FM DX

WHL

Lot of Spanish stations heard here in West Cork in the last hour at the lower end of the FM band. Some tripped the RDS - Onda Cero on 88.1 from Albacete, Europa FM on 87.7 also from Albacete and also “COPE” on 88.7. Not sure of the last station. Could be COPE Espuna or Cope de La Sierra. Also strong transmissions on 88.4 and 88.9. Faded in the last while

WHL

Duplicate comment

WHL

The North Africans arrived in the early afternoon. Diwan FM on 91.2 and Shems FM on 96.2 from Tunisia while I also picked up Chaine 1 (98.0), Chaine 2 (91.8), R. Biskra (91.2) and R.Coran (105.1) from Algeria. The Tunisian ones were 2435km from me according to FMScan whilst the Algerians were about 2000km

tinytobe

Depending on the radio you're using, yes, the Spanish stations can be picked up every now and then. However, I think certain tropospheric conditions must exist. I've also picked the Spanish FM stations up in various southern parts of England.

I was never able to pick up North African stations on FM, neither in the UK nor in Ireland. However I believe with certain antenna equipment and the right radio it's possible, but only at certain times and good conditions.

WHL

I started with a Sony XDR-S10HDIP on a FM yagi in the shed but I can’t get Internet there and it doesn’t show the PI code so I gave up and moved into the house and used an SDR (RSPplay Duo) with a general scanning discone. I got all of the Africans on that and was able to confirm by using FMScan to verify the PI codes to get the locations.

I usually use the Sony to see how well the UK stations are coming in and sometimes get them from Northern France also but this was the first time that I had received from firstly Spain and then Africa

tinytobe

The Sony XDR-S10HDIP is very popular for DXing on FM. This radio is very rare, and I believe it was only sold on the US American market, maybe also in Canada?

WHL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119172733#Comment_119172733

I had an upcoming trip to the US a few years ago and bought one second-hand on eBay and got it delivered to the hotel. Travelled over with an over-sized suitcase and lots of bubble wrap. Excellent selectivity. It was also interesting to play with HD Radio while I was there

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173139#Comment_119173139

These Sony XDR-S10HDIP are excellent for DXing. There is a review of receivers by some DX buff called Amos Schmidt in Austria, this is how I learned about this radio:

http://dxpg.at/?page_id=12

For whatever reason, Romania has a couple of HD stations, as one of the few places in Europe. Don't know why, as all the other countries have decided on DAB+.

WHL

I didn’t know about Romania! Just checked the records. I got it for $107 in 2017. Fine radio. Mullaghanish very strong here on 90.0 but it will pick up BBC Radio 2 comfortably from Wenvoe on 89.9 when there is a lift. Annoying annoying feature is that it does not have a back-up capacitor so I lose the memories every time I unplug

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119173639#Comment_119173639

I don't know why Romania has decided on HD as their digital standard, while the overwhelming majority in Europe uses DAB+ as a digital standard. I am often speculating it has something to do with the US air force bases in Romania, as all the current HD radio transmitters are near one of these bases.

In Germany "Radio Regenbogen" once dabbled with HD radio, but that was way before DAB+ ever came into consideration.

HD radio isn't a perfect fit for Europe, because the existing FM frequencies are too closely coordinated, in North America the steps in Mhz between transmitters are bigger. E.g. there is no 100.0, but a 99.9 and then a 100.1. So if the Sony XDR-S10HDIP was made for the American market, but can still tune to 100.0, it would come as a surprise to me as well, only implying that the radio is really a good one.....

Depending on where you are, if you're picking up Wenvoe with ease, you've got a good equipment. You possibly have some external antenna or something? I only managed to pick up BBC Radio from Wales when I was in the Wicklow mountains. Dublin is sort of difficult when it comes to BBC radio on FM, but once you're at the airport in Dublin you pick up Divis from NI with ease.

