Bandscan Thread

[BLF188]

So - perhaps we could start off with a new bandscan thread before ComReg add this to their bookmarks !
Any starters?

[BLF188]

Today - Dublin DAB scan - (FreeDAB Dublin)
Wild Country
Sami Swoi Radio
Tomorrow Radio
BKLR Radio
Flex UK
Dublin's ABC
LondonMusicRadio
CLUB
Jazz Radio IRL
ReleaseRadio
Spektrum Radio

Signal was good with only an odd drop out on the northern half of the M50 - some dire British crap in there which does little to advocate DAB listening IMO but Jazz radio Ireland was a pleasant release from it all, with ABC, Club and Wild all sounding well

[Hodors Appletart]

question on Dab

if I have a Dab radio that was able to pick up the RTEs, will that work for the above?

[BLF188]

If it has DAB+ yes - al the stuff on that MUX appears to be in the newer DAB+ format which is AAC and not MP2
If its an older radio from the early 2010's then probably not

Can you remember picking up the RTE 2FM+ channel which was simulcast on the old RTE multiplex

[Hodors Appletart]

yeah we definitely had that, the radio isn't as old as the 2010s, I'd say we got it around 2015, gathering dust now with the advent of Alexa and all, but I'll take it out for a play

[Persona Non Grata]

Argos are still selling DAB only radios (no DAB+) obsolete crap !

[BLF188]

Can be still used to listen to the BBC stuff up north, but I agree, this day and age should be DAB+ capable

[Dec A Wash]

Any bandscans of pirates today anywhere in Ireland?

[Persona Non Grata]

https://www.radionecks.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=272 usually has fairly up to date bandscans (including stream links) for Dublin and other parts of the country.

[Dec A Wash]

Just trying to revitalise this one. Give your bandscans of pirates this weekend.

[Dec A Wash]

Here are stations that I picked up at various stages over the weekend in various parts of Dublin and east Meath.

FM:

92.0 - Retro FM (oldies) - only on Sunday

94.3 - Retro FM during live broadcast on Sunday Think it was relaying Eighties earlier in the weekend.

96.0 - ABC 80s

102.5 - Ice Radio (dance) - only heard it on Sunday

107.1 - RetroNow (dance)



MW:

1395 kh (215 metres) - Energy Power AM (oldies) - Retro FM during live broadcast on Sunday. Otherwise its own selection.

[Dec A Wash]

Unusually for a Monday evening these days, Star1057 was broadcasting automated music on 105.7 FM. I could pick it up around Dublin 16.

[Dec A Wash]

I heard Star1057 this evening on 105.7FM. It is particularly strong around the south-east of Dublin. Unusually for this station, I heard a live presenter. I think the last time I heard a presenter for this station was last year. Before that it was possibly two years ago when it had another alter ego of The Vault. More often than not, since I first heard it near the end of 2017, it has been The Beach playing chilled dance music, which seems to have always been on automated mode. Most recently, when I tuned in, when there was something on 105.7, it was Star1057. I wonder have they decided to stick with the adult pop and rock oldies route and finally ditch their dance format. It was 80s music this evening, but it hasn't always been when it has been Star1057.

[Dec A Wash]

Star1057 made another random appearance on the airwaves tonight. It had reverted back to being the chilled dance station The Beach on some weekends since the last time I had reported it.

On another note:
I wonder will there be any tribute station on multiple frequencies in Dublin post Christmas this year? This has been a feature in recent years. The tribute stations tend to look back at pirate stations and jingles and recordings from years gone by. It was 30 years ago (1991) that a number of new influential players entered the pirate scene: DLR, Sunset (and its predecessor), NSR, Coast FM and Alice's Restaurant. There were others at that time, too, who had been around a bit longer such as Radio Dublin, which had defied the 1988 closedown, and Radio Caroline (from Bayside, Sutton) that started in 1989. 1991 was a significant year for increased pirate activity on the airwaves around Dublin. Alternatively, I wonder will there any kind of pop-up stations, maybe some kind of collaboration of the oldies stations and their mates to share programs, like the Fun Radio idea over the last two or three years.

[Dec A Wash]

Here is what I found on the airwaves around south Dublin today January 9th 2022.

FM:

92.0 - Retro FM

94.3 - relay of Charity Radio

96.0 - ABC 80s

MW/AM:

1395 kh - Energy Power AM (relayed Retro FM during the latter's live broadcasts)

[Persona Non Grata]

North of Belfast FM stations (receivable on attic mounted dipole)

