RTE RADIO 1 LW confirmed!

icdg · 02-09-2003 02:23PM #1

RTE have confirmed that RTE RADIO 1 will be given a Long Wave frequency (252 LW from Trim, no surprise there!) - planned to launch on October 1st.

The programmes will be the same as RTE RADIO 1 MW from Tullamore.

I can just hear their announcements now "Radio Telefis Eireann, this is RTE Radio One on 88-90FM, 567khz Medium Wave, 252Khz Long Wave, and on the Astra Satellite from Ireland". Getting way too long.

http://www.rte.ie/radio/worldwide.html

watty · 02-09-2003 03:45PM

Will this be *EXACTLY* the MW o/p or same as WRN RTE1 feed which has bits of sport and RnaG stitched in as RTE Europe?

Should be gettable in bits of France and Spain, esp after dark. I can get French LW in Car radio in Limerick as well as of course R4.

Be good many bits of UK in Car. (Sky or FTA Satellite better in house).

Finally almost an Irish based External Service after 81 years of broadcasting!

icdg · 04-09-2003 11:47AM

Well, the website seems to imply that it will be the same as Medium Wave.

Then again, the same website also implies that "RTE Europe" is identical to Tullamore, which its not - the RnaG programming is there too.

Back in the day, 2FM was broadcast overnight on that service too, but now since RTE Radio 1 is 24 hour I don't think that happens.

ActingThe Magot · 19-09-2003 02:06PM

:mad: The latest from Montrose is that the new Long Wave Broadcast of RTE Radio 1 will launch in January 2004!

As an exile from Dublin, now living in The Hague, The Netherlands, I had been enjoying listening to Radio 1 for the last few weeks, but there it was-gone! as of yesterday evening (September 18th).
I have read (On the RTE website) the reassuring news (!) that the service will also be "tested' for the GAA football final on Sunday 28th.

I have e-mailed RTE to ask for an explanation, but of course I've got no reply.

So please RTE, stop acting the magot and continue broadcasting using the LW transmitter....

spockety · 19-09-2003 04:07PM

What e-mail address did you send your query to?

ActingThe Magot · 22-09-2003 07:31AM

I went to the bother of sending my reply to 3 e-mail addresses:
radio1@rte.ie
glory@rte.ie (This was complying with the request made on the Saturday morning edition of Morning Glory)
and longwave@rte.ie.

A reply by e-mail from RTE to explain the postponing of the service to 2004 would be welcome, but so far I have received no feedback.

The irony here is the fact that RTE have requested people to e-mail them about the signal strength!

spockety · 22-09-2003 10:52AM

I'll see what I can find out for you.

The Insider.

spockety · 22-09-2003 11:34AM

Ok one of the senior engineers has told me that there's a fair bit more testing they need to do before putting it live full time.

No idea why you didn't get an e-mail reply, that's another matter entirely. I know the people on the end of the addresses and a prompt reply is normally forthcoming. Sorry it hasn't been your experience mate.

ActingThe Magot · 22-09-2003 12:24PM

Here’s the reply-
The tone of which is in contrast to the statement on the RTE website...

Exciting news from RTÉ Radio
New service on Long Wave 252
RTÉ are planning to launch RTÉ Radio 1 services on LW 252. At present test transmissions are being carried out with a proposed launch date of 1 January 2004. This channel will carry the same programming as the RTÉ Radio 1 medium wave service.

whereas the e-mail I received is a lot more non-committal....

At the moment RTÉ is studying the possibility of
transmitting Radio 1 on Long Wave 252 and tests are
being carried out. Listeners tuning in may hear music
or chat intermittantly on this frequency.

The decision whether to proceed awaits a review by RTÉ
of the overall distribution of our radio services on
terrestrial and digital platforms and of the costs
involved in a long wave service. That review is ongoing
and is expected to conclude toward the end of this year.

Overseas, RTÉ radio broadcasts its four services on
Satellite to the UK and Ireland. Radio 1 is also
available throughout Europe on satellite and segments
of Radio 1 output are on Satellite and Short wave
throughout the world.

