Wonder why either station couldn’t afford the subscription ?
With regard to Coast, we are still on and are staying on with Ulster Mux as the coverage is fantastic. With regard to Belfast/Lisburn, we decided to drop off as the coverage was disappointing for the carriage charged. For a dedicated Belfast station I can see the value but the second you leave the city the signal dropped. Reports said it was a bit dodgy in places in the city on a portable although the main city center was excellent. Lisburn coverage was just a disaster with over half of Lisburn getting no signal. With all that considered we decided it wasn't worth continuing and instead have increased TX power and expanded FM coverage in Tenerife
Reception of the Belfast / Lisburn mux is fine here in South Antrim, bearing in mind Belfast / Lisburn has a population of over 500,000 people, so far more potential listeners than South Down. I’ve had no problems with reception driving around the city, and it’s pretty sold as far as Cultra on the Co. Down side, and Carrickfergus on the Co. Antrim side.
I haven’t been in Lisburn for a while, so I can’t say whet reception is like around there.
Still, you know what’s best for the station.
As I said in my previous response, the signal in the city center of Belfast is excellent. Drive up towards Belfast zoo and its non existent, the roads between Belfast and Lisburn are very patchy/non existent signal. Go towards Sprucefield, a journey many would do and its dropping out constantly. The west side of Lisburn is no signal at all. I think this is possibly an issue with many SSDAB multiplexes, low power just doesn't cut it for DAB. People will put up with a weak FM signal but a weak DAB signal constantly on/off is an immediate switch off for most. As I explained in my other previous post, Northern Ireland was something we decided to give a go, we decided our time and efforts were better used concentrating on the Canary islands. We are remaining on air on Ulstermux and get a reasonable response. The decision to remove ourselves from Belfast/Lisburn is not a matter of 'couldn’t afford the subscription ' its looking at what we consider is worth spending money on. We will be looking at the new Ulstermux area in Fermanagh, if the coverage is as good as Newry we will probably add ourselves to that in the future.
Wonder why either station couldn’t afford the subscription ?
With regard to Coast, we are still on and are staying on with Ulster Mux as the coverage is fantastic. With regard to Belfast/Lisburn, we decided to drop off as the coverage was disappointing for the carriage charged. For a dedicated Belfast station I can see the value but the second you leave the city the signal dropped. Reports said it was a bit dodgy in places in the city on a portable although the main city center was excellent. Lisburn coverage was just a disaster with over half of Lisburn getting no signal. With all that considered we decided it wasn't worth continuing and instead have increased TX power and expanded FM coverage in Tenerife
Reception of the Belfast / Lisburn mux is fine here in South Antrim, bearing in mind Belfast / Lisburn has a population of over 500,000 people, so far more potential listeners than South Down. I’ve had no problems with reception driving around the city, and it’s pretty sold as far as Cultra on the Co. Down side, and Carrickfergus on the Co. Antrim side.
I haven’t been in Lisburn for a while, so I can’t say whet reception is like around there.
Still, you know what’s best for the station.
As I said in my previous response, the signal in the city center of Belfast is excellent. Drive up towards Belfast zoo and its non existent, the roads between Belfast and Lisburn are very patchy/non existent signal. Go towards Sprucefield, a journey many would do and its dropping out constantly. The west side of Lisburn is no signal at all. I think this is possibly an issue with many SSDAB multiplexes, low power just doesn't cut it for DAB. People will put up with a weak FM signal but a weak DAB signal constantly on/off is an immediate switch off for most. As I explained in my other previous post, Northern Ireland was something we decided to give a go, we decided our time and efforts were better used concentrating on the Canary islands. We are remaining on air on Ulstermux and get a reasonable response. The decision to remove ourselves from Belfast/Lisburn is not a matter of 'couldn’t afford the subscription ' its looking at what we consider is worth spending money on. We will be looking at the new Ulstermux area in Fermanagh, if the coverage is as good as Newry we will probably add ourselves to that in the future.
I can drive from Carrickfergus to the Abbey Centre and the signal is solid. I’m actually surprised at how well the 100 watt transmitter at Belfast Central gets out.
