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The Future of Longwave 252kHz (RTE Radio 1)

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  • 13-03-2013 1:03pm
    #1
    andym1
    Site Banned Posts: 194 ✭✭


    A friend working in RTE tells me the LW service based in Co Meath will cease this year. With the internet and smartphones its days are numbered plus I hear it is expensive to run power etc.
    I usually go to France in the summer and always got a half decent signal on LW


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    #2
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    Feck it. Always handy to have. Hmmm, just had a thought - rebroadcast BBC radio 5 live via a sat link ;)


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    #3
    withless
    Registered Users Posts: 8,741 ✭✭✭withless


    When will DAB be done properly with a whole bunch of stations in this stupid country?


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    #4
    Paul Jon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Paul Jon


    Troll thread fail. Lw 252 is NOT closing down.


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    #5
    Paul Jon
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3 ✭Paul Jon


    withless wrote: »
    When will DAB be done properly with a whole bunch of stations in this stupid country?

    why would this country bother with dab now? It is 20 years out of date now and has been a disaster in the uk.


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    #6
    Trick of the Tail
    Registered Users Posts: 1,319 ✭✭✭Trick of the Tail


    Its not 20 years out of date at all, with DAB+ its up to date and quite spectrum efficient. It's not a 'disaster' in the UK, but didn't take off as much as it should because the multiplex companies nstupidly charge enormous money for carriage.

    Instead of promoting it as a replacement for FM, they should have pushed it as an alternative, with more diversity and choice.

    Which is what should happen here. DAB is the ideal medium for smaller-business-model stations, specialist content, niche audiences etc - which the BAI are legally obliged to be promoting, but have not thus far.

    A.


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    #7
    andym1
    Site Banned Posts: 194 ✭✭andym1


    Paul Jon wrote: »
    Troll thread fail. Lw 252 is NOT closing down.
    He works there as an Engineer, not a troll, Why does somebodys fear extract a troll fear ? He works on transmission and LW IS closing down !


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    #8
    Rock Solid
    Registered Users Posts: 407 ✭✭Rock Solid


    The DAB signal in Tallaght and Saggart is terrible, has been rather weak since Christmas, many DAB stations breaking up or showing OFFAIR on the digital display, the DAB signal for Dublin seems to be coming from Three Rock and does not cover the city or county, its not worth having a DAB radio unless your near the transmitter or have a clear line to your local mast, I dont use my DAB anymore and have reverted to FM and web services. I listen to 252LW when down the country where RTE is weak.


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    #9
    twinklerunner
    Registered Users Posts: 902 ✭✭✭twinklerunner


    andym1 wrote: »
    A friend working in RTE tells me the LW service based in Co Meath will cease this year. With the internet and smartphones its days are numbered plus I hear it is expensive to run power etc.
    I usually go to France in the summer and always got a half decent signal on LW

    I wonder why RTE don't promote the fact that all their radio stations are available on Saorview - you never hear it announced on radio. At the top of the hour, BBC 5 Live announces that it's on digital tv, digital radio etc


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    #10
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    Back on topic, this has been on the cards for years. Yes, there will be a few, but very few, complaints. Probably mostly from people who don't actually listen to LW but believe that the service should continue to serve those who can't receive FM, i.e Irish living in the UK. I've heard those arguements before (yawn).
    As an alternative to FM, it is unsubstainable. As the old saying in radio goes, it would be cheaper to stick a CD of the programs in the post to every listener.

    It would be a pity to see 252 as a facility go. I'm convinced, with the right programing, it could generate more money that it currenty does. Maybe not enough to cover all costs, but as it is, it's a money pit.


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    #11
    Bummer1234
    Registered Users Posts: 1,829 ✭✭✭Bummer1234


    Bring back atlantic 252!!!


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    #12
    IrishHomer
    Registered Users Posts: 2,936 ✭✭✭IrishHomer


    Bummer1234 wrote: »
    Bring back atlantic 252!!!
    I'm originally from the area where the mast was erected, locals will rejoice if the antenna comes down, the was serious opposition to it ever going up, I used to listen to 252 in the local garage shop as the pirates had just been shut down and I was frowned on and told to turn off that station by local punters :)


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    #13
    Trick of the Tail
    Registered Users Posts: 1,319 ✭✭✭Trick of the Tail


    Oh I'm sure they're all used to it now!

