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The future of RTE Radio 1 LW

13567…44

Comments

  • #102
    Thurston?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭Thurston?


    Digifriendly wrote: »
    ... why then is RNAG available on Freeview in NI?

    Same reason that TG4 comes 1st in the TV selection.


  • #103
    Sam Russell
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 19,864 Mod ✭✭✭✭Sam Russell


    winston_1 wrote: »
    At the end of the day if people choose to live in a foreign country and no longer pay taxes to the old country they cannot expect the old country to provide them services such as radio. RTE are under no obligation to provide radio to Britain or even NI. (The good Friday agreement did not include radio).

    Taxes are not everything. We owe those who left home because there was nothing here for them, and many who left, did so with a heavy heart. Why are so many Irish songs those of the emigrant longing for home?

    It is a small cost for RTE to keep it going, and it would cost little to make it more than just RTE Radio 1. It could be turned into a channel that we might want to listen to by choice. If it is to be aimed at a diaspora audience, then get them to participate in it.


  • #104
    munchkin_utd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,907 ✭✭✭munchkin_utd


    winston_1 wrote: »
    At the end of the day if people choose to live in a foreign country and no longer pay taxes to the old country they cannot expect the old country to provide them services such as radio. RTE are under no obligation to provide radio to Britain or even NI. (The good Friday agreement did not include radio).
    RTÉ are under an obligation to the irish abroad by law.
    The Broadcasting Act 2009 requires that RTÉ entertain, inform and educate and have the character of a public service.
    RTÉ’s broadcasting services must be offered free-to-air to the whole community and to Irish communities abroad, in so far as is reasonably practical.
    http://www.rte.ie/documents/about/rte-pss-2010v1.pdf
    and the law itself:
    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/pdf/2009/en.act.2009.0018.pdf
    the oblogation to Northern ireland is contained within their public service obligation to the island of Ireland, beyond that theres an obligation "to Irish communities outside the island of Ireland". A distinct difference in the 2.

    you can argue whats "reasonably practical", but you are plain wrong in saying RTÉ have no obligation to the irish abroad.


  • #105
    winston_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭winston_1


    munchkin_utd wrote: »
    RTÉ are under an obligation to the irish abroad by law.


    http://www.rte.ie/documents/about/rte-pss-2010v1.pdf
    and the law itself:
    http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/pdf/2009/en.act.2009.0018.pdf
    the oblogation to Northern ireland is contained within their public service obligation to the island of Ireland, beyond that theres an obligation "to Irish communities outside the island of Ireland". A distinct difference in the 2.

    you can argue whats "reasonably practical", but you are plain wrong in saying RTÉ have no obligation to the irish abroad.

    I like the bit about free to air when Irish TV is subscription on Sky even within Ireland. What a farce!


  • #106
    TAFKAlawhec
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 614 ✭✭✭TAFKAlawhec


    In the absence of an international service like the BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle etc. RTÉ Radio 1 is about the closest Irish ex-pats have to a "voice from home". Most European countries have some sort of radio or television service aimed at either their ex-pats or to a common nation of peoples in a neighbouring country.

    Also RTÉ, and Radio Éireann before it, have always by virtue sought to cover all 32 counties of Ireland with its domestic services where practical. The location of the Clermont Carn & Holywell Hill transmitter sites are not a coincidence.


  • #107
    petronius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 849 ✭✭✭petronius


    TAFKAlawhec wrote: »
    In the absence of an international service like the BBC World Service, Deutsche Welle etc. RTÉ Radio 1 is about the closest Irish ex-pats have to a "voice from home". Most European countries have some sort of radio or television service aimed at either their ex-pats or to a common nation of peoples in a neighbouring country.

    Also RTÉ, and Radio Éireann before it, have always by virtue sought to cover all 32 counties of Ireland with its domestic services where practical. The location of the Clermont Carn & Holywell Hill transmitter sites are not a coincidence.

    I agree - there should have been and still should be an RTE World, RTE International, or Radio Ireland, service, aimed at the ex-pat community in the UK mainly and effectively RTE LW 252 has provided that service being a connection with Ireland for many especially elderly ex-pats.
    RTE should be looking at improving the service to this community and expanding it and not cutting it.

