UPC - Radio reception quality and continuation of the radio service.

Dinarius · 21-12-2009 11:19AM #1

Two issues.........

I live in south Dublin and have FM/TV points all over the house. My main diet is BBC Radio 3/4/World Service via coax cables plugged into these points and the wire at the other end connected to the radio's aerial - or in the case of the one radio that has a coax socket, into that.

1. Over the last few months, BBC Radio 4 reception has been in serious decline. It is now very poor. I'm listening to it on both analogue radios and one with digital tuning - 96.3.5 on that one. How are other Radio 4 listeners finding the reception.

2. On a more serious note.........my area, along with others, is being upgraded for digital services. It will permit UPC to offer phone/tv/broadband via the one cable. This isn't complete yet on our road. I've been told that in areas where it has been completed, the analogue radio reception has been discontinued and that if you want radio it will only be via the digital box. In my case, this sits under the TV and that room is the last place I would listen to radio. The thought of not having radio in the bedroom or in the home office, unless I go out a buy a few wi-fi radios, terrifies me. Is anyone else aware of this?

Any comments?

Thanks.

D.

mike65 · 21-12-2009 11:41AM

I used to have NTL and the FM radio was one of the best reasons to pay up the outrageous sub. I've learned to live without FM quality BBC.

Infoanon · 21-12-2009 11:44AM

Dinarius wrote: »

I've been told that in areas where it has been completed, the analogue radio reception has been discontinued and that if you want radio it will only be via the digital box.

This is not correct - in areas that have been upgraded there is less leakage from the cable - the analogue services are still carried (for the moment..) but you need to plug your radio into the FM port on your UPC connection

Dinarius · 21-12-2009 11:54AM

Infoanon wrote: »

This is not correct - in areas that have been upgraded there is less leakage from the cable - the analogue services are still carried (for the moment..) but you need to plug your radio into the FM port on your UPC connection

But, that's what I'm doing.

Five years ago, I had the house rewired and had TV/FM sockets put in every room. UPC's cable enters the house at the garage and is then split to each of these points in turn. The digital box uses one of them. Radios in three different rooms use the others.

Up to a few months back, Radio 4 reception was excellent. It has now declined uniformly in each room.

D.

ps. Mike65, so what do you listen to BBC radio on now?

mike65 · 21-12-2009 11:56AM

Old school Long Wave 198, MW 909 (okay in winter) or the interweb iplayer thingy.

Freddie59 · 21-12-2009 04:29PM

mike65 wrote: »

Old school Long Wave 198, MW 909 (okay in winter) or the interweb iplayer thingy.

Ah what the heck. Let's bring back vinyl and B&W 405 Line TV while we're at it.:rolleyes::D

MHP · 21-12-2009 05:10PM

Dinarius wrote: »

Over the last few months, BBC Radio 4 reception has been in serious decline. It is now very poor. I'm listening to it on both analogue radios and one with digital tuning - 96.3.5 on that one. How are other Radio 4 listeners finding the reception.
D.

Here in D6W radio reception is as good as ever - I listen to BBC4 and BBC5 a lot. I have TV/BB/Phone and there has been no degradation. I would be very displeased if there was.

Ranicand · 21-12-2009 05:14PM

My guess is when the FM stuff at the head ends break down they are not being replaced.

There are loads of Digital Radio channels on the cable you just plug your box into your sound system.

Dinarius · 21-12-2009 05:20PM

Ranicand wrote: »

My guess is when the FM stuff at the head ends break down they are not being replaced.

There are loads of Digital Radio channels on the cable you just plug your box into your sound system.

Thanks, but that means listening to radio in the room that the box is in which, as I wrote above, I don't want to do.

I would simply like the analogue FM throughout the house to be as good as it used to be.

I've logged a complaint with UPC and they said they'll look into it. Will let you know how I get on.

D.

Ranicand · 21-12-2009 05:22PM

Dinarius wrote: »

Thanks, but that means listening to radio in the room that the box is in which, as I wrote above, I don't want to do.

I would simply like the analogue FM throughout the house to be as good as it used to be.

I've logged a complaint with UPC and they said they'll look into it. Will let you know how I get on.

D.

Just one last thing FM or any mention of it can no longer be found on the UPC site.

coylemj · 28-12-2009 10:43AM

Ranicand wrote: »

Just one last thing FM or any mention of it can no longer be found on the UPC site.

