Rough triangulation probably. But I believe they have moved into the world of Software Defined Radio. They can monitor the whole band (and more), automatically log transmissions and compare them to licensed frequencies. As soon as a transmitter goes on air, the system should be able to log it within a fraction of a second.
Is the RFMN system similar to the one used by Ofcom? A bunch of fixed points that mean you can triangulate any signal almost instantly? might also be worth reminding people that it’s an offence to possess a rig even if it’s switched off (as seemed to be the case here). Be careful out there pirate folk.
The recent Comreg activity confirms that illegal FM broadcasting is a risky hobby. It doesn’t matter what time or day of the week the broadcasts occur on; any activity has the potential to draw attention.
Comreg can leverage their Radio Frequency Monitoring Network (“RFMN”) system (which is fixed and mobile) to monitor, record and geo-locate sources of transmissions (on all bands). The old mindset of just avoiding weekday broadcasts no longer applies.
Anyone coming on air these days needs to be aware of the above. If it’s worth their while actioning an enforcement, they will.
It is what it is unfortunately.
Am I right in thinking that there was no pirate activity at all in Dublin over the weekend, following the recent raid on Connect FM and the apparent raid on The 90s Network? I reckon the likes of ABC and Retro FM could have been okay for Sunday, as there tends not to be any raids on Sundays, maybe Saturdays too. I think MW/AM pirates or even less targeted these days, such as the likes of Radio Daniella.
Was there any pirate activity outside Dublin, such as the two Co. Meath-based FM pirates Energy and RetroNow, and border county MW pirates? What about that dance pirate from Tralee?
Edit: It will be interesting to see if there is any pirate activity in Dublin in the week following Christmas, as there has been in previous years.
Lucky for them !
PI code recycling Seems for Christmas FM, nothing on 103.8 at all and nothing on 105.9 either so Waterford and the South East seem to be the land that Christmas forgot
Both 105.7 and Newstalk 106.4 from that mountain came back on air maybe around an hour ago...
RedFM on 105.7, from the same site as Newstalk on 106.4 that @Antenna reported on, is off the air also. Presumably the power remains out at the Nagles Mountains high site.
Kerry’s Xmas outlet on 105.0 is on blank carrier, with RDS transmitting. A minor pain for anyone with reception on one of the many other frequencies receivable in Kerry but in a car with no “AF” disable function
Another casualty of Storm Darragh is Christmas FM on 103.8 in Co. Wexford and other nearby places. No sign of it.
The above mentioned Fermoy filler transmitter for Newstalk is in fact still on air transmitting white noise on 107.4 whilst its 106.4 parent remains off air. So it is either totally blotting out , or imparing, possible reception of Newstalk from an alternative transmitter (107.4/107.6) of at least car radio grade (depending on location in that area). They are effectively 'jamming themselves' :)
Newstalk at 106.4 in the north-east of Co. Cork currently off.
I presume due to prolonged powercuts with storms overnight .
This transmitter incidentally in turn feeds a filler in Fermoy town (at 2-rn site) which transmits on 107.4. Hopefully the Fermoy transmitter is configured to automatically power down if the incoming signal (106.4) fails - owing to it being on the same frequency (107.4) as Newstalk from Mullaghnish and otherwise effectively turning into a jammer of what may be the only reception (if weak) of Newstalk in areas around there whilst 106.4 is down (which did happen in the past!).
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yiDU5NMAYKSgxMpr9
The official line from the 90s Network is that they have decided to cease FM transmissions on cost grounds.
I would say so. Maybe return over Christmas period.
Collateral Damage ?
90s Network were on the air at weekends for years,they purposely kept a low profile by operating on low(ish) power.
Expect Retro and ABC to stay off the air this weekend?
That's true. It's unusual for a station to be raided when not transmitting at the time. Apparently there was no notice to the site operator. Am also hearing 90s Network on 98.4 from North Dublin was also hit today. Black Thursday in the City.
They were indeed raided earlier today, maybe a little too good - signal ,audio and output.
Sad to see a station taken off the air so soon after launching.
CONNECT FM may have been raided today Thursday afternoon by Comreg and Garda officials.
99.3 in Dublin currently putting out Energy IDs but no sign of them on their main AM channel. Good clear signal here in Kimmage.
Better than the 'Nova Nova Nova' that was around for years, i think that was on the 104.2.
Christmas FM 105.2 (RDS clock is out) so the van radio jumps to 6.00pm & 104.2 spelling mistake ‘ Bringing You The Magic Of Christmans’ on the scrolling RDS
Does 104.2 or 92.8 get into Monaghan. I'm surprised there is no tx for the Monagahan.
XMAS 106.7 Cork activated this evening
105.2 on since early morning, sounding well. Retro 94.3 on yesterday Sunday and Connect Friday 18.02 to Monday 00.02
104.2 and 92.8 back on, noted at noon 25th. As an aside our friend Simon from 8 Radio, was cut off in him prime on 87.8 RTE Radio 1. He is a bit of a regular these days on RTE mostly on music subjects. He was talking to Claire about earworms. Essential engineering works at Clermont.
87.7 for north Cork/parts south Limerick also transmitting since yesterday, silent carrier with RDS "XMAS" active.
Update: test music on it now since i posted the above.
Nothing down here from Galway yet
92.8 from Cavan came on around midnight. Nothing there or on 104.2 Sunday morning. 105.2 from Dublin has a carrier.
They are playing Christmas music on 104.2, Louth transmitter. First noted at 9 pm 23rd. On the car radio Ri-Ra appears briefly on the RDS, quickly replaced by XMAS. Even though Ri-Ra was not on 104.2 during their recent run.
They will be testing soon.
Unmodulated carrier in Wicklow on 106.6. Xmas FM on the way.
This usually fires up on the day, surprised to see it on so soon.
Interesting, never knew of this TX. A friend in France received iRadio on 101.9 during the summer Es but no TX is known for that. Still a mystery to me too !
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