DAB Thread

Declan A Walsh

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123311369#Comment_123311369

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123311651#Comment_123311651

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123311898#Comment_123311898

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123311922#Comment_123311922

It's a bit confusing, but there is a separate thread set up for the Fáilte DAB tests and services:

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058403857/failtedab-coverage-tests-and-services

Antenna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123294865#Comment_123294865

Tinytobe, why do you feel sadness about the DAB trial not being in Cork?, saying 'sadly' is an emotive term. I don't believe you actually live there to be a listener if it did exist there, so why is it of such concern to be sad about it?

Having comprehensive DAB coverage there (Cork) would be quite expensive owing to the hilly terrain.

To illustrate the point - within just a 5 mile radius of Cork city centre, terrestrial TV viewers (Saorview) are receiving from a total of 5, yes five, different transmitters to have 100% coverage within the 5 mile radius.

In contrast , in Limerick, a single DAB transmitter suitably sited and sufficient power could have 100% coverage of Limerick city, and continuous car radio coverage over a large surrounding area of Co. Limerick and nearby portions ("commuter belt" areas) of neighbouring counties, owing to favorable terrain.

For this reason, any extension of DAB trial to other areas of the country may well happen in Limerick before Cork, as it would perform better there..

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123344778#Comment_123344778

I don't quite know how to respond to your posting. Some people like DAB+, some don't, and some of those who don't like it often wouldn't admit disliking it.

The DAB+ trial in the Dublin region has a 20kW transmitter, this would lead me to believe that DAB+ coverage in Ireland might lead to more, possibly also Cork. After all, it's a big city and a big market for radio.

The FM choice in Cork isn't too great, it's way less choice than Dublin has hence the sadness. Thus DAB+ would be a stronger benefit. I personally sort of miss Radio Nova or something like that, when in Cork. That's just one example.

However these things are personal preferences, everyone likes different sort of music.

Please note this is a trial, - depending on adoption and usage, it'll be something permanent or not.

Rain from the West

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123344778#Comment_123344778

“To illustrate the point - within just a 5 mile radius of Cork city centre, terrestrial TV viewers (Saorview) are receiving from a total of 5, yes five, different transmitters to have 100% coverage within the 5 mile radius.”

Would DAB need a similar number of masts even though it’s in VHF Band 3 and not UHF?

Lord Nelson

Presumably the cost of rolling out a trial service on a national basis would be cost prohibitive, especially with no guarantee of what comes next?

c2r

My DAB radio did an automatic retune over the weekend (I'm in the north near Ardglass and have DAB/FM distributed around the house from an external aerial alongside TV) and I can pick up the new FailteDAB transmissions on 5B - presumably from Mount Oriel looking at the transmitter map here: https://failtedab.ie/#map-section

fmfan

What's your signal like? Seems patchy to poor in my area in the Eastern area of N,Ireland

Ger Roe

I spent the bank holiday weekend in Edenderry. I drove from Wicklow to there with the DAB+ playing all the way. Nice job with the coverage area. On the way back home to Wicklow yesterday afternoon, I was happy to hear live programming from Rewind Radio Ireland. It was good to hear live presentation from one of the non FM broadcast stations being carried on the service. Being old school (or maybe just … old), I like a bit of interaction and informative inserts during my listening experience - I am not a fan of juke box playout radio.

It was good to have the additional choices on the DAB+ platform too.

c2r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123421720#Comment_123421720

I've an external rooftop omnidirectional DAB folded dipole aerial and it's about 40%, whereas I get 100% on the BBC multiplex. The radio doesn't unfortunately seem to have detailed signal error correction diagnostics to tell in greater detail.

I've had 8 radio on for most of the morning and it's held the signal all day so far. Will see what happens at sunset and then again if pressure drops and the weather gets worst. I'm guessing that I'm just far enough east past the mournes to get line of sight across the sea to Mount Oriel. The coverage map is interesting - I suspect that if you're further west in East Down you might be able to get a signal from some of the further south transmitters but that would likely need a directional aerial I guess.

kenn0

8radio in the car this morning in Kilkenny city.

Genghis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123422724#Comment_123422724

I wondered was it just my car mixing up the genre / icon for 8radio. But I have the Onic Alternative moniker for 8radio as you. It had previously the right logo but genre 'Easy Listening'.

Also, the Onic icons must use transparent backgrounds, they might be better picking a light colour, the logo looks lost in your background, and even more so on mine. Compared to non Onic icons.

Oscarziggy

24 station from Ireland reaching Pembrokeshire tonight .

Old Roberts Duo Logic DAB+ radio with it's own telescopic aerial .

I dare not retune my car radio — it's a Media Nav Evolution unit and I've only just got the DAB section to work so don't want to tempt fate!

c2r

Driving up the M1 last night, I got reception in Dublin all the way from the city to Newry, although had to retune half way for the different transmission frequencies between 3 Rock and Mount Oriel. Presumably this is why Britain is served by hundreds of sites running at low power, to maintain a single frequency as you drive around.