Was it ever? They might have mentioned FM at some stage but as far as I recall they never listed the frequencies.

UPC doesn't give a toss for people listening to the FM frequencies, I asked them for a list recently and what I eventually got had loads of errors. As far as they're concerned the radio service from the digital box is the only game in town.

I have the FM cable running into my receiver/amp, I get the Irish stations with RDS station name but the BBC stations come in with no RDS. I also feed the sound from the digital box to the amp, the radio stations coming out of the digital box are definitely better quality and there's lots more of them. For BBC around the house you'll have no choice eventually but to invest in wi-fi radios.

BrianD · 28-12-2009 07:16PM

coylemj wrote: »

Was it ever? They might have mentioned FM at some stage but as far as I recall they never listed the frequencies.

UPC doesn't give a toss for people listening to the FM frequencies, I asked them for a list recently and what I eventually got had loads of errors. As far as they're concerned the radio service from the digital box is the only game in town.

I have the FM cable running into my receiver/amp, I get the Irish stations with RDS station name but the BBC stations come in with no RDS. I also feed the sound from the digital box to the amp, the radio stations coming out of the digital box are definitely better quality and there's lots more of them. For BBC around the house you'll have no choice eventually but to invest in wi-fi radios.

I have been told that UPC regard the FM service as a legacy system. They are not adding any stations to it and I would guess that its days are limited. It would be wise to future proof yourself.

It would be good if NTL came out with something like the Sky Gnome, a little gadget that allows portable radio listening through a wireless device linked back to the main box. I'm surprised that there aren't various third party gizmos that allow this on the market.

coylemj · 28-12-2009 10:47PM

BrianD wrote: »

It would be good if NTL came out with something like the Sky Gnome, a little gadget that allows portable radio listening through a wireless device linked back to the main box. I'm surprised that there aren't various third party gizmos that allow this on the market.

This would be technically illegal as standard radios receive on regulated frequencies and to broadcast any such signal (even with the intention that it only be received inside your own house) is illegal under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926. The same law forbids the use of FM transmitters used to play the iPod through the car radio though there are probably thousands of them in the country.

Arciphel · 28-12-2009 10:56PM

coylemj wrote: »

This would be technically illegal as standard radios receive on regulated frequencies and to broadcast any such signal (even with the intention that it only be received inside your own house) is illegal under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926. The same law forbids the use of FM transmitters used to play the iPod through the car radio though there are probably thousands of them in the country.

The Sky gnome broadcasts at 2.4GHz, same as wireless broadband so there is nothing illegal about it. They are a great little gadget if you have Sky.

Infoanon · 29-12-2009 11:43AM

coylemj wrote: »

This would be technically illegal as standard radios receive on regulated frequencies and to broadcast any such signal (even with the intention that it only be received inside your own house) is illegal under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1926. The same law forbids the use of FM transmitters used to play the iPod through the car radio though there are probably thousands of them in the country.

The FM ipod transmitters are legal and authorised by COMREG for a number of years now - otherwise retailers would be breaking the law !

Dinarius · 29-12-2009 02:18PM

BrianD wrote: »

It would be wise to future proof yourself.

Which I've just done by ordering one of these..

http://www.naim-audio.com/products/naimuniti.html

Put one through it paces this morning. BBC Radio3 streamed just through Eircom's 3Mb service was stunning. Really nice piece of kit. Has won a bundle of awards since its launch earlier this year. Now all I've got to do is find suitable speakers! A tough task!

Thanks for all the feedback to my original post.

After calling their service dept. UPC did boost the BBC Radio 4 signal somewhat, but it's still not as good as it used to be. They called me this a.m. to see how it was and they've agreed to send out an engineer next week. Will let you know how I get on.

D.

bloomfield · 29-12-2009 10:36PM

A couple of months ago BBC Radio 1 completely disappeared from the FM radio service where I live in D8, but after I logged the problem the UPC engineers restored it within a matter of hours.

My guess is that nobody at UPC is monitoring the FM radio signals, but they will examine and resolve problems if reported.

coylemj · 03-01-2010 11:30PM

I listen to Jack O'Brien playing classical music on RTE1 on Sundays at 11 p.m. and am listening to him now via the digital NTL box, I also have the FM co-ax running into my amp/receiver so can pickup RTE1 via the tuner in the amp. but the digital signal is vastly superior.

