DAB Thread

castle2012 · 07-09-2019 8:01pm

Any ideas guys the strength of the signal ? Like how far around Dublin does the new Dab cover ?

JDxtra · 07-09-2019 8:13pm

It's on testing with low power and a selection of stations. Coverage will be much wider once engineering work finished.

I can get it out in Leixlip, but not throughout the house. Give them some time to finish. Amazing effort so far.

ITV2 · 07-09-2019 8:46pm

95-100% signal strength here in Tallaght

Anglers · 07-09-2019 8:59pm

Its on around 20watts of power while testing!
Shortly power while increase to 10-fold of that!
and 90%of Dublin will be covered soon so im told.

castle2012 · 07-09-2019 11:30pm

Fair play to the guys involved, I have to say I think it's a great idea joining up .lets say they get raided .(hopefully they don't ) with the firepower behind them they can set up very quickly again.

drjhen · 07-09-2019 11:45pm

Great work folks,a huge step for a more diverse radio selection in dublin,for me personally would love to see a good indie/alternative station added to the mix as since txfm closed down i have have not listened to irish radio too much so that would be good,but maybe a few oldies stations would be good also,anyway best of luck with the new venture and hopefully you will be left alone to get on with it,just keep in mind that at the moment the reason the fm band and particularly the legal stations are so boring is because they all sound the same so please don,t fall into the same trap.

radioguru02 · 08-09-2019 2:37am

Anyone have an idea whether the ‘reg’ would even know how to deal with this?

hustlergraham · 08-09-2019 6:22am

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Anyone have an idea whether the ‘reg’ would even know how to deal with this?

Well it's been on in Cork for months with no issues of the sort. With the amount of pirates up here on the FM band in Dublin, if they decided to broadcast solely online and freedab, I don't think the 'reg' wouldn't be too bothered as it frees up the band.

As I've said previously, we are way behind. Much of Europe has adopted to DAB radio, even in the UK it's big enough and nearly in every town. But with just RTE on DAB here the last few years, who the hell will listen? Of course it will never take off in any way. I've friends who haven't a clue what DAB is.

This freedab is a game changer though in my opinion. The independents don't care about digital radio. I can see that changing soon enough when this eventually goes full power and if it's successful. But we'll see...

end of the road · 08-09-2019 9:55am

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Anyone have an idea whether the ‘reg’ would even know how to deal with this?

obviously, comreg would of course know how to deal with this, the laws are already in place. the mux has no licence and the stations no content licences.
anyway it's a question of whether they would be bothered enough to deal with this, which hopefully they won't be.

castle2012 · 08-09-2019 10:21am

ITV2 wrote: »

Here in West Dublin we have -

Spectrum
Trance Plus
Trax
Zenith
Country
Easy
NRG Radio
Phever
RetroNow

and the usual RTE services.

No 1025kiss , It must be due to them not having an online stream

ITV2 · 08-09-2019 10:23am

notice audio live on all stations now

JDxtra · 08-09-2019 10:32am

Finding the source of any transmission is not an issue. ComReg have access to a specialised service provider who work on their behalf to find sources of radio interference.

If a signal is clean and attracts no legitimate complaints, then it is at a lower risk of being part of an interference investigation. They will still be aware of all transmissions as they undertake regular spectrum licence compliance surveys.

I think this will be largely left alone though. Here's hoping.

Infoanon · 08-09-2019 11:02am

I would hope that DAB is viewed in the same way as AM transmissions by Comreg.

At the same time I remember that before Nova no one listened to FM so just maybe the addition of these diverse stations may increase the interest in DAB.

I believe there have been mumblings about the Cork Dab but hopefully big picture common sense prevails

DopeTech · 08-09-2019 11:05am

Does this mean they will cease on FM or do both?

castle2012 · 08-09-2019 11:54am

Noting here in the north east hopefully they turn up the power soon

radioguru02 · 08-09-2019 12:06pm

castle2012 wrote: »

No 1025kiss , It must be due to them not having an online stream

Thought the 90s Network was supposed to be there too

SPDUB · 08-09-2019 1:19pm

Not getting anything in crumlin

JDxtra · 08-09-2019 1:43pm

It's on very low power test right now as mentioned earlier. Just try outside or upstairs near a window to see if u can get it.

hustlergraham · 08-09-2019 2:10pm

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Thought the 90s Network was supposed to be there too

It will be added shortly I'd say. Still testing and getting small things right with radio text etc... Does the 90's Network still broadcast on low power on FM?

radioguru02 · 08-09-2019 2:12pm

hustlergraham wrote: »

It will be added shortly I'd say. Still testing and getting small things right with radio text etc... Does the 90's Network still broadcast on low power on FM?