We are particularly interested in public feedback and
would encourage those hearing the service to contact us
on a dedicated email address - 'longwave@rte.ie'.

Best wishes
Radio 1

My interpretation of the e-mail is that RTE are luke-warm on proceeding with this LW Service, considering the fact that they previously indicated an October 1 launch date, are now talking (on their webpage) about a Jan. 2004 launch date, and in this e-mail are planning "to conclude a review" ..."toward the end of the year"

So, unfortunately "an Irish based External Service after 81 years of broadcasting!" seems some way off, and is less definite than the posting on the RTE website seem to indicate.

sunbeam · 22-09-2003 12:33PM

How far does the medium wave signal travel after dark? Would have thought it might be audible in parts of Europe-then again maybe not...

watty · 22-09-2003 12:43PM

Yes R1 MW is available in Europe after dark, but Satellite is better.

Depends on area etc.

As a guide, try tuning in French, German, Dutch, Spanish stations on your own radio after dark.

Radio conditions seem poor on MW/SW at present. I'm getting two LW french stations during daytime in Limerick, though.

SW is abysmal at present, but all the "Broadcast" stuff I used to listen to is mostly on Satellite (Astra / Hotbird rather than Sky).

VHF is still having periodic "lifts" though. Receiving VHF up to 1000km away is possible, rather than the "normal" limit of about 80km

ActingThe Magot · 30-09-2003 02:07PM

This is the latest now on the RTÉ website:

Exciting news from RTÉ Radio
New service on Long Wave 252
RTÉ are planning to launch RTÉ Radio 1 services on LW 252. At present test transmissions are being carried out with a planned launch date of 1st Oct. 2003. This channel will carry the same programming as the RTÉ Radio 1 medium wave service.

HOWEVER, I draw your attention to previous posts and the e-mail I received recently indicating a (possible) January 2004 launch date

Here's hoping that the date has now been moved back to October.

Mossy Monk · 30-09-2003 02:47PM

we'll find out tomorrow. if they don't launch the LW service what are the possibilities of them selling the frequency to someone who would use it

ActingThe Magot · 30-09-2003 02:53PM

On closer inspection of the RTÉ Radio website I discovered the following inconsistencies

In the Tuning information section the following is stated:

Exciting news from RTÉ Radio
New service on Long Wave 252
RTÉ are planning to launch RTÉ Radio 1 services on LW 252. At present test transmissions are being carried out with a planned launch date of 1st Oct. 2003. This channel will carry the same programming as the RTÉ Radio 1 medium wave service.

whereas in the RTÉ Radio Worldwide section the following is stated

Exciting news from RTÉ Radio
New service on Long Wave 252
RTÉ are planning to launch RTÉ Radio 1 services on LW 252. At present test transmissions are being carried out with a planned launch date of 1st January, 2004. This channel will carry the same programming as the RTÉ Radio 1 medium wave service.

01-10-2003 08:21AM

I've listened to 567 at night in the french alps surrounded by mountains!
It doesn't make it's way across to Italy though

Reception by day is ok in North west France and perfect by night.

Even 2fm on medium wave from Cork is receivable by night in Brittany but Athlone is not.

mm

Mossy Monk · 01-10-2003 04:07PM

where does the 1278 2FM come from
likewise for 612 (i think thats it)

DMC · 01-10-2003 04:21PM

1278 is Dublin
612 is Athlone.

FIRE · 02-10-2003 01:05AM

I was retuneing my amp the other day and heard rte on 252 that was last saturday.

Has it offically launched today 1-10-03

Mossy Monk · 02-10-2003 03:12AM

Originally posted by DMC
1278 is Dublin
612 is Athlone.

so what is Cork. didnt know 2FM had 3 MW frequencies

rlogue · 02-10-2003 10:36PM

All I've heard is silence on 252 since Sunday.

I got pretty good reception at home here in NW London during the tests, but poor car reception. I guess that's really down to my car radio being crap.

Capt'n Midnight · 02-10-2003 10:53PM

Wern't 2RN on LW ???

ActingThe Magot · 16-10-2003 12:16PM

RTÉ Radio 1 on LW 252 Due date is January 2004...

