The "Radio in Cork" thread

[Freakout]

Looks like RTE are Jamming in Cork again on 107.4 just as Freak FM commence broadcasting on that frequency !! Surely this is illegal?

[Guest]

what this is all about:
On Friday night until Monday morning there was a relay of Hospital radio CUH 107.8 on 107.4. (The relay on 107.4 was noted to be mono with a stereo pilot unlike the 107.8 which is stereo). This relay was coming from RTE's TV/radio studios at Fr Matthew Street near the city centre. (They have all manner of aerials on a mast up on the roof!). This all goes back to the involvement of an RTE employee with CUH-FM and CUH FM do not want Freak 0.4 below them (despite the fact FREAK are reported to be only 10 Watts)
It is funny that it was only when Freak FM put an announcement on their website that they were about to return ("in mid-april" on 107.4) that this happens!

www.freakfm.com

A different licenced (stretched out temporary licence) station CSN--FM on 107.2 might have valid fears about the announced return of FREAK, 0.2 away, however FREAK has stated they will operate on secondary user basis i.e. they will NOT transmit on thursdays - the days when CSN-FM is licenced to broadcast

[Guest]

I can well understand why cuh wouldn't want a death metal radio station so near their transmitter. I don't think any legal station would. Why don't they move to 96.8 and see what 96fm think of it ?

[corkdood]

On the subject of CUHFM anyone notice how their continuous music has improved dramatically in recent weeks. Looks like someone with sense has finally got involved out there. For the previous two years it was one depressing opera track after another. Now it sounds like Corks version of Lite FM!

[Peter P]

"I can well understand why cuh wouldn't want a death metal radio station so near their transmitter. I don't think any legal station would. Why don't they move to 96.8 and see what 96fm think of it ?"

Well 96.8 is best avoided as being 0.2 away from Radio Kerry which is receiveable on 97.0 you would have people in Cork City crawling out of the woodwork to complain about interefernce to RK. Cork City is of course outside RK's franchise area but so too in the case of CUH-FM are all areas of Cork City outside the grounds of Cork University Hospital. Someone going on 96.8 would be the same situation as someone a few miles away from CUH-FM using say 107.6 (interference would not happen in the grounds of the hospital, but it would happen outside it)

I myself have no interest in the Metal Music of Freak-FM myself, I am just trying to be fair.

CUH-FM used to get out a hell of a lot better up until early last year (they were then said to be using between 30-40 Watts) , they are nowadays on much lower power, so if people outside the hospital are complaining of difficulties in receiving CUH-FM this power reduction is the reason why, nothing to do with pirates.

[corkdood]

Agreed they used to have a better signal. If fact for a time last september after they came back on air after their studio was rebuilt they had a very good signal. Its much weaker since then although quite audible in most parts of town. I wouldn't think they have much more than 10 watts. It all depends on freak fms location too though - if they have an elevated transmission site they could have good coverage in the wilton area which could be problematic.

[Guest]

Heard dead air on cuh this morning - their contonuous music seems to have died a death!

[Guest]

"their contonuous music seems to have died a death!"

Mmmm. Terrible thing to say about a HOSPITAL radio station!

[Guest]

I see the freakfm site has changed its message from testing in mid april to "soon" I'd say they'll never be back on

[halfmast]

I run a pirate station in the city, unfortunately there are few recommended frequencies that can be used, especially between 104 - 108 -
Up around 87 - 88 would be your best bet

We need more pirates in this city!

[021]

The low power pirate station in Cork city on 105.2 which was playing non stop music since appearing last Monday was put off the air mysteriously last night around 10PM. A few minutes later, redfm's studio transmitter which was on 104.2 for the past few months went off the air and reappeared after a while on 105.1 (where it had been a few months ago) rendering 105.2 as unuseable. This means the "interference" affecting Radio Friendly 104.0 in the Bishopstown area is gone, but what about this new station??

[corkdood]

While we're on the subject where is the best place in Cork to put your tx for best coverage of the city ?