    Long Wave is not ideal, but since the cutting of the Medium Wave service, it has been valuable reading all of Ireland (especially areas where there is poor or no FM coverage) and into the UK and across into northern europe.
    I was on holidays in Britanny and Normandy and hired a car with LW (France still use LW quite a bit) and ended up listening to Joe Duffy (I know...) travelling between villages.

    Sure DAB, DRM and Satellite radio or whatever are better sound quality but until this technology is widely available at reasonable prices and taken up by the ex-pat community, dropping a service like LW 252 is betraying the Irish Communities in the UK, and in the North.

    I hope the petition https://www.change.org/p/rte-don-t-cut-off-the-irish-in-britain is listened to by RTE and the government, and https://www.facebook.com/SaveRTELW252 gets people to voice their concerns and let it be known


  • #108
    petronius
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 849 ✭✭✭petronius


    I note that from the Herald yesterday that RTE state that even though they postponed the closure, they are going to close it, and that they will use the extra few months to tell people who use the service to use other services.
    They closed Medium wave 6 years ago telling people to use FM, and if you were outside this coverage, sure use LW252. Now they are telling people who avail of the long wave service, in the north of ireland and britain to listen to it on the internet etc., ignoring the fact that the group who use it are not the internet generation and unlikely to be, and not users of DAB even if there was such a service in the North East of Ireland, or indeed in the UK.
    They are saying if your in the UK and listen to RTE on long wave, and dont have the internet or satellite the tough luck!


  • #109
    realistic anorak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34 ✭realistic anorak


    petronius wrote: »
    I note that from the Herald yesterday that RTE state that even though they postponed the closure, they are going to close it, and that they will use the extra few months to tell people who use the service to use other services.
    They closed Medium wave 6 years ago telling people to use FM, and if you were outside this coverage, sure use LW252. Now they are telling people who avail of the long wave service, in the north of ireland and britain to listen to it on the internet etc., ignoring the fact that the group who use it are not the internet generation and unlikely to be, and not users of DAB even if there was such a service in the North East of Ireland, or indeed in the UK.
    They are saying if your in the UK and listen to RTE on long wave, and dont have the internet or satellite the tough luck!

    I get the argument for keeping longwave but i never got the argument for keeping both mw and lw. Tansmitting the same radio station on every waveband was a waste of public money. RTE do seem very keen to get off lw, What Is the site at clarkstown worth ? Are they looking to cash in on growing property prices in leinster i wonder ?


  • #110
    SPDUB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,341 ✭✭✭SPDUB


    petronius wrote: »
    I note that from the Herald yesterday that RTE state that even though they postponed the closure, they are going to close it, !

    They have already taken it off the list of frequencies that RTE broadcast on that is listed on their website


  • #111
    realistic anorak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34 ✭realistic anorak


    They may have withdrawn their plans to close lw.., They no longer cut into the Angelus saying this service will close down on blah blah blah


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  • #112
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    RTE management have proven they do not listen, they care nothing for PSB mandate or consumer, they like BBC are enamoured with Twitter, DAB, Web streaming etc.

    DAB and Celebrity Presenters are a waste of money. The MW should never have been scrapped.

    It was inevitable that when Digital Radio Mondail failed to take off they would kill LW as they did MW as a cost saving.

    Internet and especially Mobile internet can't ever replace National Broadcast. Nor can Satellite or Cable.

    FM can't do full coverage. AM (MW or LW) can. DAB in UK would need x6 as many masts as at present to give FM coverage.

    I'm not going to even engage with RTE anymore. They are wreckers. As are Comreg and DCNER.

    Digital TV makes sense, Digital Radio doesn't. Mobile can only support about 10,000 listeners, if NO OTHER traffic and phone calls. MORONS.


  • #113
    ardmacha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,476 ✭✭✭ardmacha


    watty wrote: »
    RTE management have proven they do not listen, they care nothing for PSB mandate or consumer, they like BBC are enamoured with Twitter, DAB, Web streaming etc.

    DAB and Celebrity Presenters are a waste of money. The MW should never have been scrapped.

    It was inevitable that when Digital Radio Mondail failed to take off they would kill LW as they did MW as a cost saving.

    Internet and especially Mobile internet can't ever replace National Broadcast. Nor can Satellite or Cable.

