DAB Thread

mackersdublin

Free-Dab in Dublin was off this afternoon. Did a rescan in the car and only the RTÉ Mux was available

JDxtra

Spotted that FreeDAB and some FM pirates are currently off air in Dublin.

JDxtra

FreeDAB back on in Dublin.

castle2012

Good range of stations on dab in Dublin. With rte shutting down would it be worth moving close to the rtes dab site? It definitely would be picked up by more people. After all so many live in the outskirts of Dublin

Smash Dublin

There's going to be major upgrades early in the new year I've heard 👀

fmfan

Smash Dublin wrote: »

There's going to be major upgrades early in the new year I've heard ��

Hi Smash Dublin your station sounds great. Will you be on the freedab?

end of the road

fmfan wrote: »

Hi Smash Dublin your station sounds great. Will you be on the freedab?

they already are as far as i understand.

Eric Cartman

Did a rescan thismorning in santry and got the freeDAB mux for the first time on my non DAB+ compatible tuner in my range rover, happy out now as I can listen to 90s jams.

radioguru02

Any up-to-date FreeDAB lists for different areas?

Franko87

pirateradiohed wrote: »

Any up-to-date FreeDAB lists for different areas?

Waterford launches January.

rogue-entity

Former Former wrote: »

Those are all pertinent points but they're arguments as to why internet radio isn't a replacement for FM, they're not arguments for why we need DAB.

DAB answers the questions: How do you scale "Internet Radio"; how do you bring "Internet radio" to your car without relying on a phone & Bluetooth connection.

Folks gravitate to Internet Radio because it allows them to listen to a station not broadcast in their area on FM, for those of us that don't live in Dublin, this means being able to listen to more than just RTE and the local and adjacent monopolies.

In my case, that means being able to listen to Zenith or Radio1 Extra, stations I actually want to listen to in spite of efforts by others to deny me that.

Franko87 wrote: »

Waterford launches January.

Very nice, you've achieved in less than a year, what RTE was unwilling to do.

Franko87

rogue-entity wrote: »

DAB answers the questions: How do you scale "Internet Radio"; how do you bring "Internet radio" to your car without relying on a phone & Bluetooth connection.

Folks gravitate to Internet Radio because it allows them to listen to a station not broadcast in their area on FM, for those of us that don't live in Dublin, this means being able to listen to more than just RTE and the local and adjacent monopolies.

In my case, that means being able to listen to Zenith or Radio1 Extra, stations I actually want to listen to in spite of efforts by others to deny me that.


Very nice, you've achieved in less than a year, what RTE was unwilling to do.

It is a struggle. But the goal that was set is being achieved. Just to update all here on the current events


January 2020.
Cork multiplex is being upgraded (coverage )
Dublin multiplex is being upgraded (coverage)
Dundalk multiplex is being upgraded (coverage)
Waterford multiplex. (Being launched)
Sligo multiplex .(under test .)
South west multiplex is being planned and site secured.

Testing in Sligo? Thats great,did you finally get a site? When are you hoping to launch in Sligo?

Franko87

zorro2566 wrote: »

Testing in Sligo? Thats great,did you finally get a site? When are you hoping to launch in Sligo?

This is tba

Jonny one

The RTE dab transmitters will cease broadcasting on April 13th 2020.

Dipole Keith

Jonny one wrote: »

The RTE dab transmitters will cease broadcasting on April 13th 2020.

Sure 252LW is closing down years at this stage, I can’t see it happening, There’s a huge campaign to try & save RTE Gold, I’d imagine that date will be extended.

avidlistener

it would be great if RTE gold’s lifeline were to be extended but it seems unlikely as there has been a lot happening this week which indicates that the winding down has been set in motion e.g this weekend is unfortunately the last for the weekend presenters.

JDxtra

It's going, they can't save everything. Gold had momentum, shame it can't continue on automation even on other platforms.

lengon

Jonny one wrote: »

The RTE dab transmitters will cease broadcasting on April 13th 2020.

Where does that info come from?

Jonny one

lengon wrote: »

Where does that info come from?

From a DM on twitter from one of the departing weekend djs.

SPDUB

Jonny one wrote: »

The RTE dab transmitters will cease broadcasting on April 13th 2020.

That's Easter Monday , a bank holiday.

Seems odd that they would do it on that day .

Infoanon

Nails Mahoney has also tweeted that it is his last show this weekend.

However he has tweeted that he is starting on UnitedDJS in the New Year.

RTE shut down their MW service on Easter Monday back in the day.

castle2012

Trax Dublin posted today some upgrades in Dublin. Can anyone report has the reception improved or is it changes to the line up?

hustlergraham

castle2012 wrote: »

Trax Dublin posted today some upgrades in Dublin. Can anyone report has the reception improved or is it changes to the line up?

I can confirm it's much better in North Dublin. Before I needed the antenna to be near an upstairs window, now I can get it freely throughout the house. Haven't had any reception loss yet.

ford fiesta

Why oh why cant RTE continue their Digital radio stations on the internet and on Saorview, Virgin, Eir TV platforms etc..?

hustlergraham

ford fiesta wrote: »

Why oh why cant RTE continue their Digital radio stations on the internet and on Saorview, Virgin, Eir TV platforms etc..?