WHL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119176728#Comment_119176728

The location in West Cork is about a mile from the sea and about 200feet above sea level. There is a hill covering the north and west but I keep the Sony in the shed with a yagi on the shed (only about 8 feet off the ground) facing roughly south east. Just check for BBC stations in the summer. I find that if there is a lift North Hessary Tor will be best followed by Wenvoe and Haverfordwest. Rowridge and Wrotham are possible but weaker

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119180415#Comment_119180415

It's most likely a lovely spot for DX reception. It wouldn't surprise me, if you're receiving signals as far as Spain and Northern Africa.

marno21

Strong signals from the UK this evening. Radio 4 at RDS level on 94.1, 94.3, 104.0 and 104.9 (would also be on 92.5 but for RTÉ 92.6)

Also R1/R2/R3/R Wales/R Cymru/R Devon/R Cornwall from the BBC at RDS level. Heart South Wales, Classic FM and Radio Pembrokeshire also at RDS level

tinytobe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119181933#Comment_119181933

Thanks for the update. Where are you based?

Declan A Walsh

I picked up a few today driving around Kerry:

93.4 - unidentified briefly, playing Spanish music

95.0 - Sierra

96.7 - Radio 3 - RDS Info said: Fallo De Sistema (Santiago Bustamante)

This never happened to me on the car radio before!

Antenna

French FM stations on car radio a few miles inland from the south coast last night and this morning due to tropo, consistent but low strength, not good enough for RDS (I'd expect better results right on the coast)

89.0

89.4

104.7

106.6 (Classical)

(I'd expect other frequencies too depending on other stations blocking them etc)

TheBMG

Not quite as impressive but a definite lift out there this morning with Mid West on 96.1 from Mayo banging up beside East Coast on 96.2 (RX in Churchtown, Dublin 14). BBC Cymru also loud on 94.2

marno21

UK stations are like locals around Cork today. Radio 4 clear around the city on 92.5 and 104.9.

It’s a pity that the local stations in Cork are on the same frequencies as the high powered signals from West Wales and Cornwall. They would be nice additions on days like this.

WHL

Heard BBC R2 from Wenvoe on the car radio on 89.9 earlier. Was surprised as R1 from Mullaghanish is on 90.0. Didn’t realise that the car was so selective

TheBMG

Haven’t had the chance to fully check it out but enhanced conditions continue; was driving around Dublin City centre just now with BBC Cymru coming up on RDS plus the whole collection of BBC national networks

Antenna

Conditions were exceptional yesterday afternoon and last night to GB, but had all died down this morning.

I had Heart south Wales on 105.4 from Cardiff area , a rarity with clear mono car radio reception yesterday afternoon whilst parked a few miles west of Cork city.

marno21

As Antenna mentioned, conditions from southern/western Great Britain to the south coast of Ireland were exceptional yesterday, the best I've ever seen. BBC nationals were clearly audible at RDS level the entire way from Cork to Killarney and around Cork city on multiple frequencies (92.5, 94.1, 97.7, 99.3, 104.9). Heart South West on 107.0 was at RDS level in Baile Bhuirne yesterday, an area where reception of the Cork locals is weak.

I took a trip to Cork Harbour last night and pulled in the following, stations with RDS: beside them were at RDS levels. Some of these are very weak and are very, very rarely received this side of the Irish Sea. 

88.1 - BBC Radio 2 - North Hessary Tor (160kW)

88.2 - RTE Radio 1 - Crosshaven (3kW) (RDS: RTE R1)

88.4 - BBC Radio 2 - Carmel (3kW)

88.5 - RTE Radio 1 - Dungarvan (3kW) 

88.7 - BBC Radio 2 - Blaenplwyf (250kW) (RDS: BBC R2)

88.9 - BBC Radio 2 - Llangollen (16kW)

89.0 - RCF 29 - Brest/Croas ar Vossen (3kW) (RDS: RCF 29)

89.3 - BBC Radio 2 - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: BBC R2)

89.4 - France Musique - Brest (160kW) (RDS: MUSIQUE)

89.5 - BBC Radio 2 - Kilvey Hill (926W)