    FM can't do full coverage. AM (MW or LW) can. DAB in UK would need x6 as many masts as at present to give FM coverage.

    I'm not going to even engage with RTE anymore. They are wreckers. As are Comreg and DCNER.

    Digital TV makes sense, Digital Radio doesn't. Mobile can only support about 10,000 listeners, if NO OTHER traffic and phone calls. MORONS.

    Well said.


  • #114
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Full DAB coverage would cost MORE than FM and AM together. If it was real full coverage.

    Celeb overpriced presenters must be costing nearly as much as LW TX.

    Also DAB is NOT green for receivers, using x6 to x20 (headphones) power consumption per receiver. There never ever will be the DAB coverage that FM has. FM isn't enough coverage.

    A PSB has to attempt 100% coverage. That's why UK has freesat, to cover the 1.5% that Freeview doesn't cover. BBC admitted they need LW & MW as FM coverage isn't enough and DAB (which is FAR better in UK) is 5% to 6% less. To fill in "black spots" in Digital Radio (of ANY kind) turns out to take hugely more low power repeaters than envisaged.

    Also SFN DAB (or any other Digital system) is NO USE at all for Local and Community Radio. It favours a National Broadcaster and inherently more expensive than local FM.

    Despite what mis-informed bean counters in Germany, Ireland and UK say, properly planned AM is still the cheapest way to give 100% national coverage. Receiver power consumption is such that a 4 x D cell radio would last a year in an emergency situation, or 30 days at 12 hours a day on AM. A AM/FM radio of equivalent quality to a €60 DAB set is under €15. It's easier to tune and operate. Many DAB sets are impossible without manual.
    Also easiest for portable / mobile use is a scale and manual tuning knob (this can be simulated with LCD). A preset only radio never has enough presets and becomes awkward to reprogram. People DO listen to Radio away from Car or TV set/Living room.


    What works for TV in terms of a User interface (or even a car Radio) is USELESS for a general purpose portable radio.

    In any national disaster scenario even ONE AM transmitter on a generator can communicate with everyone.

    Digital TV can give over 500:1 compression compared to Analogue Video, Widescreen, HD etc. Digital radio at FM or CD quality only gives a 5:1 compression! Other countries to provide more stations are extending FM band. The FM Band is no use for Mobile. It has no value to sell off.

    The AM bands have even less spectrum value than FM.

    Comreg's agenda is to sell ALL TV band and have only Cable/ Internet/fibre /Satellite. They care nothing about AM and FM bands as they make no money from them.

    Streaming one TV channel on Internet to Everyone would cost more than LW or a three transmitter MW network. You'll notice that any RTE or BBC streaming falls over on popular events, even with a fraction of Broadcast numbers. The more people you stream to, the more it costs. Broadcast is a fixed cost no matter how many listen.


  • #115
    STB.
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭STB.


    watty wrote: »
    In any national disaster scenario even ONE AM transmitter on a generator can communicate with everyone.

    For that reason alone I am quite surprised that the close down is a goer. In the event of a National Emergency it was the only choice.

    Given the fact that RTE used LW as the safety net excuse to shut down the MW TX's, it is inexplicable that they are now dumping LW altogether with no long range broadcast alternative, other than internet streams. Of course its the numbers game, or at least thats how its being sold. I havent see the figures, but I am sure the running costs of the LW TX could have been fully justified right now especially given the MW services no longer exist. Unfortunately the PSB is being run by accountants, PSB values are out the window now and everything is being pared back.

    Of course the timing is perfect as the bombardment of Water Charges news, cloud such moves and no one will kick up until its switched off come January next.


  • #116
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Internet is very fragile. First to go in a problem. Also DOES NOT SCALE. It's only cheap for provider when a minority use it. Nor is it portable/mobile (Capacity of Mobile Internet only allows about 0.1% of listeners or less!)


  • #117
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    watty wrote: »
    Internet is very fragile. First to go in a problem. Also DOES NOT SCALE. It's only cheap for provider when a minority use it. Nor is it portable/mobile (Capacity of Mobile Internet only allows about 0.1% of listeners or less!)

    And as I said in another thread, not suitable when on the move. I was on a bus a few weeks ago and as soon as I left Dublin city on the M1, my phone dropped back to 2G/EDGE and the stream wouldn't rebuffer due to lack of bandwidth.


