531KHz & Shortwave licences

[Transmitters 'R' Us]

Does anyone know the future of the national MW licence frequency of 531KHz.

Is it still up for grabs?

The last time I looked at this there was a proposed location for the transmission site way up in the NW. Surely this would offer poor coverage over the capital and surrounding area?

Also, does anyone know how many SW frequency allocations are assigned to Ireland and are they all used by RTE or whoever?

Appreciate any information.

[Mike]

As far as I know there is no system for allocating SW frequencies.

If a country wants to broadcast on SW they inform the IFRB (International Frequency Registration board) in Geneva what times/frequencies/powers etc they intend to use in the forthcoming season (SW broadcasters typically change their frequency schedules four times per year). The IFRB than tell them if anyone else has already registered their intention to use those frequencies and if so tells them to work it out amongst themselves.

Unless its changed in the last few years (I know there were a number of unsuccesful attempte to agree a better system) thats basically how it works.

As Ireland hasnt made any official broadcasts since 1948 (broadcastes made via transmitters Britain or the USA would come under the juristiction of the authorities in those countries) there are currentle no SW frequencies officially allocated to Ireland.

Ireland has a number of MW and LW allocations which it doesnt use. Theres also the International common frequencies for low power stations (1485 1584 ?? and 1602) and additionally all countries have the right to use frequencies not allocated to them for low powered stations PROVIDED that no other country experiences interference problems (Many of the UK's ILR stations operate under this provision)

[Billy Dane]

So what's the deal with Radiofax, who have been battling to get a sw licence for 20 years?

[Mike]

The deal is they can apply to the Radio Authority or the BCI like anyone else and more than likely be refused on some spurious grounds because niether body wants the bother off administiring shortwave licencing.

In the likely event that there was a change of policy Radio Fax would apply. The authorities would make the necessary representations on their behalf to the IFRB the licence would be granted and pigs would fly

[021]

"national MW licence frequency of 531KHz"
Who said 531 was allocated for a national station, its news to me??
531 is allocated for the Dublin area 10kW.

BTW for those interested in AM transmission anyone see the business section of today's Sunday Independent??!

[Mike]

Good point 531 is a good frequency (low end channels have far better groundwave coverage) but even 100 Kw struggles to get the whole country (Check out 612KHz)

[Original Tyrone Gobshite!]

531KHz was one of the frequencies offered to Solas AM, who won the specialist Dublin AM licence, along with 1143 KHz. They could use one or the other (not both) with a MERP of 10kW.

Personally 531 should have been allocated to Newstalk 106 - they could achieve on it much better coverage than even their high powered FM allocation could. I don't remember the times very well, but Sunshine used the same frequency with much less power and got out pretty well.

I think the high powered allocation for the North West is for 100kW for a station on 891KHz at Bundoran, Donegal. A nice frequency considering Radio Ulster on 873 and BBC R5 on 909!

[021]

The Sunday Independent mentioned 3 sites owned by RTE in Dublin, Cork, Athlone which might either be put up for sale or developed for cash short RTE. The article failed to mention what the sites are for - MW transmission!

apparently the historic Athlone site (the oldest broadcasting transmitter site in this country) is considered valuable for industrial use and is zoned accordingly!

[Transmitters 'R' Us]

Thanks to those that replied.

I don't remember where I got the 531 national frequency from.

My brain lost a few cells. Of course you're correct re this and the Bundoran site in the NW.

A colleague of mine looked into applying for this licence but struggled to receive a response even after several phone calls to the correct office in Dublin.

Maybe he should of said he was a Kosovan refugee living in Cork and he needed a broadcasting licence!

Re R. Fax, they are currently broadcasting from the NW every week with several bible bashing broadcasts. These are being paid for via a ministry advertising agency in California.

TX power is supposedly 500w and I can hear the station quite comfortably on an old Clarion car radio cassette which covers much of the SW spectrum.