RTE radio1 LW

itsme2 · 30-03-2023 06:47PM #1

Just heard on the LW transmission that there to stop broadcasting on the LW band from 14 April 23. 😪

31-03-2023 12:32AM

All that "essential maintenance" was money well spent!

boardsuser1000 · 31-03-2023 12:58AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120421833#Comment_120421833

I won't be surprised if that "essential maintenance" was to "encourage" people to stop listening to lw252.

Listening to it on a SDR from Kilmichael Co Cork and it sounds like RTE is interfering with Algeria.

JDxtra · 31-03-2023 08:59AM

Whatever the real reason, it was time for it to go.

RTE have good online and satellite options for those outside of Ireland, I'm sure many of whom have already moved.

We have to be realistic. The band is dead and the service was too expensive to run and maintain for a very limited audience.

marno21 · 31-03-2023 09:11AM

It's a no brainer at this stage. Very little left on LW now, 252 is difficult to listen to in many places with the Algerian interference and the rising energy costs in the last year or so have put the final nail in the coffin.

AM in general is on its last legs in Europe, MW & LW. Not a whole pile left there now and what's left is disappearing fast.

(Here in New South Wales it's a completely different story, in Sydney the main commerical talk station and the 3 ABC (national broadcaster/RTE equivalent) talk stations are all on MW. In Sydney the equivalent of RTE Radio 1 and Newstalk are not available on FM - AM only (although they are available on DAB)).

L1011 · 31-03-2023 09:15AM

Ah, I wonder if we'll get the angry troll accounts reappearing like last time this was announced.

Lots of anoraks who want it to remain just because are going to trot out the line about the elderly in the UK again too; I suspect. Realistically many/most of those from the 2014 survey won't be with us anymore.

31-03-2023 09:16AM

This feels like severe Déjà vu, we have been down this road about 4 times since 2012, it goes like this, RTE announce closure of LW 252, a couple of days later an newspaper does a story about an elderly disabled expat in England who listens to Joe Duffy daily on LW, an obscure backbench TD/Senator or two come out calling the LW closure an attack on the vulnerable and call on the minister to do something. More newspaper stories about sick/elderly/disabled LW listeners. Minister says he has no say in the matter but hopes RTE takes on board concerns of LW users, RTE postpone LW closure pending a report/review

31-03-2023 09:16AM

Double post delete

31-03-2023 09:32AM

Full press release here, basically RTE are this time using climate change as the reason to close LW https://about.rte.ie/2023/03/31/rte-radio-1-to-cease-broadcasting-on-long-wave/

StevenToast · 31-03-2023 09:45AM

Absolute nonsense press release from Dee Forbes.....pushing the climate change angle!!!

What horseshìte.....

And seeing her calling for savings of £200-400k made me laugh with the disgraceful fees she oversees going to Tubridy etc.....

Pìss off Dee, you have no credibility when it comes to saving money or reducing carbon emissions ....

31-03-2023 10:10AM

Zero covid cheerleader Senator Craughwell isn't happy https://mobile.twitter.com/EndaOKane/status/1367592325216563201/mediaviewer

JDxtra · 31-03-2023 10:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120422324#Comment_120422324

In the press release they careful explained the logic used to terminate the service and these reasons seem fair. Electricity is now very expensive - spending an estimated 400k on this alone in 2023 would not be a good use of money. I get it - they waste money elsewhere on salaries, but that doesn't mean they should also fund LW.

tinytobe · 31-03-2023 10:31AM

Just wondering how long BBC Radio 4 on LW will be on air. I suspect it'll be next year at the latest.

At least Radio Teleswitch Service has been extended until end of March 2024.

ford fiesta · 31-03-2023 11:33AM

252 LW is the anoraks dream in Ireland, UK and beyond.

I will very much miss currently hearing Atlantic 252 songs, on Radio 1 Long Wave, especially at night when RTE Gold is relayed.

End of an era since mid 1989

StevenToast · 31-03-2023 12:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120422486#Comment_120422486

I agree.....i am all for getting rid of waste....

But it just really grates to hear it coming from Dee Forbes....

Its like when Charlie Haughey came out to tell the country to "tighten their belts" when he was off buying silk shirts for himself....