89.6 - RTE Radio 1 - Mt Leinster (100kW)

89.7 - BBC Radio 2 - Redruth (17.6kW) (RDS: BBC R2)

89.8 - BBC Radio 2 - Llanddona (21kW) (RDS: BBC R2)

89.9 - BBC Radio 2 - Wenvoe (250kW) (RDS: BBC R2)

90.0 - RTE Radio 1 - Mullaghanish (160kW)

90.3 - BBC Radio 3 - North Hessary Tor (160kW)

90.4 - RTE 2FM - Crosshaven (3kW) (RDS: RTE 2FM)

90.6 - BBC Radio 3 - Carmel (3kW)

90.7 - RTE 2FM - Dungarvan (3kW)

90.9 - BBC Radio 3 - Blaenplwyf (250kW) (RDS: BBC R3)

91.1 - BBC Radio Wales - Llangollen (16kW)

91.3 - BBC Radio Wales - Llandrindod Wells (2.8kW)

91.5 - BBC Radio 3 - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: BBC R3)

91.7 - BBC Radio 3 - Kilvey Hill (926W)

91.8 - RTE 2FM - Mt Leinster (100kW)

91.9 - BBC Radio 3 - Redruth (17.6kW) (RDS: BBC R3)

92.0 - BBC Radio 3 - Llanddona (21kW) (RDS: BBC R3)

92.1 - BBC Radio 3 - Wenvoe (250kW) (RDS: BBC R3)

92.2 - RTE 2FM - Mullaghanish (160kW)

92.5 - BBC Radio 4 - North Hessary Tor (160kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

92.6 - RTE RnaG - Crosshaven (3kW) (RDS: RTE RnaG)

92.8 - BBC Radio 4 - Carmel (3kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

92.9 - RTE RnaG - Dungarvan (3kW)

93.0 - France Bleu - Brest (160kW) (RDS: BLEUPOIT)

93.1 - BBC Radio Cymru - Blaenplwyf (250kW) (RDS: BBCCymru)

93.2 - BBC Radio 4 - Bodmin (200W)

93.3 - BBC Radio 4 - Llangollen (16kW)

93.5 - France Inter - Rennes/Saint-Pern (100kW)

93.6 - RTE RnaG - Spur Hill (5kW)

93.7 - BBC Radio Cymru - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: BBCCymru)

93.9 - BBC Radio Wales - Kilvey Hill (926W)

94.0 - RTE RnaG - Mt Leinster (100kW)

94.1 - BBC Radio 4 - Redruth (17.6kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

94.2 - BBC Radio Cymru - Llanddona (21kW) (RDS: BBCCymru)

94.3 - BBC Radio 4 - Wenvoe (250kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

94.4 - RTE RnaG - Mullaghanish (160kW) (RDS: RTE RnaG)

94.5 - Spirit Radio - Forth Mountain (500W)

94.6 - BBC Radio 4 - Kilvey Hill (926W)

94.8 - BBC Radio Devon - Huntshaw Cross (1kW) 

94.9 - BBC Radio Bristol - Dundry East (500W)

95.1 - WLR - Dungarvan (5kW) (RDS: WLR)

95.2 - BBC Radio Cornwall - Caradon Hill (5kW) (RDS: BBC Cnwl)

95.3 - BBC Radio Wales - Blaenplwyf (250kW) (RDS: BBCWales)

95.4 - France Inter - Brest/Roc Tredudon (160kW)

95.5 - BBC Radio Somerset - Mendip (5kW) (RDS: BBC Soms)

95.7 - BBC Radio Devon - Plympton (1kW)

95.8 - 96FM - Nowen Hill (5kW)

95.9 - BBC Radio Wales - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: BBCWales)

96.0 - BBC Radio Devon - Okehampton (100W)

96.2 - Heart South West - Huntshaw Cross (2.5kW) (RDS: HEART)

96.3 - Heart South West (Bristol) - Dundry (1.94kW)

96.4 - 96FM - Hollyhill (2kW)

