS is currently displaying "11 09 01 We are coming back we shall avenge US allahu akbar". Any explanations as to why this is happening?

That is interesting. Would love to hear the reason for that.

Is it still the case?

Antenna

More Music wrote: »

That is interesting. Would love to hear the reason for that.

Is it still the case?

I assume the same as this? :

http://www.radioworld.com/article/pubcasters-rds-hacked/269349


checked The Rock today and no problem with it, it is as normal

Poppin Fresh wrote: »

There RDS

You surely know its 'Their' not 'There'

Poppin Fresh

Back to normal. RDS displaying "The Rock". A few people mentioned it on the stations Facebook page. It was a pirate relaying the station and acting the clown. Apparently they don't broadcast at weekends.

Great station. Great music. Clearly filling a gap in the radio market.

Hope this situation doesn't affect future plans.

Fuzzy Clam

Poppin Fresh wrote: »

Back to normal. RDS displaying "The Rock". A few people mentioned it on the stations Facebook page. It was a pirate relaying the station and acting the clown. Apparently they don't broadcast at weekends.

Great station. Great music. Clearly filling a gap in the radio market.

Hope this situation doesn't affect future plans.

Yes, some great music but also some serious technical issues which persist.

Declan A Walsh

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

Yes, some great music but also some serious technical issues which persist.

As I alluded to in a previous post on this thread and alluded to in the radiotoday article, the license is for Galway, Limerick, Cork, Kilkenny, Waterford and Co. Louth, so it probably is much better in the areas that it was meant for than in Dublin and some surrounding counties.

Antenna

Poppin Fresh
where is it stated that that is what happened? I haven't found such a message on their facebook or elsewhere?

Poppin Fresh

Antenna wrote: »

Poppin Fresh
where is it stated that that is what happened? I haven't found such a message on their facebook or elsewhere?

The posts have since been deleted. There were a few people with videos showing the RDS message alerting The Rock of the issue. The Rock replied that this is not them broadcasting but a pirate relaying the internet stream. They also stated that they are not license to broadcast at weekends.

Do not know why they deleted the posts, but this is what I saw at about 23.00 last night.

radioforlife

I have a video from Saturday night on my FB page. I would highly doubt that a pirate station would have the exact broadcast coverage at weekends that the main station has weekdays! Someone needs to be held accountable for that ISIS message. The transmitter was turned off at 9pm. On a similar note the rock has been broadcasting since launch at weekends in Cork with same coverage processing and audio quality!

thesandeman

Strange. They've been broadcasting at weekends to Galway. Even their test transmissions were on a weekend.

Antenna

radioforlife wrote: »

Someone needs to be held accountable for that ISIS message.

To be fair, no one associated with the station (which unlike some other temporary stations has been a worthwhile extra choice on the airwaves) would knowingly do such a thing. Lets not forget various very large and reputable organisations have suffered various security breaches (if that is what happened). Modern RDS encoders have internet connectivity and as from the link in my last post there have been instances of 'hacking' RDS displays worldwide.

a quote from the previous American report I linked to:

Engineers tell Radio World this situation is similar to last year’s “zombie” attack hack of a few EAS encoders/decoders. Hacking can happen to stations that have their RDS encoders on public IP/Internet connections.

another example:

http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2015/07/27/houston-radio-station-investigating-song-display-hack/30728299/

marno21

https://www.facebook.com/simon.potter.9469/videos/772367476243098/

A video of the RDS mentioned above

radioforlife

although it is unlikely their rds was hacked (it would be the first case of its kind here), Using dynamic RDS is a breech of the licencing laws in Ireland. Also the content of the message was insulting and frightening to say the least. At the end of the day the regulators investigation into this (and I imagine there will be one), will determine if it impacts on a future application by the licence holders.

Fuzzy Clam

Could this be the reason they went off air early on Saturday night?
No audio on 99.4 at around 10. Transmitter was off all Sunday and I think only returned today.

More Music

Can somebody clarify if this RDS issue with The Rock occurred in Cork only or Dublin also, or anywhere else for that matter?

hufpc8w3adnk65

Here's a video of it happening. I have a second one I'll upload later


https://vid.me/XPy8

Groucho100

Hi there

As you'll know, I represent The Rock and, while we had some reports that something very unusual took place on Saturday evening on 106.7 in Cork, it had nothing to do with us. We were not transmitting at the time this took place - although someone else clearly was, and in very unusual circumstances.

I find it extraordinary, and pretty suspicious TBH, that there is such interest in this from a small handful of people, particularly those who seem to have registered here and on other message boards, purely for the purposes of posting about this. There's a lot of inaccurate info being spread around.

The people who I've spoken to about it in Cork have quite definite ideas about which pirate (or 'former pirate') had the equipment at the ready to do this. As to why they'd want to relay us, no doubt it will come out pretty soon.

Cheers

Kevin

Zaph

Groucho100, as you are posting on behalf of a company I have to ask you to refrain from posting any further until you have obtained a verified rep account from the guys in the office. They can be contacted at reps@boards.ie and I have made them aware that they should be hearing from you.