According to the RTÉ website

(Tuning Information)

Exciting news from RTÉ Radio
New service on Long Wave 252
RTÉ are planning to launch RTÉ Radio 1 services on LW 252. At present test transmissions are being carried out with a planned launch date of 1st January 2004. This channel will carry the same programming as the RTÉ Radio 1 medium wave service.

Spockety tells me that this is not a conspiracy,(October 1 was the previously promised date) and hopefully when the service is launched properly, there be a clear signal here in The Netherlands, I am sure there are a number of Irish expats in the UK and here in mainland Europe who will be keen to listen into the new service.

watty · 16-10-2003 01:14PM

Originally posted by rlogue
All I've heard is silence on 252 since Sunday.

I got pretty good reception at home here in NW London during the tests, but poor car reception. I guess that's really down to my car radio being crap.

Fit a full size fibreglass body CB aerial for the car radio.

Most modern car aerials are more optimised for VHF.

Cloud · 02-11-2003 01:39PM

I would have thought the RTE Europe feed would be more suitable for LW... But maybe there isn't that much difference.

rlogue · 05-11-2003 05:51PM

Well, I wonder if it will go ahead in January or not...

I got an email from RTE in response to a query and this is what it says:

Richard, I'm not sure if X X replied to you but he has just told me that we don't know if 252 kHz LW is going ahead in January. No final decision has been made. I'm sorry I can't be more positive at this time.

I really hope they do decide to go ahead, but this can't be exactly a ringing endorsement from RTE can it?

ActingThe Magot · 06-11-2003 03:29PM

I’m getting serious withdrawal symptoms waiting for the return of RTÉ Radio 1 to 252m LW. And now it sounds more doubtful (See Richard Logues post) that Rté will proceed with this in January, if at all.

So Spockety…put us expats out of our misery!

What’s the inside track, have they pulled the plug, are more tests likely before the end of the year?

Or should we give up dialing in 252 LW, hoping to hear RTÉ Radio 1 forever!

rlogue · 17-11-2003 11:00AM

Given the deafening silence on this matter, I fear RTÉ have indeed pulled the plug on this...

ActingThe Magot · 17-11-2003 11:47AM

I e-mailed Montrose today, and got an "instant" reply (within 20 minutes!)

Dear

Yes, the launch date of January 2004 is still on
schedule.

Best wishes
Radio 1

My E-mail to

'radio1@rte.ie'

'longwave@rte.ie'; 'glory@rte.ie'
was

>
> Dear all,
> Is the information on the website still accurate
> re: a January 1, 2004 launch date for this
> service?
> If this is the case, will there be further test
> transmissions in 2003?
>
> I would appreciate any update you can give on
> this matter.
[

ActingThe Magot · 19-11-2003 07:36AM

Here is the latest news of the delay in the launch of the LW service

From: radio1@rte.ie
Sent: Monday, November 17, 2003 18:11
To: ******
Subject: RE: FW: Long wave signal disappeared!!!

Dear ******

An update - It now appears that due to unforseen
circumstances the January 2004 launch of our longwave
service has been postponed, but it is anticipated that
the launch will take place sometime in the new year.

We will be making an announcement as soon as a definite
date has been decided upon.

Best wishes
Radio 1

Perhaps the title of this thread should be changed?

stuartfanning · 19-11-2003 09:34AM

Originally posted by ActingThe Magot
I’m getting serious withdrawal symptoms waiting for the return of RTÉ Radio 1 to 252m LW. And now it sounds more doubtful (See Richard Logues post) that Rté will proceed with this in January, if at all.

So Spockety…put us expats out of our misery!

What’s the inside track, have they pulled the plug, are more tests likely before the end of the year?

Or should we give up dialing in 252 LW, hoping to hear RTÉ Radio 1 forever!

I suggest you get Sky Digital where you can hear all the RTE Radio Stations, plus BBC Radio Ulster, BBC1 NI, BBC2 NI & UTV.

rlogue · 19-11-2003 11:22AM

If anyone can advise me how I can mount a Sky Digital system in the car so I can listen to Radio 1 on the move I'd be grateful.

RTE RADIO 1 LW confirmed!

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