96.6 - Nation Radio Wales - Mynydd Pencarreg (400W) (RDS: Nation)

96.8 - BBC Radio Cymru - Wenvoe (250kW) (RDS: BBCCymru)

97.0 - Radio Kerry - Mullaghanish (20kW) 

97.1 - Radio Carmarthenshire - Carmel (3kW) (RDS: R.Carms)

97.2 - Classic Hits - Youghal (100W) 

97.4 - Classic Hits - Cork Harbour (100W) (RDS: CLASSIC)

97.8 - RTE Lyric FM - Crosshaven (3kW) (RDS: RTElyric)

98.0 - BBC Radio 1 - Carmel (3kW)

98.1 - RTE Lyric FM - Dungarvan (3kW)

98.3 - BBC Radio 1 - Blaenplwyf (250kW) (RDS: Radio 1)

98.5 - BBC Radio 1 - Llangollen (16kW) 

98.9 - BBC Radio 1 - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: Radio 1)

99.1 - BBC Radio 1 - Kilvey Hill (926W) 

99.2 - RTE Lyric FM - Mt Leinster (100kW)

99.3 - BBC Radio 1 - Redruth (17.8kW) (RDS: Radio 1)

99.5 - BBC Radio 1 - Wenvoe (250kW) (RDS: Radio 1)

99.6 - RTE Lyric FM - Mullaghanish (160kW) (RDS: RTElyric)

100.0 - Today FM - Crosshaven (3kW) (RDS: Today FM)

100.3 - Today FM - Dungarvan (3kW) (RDS: Today FM)

100.5 - Classic FM - Preseli (7.3kW)

100.7 - Classic FM - Arfon (18.75kW)

100.9 - Classic FM - Wrotham (250kW)

101.0 - Kiss 101 - Mendip (40kW) (RDS: Kiss 101)

101.1 - Classic FM - Blaenplwyf (10kW)

101.3 - Classic FM - Kilvey Hill (1kW)

101.4 - Today FM - Mt Leinster (100kW)

101.5 - Classic FM - Redruth (10kW) (RDS: Classic)

101.6 - Classic FM - Great Orme Head (1.25kW)

101.7 - Classic FM - Wenvoe (250kW) (RDS: Classic)

101.8 - Today FM - Mullaghanish (160kW) (RDS: Today FM)

102.1 - Breezy - Kilvey Hill (1.25kW) (RDS showed as "Natn 80s" - must be cached by the car radio)

102.2 - Beat 102 103 - Dungarvan (5kW) (RDS: Beat)

102.5 - Radio Pembrokeshire - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: R. Pembs)

102.6 - C103 (North) - Hollyhill (2kW)

102.8 - Pirate FM - Redruth (10.8kW) (RDS: PirateFM)

102.9 - Nation Radio Wales - Carmel (2kW) (RDS: Nation)

103.0 - Heart South West - Stockland Hill (1kW)

103.1 - Beat 102 103 - Forth Mountain (500W)

103.2 - Capital South Wales - Wenallt (2kW) (RDS: Capital)

103.3 - C103 (West) - Nowen Hill (5kW)

103.4 - BBC Radio Devon - North Hessary Tor (15kW) (RDS: BBCDevon)

103.5 - BBC Radio 4 - Varteg Hill (48W) 

103.6 - BBC Radio 4 - Llanddona (21kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

103.7 - BBC Radio 4 - Mynydd Pencarreg (400W) (RDS: BBC R4)

103.8 - BBC Radio 4 - Llandridnod Wells (2.8kW)

103.9 - BBC Radio Wales - Wenvoe (40kW) (RDS: BBCWales) // also BBC Radio Cornwall - Redruth (17.8kW) (RDS: BBC Cnwl)

104.0 - BBC Radio 4 - Blaenplwyf (250kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

104.1 - BBC Radio Berkshire - Hannington (4kW) - confirmed via webstream

104.2 - BBC Radio Cymru - Kilvey Hill (926W)