Yes afaik

hustlergraham · 08-09-2019 2:19pm

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Yes afaik

Then that may be why. Any station on the mux that's currently on FM in Dublin will not be broadcast afaik.

radioguru02 · 08-09-2019 7:09pm

Why would Coast FM have any interest in transmitting on DAB here?

StreetLight · 08-09-2019 7:12pm

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Why would Coast FM have any interest in transmitting on DAB here?

I don't know, but I like it. Good mix of music. I sometimes listen to it when I go to Tenerife!

Anglers · 08-09-2019 7:18pm

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Why would Coast FM have any interest in transmitting on DAB here?

Good question!
Maybe Freedab are going international? from what i saw on an online page on the web regarding worlddab. cant reminder the site! but it mentioned the above

castle2012 · 09-09-2019 10:34am

Listening in to freedab in Dublin this morning.starts coming in as you go over the Liffey southbound on the M50. Nice to hear Trax back on the radio.Also that NRGradio sounds good .
Well done whoever is involved.

JDxtra · 09-09-2019 2:24pm

12 stations on the Dublin MUX this afternoon. All with audio and most have added dymanic 'now playing' song info.

Coast FM
Easy Radio
Jump Radio
Non Stop 90s
NRG Radio Cork
Spektrum Radio
Storm North East
Total Country
TrancePulse
Trax
True 80s
Zenith Rock

Dipole Keith · 09-09-2019 3:10pm

I see Storm North-East on the Dublin Mux, Have they turned off FM?

Declan A Walsh · 09-09-2019 3:17pm

JDxtra wrote: »

12 stations on the Dublin MUX this afternoon. All with audio and most have added dymanic 'now playing' song info.

Coast FM
Easy Radio
Jump Radio
Non Stop 90s
NRG Radio Cork
Spektrum Radio
Storm North East
Total Country
TrancePulse
Trax
True 80s
Zenith Rock

Some of the other posts implied that this is technically illegal, with talk about Comreg ignoring them, etc. etc. Surely with the likes of Zenith Rock involved, it must be a legal service.

JDxtra · 09-09-2019 3:41pm

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Some of the other posts implied that this is technically illegal, with talk about Comreg ignoring them, etc. etc. Surely with the likes of Zenith Rock involved, it must be a legal service.

Zenith is an online station from Waterford. This DAB multiplex is unlicensed. That's what makes it interesting - a collaboration of niche broadcasters looking to offer a service on a so far largely ignored platform.

DAB needs a low cost model like this with less restrictions than the BAI currently impose.

Declan A Walsh · 09-09-2019 3:49pm

JDxtra wrote: »

Zenith is an online station from Waterford. This DAB multiplex is unlicensed. That's what makes it interesting - a collaboration of niche broadcasters looking to offer a service on a so far largely ignored platform.

DAB needs a low cost model like this with less restrictions than the BAI currently impose.

So Zenith Rock, a well-established station which has had a number of temporary licenses, with some well established broadcasters, is now technically broadcasting illegally?

JDxtra · 09-09-2019 4:09pm

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

So Zenith Rock, a well-established station which has had a number of temporary licenses, with some well established broadcasters, is now technically broadcasting illegally?

No idea, never heard of Zenith Rock before the other day.

StreetLight · 09-09-2019 4:16pm

Zenith were carried on the licensed trial DAB multiplex in Dublin a few years ago on Block 12A.

end of the road · 09-09-2019 4:34pm

i see a nonstop 90s mentioned on the recent list. is that the uk based one or has the dublin one started up again?

JDxtra · 09-09-2019 4:44pm

end of the road wrote: »

i see a nonstop 90s mentioned on the recent list. is that the uk based one or has the dublin one started up again?

This seems to be more of a placeholder as there is no audio branding on it.

castle2012 · 09-09-2019 7:05pm

Dipole Keith wrote: »

I see Storm North-East on the Dublin Mux, Have they turned off FM?

Storm north east have been part time(evening s and weekends) for a number years and are only available on fm in Dundalk and the north side of drogheda. I would say that will remain until freedabs area is expanded

radioguru02 · 09-09-2019 7:26pm

JDxtra wrote: »

12 stations on the Dublin MUX this afternoon. All with audio and most have added dymanic 'now playing' song info.

Coast FM
Easy Radio
Jump Radio
Non Stop 90s
NRG Radio Cork
Spektrum Radio
Storm North East
Total Country
TrancePulse
Trax
True 80s
Zenith Rock

Jump Radio...Lawrence John’s station? Long time since he was a pirate

Dipole Keith · 09-09-2019 8:13pm

castle2012 wrote: »

Storm north east have been part time(evening s and weekends) for a number years and are only available on fm in Dundalk and the north side of drogheda. I would say that will remain until freedabs area is expanded

But it’s still on FM at the moment, is that not a risk, A pirate station on the platform.

kazoo106 · 09-09-2019 9:18pm

It's not !