  • #118
    realistic anorak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34 ✭realistic anorak


    STB. wrote: »
    For that reason alone I am quite surprised that the close down is a goer. In the event of a National Emergency it was the only choice.

    Given the fact that RTE used LW as the safety net excuse to shut down the MW TX's, it is inexplicable that they are now dumping LW altogether with no long range broadcast alternative, other than internet streams. Of course its the numbers game, or at least thats how its being sold. I havent see the figures, but I am sure the running costs of the LW TX could have been fully justified right now especially given the MW services no longer exist. Unfortunately the PSB is being run by accountants, PSB values are out the window now and everything is being pared back.

    Of course the timing is perfect as the bombardment of Water Charges news, cloud such moves and no one will kick up until its switched off come January next.

    Tullamore is fully intact tho and still gets all the Maintenance needed for a mast of that size. It could be put back on the air tonight really if needed.


  • #119
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,386 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    STB. wrote: »
    Of course the timing is perfect as the bombardment of Water Charges news, cloud such moves and no one will kick up until its switched off come January next.

    So RTE picked the timing to coincide with coverage of Irish Water? There has been coverage of Irish Water daily for months.

    You know about it, I do and everyone on this forum does. LW listeners have had the first part of news bulletins replaced with the closedown announcement daily up until recently. Regular LW listeners who can't get FM could hardly have escaped hearing the information. And if they want to mount an Irish Water type protest movement there is nothing stopping them. Why would they wait until the shutdown happens to "kick up"?


  • #120
    Fred Swanson
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21,730 ✭✭✭✭Fred Swanson


    This post has been deleted.


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  • #121
    winston_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭winston_1


    watty wrote: »
    Other countries to provide more stations are extending FM band.

    Which countries? Where is the extension, not upwards presumably as that is air traffic control?


  • #122
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Brazil and USA, downwards.
    Japan and parts of Europe already use below 88MHz.
    Some Radios have had this coverage as well as current band II since 1964


    But 175MHz to 195MHz could easily be added with a small €5 adaptor lasting nearly 3 months on 2 x AA cells for existing radio sets. That would double number of stations. 175MHz to 195MHz is ideal for Local radio. Total waste for National DAB.
    (Local oscillator 87MHz, single existing off the shelf IC and a crystal)


  • #123
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,477 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    Is there a need for more FM stations though, and more importantly is there the advertising and listeners out there to support them? Already far too much 'me too' radio out there, but the commercial viability of niche stations like Phantom has been poor.

    Scrap the cap!



  • #124
    winston_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭winston_1


    watty wrote: »
    Brazil and USA, downwards.
    Japan and parts of Europe already use below 88MHz.
    Some Radios have had this coverage as well as current band II since 1964


    I cannot find any US stations listed below 88.1. I've found one Brazilian station on 87.9. In both these countries TV channel A6 is immediately below the current FM band.
    In the Japan the band has always been 76 to 90MHz and 90 to 108 is used for TV. The FM band is only 14MHz wide instead of the usual 20.
    Europe has always gone down to 87.5 MHz, an additional 1/2MHz. Eastern Europe has used an incompatible band around 66 to 74MHz but many countries have discontinued it. Incompatible as the stereo pilot tone is 23KHz instead of 19KHz.

    Some far eastern radios indeed have covered 76 to 108MHz, but this is so they can be used in Japan as well as elsewhere, not because the band is being extended.


  • #125
    Antenna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭Antenna


    Brazil are planning to extend the FM band down to 76MHz AFTER phasing out analogue TV which has not happened there yet. The USA have put such proposals on hold it seems, as a possible sell off of more UHF TV spectrum could mean low-VHF use being revisited for TV

    Already in São Paulo Brazil, one station up to now on AM/MW only is now 'testing' on 84.7 MHz in the planned expanded 76-108 FM band

    The regular FM band in China goes down to 87.0 rather than 87.5, and 76-87MHz are special interest 'narrowcast' stations in universities etc

    The frequencies can be seen at
    http://www.fmlist.org
    (click 'continue as guest')
    winston_1 wrote: »
    I cannot find any US stations listed below 88.1. .

