(Source: Radio Today)
RTÉ Radio 1 has reappeared on 252 LW after being off-air for the last six weeks for significant remedial works.
The essential maintenance work will ensure the service can continue for at least another couple of years, according to a Fine Gael TD.
Chair of the Oireachtas Communications Committee, Hildegarde Naughton, welcomed RTE’s decision to undertake the work earlier this year. Deputy Naughton said: “The maintenance of long wave radio for the Irish diaspora is a significant concern to the Committee. The UK regulator, Ofcom, will not grant RTÉ, as a non-UK broadcaster, the necessary licence to broadcast on digital in the UK at this time.
“I welcome the efforts being made to continue this service, which serves as an invaluable link between the diaspora and home.
“However I intend to work with the committee to explore other longer-term alternative solutions to ensure this service continues.”
RTÉ has explored broadcasting on at least one DAB multiplex in the UK but has yet to gain permission, as Ofcom only allows UK-registered companies to be granted a licence.
RTE should have kept the MW 567 station operational, there are a lot more MW capable radios especially these days in cars, and more and more modern cars are just DAB/FM DAB coverage in Ireland is deplorable with only a few RTE stations at low quality MP2 invented in 1986 and they try to preach that “modern” digital is better and offers so much more ? no it does not.
I doubt RTE even run the LW transmitter at it’s full 500 Kw. Probably more like 100.
I was impressed though when we drove to Wales last year and into Birmingham, LW 252 was crystal clear the entire time unlike a lot of local MW stations I tried when I was there, luckily the Outlander has a really great Stereo that has a very good quality Receiver on LW/MW.
Dafydd Jones I agree with your recent comments concerning the RTE 252 kHz reception in the evenings.
Wiped out over most of the areas within 50 to 100 km of the south coast here in Ireland . See the comments on the Radio Today internet site on Oct.26th.
Basically the ‘youngsters’ in RTE have no regard for longwave transmission and are busy playing with their digital toys ( narrowcasting rather than broadcasting ) and the bean counters want it gone.
I’m about 6km west of the Cork city ( Togher ) transmitter and can see the mast , but DAB is directed some 180 degrees from me , result NIL reception. As far as I am concerned DAB = Dead And Buried.
Unfortunately longwave is missing from most cars now and ‘transistors’ with it have a very poor specification mostly. Long live longwave !
Further to my previous post! I tuned into RTE on 252 Long Wave at 10pm,tonight (BST). The intention was to listen to the political debate show,’Late Debate’. My initial thought was that the program had been replaced;or that I’d,somehow,looked at the wrong day on their program schedule (via the RTE website). Then the music ended and I realised that I was actually listening to Chaine 3 (Algeria)! The signal absolutely blasting in & completely obliterating RTE! After a few minutes I could hear some Irish accents,very faintly,in the background. I had no option but to give up!! It was totaly un-listenable! This with the narrowest filter on my Tecsun Pl-880. One thing’s for sure,the diaspora who rely on 252,will have been either listening to Chaine 3,for the duration of the program;given up and switched on the tv,instead;or maybe (as is the practice of some elderly folk) retired to bed! Fortunately,by the time they get up,their favourite radio station will be getting somewhere,close to,listenable again! I!! On a more positive note,I was able to enjoy listening until around 7.38 pm tonight;when I switched off! But as the evenings draw in & the clocks go back here,in the uk,the interference from Algeria is only get worse!
I meant,”will only get worse!” (rolls eyes!!). Regarding DRM. I understand the transmitter is DRM capable. But if they won’t even boost the output,let alone move to a clear frequency,I can’t see RTE using this mode of transmission. Also,I really doubt that any of the,predominantly (apparently) elderly diaspora,who campaigned for the retention of 252,will have a DRM capable radio?!! Thanks for the input,though!
Dafydd,
Digital Radio Mondiale is able to give clear reception even in stereo even in the long wave band, however I don’t know of any receivers which will tune down that far. It may be better to go to a High Frequency (Short Wave ) frequency where receivers and new transmitters are available. If the power is appropriate they could cover most of Europe from a single transmitter.
http://www.drm.org for more information and demos of sound quality.
Good news! I live in West Wales,and listen to RTE 1,on 252,every day,on my pocket sized (Roberts R9962) radio,when I’m out and about,walking around town. The signal is very good,during the day. (I used to listen to France Inter,on 162,as well,before they switched it off!) As far as reception is concerned,since maintenance was completed;reception is pretty much the same! In other words,as the sun goes down,the interference from the Algerian transmitter gets more and more intrusive. Even with the narrowest filter on my Tecsun Pl-880,listening becomes a struggle,to the point where RTE 1,is totally un-listenable. At least with any degree of enjoyment! What must it be like for the elderly diaspora (who campaigned for the retention of Long Wave transmissions) on your average domestic radio!!! (Later on,the signal does begin to improve a little;but it’s still not much fun!) Yesterday evening,in desperation,I even tried experimenting,by switching the radio to SSB,;using the fine tuning control,until the howling stopped! It did help a teeny bit. But,not exactly a fun way to listen!! And useless for music!! I understand that some people are of the opinion that RTE are still anxious to get rid of 252,and are,purposely, “running it down”! I think the conspiracy theorists (smiley!) are probably right? In fact,I’d be surprised if they weren’t!! From their point of view,the worse the quality of the signal at night,the more reason to get rid of it. Boosting the power of the transmitter,or moving the frequency to 261 (I believe?) as,some have suggested improves reception,for those who prefer to use a traditional analogue radio,meaning less reason to upgrade to DAB,or an internet platform. Which is the last thing RTE want! At any rate;for anyone who loves analogue radio,and was,forlornly,hoping that the signal might be improved at night;prepare to be sorely disappointed! I should point out. I do listen to the radio via the internet,and Freeview,at times;or if there’s no alternative! I’m just one of that generation who get a buzz out of listening to a radio station,via a signal struggling through hundreds,or even thousands of miles,of atmosphere!! Ireland is a little closer to home,of course! Incidentally,I’ll be listening to BBC Radio Scotland,on 810khz,with the help of my Tecsun AN-200.loop,later! I get a good signal,at this time of year,from around teatime.
Dafydd,
Digital Radio Mondiale is able to give clear reception even in stereo even in the long wave band, however I don’t know of any receivers which will tune down that far. It may be better to go to a High Frequency (Short Wave ) frequency where receivers and new transmitters are available. If the power is appropriate they could cover most of Europe from a single transmitter.
http://www.drm.org for more information and demos of sound quality.