Dropped calls on radio talk shows

quodec

Anyone notice this recently? There seems to be an inordinate amount of disrupted or dropped calls while the host is interviewing someone on Irish talk radio. From Clare Byrne in the morning through to Matt Cooper and Kieran Cuddihy in the evening. Is the technology not up to scratch or what? For instance, last week, Matt was speaking to Cal Thomas and Marian McKeone and Cal's connection kept 'dropping out.' Just curious.

NIMAN

I hear it at least 2 or 3 times daily.

I don't think there is any great conspiracy at work though. I think it just goes to show how cr@p a service the communications companies provide.

Danzy

Covid.

Lots of people calling from home connection, some presenters working from home.

Probably using threes network at least here in Mayo. I found the service crap outside of towns and villages. It probably doesn't help that it's the same network that most of the budget networks such as Tesco mobile and 48 use.

Danzy

Danzy wrote: »

Covid.

Lots of people calling from home connection, some presenters working from home.

Yes but why?

Most of us are probably working from home, and have almost never experienced these drop-outs.

They do happen, but they seem unusually common in radio interviews. I cannot remember the last time I've had a drop on the line in a Teams meeting, or similar.

NIMAN

True.
WFH for a year now, and never had a single drop out on any meeting. I can hear everyone crystal clear too.

And I live in a rural area, and my broadband is wireless.

If anyone was to get problems, I think I'd be prime for them.

Losty Dublin

A lot of stations are using audio software such as WhatsApp instead of fixed line telephony to take on air calls. Clearly such products are not up to the job asked.

Ger Roe

Losty Dublin wrote: »

A lot of stations are using audio software such as WhatsApp instead of fixed line telephony to take on air calls. Clearly such products are not up to the job asked.

True, there might be a market for a dedicated audio broadcast platform that the caller would have to download and use. The whatsapp/skype/zoom options are not holding up on air.

The easiest solutions are proving not to be the best.

plodder

Ger Roe wrote: »

True, there might be a market for a dedicated audio broadcast platform that the caller would have to download and use. The whatsapp/skype/zoom options are not holding up on air.

The easiest solutions are proving not to be the best.

Problem is more likely with people's broadband or the mobile they are using. I don't think many people use landlines any more.

Declan A Walsh

Firstly, people often text or WhatsApp a message to the station so would then get called back on that mobile.

Even when people do use landlines (for example if they call the station directly), they often end up giving their mobile number to be called back!

Tork

plodder wrote: »

Problem is more likely with people's broadband or the mobile they are using. I don't think many people use landlines any more.

Surely journalists and politicians who have reason to be on the radio should make it their business to have a landline?

L1011

Ger Roe wrote: »

True, there might be a market for a dedicated audio broadcast platform that the caller would have to download and use. The whatsapp/skype/zoom options are not holding up on air.

The easiest solutions are proving not to be the best.

Well, for PC/Mac/Actual Computers there's Cleanfeed, which is basically bulletproof and free.

For people who need to use a phone, though... bit of a problem there cause the browsers aren't up to it, there are some apps:

https://tieline.com/report-it/

Kaching, though, as well as needing the hardware at the end you also have to pay for the app for each device!

https://www.ringr.com/

Apparently woeful