There's absolutely no comparison between the quality of the digital radio vs. the analogue signal, looks like NTL are putting the squeeze on the quality of both the analogue TV and radio signals to make everyone go digital.

Dinarius · 04-01-2010 10:32AM

coylemj wrote: »

There's absolutely no comparison between the quality of the digital radio vs. the analogue signal, looks like NTL are putting the squeeze on the quality of both the analogue TV and radio signals to make everyone go digital.

You're absolutely right.

But, most of us only have one digital box - the one in the tv room.

So, wishing to listen to radio in other rooms around the house requires an analogue/fm socket connection, or wi-fi.

I'd like to be able to use the analogue connection since I've got them throughout the house.

I've got NTL calling here tomorrow to review the situation. I'll let you know how I get on.

D.

coylemj · 04-01-2010 12:35PM

Dinarius wrote: »

You're absolutely right.

But, most of us only have one digital box - the one in the tv room.

Same here

Dinarius wrote: »

I'd like to be able to use the analogue connection since I've got them throughout the house.

I have brand new UPC boxes in the kitchen and bedroom but in order to use the FM socket at those spots I'd have to install a radio with a co-ax socket and the signal wouldn't do justice to such an expensive device. The only benefit is that I'd have the BBC stations but I don't know of any compact (kitchen) model of radio which has a co-ax connector for the signal.

Dinarius wrote: »

I've got NTL calling here tomorrow to review the situation. I'll let you know how I get on.

I wouldn't hold out much hope, they really don't care about the FM signal as the frequency list hasn't been on their website for years and getting them to e-mail you the list is a hassle. When they do send it to you it's full of errors and omissions.

This is the list they sent me last November, no mention of the BBC stations nor of Newstalk, 98FM or Today FM

Dear Mr Coyle as per our discussion today.Here is a list of the radio frequency.Just to advise that these are the only ones avail on the basic line up

RTE Radio 1 89.4 Mhz
2FM 91.7 Mhz
RnaG 93.9 Mhz
Lyric FM 97.5 Mhz
FM 104 104.6 Mhz
BBC Radio 2 90.1 Mhz
BBC Radio 3 92.3 Mhz
BBC Radio Live 5 95.1 Mhz
BBC World Service 97.1 Mhz
Classic FM 101.9 Mhz
BBC Radio Ulster 94.5 Mhz
World Radio Network 102.7 Mhz

Dinarius · 04-01-2010 12:55PM

coylemj wrote: »

..... in order to use the FM socket at those spots I'd have to install a radio with a co-ax socket and the signal wouldn't do justice to such an expensive device. The only benefit is that I'd have the BBC stations but I don't know of any compact (kitchen) model of radio which has a co-ax connector for the signal.

Dear Mr Coyle as per our discussion today.Here is a list of the radio frequency.Just to advise that these are the only ones avail on the basic line up

RTE Radio 1 89.4 Mhz
2FM 91.7 Mhz
RnaG 93.9 Mhz
Lyric FM 97.5 Mhz
FM 104 104.6 Mhz
BBC Radio 2 90.1 Mhz
BBC Radio 3 92.3 Mhz
BBC Radio Live 5 95.1 Mhz
BBC World Service 97.1 Mhz
Classic FM 101.9 Mhz
BBC Radio Ulster 94.5 Mhz
World Radio Network 102.7 Mhz

When we moved into this house 5 years ago, I had it completely rewired with FM/TV points throughout, but I only use a wall socket to radio socket connection with one radio.

You don't need a radio with an FM socket (I have 3 radios around the house, only 1 has an FM socket) you only need to connect a bare wire to the aerial on any radio and to the FM socket at the other end. My reception on the one radio with an FM socket is no better than the other two with bare wire connections.

Secondly, whoever emailed you from NTL omitted BBC Radio4 which is 96.35.
I couldn't live without it and BBC Radio3!

D.