Yes, I’d imagine it would be patchy around Belfast zoo, and Glengormley too,since you’d be shielded by Cave Hill, but over the East , South, and West of the city the signal is excellent, and all the way to Hollywood and beyond. I get a perfect signal on various portable radios here in South Antrim.
Indeed, I would imagine in South Down the coverage is excellent, with half a dozen low powered transmitters, but I read a while back it doesn’t get into Newcastle for example, and much of South Down is sparsely populated ( even 4G / 5G coverage is poor ), The areas in Belfast the signal does reach would have a much large population than South Down.
Wonder why either station couldn’t afford the subscription ?
With regard to Coast, we are still on and are staying on with Ulster Mux as the coverage is fantastic. With regard to Belfast/Lisburn, we decided to drop off as the coverage was disappointing for the carriage charged. For a dedicated Belfast station I can see the value but the second you leave the city the signal dropped. Reports said it was a bit dodgy in places in the city on a portable although the main city center was excellent. Lisburn coverage was just a disaster with over half of Lisburn getting no signal. With all that considered we decided it wasn't worth continuing and instead have increased TX power and expanded FM coverage in Tenerife
Reception of the Belfast / Lisburn mux is fine here in South Antrim, bearing in mind Belfast / Lisburn has a population of over 500,000 people, so far more potential listeners than South Down. I’ve had no problems with reception driving around the city, and it’s pretty sold as far as Cultra on the Co. Down side, and Carrickfergus on the Co. Antrim side.
I haven’t been in Lisburn for a while, so I can’t say whet reception is like around there.
Still, you know what’s best for the station.
As I said in my previous response, the signal in the city center of Belfast is excellent. Drive up towards Belfast zoo and its non existent, the roads between Belfast and Lisburn are very patchy/non existent signal. Go towards Sprucefield, a journey many would do and its dropping out constantly. The west side of Lisburn is no signal at all. I think this is possibly an issue with many SSDAB multiplexes, low power just doesn't cut it for DAB. People will put up with a weak FM signal but a weak DAB signal constantly on/off is an immediate switch off for most. As I explained in my other previous post, Northern Ireland was something we decided to give a go, we decided our time and efforts were better used concentrating on the Canary islands. We are remaining on air on Ulstermux and get a reasonable response. The decision to remove ourselves from Belfast/Lisburn is not a matter of 'couldn’t afford the subscription ' its looking at what we consider is worth spending money on. We will be looking at the new Ulstermux area in Fermanagh, if the coverage is as good as Newry we will probably add ourselves to that in the future.
Was listening on the Newry Mux seems to be a lot of adverts for Belfast, very strange considering you left the Belfast Mux recently. Nice station just a pity not province wide.
Wonder why either station couldn’t afford the subscription ?
With regard to Coast, we are still on and are staying on with Ulster Mux as the coverage is fantastic. With regard to Belfast/Lisburn, we decided to drop off as the coverage was disappointing for the carriage charged. For a dedicated Belfast station I can see the value but the second you leave the city the signal dropped. Reports said it was a bit dodgy in places in the city on a portable although the main city center was excellent. Lisburn coverage was just a disaster with over half of Lisburn getting no signal. With all that considered we decided it wasn't worth continuing and instead have increased TX power and expanded FM coverage in Tenerife
Reception of the Belfast / Lisburn mux is fine here in South Antrim, bearing in mind Belfast / Lisburn has a population of over 500,000 people, so far more potential listeners than South Down. I’ve had no problems with reception driving around the city, and it’s pretty sold as far as Cultra on the Co. Down side, and Carrickfergus on the Co. Antrim side.
I haven’t been in Lisburn for a while, so I can’t say whet reception is like around there.
Still, you know what’s best for the station.
As I said in my previous response, the signal in the city center of Belfast is excellent. Drive up towards Belfast zoo and its non existent, the roads between Belfast and Lisburn are very patchy/non existent signal. Go towards Sprucefield, a journey many would do and its dropping out constantly. The west side of Lisburn is no signal at all. I think this is possibly an issue with many SSDAB multiplexes, low power just doesn't cut it for DAB. People will put up with a weak FM signal but a weak DAB signal constantly on/off is an immediate switch off for most. As I explained in my other previous post, Northern Ireland was something we decided to give a go, we decided our time and efforts were better used concentrating on the Canary islands. We are remaining on air on Ulstermux and get a reasonable response. The decision to remove ourselves from Belfast/Lisburn is not a matter of 'couldn’t afford the subscription ' its looking at what we consider is worth spending money on. We will be looking at the new Ulstermux area in Fermanagh, if the coverage is as good as Newry we will probably add ourselves to that in the future.