    Whilst its generally not used, there are two special cases of low power stations licenced on 87.9, here's one:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KSFH

    There are many US stations on 87.7, but these are using a low-power analogue TV licence to run a FM radio station by the "back-door" in cities with a full FM band, as the audio carrier of their analogue TV channel A6 lies around 87.7. It has not been mandatory for low power analogue TV stations there to go digital, unlike high power TV stations.
    http://radioinsight.com/blog/headlines/90444/franken-fms-to-get-temporary-stay-potentially-permanent-one/


  • #126
    Hotblack Desiato
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,477 ✭✭✭✭Hotblack Desiato


    winston_1 wrote: »
    In both these countries TV channel A6 is immediately below the current FM band.

    Before analogue switch-off, some US A6 'TV stations' were really radio stations intended to be picked up on FM radios. They were regulated as TV stations and had to broadcast some sort of video signal.

    It's still permitted, but only at very low power, so not that much use.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Channel_6_radio_stations


    You beat me to it Antenna :)

    Scrap the cap!



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  • #127
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Hotblack Desiato wrote: »
    Is there a need for more FM stations though, and more importantly is there the advertising and listeners out there to support them? Already far too much 'me too' radio out there, but the commercial viability of niche stations like Phantom has been poor.

    More stations is the ONLY remaining selling point of DAB (or any other Digital Radio scheme) once the lies and mis-information is removed.

    Yes I agree we have too many Cable & Satellite channels and enough FM stations. Very Niche stations do work more economically as MP3 Playlists and as Internet Streaming.

    The point is that radios exist since 1964 (I have a 1965 radio that does 64 MHz to 200MHz to allow Eastern Europe, Japan, USA, Europe and TV sound) that already work for extended FM bands. Some of these are still available under €25 and give better sound quality than the FM on any portable or Table FM + DAB radio (the DAB is lower quality as it's only 128K or less, DAB+ won't help as at high bit rates no better than DAB, the reason for DAB+ is to do 64K and 96K, pack more stations in at same poor quality of current UK & Ireland DAB.
    MP3, DAB, DAB+, DRM+ etc all need to be 256K or more to give same as FM quality. The trend for Music Downloads is higher bitrates and even lossless FLAC etc, not the garbage quality of RTE Digital on DAB.


  • #128
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Also relevant points here
    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056933658


  • #129
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    winston_1 wrote: »
    Eastern Europe has used an incompatible band around 66 to 74MHz but many countries have discontinued it. Incompatible as the stereo pilot tone is 23KHz instead of 19KHz.

    Some far eastern radios indeed have covered 76 to 108MHz, but this is so they can be used in Japan as well as elsewhere.

    Actually quite a few do 64MHz to 110MHz, and more.

    The pilot tone etc is irrelevant. The actual frequencies are irrelevant.

    The Only significant use 48MHz to 87.5MHz is 50 to 52MHz and 70MHz allocation Amateur (Commercial Two way radio is nearly dead due to Mobiles). So an extra 20MHz with 3 MHz gap for Amateur 68 to 71MHz on 64 MHz to 87MHz would double capacity (Europe Wide). This band is suited for national stations as coverage is extended.
    Similarly only totally pointless DAB (2MHz at present!) in Band III, above 200MHz. Again allocation Europe wide 175MHz to 195MHz would be ideal for local stations.

    The sole reason this was NOT done after end of Analogue TV in Europe was Digital Dogmatism. DRM+ was even proposed for Band I (44MHz to 65MHz).
    Scrap the entire idea of Digital Broadcast radio (except as add on channels on DVB-T / DTT on UHF for National Stations) and extend FM if we REALLY need more stations.

    The national Talk stations should SIMULCAST on AM to give true 100% National coverage (2 on MW, each 2 x TX to reduce power, we have I think four TX allocations) and one on LW to cover NI and UK.

    MW: 1 x non-RTE National, 1 x R na G. (VHF coverage is poor just where needed!)
    LW: RTE1

    Also less music on RTE1, news start earlier and STOP having late starts on Holidays!
    Consider RTE (extended FM) having a daytime pop/night time Sport with some of current RTE1 & 2FM content. In Interim it could use RTE1 VHF and RTE1 VHF move to MW till a commercial station takes channel.
    Revamp 2FM making overnight, evening and daytime for 3 different audiences.
    Scrap rest of RTE DAB stations putting the content worth keeping on the three stations.

