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RTE FM transmitters running insufficient power

  • 21-04-2018 9:40pm
    #1
    Mickey Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭


    RTE FM low power transmitters could do with an increase in power, for example in some areas Today fm runs at 2kw and RTE from the same site is just 1kw, that is a big difference locally. I phoned them up and the reason is to save electricity, that is just mean, we pay for our TV licence. I hope they power up or else switch the tx off.


Comments

  • #2
    radioguru02
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,224 ✭✭✭radioguru02


    Mickey Mike wrote: »
    RTE FM low power transmitters could do with an increase in power, for example in some areas Today fm runs at 2kw and RTE from the same site is just 1kw, that is a big difference locally. I phoned them up and the reason is to save electricity, that is just mean, we pay for our TV licence. I hope they power up or else switch the tx off.
    It can also occur the other way up, Today FM is on 500 W from Three Rock I believe, RTE is on 12kW or thereabouts.


  • #3
    marno21
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    Which transmitters?

    How is this affecting reception?

    Most RTE transmitters are running at either sufficient power or too high power. RTE try to compensate for not having enough relays by running high power at several transmitters. This is clearly seen by the amount of RTE signals you can receive at many locations in Ireland, and plenty of places where you can receive 5 poor RTE signals none of which are usable and often riddled with multipath.

    Plenty of coastal areas in Ireland which could use their own TX instead of receiving flaky transmissions from elsewhere.


  • #4
    Mickey Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭Mickey Mike


    marno21 wrote: »
    Which transmitters?

    How is this affecting reception?

    Most RTE transmitters are running at either sufficient power or too high power. RTE try to compensate for not having enough relays by running high power at several transmitters. This is clearly seen by the amount of RTE signals you can receive at many locations in Ireland, and plenty of places where you can receive 5 poor RTE signals none of which are usable and often riddled with multipath.

    Plenty of coastal areas in Ireland which could use their own TX instead of receiving flaky transmissions from elsewhere.

    From my side I'm talking about the Cnoc on Oir site (north kerry) the thing is when RTE Radio was activated in 2000 it had a power output of 2kw, today its only 1kw. Its all in the aid of saving electricity, its fine in Mono but a lot of Hiss sound in Stereo. FM is the main platform for radio and should be boasted.


  • #5
    marno21
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 14,523 Mod ✭✭✭✭marno21


    Mickey Mike wrote: »
    From my side I'm talking about the Cnoc on Oir site (north kerry) the thing is when RTE Radio was activated in 2000 it had a power output of 2kw, today its only 1kw. Its all in the aid of saving electricity, its fine in Mono but a lot of Hiss sound in Stereo. FM is the main platform for radio and should be boasted.
    You should not have issues in Listowel with Knockanore FM. I can receive it in North Cork indoors with a clear mono signal and there is signiciant terrain in the way. 1kW is more than enough from Knockanore given the surrounding terrain. There is a certain element of requirement on the listener to have a decent radio rather than money being wasted on firing out excess power, especially at a site like Knockanore which is surrounded on 2 sides by water.


  • #6
    coylemj
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 25,622 ✭✭✭✭coylemj


    I travel around the country with a portable Roberts radio which can do an autotune for 8 presets. I hardly ever see RTE1 or 2FM appear as one of the best signals. On a lot of occasions I have to manually go looking for RTE1 because all of the presets have been assigned to other stations.


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  • #7
    Mickey Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭Mickey Mike


    One day I hope Radio in Ireland will go Digital, you either get an excellent signal or nothing at all.


  • #8
    byte
    Moderators, Regional North West Moderators Posts: 19,158 Mod ✭✭✭✭byte
    byte


    Mickey Mike wrote: »
    One day I hope Radio in Ireland will go Digital, you either get an excellent signal or nothing at all.
    Which would probably mean mostly nothing at all! :pac:


  • #9
    Infoanon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,769 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    Mickey Mike wrote: »
    RTE FM low power transmitters could do with an increase in power, for example in some areas Today fm runs at 2kw and RTE from the same site is just 1kw, that is a big difference locally. I phoned them up and the reason is to save electricity, that is just mean, we pay for our TV licence. I hope they power up or else switch the tx off.

    Running the transmitters at below full power is normally to with the power the tx is operated at is sufficient to cover the target area. FM transmission costs are a lot less then AM and savings are minimal - that's before we get into ERP / is Today running of a lower antenna on the mast etc etc


  • #10
    Mickey Mike
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭Mickey Mike


    AM radio is of course more expensive to run than FM. So with the switch off of LW 252 next June 2019 I hope at that point RTE will boost up the low power TXs, even if its just Radio1 and 2fm. I don't know where Today fm is located on the mast but its coming out loud and clear. FM is an important platform.


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