Was listening on the Newry Mux seems to be a lot of adverts for Belfast, very strange considering you left the Belfast Mux recently. Nice station just a pity not province wide.
I enjoyed the station when it was Classic Hits NI with live presenters. A shame they scrapped that format.
I wonder if the Ards Peninsula mux will launch sometime in the new year, maybe January / February, since they did state in their license application they hoped to be on air within six months, given the transmitter site at Craigantlet was already being used for radio communications ?
Bauer's Tayside multiplex has just enabled DAB+. Thus, the much-repeated prediction that the Northern Ireland multiplex will enable DAB+ this year could yet prove to be correct. However, Tayside may have been DAB+-enabled ahead of the other Bauer multiplexes due to other broadcasters wanting to lease capacity on it.
Bauer's Tayside multiplex has just enabled DAB+. Thus, the much-repeated prediction that the Northern Ireland multiplex will enable DAB+ this year could yet prove to be correct. However, Tayside may have been DAB+-enabled ahead of the other Bauer multiplexes due to other broadcasters wanting to lease capacity on it.
Interesting.
Even if it doesn’t happen this year, it can’t be too far off.
I’d imagine the Bauer duplicates will switch to DAB+, and hopefully Q Radio along with U 105.
On the Belfast / Lisburn SS DAB mux, removal of Like Pop, Like Retro, and Like Country. Like Radio remains.
Addition of Mixtape Radio, POP DAB, and The Amp, all at 40 Kbps. Mixtape Radio are promoting the Nation Radio Player.
Interestingly, all three of these "new" stations are on the Like website, alongside Like Anthems, but Like Pop and Like Retro are not. The website states that the various stations are run by "multiple different entities worldwide"
On the Belfast / Lisburn SS DAB mux, removal of Like Pop, Like Retro, and Like Country. Like Radio remains.
Addition of Mixtape Radio, POP DAB, and The Amp, all at 40 Kbps. Mixtape Radio are promoting the Nation Radio Player.
Interestingly, all three of these "new" stations are on the Like website, alongside Like Anthems, but Like Pop and Like Retro are not. The website states that the various stations are run by "multiple different entities worldwide"
I thought as much Paul.
Mixtape is playing songs from the 70’s through to the 90’s. The same as Like Retro did. POP DAB seems to be similar to Like Pop.
I’m assuming it’s the same scenario on other SS DAB muxes that carried the Like stations ?
I’m assuming it’s the same scenario on other SS DAB muxes that carried the Like stations ?
They appeared on the NewportChepstow Mux in SE Wales on Sunday (though at the same bitrates that the old Like stations used. (See the SSDAB thread for some discussion on the company lately.
XMAS NI on Newry is using the same liners and jingles as XMAS FM across the border, but completely differnet output all automated whereas the Dublin station is fully live. It's a shame that the DCMS have not yet got their act together to implement that part of the Media Act. Hopefully next year we'll have the full station !!
XMAS NI on Newry is using the same liners and jingles as XMAS FM across the border, but completely differnet output all automated whereas the Dublin station is fully live. It's a shame that the DCMS have not yet got their act together to implement that part of the Media Act. Hopefully next year we'll have the full station !!
Are UK broadcasters looking for similar arrangements in RoI so that UK broadcasters would no longer need a EU (as well as UK) content licence to be on television services , or any DAB radio services, in RoI ???
The Media Act issue primarily arose with the ending after 90 years of widespread LW or MW availability of RTE Radio in the UK. It was proposed RTE Radio 1 would have at least some DAB availability in the UK , as a sort of Quid pro quo, for the closure. However its over two and a half years since then. If it was to happen, it should have been ready for the time of that closure, or at least in the immediate aftermath. Is RTE R1 on DAB in the UK still a possibility if this provision was implemented?