31-03-2023 12:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120422530#Comment_120422530

I reckon it might keeping going until 2027 and it and 5Live MW will be switched off together

31-03-2023 12:55PM

There's an elephant in the room that hasn't been mentioned, less than 2 years ago, RTE carried out 10 weeks maintenance work on the transmission mast https://about.rte.ie/2021/06/11/essential-maintenance-of-rte-longwave-transmitter/#:~:text=RT%C3%89%20will%20carry%20out%20essential,RT%C3%89%20Radio%201%20on%20LW.

SPDUB · 31-03-2023 01:15PM

I'd like to know why they spent money on maintenance including this week if they are closing it in April

Or were they really doing anything .?

Wonder how they would respond to a Freedom of Information request

ford fiesta · 31-03-2023 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120423329#Comment_120423329

for selling it on ?

Greatest Hits Radio UK would sound great on 252

31-03-2023 01:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120423329#Comment_120423329

Things are stranger than I thought, it was off for "maintenance" just 3 days ago 🤔https://twitter.com/2rnNMC/status/1640609225826095104?cxt=HHwWgMC-icHZzsQtAAAA

thesandeman · 31-03-2023 01:40PM

Some RTE spokesperson on the radio just said they haven't worked on it since 2011 😕🤔

SPDUB · 31-03-2023 01:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120423457#Comment_120423457

It was also off on I think the day was the 10th of March so 2 days of "maintenance" this month

tinytobe · 31-03-2023 01:49PM

Interestingly the mast won't be dismantled also the transmitter will stay. It's just going to be switched off.

As far as I know nobody else is interested in taking over.

I take it, there are far too few LW radios around to make anything feasible.

Internet is taking over, and DAB in many other countries, giving just too much choice as opposed to one expensive LW transmission and fewer and fewer listeners.

itsme2 · 31-03-2023 01:59PM

Yes doesn't seem to add up, carrying out maintenance and then stopping service. I think there was a press releases in 2021 when it went off in summer a mention to keep it going for up to 15 years. Will still be costs when off air, can't just leave it there a do nothing, anything open to the elements will still have to be maintained and kept safe, along with insurance costs etc. Maybe rte are hoping for same uproar as last time to get money out of goverment.

31-03-2023 02:08PM

When RTE out right lie about this kind of topic, the problem is that journalists don't have the knowledge to challenge them, RTE seem to be saying that an new transmitter is needed, the one they have was only installed in 2007 and has a lifespan of at least 30years. The BBC 198 one is 22 years older and still going

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2023 02:15PM

RTE wanted to close it down for the last 10 years or so. It was the politicians, responding to the protests that forced them to keep it going. It looks as if the politics is going to allow it now. The politics won't allow for any increase in the licence fee though. Last time that happened was in 2008.

tinytobe · 31-03-2023 02:49PM

As much as I like LW radio, I see no real reason to keep LW radio alive.

LW radios are getting fewer and fewer, except for DXers and enthusiasts.

The intended audience can also no longer be reached, not even the Irish diaspora in the UK tunes into LW.

The overall cost is too high.

The fact that there has been regular and irregular downtime contributed to the idea that the 252 is unreliable.

They should have turned it off years ago.

Also over in the UK, any kind of radio teleswitch service in the UK doesn't justify the transmission cost for BBC Radio 4 on LW as the two things are something different. One is just using the other for the sake of convenience.

31-03-2023 03:02PM

Well the first politician has already come out against theclosure https://twitter.com/CharlieFlanagan/status/1641798523032154117?cxt=HHwWisC94dvD68gtAAAA

tinytobe · 31-03-2023 05:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120423992#Comment_120423992

Maybe they ( politicians ) should foot the bill personally and not taxpayer or license fee payer money.

Hodges · 31-03-2023 05:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120423246#Comment_120423246

That work was to replace damaged insulation links on the stay cables that keep the mast up. Were it not done the mask was a collapse risk.

Glaceon · 31-03-2023 06:15PM

There was work done a while back supposedly to replace the mast’s baseplate. I wonder if it was actually done, or whether that was just a scream test?

RTE radio1 LW

Comments