Declan A Walsh · 09-09-2019 10:13pm

Zenith Classic Rock:
https://www.zenithclassicrock.com/

The presenters:
https://www.zenithclassicrock.com/presenters

Do they actually know that they are part of an illegal broadcast in this Dublin DAB? The one in Cork isn't illegal, neither were their online broadcasts or their temporary licence runs over the last 8 or 9 years.

Franko87 · 09-09-2019 11:49pm

Declan where are you getting your infomation from as it is well short of the truth.

Franko87 · 09-09-2019 11:49pm

Declan where are you getting your infomation from as it is well short of the truth.

MrPops · 10-09-2019 12:35am

Franko87 wrote: »

Declan where are you getting your infomation from as it is well short of the truth.

So you're saying the FreeDAB multiplex is legal? That statement would fall well short of the truth. It is 100% illegal in both Dublin and Cork.

MrPops · 10-09-2019 1:34am

Franko87 wrote: »

Declan where are you getting your infomation from as it is well short of the truth.

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Zenith Classic Rock:
https://www.zenithclassicrock.com/

The presenters:
https://www.zenithclassicrock.com/presenters

Do they actually know that they are part of an illegal broadcast in this Dublin DAB? The one in Cork isn't illegal, neither were their online broadcasts or their temporary licence runs over the last 8 or 9 years.

FreeDAB is illegal in both Cork and Dublin, Declan.

Quite surprising to see Zenith listed as it is owned by a well known Broadcast Engineer attached with many licenced stations across the country.

Declan A Walsh · 10-09-2019 9:04am

MrPops wrote: »

FreeDAB is illegal in both Cork and Dublin, Declan.

Quite surprising to see Zenith listed as it is owned by a well known Broadcast Engineer attached with many licenced stations across the country.

Okay, I may be a bit confused about DAB in general. I'm not an expert. However, according to a previous post, Zenith had been involved a few years ago in a licensed trial DAB Multiplex in Dublin. Obviously, that is different from FreeDAB. As I say, I am not an expert! I saw elsewhere that they have been involved in a licensed DAB trial in Cork.

8Radio.com are currently available on DAB in Cork. Is that the same FreeDAB that is illegal? If so, there are some strange things happening in the radio world at the moment. They have also been on a number of temporary licenses including this year. In fact, they were available on DAB in Cork during their last temporary license run!

CORRECTION: 8Radio.com are on EIRDAB in Cork. I think that is different from FreeDAB from what I can see! So, that it probably not an issue at all.

JDxtra · 10-09-2019 9:45am

Hi Declan. The EirDab trial in Cork ended on August 5th of this year. During its one year trial it had carried UCB Ireland, Radio Maria, Juice Cork, RiRa, 8Radio and Christmas FM.

Franko87 · 10-09-2019 11:41am

News flash as if this morning eirdab has commenced broadcasting. Good to see them back and pushing dab .hats off to john and co.

ITV2 · 10-09-2019 1:02pm

in Cork or Dublin ?

Franko87 · 10-09-2019 1:20pm

There cork mux is now live did thay get a second trial I wonder ? There very quite if that's the case .just checked again and there off .my guess is someone hit the wrong switch on the site and accidentally turned on the mux. Or there actually testing .

paulwilson · 10-09-2019 7:52pm

Franko87 wrote: »

There cork mux is now live did thay get a second trial I wonder ? There very quite if that's the case .just checked again and there off .my guess is someone hit the wrong switch on the site and accidentally turned on the mux. Or there actually testing .

have been told from a very reliable source in the UK they are coming back as they have been granted another licence

radioguru02 · 10-09-2019 8:05pm

Declan A Walsh wrote: »

Okay, I may be a bit confused about DAB in general. I'm not an expert. However, according to a previous post, Zenith had been involved a few years ago in a licensed trial DAB Multiplex in Dublin. Obviously, that is different from FreeDAB. As I say, I am not an expert! I saw elsewhere that they have been involved in a licensed DAB trial in Cork.

8Radio.com are currently available on DAB in Cork. Is that the same FreeDAB that is illegal? If so, there are some strange things happening in the radio world at the moment. They have also been on a number of temporary licenses including this year. In fact, they were available on DAB in Cork during their last temporary license run!

CORRECTION: 8Radio.com are on EIRDAB in Cork. I think that is different from FreeDAB from what I can see! So, that it probably not an issue at all.

OK, to put it simply:
Zenith was both a legal FM/DAB temp a few years back, it is now being carried illegally on the FreeDAB muxes. 8radio was carried on the totally legal EirDAB

DAB Thread

Comments