XMAS NI on Newry is using the same liners and jingles as XMAS FM across the border, but completely differnet output all automated whereas the Dublin station is fully live. It's a shame that the DCMS have not yet got their act together to implement that part of the Media Act. Hopefully next year we'll have the full station !!
Are UK broadcasters looking for similar arrangements in RoI so that UK broadcasters would no longer need a EU (as well as UK) content licence to be on television services , or any DAB radio services, in RoI ???
The Media Act issue primarily arose with the ending after 90 years of widespread LW or MW availability of RTE Radio in the UK. It was proposed RTE Radio 1 would have at least some DAB availability in the UK , as a sort of Quid pro quo, for the closure. However its over two and a half years since then. If it was to happen, it should have been ready for the time of that closure, or at least in the immediate aftermath. Is RTE R1 on DAB in the UK still a possibility if this provision was implemented?
If and when the NI mux goes DAB+, they could put the main RTÉ stations on the mux in DAB+ with no problems, or they could have an FM relay on either Divis or Black Mountain.
There must be an audience for RTÉ in NI, particularly RTÉ Radio One, given they changed the frequency a few years back when they closed 567 kHz at Tullamore, so that listeners in Greater Belfast could have better reception.
Bearing mind R NaG is carried on Freeview by the RTÉ NIMM.
I think the reciprocal arrangements are in place for UK to terrestrially broadcast on DAB in ROI. I have heard that one of the FM Stations in NI already have a Section 71 licence for ROI to be used whenever a DAB slot becomes available (using the name could be an issue though). The other way around still seems to be a problem as they cannot get DSP's with ROI company addresses and if they use a UK registered company it may be denied by ofcom as they seem to be checking. Even if successful the content has to be "Editorally controlled" from within the UK.
RnaG on Freeview is a separate issue - it is not part of the media bill as it pre-dates that. Interesting though that RTE R1 is not on the NIMM too - there may be some rule which states that offshore "non English language" stations may be allowed - Ill have to check up on this.
The whole thing is ludicrous and fullof red tape and bordering farcical. A station from Essex can go on DAB in Armagh but a station from Monaghan 10 miles away cannot !
I think the reciprocal arrangements are in place for UK to terrestrially broadcast on DAB in ROI. I have heard that one of the FM Stations in NI already have a Section 71 licence for ROI to be used whenever a DAB slot becomes available (using the name could be an issue though). The other way around still seems to be a problem as they cannot get DSP's with ROI company addresses and if they use a UK registered company it may be denied by ofcom as they seem to be checking. Even if successful the content has to be "Editorally controlled" from within the UK.
RnaG on Freeview is a separate issue - it is not part of the media bill as it pre-dates that. Interesting though that RTE R1 is not on the NIMM too - there may be some rule which states that offshore "non English language" stations may be allowed - Ill have to check up on this.
The whole thing is ludicrous and fullof red tape and bordering farcical. A station from Essex can go on DAB in Armagh but a station from Monaghan 10 miles away cannot !
The whole thing is ludicrous and fullof red tape and bordering farcical. A station from Essex can go on DAB in Armagh but a station from Monaghan 10 miles away cannot !
But that's the problem with country borders - Essex is in the same country and Monaghan is not, However ludicrous that is for everyday life, that's the reality.
At least it is a border that you can cross unlike other parts of the world.
They may be in different administrative jurisdictions and run by separate governments, however, they are both in Ulster which is a province of Ireland, where as Essex would be in a different country (England).
I'm not going to be accused of trolling or anything of that kind, that border has created more than 100 years of hassle for all the good people on both sides of the political divide, and this is a broadcasting forum, not a political one - I cross it 10 to 12 times per day in the area mentioned. The local station in Monaghan (Northern Sound) is the de-facto local station for Armagh too and all you need to do is listen to the death notices on said station (yes its an Irish only thing - we are facinated by funeral arrangements) to see that. They would love to be on DAB in those adjacent areas administered by the UK, but as things stand, they cannot.
I'm not trying to "fix" the Northern Ireland situation, but what is not realised by the powers that be in London is that in these border areas, people see no border. Only neighbours in a different Parish or Townland.