Debarra77 · 15-05-2010 01:33PM

Hi
I found the discussion of Jan interesting as I am going through the same difficulty with UPC.
They dropped the BBC radio 4 analogue channel in mid April.
I have contacted them to complain and the count so far is:

About 10 calls to their 1908 no - general incomprehension what I'm talking about
1 visit from a technician who said it was 2 years since he dealt with radio, he called in someone to replace the incoming cable, which was done and made no difference
a lady from their complaints section who told me it was unlikely that they would reinstate the service. When I asked would she email this - she refused and refrred to the terms and conditions on the UPC website: they can change services any time they like.
Currently they are to contact me and tell me if there was any chance of reinstatement.

I value the good quality BBC and other stations I connect my tuner into, to the UPC radio signals.

The statement that they will discontinue this in 2 years time because all transmissions will be digital is not valid. they can capture the digital radio signals and pipe it to us as before.

I am interested in being in touch with like minded people who could collectively pressure UPC from their monopoly 'take it or leave it' attitude to customers, to maintain the present FM radio service on cable. Anyone out there?.

Infoanon · 16-05-2010 03:19PM

BBC Radio 4 is still on UPC in Dublin on 96.35FM.

The over modulated audio on BBC Radio 1 99.7 also remains.....

Debarra77 · 16-05-2010 06:35PM

Thanks for info. I wonder have you checked recently? I am getting no feed on 96.35. The lady on UPC tech support when checking it confirmed that there was no feed of BBC R4 on analogue to me. (I am getting all the other radio channels, save Classic FM which dissapeared nearly a year ago).

If you are still getting BBC Radio 4 on this frequency, I wonder is it a regional/local problem? I live in Rathgar.

watty · 16-05-2010 08:39PM

I get R4 FM on 88.3MHz in Limerick.
€8 "itrip" type gadget from Hietons on an old 5v Nokia charger plugged into satellite receiver

IMO R4 is the best radio station. It annoys me when I lose it on LW on the car due to "cricket".

The only LW set I ever had any good for R4 in house is Sony ICF-2010D (similar ICF-2001D)

Dinarius · 17-05-2010 07:43AM

Debarra,

I'm in Dublin 14 (Clonskeagh) and BBC Radio 4 (96.35) is fine here now, though I have had problems in the past - as I wrote about here.

Do you really have no reception or is it just very bad? Having none sounds very odd. Have you tried tuning with other sets? That may sound nuts, but I've found that older analogue radios give better reception than those with digital tuning. No idea why.

I'd be interested to hear what BBC Radio 5 Live is like for others here. For me it's crap, pure and simple. I can only listen to it via wifi. But, my staple diet is BBC3/4/World Service, so that's not too much of a problem.

D.

Ps. Four months on, the Naim Uniti, which I paired with ATC SCM40 spearkers - http://www.atcloudspeakers.co.uk/scm40.php - is simply incredible!

MHP · 17-05-2010 03:25PM

Debarra,

BBC Radio 4 is still available here (Terenure) though, as you found, Classic FM has gone.

Infoanon · 17-05-2010 05:39PM

MHP wrote: »

Debarra,

BBC Radio 4 is still available here (Terenure) though, as you found, Classic FM has gone.

Classic FM is not gone - its moved to 101.6 (as Today FM is now on from 3 Rock on 101.8)

btw Newstalk is on 101.1 - appeared in place of Duetsch Welle a while back

MHP · 18-05-2010 06:15PM

Infoanon wrote: »

Classic FM is not gone - its moved to 101.6 (as Today FM is now on from 3 Rock on 101.8)

btw Newstalk is on 101.1 - appeared in place of Duetsch Welle a while back

So it is! Thanks for that.

Dinarius · 07-07-2010 05:23PM

UPC/BBC Radio 3.

Anyone noticing BBC Radio 3 being squeezed out by Radio Na Gaeltachta lately on UPC?

This is via an analogue radio.

It really is crap.

D.

Ranicand · 07-07-2010 05:51PM

Dinarius wrote: »

UPC/BBC Radio 3.

Anyone noticing BBC Radio 3 being squeezed out by Radio Na Gaeltachta lately on UPC?

This is via an analogue radio.

It really is crap.

D.

An extra box is only five euro extra per month.

A decent amp and you have digital Radio with a very nice bit rate.

All the UPC boxes have an L and R jack the Digital Plus boxes have a digital out and the HD boxes have an Optical out along with HDMI.

UPC - Radio reception quality and continuation of the radio service.

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