    Besides, I'd doubt it'll be taken down. A tower of that size, with planning permission, is a great asset these days - it's exceedingly difficult to get permission to put them up now.

    A.


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    #14
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    In Clarkstown during the Atlantic 252 era you could probably listen to the radio on your pots and pans.


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    #15
    Infoanon
    Registered Users Posts: 4,619 ✭✭✭Infoanon


    How many split programmes are carried on the LW service now a days ?

    The Religious programs on a Sunday come to mind - there could be considerable fall out if the 252 service ends amongst listeners in that regard.


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    #16
    galtee boy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    I have a brother living in London who listens to it everyday on the radio in his work van, reception is quite good. He will be disappointed if this is true. How many more are like him around the UK ? Internet radio isn't an option in a van or car. Typical of Rte and this country. You don't see the BBC closing down medium wave or long wave, even though Five Live and Radio 4 LW are available on DAB, Internet , Satellite and Digital TV !


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    #17
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    galtee boy wrote: »
    I have a brother living in London who listens to it everyday on the radio in his work van, reception is quite good. He will be disappointed if this is true. How many more are like him around the UK ? Internet radio isn't an option in a van or car. Typical of Rte and this country. You don't see the BBC closing down medium wave or long wave, even though Five Live and Radio 4 LW are available on DAB, Internet , Satellite and Digital TV !

    I'm surprised he finds it good in London. Because of the terrain, i.e. a big set of hillls between here and there, reception has always been poor, even in the days of Atlantic 252 which was higher power.
    \BBC have already looked into closing down their local MW services. They conducted a series of temparary MW closures last year to gauge audience reaction. In some cases I believe no more than a handful of complaints were recieved. They've also stated that when the existing supply of valves for the LW tranmmiters run out, that service will also be discontinued.


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    #18
    L1011
    Moderators, Business & Finance Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 67,697 Mod ✭✭✭✭L1011


    The power needs are the only reason they'd even consider it, its not like the BBC LW service where they can't justify the cost of a new transmitter and when spares run out, its gone. RTE installed a brand new transmitter within the last decade.

    Can't see this happening any time soon, particularly not this year when they're trying to encourage the expat community to come here and spend money; not piss them off even more.


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    #19
    galtee boy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    I'm surprised he finds it good in London. Because of the terrain, i.e. a big set of hillls between here and there, reception has always been poor, even in the days of Atlantic 252 which was higher power.
    \BBC have already looked into closing down their local MW services. They conducted a series of temparary MW closures last year to gauge audience reaction. In some cases I believe no more than a handful of complaints were recieved. They've also stated that when the existing supply of valves for the LW tranmmiters run out, that service will also be discontinued.

    I've been there with him and reception is very listenable , it's not crystal clear by any means, but is good enough, except at night, when it gets cremated by stations from North Africa and elsewhere .


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    #20
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    MYOB wrote: »
    Can't see this happening any time soon, particularly not this year when they're trying to encourage the expat community to come here and spend money; not piss them off even more.
    Well I'm going to stick my neck out and say you're wrong. I do believe 252 will end this year. As I said in an a previous post, it's been on the cards for years.


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    #21
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    galtee boy wrote: »
    I've been there with him and reception is very listenable , it's not crystal clear by any means, but is good enough, except at night, when it gets cremated by stations from North Africa and elsewhere .
    Ok. It still doesn't pay for itself if theres only a few listeners to it.


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    #22
    galtee boy
    Registered Users Posts: 1,487 ✭✭✭galtee boy


    Fuzzy Clam wrote: »
    Ok. It still doesn't pay for itself if theres only a few listeners to it.