It's certainly not a unique situation being on a border though, whether it is UK/RoI or France/Spain or North Korea/South Korea.
Just be thankful that the situation has improved over the last 27 years, hopefully it can continue to do so.
As you say it's not really a topic for these forums.
XMAS NI on Newry is using the same liners and jingles as XMAS FM across the border, but completely differnet output all automated whereas the Dublin station is fully live. It's a shame that the DCMS have not yet got their act together to implement that part of the Media Act. Hopefully next year we'll have the full station !!
The UK Media Act was to correct an old law that prevented an English language station from outside the UK going on terrestrial radio transmitters for off shore pirate days, but stopped a version of RTE radio 1 going on SSDAB stations so Irish expat pensioners could carry on listening when 252 closed.
The Media Act took a while to get published, but in the meantime 252 was closed, so presumably pensioners used satellite or internet to continue to listen to RTE radio 1?
Also RTE stopped BBC programmes on RTE radio 1 extra in the ROI.
So the UK DCMS is yet to implement that part of the Media Act.
Hopefully progress will continue so a version of RTE radio 1 can go on DTT and DAB in Northern Ireland, and reciprically BBC World Service can go on the Irish DAB mux, (like in many other European countries), if the Irish DAB mux continues after March?
Bauer's GHR is on the Irish DAB mux with Liam Quigley and Debbie Allan as local presenters, but currently has no programming from the UK.
A version of Talksport was to go on the Irish mux, but has not appeared.
I think the failtedab gained a lot of traction down south. If they dont extend, there's likely to be a lot of trouble incoming from Bauer, Wireless/Onic et al.
Would be nice to see it extended and a framework to have an advertisemt for a full national MUX by the end of the trial.
I think the incumbant has done a good job so far but it needs to be extended to other parts of Ireland like Cork, Limerick, Galway, Donegal etc
Has only some of the Media Act been enacted - if so how did some of the Act get into law and not the section allowing foreign broadcasters to broadcast in the UK?
Comments
As I said in my previous response, the signal in the city center of Belfast is excellent. Drive up towards Belfast zoo and its non existent, the roads between Belfast and Lisburn are very patchy/non existent signal. Go towards Sprucefield, a journey many would do and its dropping out constantly. The west side of Lisburn is no signal at all. I think this is possibly an issue with many SSDAB multiplexes, low power just doesn't cut it for DAB. People will put up with a weak FM signal but a weak DAB signal constantly on/off is an immediate switch off for most. As I explained in my other previous post, Northern Ireland was something we decided to give a go, we decided our time and efforts were better used concentrating on the Canary islands. We are remaining on air on Ulstermux and get a reasonable response. The decision to remove ourselves from Belfast/Lisburn is not a matter of 'couldn’t afford the subscription ' its looking at what we consider is worth spending money on. We will be looking at the new Ulstermux area in Fermanagh, if the coverage is as good as Newry we will probably add ourselves to that in the future.
I can drive from Carrickfergus to the Abbey Centre and the signal is solid. I’m actually surprised at how well the 100 watt transmitter at Belfast Central gets out.
Yes, I’d imagine it would be patchy around Belfast zoo, and Glengormley too,since you’d be shielded by Cave Hill, but over the East , South, and West of the city the signal is excellent, and all the way to Hollywood and beyond. I get a perfect signal on various portable radios here in South Antrim.
Indeed, I would imagine in South Down the coverage is excellent, with half a dozen low powered transmitters, but I read a while back it doesn’t get into Newcastle for example, and much of South Down is sparsely populated ( even 4G / 5G coverage is poor ), The areas in Belfast the signal does reach would have a much large population than South Down.
Still, you know what’s best for yourselves.
Was listening on the Newry Mux seems to be a lot of adverts for Belfast, very strange considering you left the Belfast Mux recently. Nice station just a pity not province wide.
I enjoyed the station when it was Classic Hits NI with live presenters. A shame they scrapped that format.
I wonder if the Ards Peninsula mux will launch sometime in the new year, maybe January / February, since they did state in their license application they hoped to be on air within six months, given the transmitter site at Craigantlet was already being used for radio communications ?
Interesting.
