The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

30-03-2017 07:36PM

They'd be better off selling the transmitters or leasing them. At least to keep them in use.

30-03-2017 07:38PM

Dab sales will naturally increase when the radios are sold with dab thts not to say people want dab. And most of these radios exclude AM and LW and that's not to say people don't want it ......

Oscarziggy · 30-03-2017 10:13PM

galtee boy wrote: »

The 50m sales mark for DAB radios was passed in the UK recently, so the Brits seem to like it. Haven't the UK Govt given some sort of indication that if DAB listenership passes xx %, they will give serious consideration to FM switch off ? Of course in the UK, the migration of all the local radio stations and Five Live from MW to DAB was a huge boost for DAB listening. Whatever about DAB v FM, DAB is a winner over MW.

I can't get Manx Radio on DAB ---- I can on MW and enjoy the Radio Caroline North link ups.

burnsey1987 · 30-03-2017 10:24PM

galtee boy wrote: »

The 50m sales mark for DAB radios was passed in the UK recently, so the Brits seem to like it. Haven't the UK Govt given some sort of indication that if DAB listenership passes xx %, they will give serious consideration to FM switch off ? Of course in the UK, the migration of all the local radio stations and Five Live from MW to DAB was a huge boost for DAB listening. Whatever about DAB v FM, DAB is a winner over MW.

Depends on where you are. Try covering all of a place like Wales (for example) with DAB. You would need hundreds of infill relays because of the terrain. MW is still the only workable and proven means in situations like that, at least for now

Sam Russell · 30-03-2017 11:00PM

Just because they sell radios with a DAB function does not mean that most users only use FM. I would be surprised in more than 10% of DAB radios are ever used for DAB.

The Parish Priest. · 01-04-2017 11:36PM

https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2017-03-21a.3027

03-04-2017 09:52PM

Quote

"and if there will be measurement of its emissions. "
end quote.

FFS unreal, Had to laugh at that one. Peadar Tóibín probably drives a Diesel car and goes home and lights a solid fuel fire, those are real serious emissions I'd be far more concerned about ! muppet !

Mickey Mike · 03-04-2017 11:50PM

Radio 1 Long Wave 252 will be off air tomorrow 4/4/17 for essential maintenance, how many times have this transmitter been off? Will we have a new sound where it will be much better or will we not know the difference, or will they make it worse again.

04-04-2017 12:11AM

Probably going to turn the power down to 10 Kw and see if anyone screams.

dxhound2005 · 04-04-2017 07:38PM

Deleted User wrote: »

Probably going to turn the power down to 10 Kw and see if anyone screams.

That didn't happen. When the signal returned it was still 40 dB over 9 with me. When it was off Algeria was booming in when I checked around 2 pm.

The Parish Priest. · 04-04-2017 08:04PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

That didn't happen. When the signal returned it was still 40 dB over 9 with me. When it was off Algeria was booming in when I checked around 2 pm.

What power would you estimate RTE 252 is running these days ?

dxhound2005 · 04-04-2017 08:12PM

These guys say 150/60 which I assume is day/night.

http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=252

The Parish Priest. · 04-04-2017 08:19PM

dxhound2005 wrote: »

These guys say 150/60 which I assume is day/night.

http://www.mwlist.org/mwlist_quick_and_easy.php?area=1&kHz=252

They certainly were the power levels in recent years but some people say on forums that the daytime power sounds lower than 150kw now.

dxhound2005 · 04-04-2017 08:37PM

Have you noticed that yourself?

Oscarziggy · 05-04-2017 08:27PM

I was amazed how strong the Algerian signal was with RTE off.
I wonder how many people complained that there was no signal on 252 or were there warning announcements about the transmitter being off-- I don't listen all day ?
Regards

burnsey1987 · 05-04-2017 08:49PM

Oscarziggy wrote: »

I was amazed how strong the Algerian signal was with RTE off.
I wonder how many people complained that there was no signal on 252 or were there warning announcements about the transmitter being off-- I don't listen all day ?
Regards

Last weekend I one evening here in Limerick Algeria was booming on my old Roberts when I turned the radio 90 degrees to null out RTE whose signal was nowhere near as strong despite being significantly closer. I can't imagine the reception being much good in parts of the UK like London or Manchester

marno21 · 05-04-2017 09:51PM

burnsey1987 wrote: »

Last weekend I one evening here in Limerick Algeria was booming on my old Roberts when I turned the radio 90 degrees to null out RTE whose signal was nowhere near as strong despite being significantly closer. I can't imagine the reception being much good in parts of the UK like London or Manchester

Reception of 252 in London during the Atlantic 252 days was poor, it must be overwhelmed by Algeria these days.

burnsey1987 · 05-04-2017 09:58PM

marno21 wrote: »

Reception of 252 in London during the Atlantic 252 days was poor, it must be overwhelmed by Algeria these days.

That has been mentioned alright. Besides, in built-up, high-density areas nowadays the electromagnetic noise, coupled with the drop in power has only made it worse. A couple of years back I was staying in my sister's apartment in Ealing, I couldn't pick up BBC4 on LW, never mind RTE. An older radio might have done a slightly better job but not that much I don't think. Adding to that, nulling out the noise is next to impossible when it's coming from every which direction.

CrowdedHouse · 05-04-2017 09:59PM

How was RTE and Algeria allowed to operate on the same frequency in the first place?