    RTE's Digital is failed strategy lacking in vision.
    RTE ditching MW was shortsighted and Stupid. Ending LW is moronic.

    RTE has too many managers (over paid) and over paid Celeb presenters. Should be 70K cap on presenters (generous) and on all but most senior staff. Plus any allowance Dublin accommodation vs rent/house prices for Lyric FM staff (Limerick).


  • #130
    Longwave Listener
    Closed Accounts Posts: 42 ✭Longwave Listener


    Really far too many daft red herrings being thrown into this debate all over the internet. Some people are going on as if RTE Radio 1 is still the Raidió Eireann of the Lemass era.


  • #131
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    realistic anorak wrote: »
    They may have withdrawn their plans to close lw.., They no longer cut into the Angelus saying this service will close down on blah blah blah
    Seems to be back now, just heard the midnight announcement.


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  • #132
    SPDUB
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,341 ✭✭✭SPDUB


    Karsini wrote: »
    Seems to be back now, just heard the midnight announcement.

    Last time I heard it which was 6 days ago approx they were still doing it at 3am


  • #133
    realistic anorak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34 ✭realistic anorak


    Does the lobby group in the clarkstown area who wanted the mast taken down still exist ? I believe they won their case in the high court but it was overturned the the supreme court .


  • #134
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    watty wrote: »
    RTE ditching MW was shortsighted and Stupid. Ending LW is moronic.
    Was it not wasteful to have Radio 1 on both MW and LW?

    I'd have to wonder why exactly 252 was taken over in the first place? Yes, RTE owned the site, but was the coverage area of 252 much better than 567? Take into account that 252 is drowned out by Algeria in many parts whereas 567 was (and is) a relatively clear channel.


  • #135
    winston_1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,688 ✭✭✭winston_1


    Karsini wrote: »
    Was it not wasteful to have Radio 1 on both MW and LW?

    Radio 1 was never on LW. Before Radio 1 the Light Programme was on LW with MW fillers in areas of poor reception, rather like the situation of Radio 4 today.

    Edit, just caught on you are probably talking about Radio 1 Ireland.

    So silly for so many countries to call their stations by numbers.


  • #136
    ardmacha
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,476 ✭✭✭ardmacha


    winston_1 wrote: »
    Edit, just caught on you are probably talking about Radio 1 Ireland.

    So silly for so many countries to call their stations by numbers.

    It isn't really. In a thread about RTÉ is it fairly clear that the term Radio 1 without qualification is referring to RTÉ.

    In the roads forum people routinely refer to the N20 or M4 without people talking about roads with similar numbers in other countries.


  • #137
    Oscarziggy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 607 ✭✭✭Oscarziggy


    ardmacha wrote: »
    It isn't really. In a thread about RTÉ is it fairly clear that the term Radio 1 without qualification is referring to RTÉ.

    In the roads forum people routinely refer to the N20 or M4 without people talking about roads with similar numbers in other countries.

    Yep I agree --- it was very obvious to me as well.
    Regards.


  • #138
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Karsini wrote: »
    Was it not wasteful to have Radio 1 on both MW and LW?

    I'd have to wonder why exactly 252 was taken over in the first place? Yes, RTE owned the site, but was the coverage area of 252 much better than 567? Take into account that 252 is drowned out by Algeria in many parts whereas 567 was (and is) a relatively clear channel.

    Yes maintain the MW Status quo and doing something different or nothing with LW would have been better. Simulcast of MW & LW was mad.


  • #139
    realistic anorak
    Closed Accounts Posts: 34 ✭realistic anorak


    Heard a closdown message back this evening cutting into The Angelus at 6pm, It said something like further information on how to stay tuned to RTE Radio 1 will resume shortly.


  • #140
    Longwave Listener
    Closed Accounts Posts: 42 ✭Longwave Listener


    I understand RTE will be making an announcement within 3 days


  • #141
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Yes how to "retune", which if you are in a car or portable out of FM range, is impossible.

    Idiots. Mobile Internet, broadband, DTT, stupid pointless DAB and Satellite are not alternatives.
    FM maybe a real 98% coverage (in Republic) and when walking an aerial up is awkward!
    Only AM can give full coverage and also sensible coverage to outside Republic.