Money. Would still cost at bit to run them online, and on them platforms also. What they are doing is ridiculous. I can think of a lot of other things RTE can rid of instead of DAB.

end of the road

ford fiesta wrote: »

Why oh why cant RTE continue their Digital radio stations on the internet and on Saorview, Virgin, Eir TV platforms etc..?

keeping them on virgin and itv platforms probably would be a bit of a cost in fairness, saorview probably not so much, but even then listening to radio via tv would be a minority activity as it's fixed listening (you can't take it anywhere) unlike fm, dab where it exists and internet where it is genuinely reliable enough to use it for listening on the move.
keeping them online would be cheap as chips though as they could and would in all likely hood be automated if in the event they did stay online after all. getting them off terrestrial platforms will save some money but removing them offline will save very very little to nothing, certainly nothing that will help their situation.

Jonny one

hustlergraham wrote: »

I can think of a lot of other things RTE can rid of instead of DAB.

Apart from presenters pay, everything RTE ever propose cutting gets a backlash from the public and politicians.

ford fiesta

end of the road wrote: »

keeping them on virgin and itv platforms probably would be a bit of a cost in fairness, saorview probably not so much, but even then listening to radio via tv would be a minority activity as it's fixed listening (you can't take it anywhere) unlike fm, dab where it exists and internet where it is genuinely reliable enough to use it for listening on the move.

Galway Bay FM are on the Virgin TV platform nationwide !!! If they can afford it, RTE certainly can !

Infoanon

RTE Gold and the other RTE Dab only stations are a cost.No revenue is generated.

RTE Gold incurs significant costs for presenters , studios,royalties , transmission facilities etc

While it may be low hanging fruit in the commercial reality that we live in it has to close.

You can argue that RnaG is a bigger cost but imagine the back lash if you put closing RnaG on the table.

Possibly why Lyric was mentioned thus making the closure of Gold more palatable.

Infoanon

ford fiesta wrote: »

Galway Bay FM are on the Virgin TV platform nationwide !!! If they can afford it, RTE certainly can !

RTE don't pay VM for carriage afaik

Smash Dublin

New Stations added on FreeDab Box UK & Dance UK

Mortelaro

When is rte gold closing?
When is rte dab going off air?
I'll certainly miss gold

Rte spending 70 million+ all borrowed,on DTT was a mistake imho
Satellite for rural areas would have been much chesper

Jonny one

Mortelaro wrote: »

When is rte gold closing?
When is rte dab going off air?
I'll certainly miss gold

Dab is closing Easter 2020 but my guess is an automated jukebox gold stream will continue online & maybe on saorview.The thing about RTE Gold is, it doesn't have any friends & political clout the way Lyric or longwave had. In fact I'd wager local radio stations are probably lobbying TDs for the demise of Dab.

Former Former

Jonny one wrote: »

Dab is closing Easter 2020 but my guess is an automated jukebox gold stream will continue online & maybe on saorview.The thing about RTE Gold is, it doesn't have any friends & political clout the way Lyric or longwave had. In fact I'd wager local radio stations are probably lobbying TDs for the demise of Dab.

I doubt local radio stations give a shyte about DAB to be honest. None of their audience does and none of the digital stations are taking advertising revenue, so why would they?

DAB and the digital stations are non - core businesses which lose money. They were always going to be in line for the chop if cuts were needed.

Lyric, RnaG and LW are at least filling some sort of public service remit.

Hamsterchops

WiFi radio is the only way to go .....

Tried really hard to get into DAB radio several years ago, but the choice & poor quality of signal here in the ROI was so limited as to be worthless, so I gave up.

Totally addicted to WiFi radio though, with an unlimited selection of stations & genres.

Franko87

Hamsterchops wrote: »

WiFi radio is the only way to go .....

Tried really hard to get into DAB radio several years ago, but the choice & poor quality of signal here in the ROI was so limited as to be worthless, so I gave up.

Totally addicted to WiFi radio though, with an unlimited selection of stations & genres.

There is not much difference between wifi radio and DAB .as DAB is the same concept as online radio with the difference that it is modulated onto a carrier signal and broadcast .Regarding the coverage of DAB In Ireland. The poor coverage is due to lack of infrastructure in place for DAB .RTE are runing low power multiplexes (300watts or so) with services that can be found on any conventional fm radio (appart from gold pulse what have you . Personally I am of the feeling that DAB Will eventually take off in Ireland if its pushed but with the BAI to afraid to risk jeopardising the comfy position there in with Fm it will remain open for pirate to take advantage of .

marno21

Mortelaro wrote: »

When is rte gold closing?
When is rte dab going off air?
I'll certainly miss gold

Rte spending 70 million+ all borrowed,on DTT was a mistake imho
Satellite for rural areas would have been much chesper

RTENL condensed 188 analogue sites into 64 digital sites, and increased the population coverage in the process.