Even if it doesn’t happen this year, it can’t be too far off.
I’d imagine the Bauer duplicates will switch to DAB+, and hopefully Q Radio along with U 105.
Addition of Mixtape Radio, POP DAB, and The Amp, all at 40 Kbps. Mixtape Radio are promoting the Nation Radio Player.
Interestingly, all three of these "new" stations are on the Like website, alongside Like Anthems, but Like Pop and Like Retro are not. The website states that the various stations are run by "multiple different entities worldwide"
I thought as much Paul.
Mixtape is playing songs from the 70’s through to the 90’s. The same as Like Retro did. POP DAB seems to be similar to Like Pop.
I’m assuming it’s the same scenario on other SS DAB muxes that carried the Like stations ?
They appeared on the NewportChepstow Mux in SE Wales on Sunday (though at the same bitrates that the old Like stations used. (See the SSDAB thread for some discussion on the company lately.
Are UK broadcasters looking for similar arrangements in RoI so that UK broadcasters would no longer need a EU (as well as UK) content licence to be on television services , or any DAB radio services, in RoI ???
The Media Act issue primarily arose with the ending after 90 years of widespread LW or MW availability of RTE Radio in the UK. It was proposed RTE Radio 1 would have at least some DAB availability in the UK , as a sort of Quid pro quo, for the closure. However its over two and a half years since then. If it was to happen, it should have been ready for the time of that closure, or at least in the immediate aftermath. Is RTE R1 on DAB in the UK still a possibility if this provision was implemented?
If and when the NI mux goes DAB+, they could put the main RTÉ stations on the mux in DAB+ with no problems, or they could have an FM relay on either Divis or Black Mountain.
There must be an audience for RTÉ in NI, particularly RTÉ Radio One, given they changed the frequency a few years back when they closed 567 kHz at Tullamore, so that listeners in Greater Belfast could have better reception.
Bearing mind R NaG is carried on Freeview by the RTÉ NIMM.
RnaG on Freeview is a separate issue - it is not part of the media bill as it pre-dates that. Interesting though that RTE R1 is not on the NIMM too - there may be some rule which states that offshore "non English language" stations may be allowed - Ill have to check up on this.
The whole thing is ludicrous and fullof red tape and bordering farcical. A station from Essex can go on DAB in Armagh but a station from Monaghan 10 miles away cannot !
I’d love to see Newstalk in NI.
At least it is a border that you can cross unlike other parts of the world.
I'm not going to be accused of trolling or anything of that kind, that border has created more than 100 years of hassle for all the good people on both sides of the political divide, and this is a broadcasting forum, not a political one - I cross it 10 to 12 times per day in the area mentioned. The local station in Monaghan (Northern Sound) is the de-facto local station for Armagh too and all you need to do is listen to the death notices on said station (yes its an Irish only thing - we are facinated by funeral arrangements) to see that. They would love to be on DAB in those adjacent areas administered by the UK, but as things stand, they cannot.
I'm not trying to "fix" the Northern Ireland situation, but what is not realised by the powers that be in London is that in these border areas, people see no border. Only neighbours in a different Parish or Townland.
Just be thankful that the situation has improved over the last 27 years, hopefully it can continue to do so.
As you say it's not really a topic for these forums.
The Media Act took a while to get published, but in the meantime 252 was closed, so presumably pensioners used satellite or internet to continue to listen to RTE radio 1?
Also RTE stopped BBC programmes on RTE radio 1 extra in the ROI.
So the UK DCMS is yet to implement that part of the Media Act.
Hopefully progress will continue so a version of RTE radio 1 can go on DTT and DAB in Northern Ireland, and reciprically BBC World Service can go on the Irish DAB mux, (like in many other European countries), if the Irish DAB mux continues after March?
Bauer's GHR is on the Irish DAB mux with Liam Quigley and Debbie Allan as local presenters, but currently has no programming from the UK.
A version of Talksport was to go on the Irish mux, but has not appeared.
Would be nice to see it extended and a framework to have an advertisemt for a full national MUX by the end of the trial.
I think the incumbant has done a good job so far but it needs to be extended to other parts of Ireland like Cork, Limerick, Galway, Donegal etc