    Closing 252 is only acceptable if they re-open MW. But Athlone is part dismantled. Was that only to stop Spirit Radio renting the site?


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  • #142
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    watty wrote: »
    Yes how to "retune", which if you are in a car or portable out of FM range, is impossible.

    Idiots. Mobile Internet, broadband, DTT, stupid pointless DAB and Satellite are not alternatives.
    FM maybe a real 98% coverage (in Republic) and when walking an aerial up is awkward!
    Only AM can give full coverage and also sensible coverage to outside Republic.

    Closing 252 is only acceptable if they re-open MW. But Athlone is part dismantled. Was that only to stop Spirit Radio renting the site?

    All the alternatives you list are viable for most people.
    Athlone was dismantled partially because the masts need constant maintainence to prevent rusting. Also the site is used for other services.
    Irrelevant to this discussion.
    Nothing to do with Spirit Radio, why do you think it is.
    Tullamore mast is in good condition although the transmitter will never be used again.
    AM reception of Radio One on both MW and LW in parts of this country was not good.
    Agree, walking up aerials is awkward :)


  • #143
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    All the alternatives you list are viable for most people.
    That's nothing like good enough for a PSB. They are not TV3. They have an obligation to provide robust broadcast to 100% of population.

    The lack of any clear obligation to External Broadcasting is a separate disgraceful issue.
    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    Nothing to do with Spirit Radio, why do you think it is.
    Using that location was in their original application.
    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    AM reception of Radio One on both MW and LW in parts of this country was not good.
    a) Better than nothing. Which is now the alternative.
    b) Often interference due to poor "policing" of equipment that can't meet RFI limits. The CE scheme isn't working. That and illegal RFI and uslessness of Comreg to protect spectrum is a separate issue
    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    Agree, walking up aerials is awkward :)
    I suspect overall we only have a difference of emphasis and agree that Satellite, Internet and cable are complementary to Radio Broadcast?

    (Mobile Network can only support about 1% of peak time listeners, for one station and with no other data/voice and has rubbish coverage compared to FM!)


  • #144
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    watty wrote: »
    That's nothing like good enough for a PSB. They are not TV3. They have an obligation to provide robust broadcast to 100% of population.

    The lack of any clear obligation to External Broadcasting is a separate disgraceful issue.

    Using that location was in their original application.

    a) Better than nothing. Which is now the alternative.
    b) Often interference due to poor "policing" of equipment that can't meet RFI limits. The CE scheme isn't working. That and illegal RFI and uslessness of Comreg to protect spectrum is a separate issue


    I suspect overall we only have a difference of emphasis and agree that Satellite, Internet and cable are complementary to Radio Broadcast?

    (Mobile Network can only support about 1% of peak time listeners, for one station and with no other data/voice and has rubbish coverage compared to FM!)
    The reception of RTEs MW and LW in the South was poor due to weak signals, not because of RFI.
    The site for Spirit Radio in their application was not RTE Moydrum.


  • #145
    Ross_95
    Closed Accounts Posts: 10 ✭Ross_95


    I wonder how much would it cost rte to put radio one on freeview ? That would solve the bad PR about irish pensioners in the uk having no easy access to it imo


  • #146
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Ross_95 wrote: »
    I wonder how much would it cost rte to put radio one on freeview ? That would solve the bad PR about irish pensioners in the uk having no easy access to it imo

    Expensive. About x60 more expensive than Satellite. Assuming any space.

    No it wouldn't. Not very many people use the TV to listen to the Radio. It's not portable or transportable to every room. It's already on Freesat/Sky/FTA effectively in UK.

    Now if DTT & Sat boxes came with an iTrip style CE legal type FM Transmitter (about £2 to £10 separately) built in so any VHF-FM radio in the house might be used, there would be very slight merit to this idea. But none do?


  • #147
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    The reception of RTEs MW and LW in the South was poor due to weak signals

    Where? What sort of radio sets?
    I never had any difficulty with either, in Cork, Limerick, Co. Clare, Co. Louth, Dublin and Mayo. I have had coverage issues on VHF-FM in the Car.
    Or indeed with the MW (1970s) or LW (2012) in Co. Antrim.

