BANDSCAN THREAD

I don't think our national broadcaster would be happy with any pirate. And your right the first pirate only lasts like about a week.

Very strange them getting shut off so quick.

For a considerable time, Hot FM got away with being in the middle of the 2fm transmissions on 90.7 and 91.3. So, presumably there were no complaints from RTE (at least not for a while).

I wonder is this a reinvention of Ice Radio, or is this a different operator that has appeared on that frequency?

ComReg have published their "Spectrum Intelligence & Investigations" annual report. It shows that they have been quite active of late. They currently have two criminal prosecution cases pending for illegal FM broadcasts (so, mention no specific details here please!).

They have sent notices to transmission sites, performed search and seize operations and also targeted advertisers on pirate stations over the last year. In the forthcoming year, they will continue to target "illegal use of radio stations broadcasting in AM, MW, FM and DAB".

So, I expect this bandscan thread will be a little quieter! Most posts will likely to be about long range DX-ing, temp stations and the operations of other licenced stations.

In terms of border counties, I only see a mention of FM...

"Over the past year ComReg, following assistance from Ofcom, the U.K. communications regulator, carried out two search and seize cases in Counties Louth and Donegal. In each case an illegal FM broadcast was transmitting over the border into Northern Ireland but had its base station situated in the Republic of Ireland."

However they do mention MW (along with other broadcast bands) here...

"In the coming year ComReg will: continue to monitor and maintain the integrity of the radio spectrum regarding the illegal use of radio stations broadcasting in AM, MW, FM and DAB and take enforcement action as appropriate;"

Very strong signal on 549 khz earlier at 7pm -- I'm sure the ident was "2 FM" playing continuous english tracks.I stand to be corrected on the ident.

West Wales coast .

Yes possibly - everything was in English .

I'll tune in again tomorrow .

I thought it was a fair statement, Club were solid on 1071 for a time, and given the current climate they are on when they can.

Retro on the other hand are in a different county and change frequency every other week.

You don't post much here yourself John 1000 so poor form to be calling the OP out on that

I believe you are referring to Meath-based dance pirate RetroNow, which can be picked up in some of Dublin. Retro FM is a Dublin weekend oldies pirates - entirely different beast!

Looks like they are going through a transition and will rebrand as Vibe FM according to their Facebook page.

I wasn't able to pick up Laser or anything else on 102.5 in recent days.

Unusually for a Monday evening these days, Star1057 was broadcasting automated music on 105.7 FM. I could pick it up around Dublin 16.

I think they are still having issues - on air content could be backup playout

Looks like they may have moved some kind of automation into where ever the source of the FM link is feeding the network from - still mono

I have tried to hear the furthest MW transmitters now that the evenings are dark early and cross checking with www.mwlist.org

I mentioned this recently, since Luxembourg closed on 1440khz the frequency is uniquely clear in Europe. I have been able to clearly hear SBA Radio Riyadh on 1440 in my car most nights. 2000kw. If you listen out for it, it seems very low modulation but comes in clear from dusk.

The other easy to hear 2000kw transmitter in Ireland is on 540khz from Solt, Hungary. Another interesting find recently was a station from South Korea on Medium wave in the early evening from a KiwiSWR tuner in central Europe. Of course I never wrote down the station name.

Winter can make medium wave/long wave interesting.....