    By the way, at his house in South West London, he has a little iPod FM transmitter connected to a spare Freesat box and it retransmits RTE radio on FM in stereo, crystal clear around the house and well into the garden. I've done the same here for BBC Radio Five Live ( particularly for the sports and live football commentaries, which are blocked on the internet version ). The signal strength on those little iPod transmitters is very good, even one of my neighbours across the road, about 75m at least, picks it up clearly !


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    #23
    Greenman
    Registered Users Posts: 2,962 ✭✭✭Greenman


    I listen 5 days a week in my truck here in Belgium when I'm on my breaks. I like it alot and much more reliable than RTE radio on mobile internet who don't have any 24 or 32kbps streams:mad::mad::mad: .

    I hope it stays.

    I was amazed when there wasn't a beep when 567 was closed down.


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    #24
    Conway635
    Registered Users Posts: 400 ✭✭Conway635


    I was in the area today, and decided to do a drive past and get some pics for a friend in the UK who has been asking me if the rumors of closure (from here) are true.

    Pics are online here:

    http://steveconway.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/lw-252-tower-ireland-pics/

    I notice there is a planning application which, as well as retention of some existing modifications, seeks permission to paint the top 84m of mast in red and white bands, and to replace the existing warning light system.

    So they do seem to still want to retain the tower, if they are going to do work on it.

    C635


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    #25
    padd b1975
    Registered Users Posts: 10,703 ✭✭✭✭padd b1975


    Infoanon wrote: »
    How many split programmes are carried on the LW service now a days ?

    The Religious programs on a Sunday come to mind - there could be considerable fall out if the 252 service ends amongst listeners in that regard.
    There was extended coverage of Cheltenham during the past week on 252, it started at 1pm every day and right through until after the last race.

    Sometimes there will be coverage of an international soccer match.

    I remember back in 2006, there was fantastic coverage of the Ryder Cup on 252 as well.


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    #26
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    I'm not so sure about this myself. If so, then RTE have wasted a massive amount of money on their MW and LW sites. They temporarily closed MW to replace the mast insulators, then permanently closed the MW service about 3-4 years later. At Summerhill they replaced the transmitters with a DRM capable, but weaker, rig but only ever used DRM in late night testing. So the power is only a little over half of what it was in the Atlantic 252 days.

    I know someone in Irish Rail who has told me a few porkies over the years so I wouldn't believe everything I hear from staff. ;)

    I'm also dubious of the BBC's tales about the Droitwich site. The TX was only replaced in 1985 so it's not that old. I think it's two 250kW Marconi units.


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    #27
    MOONBABY240
    Closed Accounts Posts: 22 ✭MOONBABY240


    I'm really glad if it's true that its closing down, such a waste of money for a handful of listeners. people of all ages in this day in age should be able to use the tunein app on a smartphone


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    #28
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    MOONBABY240 wrote: »
    I'm really glad if it's true that its closing down, such a waste of money for a handful of listeners. people of all ages in this day in age should be able to use the tunein app on a smartphone

    If you're in a good signal area, yes. However I know of several places with no 3G where you'd struggle to get stable streaming.


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    #29
    mike65
    Closed Accounts Posts: 88,978 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    MOONBABY240 wrote: »
    I'm really glad if it's true that its closing down, such a waste of money for a handful of listeners. people of all ages in this day in age should be able to use the tunein app on a smartphone


    They have just been spending money on maintenance, they are not closing it down.


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    #30
    cml387
    Registered Users Posts: 8,363 ✭✭✭cml387


    MOONBABY240 wrote: »
    I'm really glad if it's true that its closing down, such a waste of money for a handful of listeners. people of all ages in this day in age should be able to use the tunein app on a smartphone

    I presume this is a joke.

    The 252 signal is free, as opposed to the rental ripoff prices you are paying 3g providers.

    The 198kHz signal is not going anywhere either in the short term, it being part of Britain's nuclear submarine comms system.


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    #31
    Fuzzy Clam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,293 ✭✭✭Fuzzy Clam


    mike65 wrote: »
    They have just been spending money on maintenance, they are not closing it down.

    Says you. Have you a souce?

    You obviously missed my post in another thread. Maintainence has to be carried out on the mast regardless whether the transmitter is or isn't going to be shut down.


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