104.3 - BBC Radio Wiltshire - Nash Hill (715W)

104.4 - BBC Radio 4 - Llandyfriog (58W)

104.5 - RedFM - Nowen Hill (5kW)

104.6 - BBC Radio Cymru - Carmel (3kW)

104.7 - Europe 1 - Brest/various (3kW) (RDS: Europe 1)

104.9 - BBC Radio 4 - Haverfordwest (20kW) (RDS: BBC R4)

105.1 - Heart South West - Caradon Hill (2.5kW) 

105.2 - Heart South Wales - Carmel (3kW) (RDS: Heart)

105.4 - Heart South Wales - St Hilary (5kW) (RDS: Heart)

105.7 - Heart South Wales - Preseli (9.4kW - heavily directional to the east) (RDS: Heart)

105.9 - RFM - Brest - (3kW) (RDS: RFM)

106.0 - Heart South Wales - Kilvey Hill (1kW)

106.1 - Radio Newquay - Newquay Live Theatre (200W)

106.2 - Heart South Wales - Fishguard (500W)

106.3 - Bridge FM - Mynydd Baeden (500W) (RDS: BridgeFM)

106.4 - Newstalk - Corran Mtn (500W)

106.5 - Hits Radio Bristol - Dundry East (1kW)

106.7 - Greatest Hits Radio (SW) - Fort Staddon (625W)

106.8 - Nation Radio Wales - Wenvoe (4.54kW) (RDS: Nation)

107.0 - Heart South West - Redruth (10.69kW) (RDS: Heart)

107.1 - Nation Radio Wales - Preseli (2.5kW) (RDS: Nation)

107.2 - Newstalk - Mt Leinster (10kW) 

107.3 - Nation Radio Wales - Kilvey Hill (1.25kW)

107.4 - Newstalk - Mullaghanish (20kW) (RDS: Newstalk)

107.5 - Radio Pembrokeshire - Fishguard (90W)

107.6 - Newstalk - Dungarvan (5kW)

107.7 - Heart North Wales - Blaenplwyf (12.5kW)

107.8 - Newstalk - Cork (5kW)

WHL

That’s an impressive list marno21. Without giving away your secrets where do you head to roughly in Cork Harbour. Also was that on the car radio or did you have a portable

Antenna

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119219076#Comment_119219076

Around the Fountainstown area (on the coast south of Crosshaven) has been mentioned by marno before as a DX spot to go to. Not only a clear view out to sea for this DX, but crucially to hear much on that list (they'd be an impossibility otherwise) , there is low signal strengths of many nearby signals (transmitters around Cork city) due to the steep hilly terrain you're up against inland.

Some of them are indeed very difficult to hear, including high transmitters which are however directional and have much less ERP than that listed in our direction (such as 95.2, 105.1).

WHL

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119237903#Comment_119237903

Thanks Antenna.

I was wondering if he was perhaps going to the eastern side of the harbour. I might head down maybe to Bunnyconnellan the next time that there is a lift

marno21

Mental tropo in Cork atm. Denmark DR P1 with RDS on 88.7 and Sweden’s Radio 1 with RDS on 87.7, 88.0 and 88.8. RDS PTY showing as “News” but no PS showing, but confirmed as that station via web stream

These are all high powered sites close to each other and Hepburn’s tropo index shows intense conditions over the North Sea.

WHL

Bit of Tropo around this morning. I think that I got RAI1 on 88.9. Sounded Italian (heard the word grazie) and RDS ID was *Radio1. Also heard Radio Maria on 91.0. Not sure of the origin of this one. French station on 89.4 that didn’t break the RDS. U.K. stations also but again no RDS

WHL

Bit of a lift again today. I have Onda Cero from Spain with RDS on 88.1 on the Yagi in West Cork

WHL

Lots of other Spanish stations with RDS up to 96 MHz. Some Catalonian ones

Picked up 3 FM (106.6 Mhz) from the Isle of Man on the car radio in Carlingford this afternoon. Signal was good with RDS info displayed.