Surely there was a spare freq. or at least something further apart

burnsey1987 · 05-04-2017 10:04PM

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

How was RTE and Algeria allowed to operate on the same frequency in the first place?

Surely there was a spare freq. or at least something further apart

Doubt that there were any spares available at the time. There would have been over 80 stations broadcasting on LW when those frequencies were allocated (down to about 20 now, if even that, and in free-fall). I have seen a couple of radios from the 70s whose LW band went up to just below 500 kHz

05-04-2017 10:23PM

People need to realise that as with most tv reception, radio antennas need to be mounted out doors up high, the transformation is amazing.

Or for AM/LW a loop antenna beside the radio completely transforms it ans is cheap.

A more expensive route but mainly for radio's with an external antenna input, a magnetic loop antenna gives fantastic results and gives good rejection of radio interference. Fo AM/Lw the radio needs to use the external antenna for this to improve these bands.

But definitely the best start is a loop antenna and they're cheap but need to make sure it covers Am and LW.

I have just 20 feet of simple wire for my portable radio for SW and I attach one end to a tree, run the cable in the window and the difference is just amazing.

For anyone interested in a good but very cheap radio to discover shortwave, get a external aerial such as this below and attach one end to a tree and the other end plugs into the radio.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tecsun-External-Antenna-Improve-Performance/dp/B01BRG3CPA/ref=pd_bxgy_23_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EQ59MBC2B035760GETE9

https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/ab6/Radar-TECSUN-R-9012-AM-Bands-Shortwave-Radio-Receiver/B001HX4D84/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491427197&sr=1-3&keywords=tecsun+shortwave

Or if you want a more expensive radio with digital tuner.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Radar-TECSUN-Digital-Portable-Receiver/dp/B00F5P3R28/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1491427445&sr=1-1&keywords=tecsun+380

05-04-2017 10:25PM

I don't think that Algeria was as much of an issue in the past due to two things.

Clarkstown was run at significantly higher power in the Atlantic 252 days. Also, the transmitter in Algeria was quite old and unreliable. Replacing it with a solid-state rig has significantly improved it.

Sam Russell · 07-04-2017 01:21PM

It would make a lot of sense to move the transmitter to MW as they have the frequency allocation and the selectivity of most receivers is better in MW plus all AM radios do MW but not many do LW.

The location of the transmitter is also important as I presume the wanted coverage is the UK, but England and London in particular.

Mickey Mike · 08-04-2017 02:51PM

Sam Russell wrote: »

It would make a lot of sense to move the transmitter to MW as they have the frequency allocation and the selectivity of most receivers is better in MW plus all AM radios do MW but not many do LW.

The location of the transmitter is also important as I presume the wanted coverage is the UK, but England and London in particular.

Could that mean setting up a MW transmitter on the south east coast of Ireland? They could transferr the Tullamore mast to that point or maybe use a disused MW transmitter some where in England. They are good ideas but RTE want to end this type of transmission, so it is over for all AM transmissions. RTE bosses said Internet Radio is the way of the future and there will be no need for broadcast Radio on trestrail system. (excuse my spelling)

08-04-2017 05:18PM

Internet radios are fine but most them don't work on batteries or if they do they don't last long.

Also, most internet radios have confusing and hard to use controls and most newer ones can use an app on the mobile but the beauty of radio is simplicity , long battery life and dependence from the internet and a mobile to work the radio is fine but again, being able to go to the radio press a button and turn a knob is a lot less frustrating.

RTÉ must be run by teenagers these days who only use Spotify and don't listen to radio or are incapable of following an intellectual conversations not all of course but a significant amount of that age group and older.

The Parish Priest. · 08-04-2017 07:38PM

None of you have given much opinion on the proposed new RTE DAB+ service for parts of Britain

Mickey Mike · 08-04-2017 09:44PM

The Parish Priest. wrote: »

None of you have given much opinion on the proposed new RTE DAB+ service for parts of Britain

Yes I have in previous post and its a great idea, I fully support it. When 252 is only running at 150kw and 60kw at night, sur that's a joke, how can anyone listen to it. As for us here in Ireland it would be great to keep our FM service going, that is a must but like I said new bosses could change all this in the future, I don't trust any of them. FM is our primary platform, don't really care about AM, But I'd rather DABplus any day over Internet.

Sam Russell · 08-04-2017 11:12PM

FM works very well with low cost battery radios costing next to nothing. Those same radios work well with AM, with MW or LW bands. Unfortunately, LW is rare in newer sets. It also works well with car radios, where radio listening is king.

Compare that with DAB (assuming you live in Dublin or Limerick or Cork) then you get coverage, but you might have patchy reception, and need new batteries every other day. Then you have the delay - if you have an FM reception in one room and DAB in an other, there is a 1 or 2 second delay giving an echo.

Then try internet - it takes my Roberts about 1 minute to connect to my WiFi, and then a good minute to connect to a radio channel. Of course I have not got the patience to set up favourites, so I just do not use it.

Radio is a poor relation that is not important to any broadcaster. They prefer TV. In modern parlance, radio is not sexy, so why bother with it. Well, it works in cars - that is why to bother with it.

marno21 · 08-04-2017 11:15PM

252 LW is an unintelligible mess of Clarkstown and Algeria in North Cork tonight.

RTE TX is 220km away and the Algerian TX is 1970km away.

The Parish Priest. · 08-04-2017 11:51PM

The night time power reduction from 100kw to 60kw has made a big difference

The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

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