87.8 RTÉ Radio 1 Ireland, Clermont Cairn
88.1 Unidentified (BBC R2 Sandale ?)
88.7 BBC Radio 2 Newry/Camlough
88.8 BBC Radio 2 Carnmoney Hill
89.0 Manx Radio, Isle of man
89.3 Belfast 89FM (Oldies) Europa Hotel
90.1 BBC Radio 2 Divis
90.9 BBC Radio 3 Newry/Camlough
91.0 BBC Radio 3 Carnmoney Hill
91.2 Energy FM, Isle of Man
92.3 BBC Radio 3 Divis
93.1 BBC Radio Ulster, Newry/Camlough
93.2 BBC Radio 4 Carnmoney Hill
94.1 BBC Radio Scotland, Stranraer
94.3 BBC Radio Scotland, Black Hill
94.5 BBC Radio Ulster, Divis
94.7 BBC Radio Scotland, Sandale
95.2 RTÉ Lyric fm Ireland, Clermont Cairn
95.3 BBC Radio Ulster. Carnmoney Hill
96.0 BBC Radio 4, Divis
96.5 West Sound (Stranraer, Scotland)
96.7 Q Radio (Belfast) Black Mountain (formerly Citybeat/BCR)
97.0 RTÉ 2fm Ireland, Clermont Cairn
97.4 Cool FM, Black Mountain
97.7 BBC Radio 1, Unknown
98.3 BBC Radio 1, Newry/Camlough
98.4 BBC Radio 1, Carnmoney Hill
98.1 98FM Dublin
98.8 Unidentified (Lisburn City Radio ?)
99.7 BBC Radio 1 Divis
100 Classic FM, Unknown TX (possibly Sandale 99.9)
100.3 Unidentified (Nova, Dublin ?)
100.5 Q Radio (Newry & Mourne) Newry/Camlough (Formerly Five FM)
100.6 BFBS Northern Ireland Lisburn
101.0 BFBS Northern Ireland Holywood Palace Barracks
101.25 Unidentified (carrier) probably local noise
101.9 Classic FM Divis
102.2 Unidentified (Q102 Dublin ?)
102.5 Q Radio (Belfast) Carnmoney Hill + Bangor
102.7 RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta Ireland, Clermont Cairn
103.1 Downtown Radio Newry/Camlough
103.4 Downtown Radio Unknown
103.8 Juice Belfast (LGBT)
104.4 Unidentified (104, Dublin ?)
104.6 BBC Radio 4, Newry/Camlough
104.9 Sunshine Radio (Christian) Belfast
105.2 Unidentified (Energy FM Isle of Man ?)
105.5 Today FM Ireland, Clermont Cairn
105.8 U105 Black Mountain
106.0 Q Radio (Cookstown/Dungannon) Mid Ulster (formerly Mid 106)
106.2 Three FM, Isle of Man
106.4 Blast 106 (Student) Cornway Mill
106.6 Three FM, Isle of Man (Best Frequency)
106.8 Unidentified (Sunshine, Dublin ?)
107.1 Raidió Fáilte West Belfast
107.4 Newstalk, Ireland
107.6 Q radio Larne
107.9 Bangor FM

DAB multiplexes on car radio
10C Liverpool (only audible at hilltop locations)
10D Wales (only audible at hilltop locations)
11A SDL National NI
11B AYR Multiplex (weak)
11D D1 National
12B BBC National
12C Manchester (only audible at hilltop locations)
12D NI

UHF DTT Multiplexes (Winter hill and Caldbeck only receivable in high pressure)

21 Divis PSB2 (D3&4/ITV) DVB-T 474.166 MHz
22 Caldbeck (PSB3/HD)
23 Divis COM4 (SDN) DVB-T 490.000 MHz
24 Divis PSB3 (BBC B) DVB-T2 498.000 MHz
25 Caldbeck (PSB1/BBC)
26 Divis COM5 (ARQ A) DVB-T 514.000 MHz
27 Divis PSB1 (BBC A) DVB-T 522.000 MHz
28 Caldbeck (PSB2/ITV)
30 Divis COM6 (ARQ B) DVB-T 546.000 MHz
32 Winter Hill PSB1/BBC
33 Black Mountain NIMM (RTE) DVB-T
35 Winter Hill PS3/HD
36 Divis LTVmux DVB-T 594.000 MHz
40 Carnmoney Hill (PSB2/ITV)
41 Cambret Hill (ITV)
42 Clermont Carn (Saorview)
43 Carnmoney Hill (PSB3/HD)
44 Cambret Hill (BBC)
45 Clermont Carn (Saorview)
46 Carnmoney Hill (PSB1/BBC)
47 Cambret Hill (HD)
48 Divis/Carnmoney NIMM (RTE) DVB-T 690.000 MHz
55 Divis COM7 (ARQ C) DVB-T2 746.000 MHz

[Dec A Wash]

North of Belfast FM stations (receivable on attic mounted dipole)

......................................................

100.3 Unidentified (Nova, Dublin ?)
...................................................
102.2 Unidentified (Q102 Dublin ?)
....................................................
104.4 Unidentified (104, Dublin ?)
..................................................
106.8 Unidentified (Sunshine, Dublin ?)

Yes, all of the above stations are broadcasting from Dublin.

100.3 is Radio Nova - licensed classic rock station for Dublin and its commuter belt.

102.2 is Q102 - licensed Dublin station for 35+ age group

104.4 is FM104 - licensed Dublin station playing contemporary hits

106.8 is Sunshine 106.8 - licensed Dublin station playing easy-listening music aimed at older adults

[Dec A Wash]

An area that is often overlooked on pirate Bandscans is short wave pirates around Ireland. That's probably because most of us don't have access to short wave radio. There does continue to be some activity in that area while the FM band gets quieter as regards pirates.

It appears long-running short wave Dublin pirate Premier Radio International (not to be confused with former pirate Premier Radio/Premier FM) is still on the go. They have a website these days and can be listened to online through it or indeed via Radio Garden, which it is available on. It is by far the longest reigning pirate going back to 1976, although it was not broadcasting throughout all those years.

http://www.premierradio.ie/


So, maybe there should be some more bandscans for short wave radio stations- the often overlooked frequency these days.

[Dec A Wash]

Slim pickings over this weekend but here is what I picked up in my travels around Dublin:

92.0 - Retro FM

94.3 - Relay of Charity Radio (up until about lunchtime yesterday)

96.0 - ABC 80s

107.1 - Unidentified weak signal playing dance music - presumably RetroNow from Co. Meath

1395kh (MW) - Energy Power AM - Paul Murray was presenting live this afternoon and taking requests.