[halfmast]

Southside, grange is pretty good, montenotte is probably the best for all round coverge, gurraunabraher aint so bad either.

Frequencies are pretty scarce at the moment.

Yeah, why is there almost nothing about Cork on this message board or site?

tiz Awful ! :)

[halfmast]

What is red fm`s problem? Do they think they own the whole 104 - 106 MHZ spectrum, there is plenty of room for legals and pirates alike, but with RedFM obviously terrified of superior stations such as radio friendly will we have no peace?

Cork needs more pirates!!!!!!!!!!!

[021]

The controversial studio transmitter on 105.1 went off the air again today.

Of course they (red) do not own the whole 104-106 band, neither those Today FM own the whole 100-102 band. It might not be possible to locate extra high power stations in these "bands", but low power stations its a different story. For example a LEGAL community radio station in Dublin NEAR FM broadcasts within the 100-102 section of the band (101.6).

There is no need of them (RedFM) to be terrified of pirates. Of all the people I know from the city very few listen to the pirates, they are niche audiences.

[corkdood]

Heard loud signal on 106.5 in cork yesterday - lots of easy listening interspered with mix 106.5 jingles - obviously automated. Good signal. Anyone lnow where its broadcasting from and at what power. Is steve Michael behind it ?
Juist curious. I wonder what RedFM make of it.

[Justin Speck]

Wasn't LUV FM on this frequency in Cork at weekends? Or am I seriously out of date?

Could this be Mix 106 from Tonabrocky?

J

[Emerson]

Mix 106.5.. rings a bell
Its a station in Sydney.. jingles are possibly lifted from that

[corkdood]

Yeah as far as I know luvfm closed when RedFM came on as they had a very similar music policy and obviously thought it would attract unwanted attention. It is possibly them in a new guise then. Great signal all over town I must say

[The Doc]

You may remember an item on the Newspage here some months ago that the people that brought you LUV FM were re-launching in September as Mix 106.5. They are broadcasting from a high area on the Southside of the City and have a good view to most of the City area. Steve Michael is the man behind it...a program similar to Raduga is being used 24/7.

BTW Listen out for Pulse FM test transmissions this Saturday on 94.8

[Mikeyboy]

Justin Speck

Ehhh ... I wouldn't think its Mix 106 from Tonabrocky, seeing as Tonabrocky is in Galway City (behind Rahoon).

The one in Galway seems to be on and off all the time, heard their jingles last Thursday morning, but the signal was so bad, I couldn't figure out what the jingles said (something about 'hot summer mix')

[Justin Speck]

Mikeyboy

You beat me to it; I thought that it might have been an instance of long distance reception but when other folk also reported hearing the station in Cork I assumed I was wrong. Just noticed the Galway one is/was on 106.3 anyway. Mea Culpa!

and The Doc

Patently we did NOT remember:) Thanks for the reminder!

J

[BigDaddy]

Mix 106.5 is a great station,thats if you are like me and love oldies.The crisp sound and wonderful clear signal makes it that little bit more special,dont you think ?
Having being involed in radio for a long long time,I must say it is a class act.
Oh,sorry i got carried away.This is what i wanted to say,I heard steve michael on about six weeks ago,it was on a friday night,love songs he was playing.Great show too i must confess.
Does anyone know is steve michael also know years back as steve young ???
Anyway thats about it,
Cheers

[The Doc]

You're right on the money about Steve! And you're right..Mix 106 is a really cool station. Also check out Pulse FM on 94.8 with more oldies.

[BigDaddy]

A man after my own heart,
The signal is a little weak in the city,(patchy)
On the up side,,great tunes from a great era,
It gets my vote,
Pulse,,wonderful :

[The Doc]

If you tuned back into Pulse FM in the last couple of days since the return you'll notice a massive difference to the coverage. No longer is Pulse "patchy" in Cork city centre but is now booming there! All the feedback on the phone in the past 2 days have been extremely favourable about the signal. On driving around the station can now be clearly heard in stereo where before it was not.
Thanks for the compliment on the music, Big Daddy.