    Of course a car needs a 75cm roof whip aerial for best VHF and assumed for the built in loading coils for MW & LW. The shorter aerials roof aerials and built in windscreen aerials more common in last 10 years are useless for MW/LW and poor for VHF.

    Tesco's €14 LW/MW/VHF AM/FM set is mediocre compared to 1965 to 1995 models of Radio, but actually one of the best ordinary AM/FM sets you can buy to today.

    The clock Radio sets and cheap "world" sets with digital tuning and presets are garbage. Tesco's World Radio with analogue scale isn't as good on MW/LW as their Kitchen set but beats all of the cheap digital display models.

    Crazy but my pocket VR500 100kHz / 1300MHz scanner beats any available current model for MW/LW with the whip replaced by 30cm 1 turn loop. Speaker stupidly small, so "quality" listening needs earphones.
    The Sony ICF2001D is very very good. (Gets about 4 UK MW stations during day in Limerick!) but the speaker is a little small. Good luck trying to buy a radio like that today even just for VHF!


    Many sets with AM have uselessly small ferrite rod aerials.


  • #148
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    watty wrote: »
    Where? What sort of radio sets?
    I never had any difficulty with either, in Cork, Limerick, Co. Clare, Co. Louth, Dublin and Mayo. I have had coverage issues on VHF-FM in the Car.
    Or indeed with the MW (1970s) or LW (2012) in Co. Antrim.

    Of course a car needs a 75cm roof whip aerial for best VHF and assumed for the built in loading coils for MW & LW. The shorter aerials roof aerials and built in windscreen aerials more common in last 10 years are useless for MW/LW and poor for VHF.

    Tesco's €14 LW/MW/VHF AM/FM set is mediocre compared to 1965 to 1995 models of Radio, but actually one of the best ordinary AM/FM sets you can buy to today.

    The clock Radio sets and cheap "world" sets with digital tuning and presets are garbage. Tesco's World Radio with analogue scale isn't as good on MW/LW as their Kitchen set but beats all of the cheap digital display models.

    Crazy but my pocket VR500 100kHz / 1300MHz scanner beats any available current model for MW/LW with the whip replaced by 30cm 1 turn loop. Speaker stupidly small, so "quality" listening needs earphones.
    The Sony ICF2001D is very very good. (Gets about 4 UK MW stations during day in Limerick!) but the speaker is a little small. Good luck trying to buy a radio like that today even just for VHF!


    Many sets with AM have uselessly small ferrite rod aerials.

    Im not sure of exact radios but not cheap ones, im sure.
    Friends of mine in radio have mentioned several times over the years of poor reception of RTE in parts of south Cork and Kerry on AM.


  • #149
    dxhound2005
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,386 ✭✭✭✭dxhound2005


    Ireland is not alone in closing down longwave and medium wave. Next up is Germany and Poland, with France rumoured to be on the way out also.

    http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/longwave-closures.html


  • #150
    watty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,417 ✭✭✭✭watty


    It's Bean counters rather than people with any sense or PSB commitment making the decisions. It's a soft target for cost savings.


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  • #151
    AwaitYourReply
    Registered Users Posts: 1,735 ✭✭✭AwaitYourReply


    dxhound2005 wrote: »
    Ireland is not alone in closing down longwave and medium wave. Next up is Germany and Poland, with France rumoured to be on the way out also.

    http://swldxbulgaria.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/longwave-closures.html

    This is probably some form of broadcast communications recommendation like the ASO in respect of TV except now it is all about Radio specifically: AM/LW spectrum they want made available for other purposes into the future. More EU interference.

    I wish Ireland seriously threatened to exit the EU altogether and instead joined either the European Economic Area (EEA) or European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as the EU no longer serves peripheral states such as Ireland well in so many regards. Whatever the large states want they usually get especially these days. Any influence we once had is all but gone as we learned to our cost when we were forced to bail out the banks to save the EURO even though the debt was an unsustainable burden on the Irish people!

    I think we should hang on to RTÉ Radio 1 on LW 252KHz for as long as the audience is listening in to the service on this wavelength. The Irish people at home in Ireland or overseas who still regularly tune in should not be abandoned by RTÉ.


This discussion has been closed.
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