Please note that further posts without having first obtained a verified rep account will result in a siteban.

Antenna

radioforlife wrote: »

although it is unlikely their rds was hacked (it would be the first case of its kind here),

you mean to say the 'first reported case of its kind here' (in this country). Whose to say it never happened somewhere in Ireland before? It could have, but without anyone reporting it on a messageboard or elsewhere? Some temporary stations have hardly any listeners and something like this (or other issues) might go unreported here (or elsewhere) if it wasn't happening for too long. Even if it happened with a major local station but at 4AM in the morning it might not end up being posted by anyone on a messageboard (provided it was noticed and taken off fairly quickly!).

radioforlife wrote: »

Using dynamic RDS is a breech (sic) of the licencing laws in Ireland.

Yes it is there for station identification only. RDS 'Radiotext' is there and allowed for dynamic messages (on radios that can display it) for song title (as some stations do) etc
but this point is largely irrelevant to this thread, this RDS hack incident in the US for example was with a single stationary word:

http://www.khou.com/story/news/local/2015/07/27/houston-radio-station-investigating-song-display-hack/30728299/

StonyIron

It's not at all unlikely their RDS was hacked. Any online device can be hacked, especially something that might be be bought off the shelf and might not have very secure passwords or authentication.

It seems like a very odd message to put up as a practical joke, especially here in Ireland.

I would strongly suspect an international hack of some vulnerable online, remote access RDS encoder, rather than something targeting one specific station here.

Tons of devices are put onto the public internet without adequate security. That's the worrying reality of "machine to machine" internet / the Internet of things.

Too many things with too much, unprecedented and unnecessary connectivity.

hufpc8w3adnk65

Lads what's the best free upload site too share the second video? I'm on iOS mobile aswell?

Antenna

MrMac84 wrote: »

Lads what's the best free upload site too share the second video? I'm on iOS mobile aswell?

what is the point of putting up a second video if its just the same thing again?

Secondly, if the message is to be taken as described by radioforlife (as opposed to something that could hardly be taken as serious and obviously the work of a troublemaker or someone's idea of a joke) maybe redistributing that message is wrong and the videos should be deleted ? Someone outside the context of this thread might come across the video on that video sharing site.

Fuzzy Clam

I knew I chose the wrong week to stop wearing my tin foil hat!

DopeTech

Didn't see it in Dublin when I listened Sunday afternoon.

Fuzzy Clam

FrostyJim wrote: »

Didn't see it in Dublin when I listened Sunday afternoon.

Might be cos they weren't on air

DopeTech

Fuzzy Clam wrote: »

Might be cos they weren't on air

Oh yeah! But it was displaying THE ROCK on the RDS, not the 9/11 crap.

Fuzzy Clam

FrostyJim wrote: »

Oh yeah! But it was displaying THE ROCK on the RDS, not the 9/11 crap.

The transmitter was off air so displaying nothing.

radioforlife

Interesting to read many posts on this tread stating they listened to the rock on FM over the past few weekends in different parts of the country! and how all transmitters went off air last saturday night around the same time!

Hissing Sideban

The thing I would find strange in the 'hacked RDS coder theory' is that they would not only have to hack the RDS coder but also hack the method of controlling the transmitter switching, which most likely would use a different control interface to the RDS coder.
OK, in theory anything can be hacked, but to realistically do this would require actual knowledge of how the system as a whole worked and specifically what command syntax and code is needed to switch on and off the transmitter.
Hacking sounds more glamourous, but my bet is that it was another transmitter. Coverage wpuldbe similar anyway from any high point around Cork, and modulation levels are easliy replicable, adn if th eaudio was taken from the web stream it would most likely have th esame processing so would sound the same

radiogaga123

I don't often find myself baffled by a discussion but this one is pretty special. If I understand it correctly a temp went off air last week when their RDS was interfered with in Cork - end of . What's the issue and why the conspiracy theories . I've read the rocks page and in order to bring some reason to the discussion , here's what it makes clear

- it's a temp station owned by Nova
- it broadcast for a couple of weeks
- it broadcast Mon Fri only
- it had a temp BAI licence (which anyone can apply for)
- it broadcast to defined areas outside Dublin ie Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny and across parts of the North East

Sorry for spoiling some conspiracies but that's what it says on their website

end of the road

radiogaga123 wrote: »

I don't often find myself baffled by a discussion but this one is pretty special. If I understand it correctly a temp went off air last week when their RDS was interfered with in Cork - end of . What's the issue and why the conspiracy theories . I've read the rocks page and in order to bring some reason to the discussion , here's what it makes clear

- it's a temp station owned by Nova
- it broadcast for a couple of weeks
- it broadcast Mon Fri only
- it had a temp BAI licence (which anyone can apply for)
- it broadcast to defined areas outside Dublin ie Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kilkenny and across parts of the North East

Sorry for spoiling some conspiracies but that's what it says on their website

what exactly are you on about. we all ready know about the station and the nature of its temp licence so it means nothing to the discussion. nobody stated any conspiracies. something happened, what and how is whats being discussed. this is a radio discussion forum. things like this will be discussed thats the nature of a radio discussion forum.