Rugby Ref Link

AnnaStezia

Do any of you techie radio heads know the frequency used by the reflink radio system at rugby internationals please ?

I have a trusty Roberts personal radio and am wondering where I can find the transmission ?

Thanks.

damienom

It was 92.1 in Lansdowne Road, not sure if that'll be the same as Croker.

Great for us tight bastards who don't want to fork out......

BrianD

Looks like it's 96.0Mhz. From the BCI web site

IRFU 96.0MHz 21st, 22nd, 23rd October 2006

11th, 19th, 26th November 2006

9th, 10th, 11th December 2006

11th, 24th February 2007

Just bring a standard radio and tune up and down 'till you find it!

DMC

And you will need to be near the stadium to pick it up, its as low a power as a hospital radio.

Antenna

They were selling "Ref-Link radios" for 10 Euros each to the arriving supporters. These being little earphone radios I presume preset to the frequency concerned!

Something else to make money on!

I expect many supporters wouldn't realise they could use their own radio (many would have had radios on phones, MP3 players etc) - It would appear the frequency doesn't be advertised at the stadium (otherwise the OP wouldn't be asking about it)!

damienom wrote:

Great for us tight bastards who don't want to fork out......

I wonder are the radios just 'throw-away' afterwards, or can they be re-tuned by the purchaser to a different frequency etc

tbh

Antenna wrote:

They were selling "Ref-Link radios" for 10 Euros each to the arriving supporters. These being little earphone radios I presume preset to the frequency concerned!

Something else to make money on!

I expect many supporters wouldn't realise they could use their own radio (many would have had radios on phones, MP3 players etc) - It would appear the frequency doesn't be advertised at the stadium (otherwise the OP wouldn't be asking about it)!


I wonder are the radios just 'throw-away' afterwards, or can they be re-tuned by the purchaser to a different frequency etc

tbh, I'd have no problem paying a tenner to get the ref-link. I wouldn't want to bring my own radio to the game, and I know I don't have to buy a reflink, but I think it adds to the enjoyment of the game.

I always thought tho, that it'd be a good promo for a radio station to give away radio kits that were preset to their frequency and couldn't be changed. Kits like that could hardly be expensive and could be branded with the station branding. Maybe in a few years we'll all be getting free radios instead of newspapers!

mikedragon32

tbh wrote:

tbh, I'd have no problem paying a tenner to get the ref-link. I wouldn't want to bring my own radio to the game, and I know I don't have to buy a reflink, but I think it adds to the enjoyment of the game.

I always thought tho, that it'd be a good promo for a radio station to give away radio kits that were preset to their frequency and couldn't be changed. Kits like that could hardly be expensive and could be branded with the station branding. Maybe in a few years we'll all be getting free radios instead of newspapers!

Newstalk gave away such radios for Leinster games a while back. Got a couple for the Bourgoine game in Lansdowne road as they were doing commentary.

To be honest, it depends entirely on the Ref as to whether or not the Ref-link is worth tuning into. Somebody like Tony Spreadbury is a super ref to listen to, as is Alain Rolland or Steve Walsh as they have a bit of personality. Somebody like Chang-leng (spl?) would make me tune my radio to the commentary on whatever station is covering the match.

As for antenna's question. The batteries in the Ref-link are good for about 8 games, but they're not tuneable, so if they change frequency, you're stuck.

radioman

tbh wrote:

I always thought tho, that it'd be a good promo for a radio station to give away radio kits that were preset to their frequency and couldn't be changed. Kits like that could hardly be expensive and could be branded with the station branding. Maybe in a few years we'll all be getting free radios instead of newspapers!

I won one like that from 2fm, way back in about 1988! It was like the tiny one-button-scan fm radios you can get but it was preset to the 2fm frequency and couldnt be changed. Lasted me about 2 weeks I think

jonnyh

Does anyone know where i could source ref links from? Thanks

tbh

jonnyh wrote: »

Does anyone know where i could source ref links from? Thanks

they usually sell them outside the stadium, or a pocket radio might work as well, depending on the frequency used.

Actually this thread reminded me of one of my favourite things during a rugby game, when the ref makes a joke, and about 1/5 of the stadium (with the ref-link) all laugh at the same time - don't know why I like that so much, but I do

jonnyh

Thanks m8, im looking to buy in bulk for my rugby club. Was wondering if there was a way i could buy them at source? ie from the manufacturer? thanks

tbh

A company called Redstone Radios supply the IRFU, can't find contact details for them on the net tho. The IRFU might be able to help. Also, found this:

RUGBY REFLINK LTD
Rugby House,
Rugby Road
Twickenham, TW1 1DS (GB)

jonnyh

Thanks alot, thats brilliant

Plates

Hi all,

I've checked the BCI website but there are no details of a temporary license for Croke Park. Does anyone know if they're still broadcasting Ref Link on 96.0mhz?

BrianD

Just bring any FM radio with you and tune up and down the band till you find it. Possible frequencies are 96.0, 92.1 or 97.3. Tune about and I'm sure you'll know when you find it!