The number of sites covering "rural" areas is quite small

Hamsterchops

Franko87 wrote: »

There is not much difference between wifi radio and DAB .as DAB is the same concept as online radio with the difference that it is modulated onto a carrier signal and broadcast . .

A common mistake people make when they hear this, and then take a trip to Curry's or Power City & buy a DAB radio (presuming they can listen to BBC Radio 4)

...but they can't, because DAB only transmits short distances within borders, so BBC radio is not on the menu on a DAB radio in the ROI. Looking at my trusty Roberts 93i there is a choice of FM, DAB or Internet radio, which is where I'm at these days ...

I realise that the signal transmitted via internet radio is Digital, but that's WiFi/internet radio > which should not be confused with DAB.

Franko87

Hamsterchops wrote: »

A common mistake people make when they hear this, and then take a trip to Curry's or Power City & buy a DAB radio (presuming they can listen to BBC Radio 4)

...but they can't, because DAB only transmits short distances within borders, so BBC radio is not on the menu on a DAB radio in the ROI. Looking at my trusty Roberts 93i there is a choice of FM, DAB or Internet radio, which is where I'm at these days ...

I realise that the signal transmitted via internet radio is Digital, but that's WiFi/internet radio > which should not be confused with DAB.

My apologies mabe I explained it not to your understanding .yes there is a distinct difference . Internet radio and DAB . Internet radio is only useful if you have an internet connection.( fine if your at home.) The primary concept of dab is on the go listening click and go . Today's internet provides will charge you a arm and a leg for data usage . Now if that was not the case then things would be different If the infastructre was there for DAB (coverage) then your views would he different. You can't presently rate something that is not really rateable at present. Btw. May I ask roughly what location are you based .cork Dublin Midlands. Ect.?

Hamsterchops

Thanks Frank, but even with a good DAB infrastructure I still wouldn't get the Beeb on DAB, hence it would be no good to me.

I'm South Dublin.

Franko87

Hamsterchops wrote: »

Thanks Frank, but even with a good DAB infrastructure I still wouldn't get the Beeb on DAB, hence it would be no good to me.
I'm South Dublin.

With all due respect. I appreciate your view on DAB as you have your right to make your own opinion .however needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. In lamens terms one means opinion is a far cry from the reality of what should be . I wish you a happy new year sir.ðŸ˜

castle2012

Franko87 wrote: »

With all due respect. I appreciate your view on DAB as you have your right to make your own opinion .however needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. In lamens terms one means opinion is a far cry from the reality of what should be . I wish you a happy new year sir.ðŸ˜

Hi Frank, Over the last few days I have been able to pick up freedab in South Drogheda. Its very glichy unfortunately. Is there any plans to improve? I know the rté Mux is perfect, Maybe it's the site

Franko87

castle2012 wrote: »

Hi Frank, Over the last few days I have been able to pick up freedab in South Drogheda. Its very glichy unfortunately. Is there any plans to improve? I know the rté Mux is perfect, Maybe it's the site

Hi sir .yes we have not yes finished with the Dublin mux. Unfortunately our spectrum mask filter is limited to the amount of power that can broadcast to there for another critical spectral mask filter had to he orderd in order to A keep within the legal limits required (whether licenced or unlicensed its prudent to keep within the requirements) B increase power that is allowed by the new filter to achive a more robust signal.

castle2012

Franko87 wrote: »

Hi sir .yes we have not yes finished with the Dublin mux. Unfortunately our spectrum mask filter is limited to the amount of power that can broadcast to there for another critical spectral mask filter had to he orderd in order to A keep within the legal limits required (whether licenced or unlicensed its prudent to keep within the requirements) B increase power that is allowed by the new filter to achive a more robust signal.

That's great news. Great idea with freedab. So many of us including myself bought a new car with Dab included. I can see the project working very well. Best of luck for 2020

Mr Snow

Will freedab ever come to Cavan and Monaghan and also Northern Ireland any time soon?

Franko87

Mr Snow wrote: »

Will freedab ever come to Cavan and Monaghan and also Northern Ireland any time soon?

Mr snow . We will announce new multiplexes in the second half of 2020 for now our multiplexes are as follows .

DUBLIN.
CORK
DONIGAL
WATERFORD .(GOES LIVE ON THE 26TH OF JANUARY. )

Franko87

Looks like the DIGITAL era is takeing a step forward as DB digital prepair for there trial .

http://dbdb.ie

kazoo106

I've been looking at the website - they apparently going to simulcast their 10 stations in DAB and DAB+ (if and when they get a trial license)

This just about leaves enough room for the 10 DAB stations to be broadcast in 64k mono while the DAB+ simulcast has just enough space for 40k stereo

This is not going to be better quality than FM !

Franko87

kazoo106 wrote: »

I've been looking at the website - they apparently going to simulcast their 10 stations in DAB and DAB+ (if and when they get a trial license)

This just about leaves enough room for the 10 DAB stations to be broadcast in 64k mono while the DAB+ simulcast has just enough space for 40k stereo

This is not going to be better quality than FM !

Indeed .this begs the question why try this when the outcome will be the same .( trial only) it's been done and done done .