Radio Tara 252 / Atlantic Tower to go?

[Megawatts]

Anyfurther info, on the impending dismantling and removal of the 252 transmission facility? I cannot believ that shear pig headed egoism, and biggotry from RTE would destroy the facility, rather than have Cary make a go of it.

I for one used to listen to 252 all over the GB, as frequently the local FMer's were fading out as fast as they came in, and mostly because so muh GB radio is yappy shyte.

I know if 252 have had an FMer in Ireland, it would have whiped a lost of the yappie up their own, stations, into some competive creative radio.

Alas, it seems all is lost.. even the mushy fuzz of bandwidrth limited AM raduio is often better to listen to, that the FM sound of endless yapp, and TV orientated commercials, breaking station format .

As some one once said God Help us All, and don't talk about DAB, as it says, That is Dead And Buried.

[Macers]

By Christina Hession - Meath Chronicle



THE purchase of Mornington House, the former Atlantic 252 base in Trim by Meath Co Council at auction last week, has been described as “an enlightened move” by local Co. Colr. Jimmy Fegan.

The three-storey period building was purchased by the council for e750,000.

Trim Town Manager Oliver Perkins said he was “pleased” at the acquisition, which provides the council - which also owns land at the back of Mornington House - with a number of options.

It is understood that following the closing date for the completion of the sale on 18th December, the property at Summerhill Road will act an interim replacement for overcrowded offices currently located in two townhouses at Mill Street in the town.

Difficulties with the proposed new civic office site at Watergate Street are currently being addressed. Work at the site is now in progress and it is expected that construction of the civic offices will begin by the original contractor JJ Rhattigan & Co. next July.

Both Area and Town Council members were at one in encouraging Meath Co. Council to bid for the property. Trim’s area councillors gave initial approval to senior officials to offer the Mill Street buildings for sale.

“The Co. Manager and the Area Manager are to be congratulated for ensuring that the unique opportunity to provide the officials based in Trim with better and more spacious office space has not been overlooked,” Colr. Fegan said.

“The real beneficiaries, hopefully, will be the general public, who should be able to avail of a wider ranger of local government services that the larger facilities available at Mornington House should be able to cater for,” he added.

Independent councillor Vincent McHugh said the acquisition of the property demonstrated how both Area and Town Council members could work together. He believed that the move, which could only benefit the tow,n made good sense. Colr. McHugh said that Mornington House would continue to serve the people of Trim and south Meath by providing facilities to tax cars and others which are intended for the town’s one-stop-shop and civic offices.

RADIO MAST

Meanwhile, the former Atlantic 252 mast at Clarkestown, Moynalvey, is to be used by RTE to broadcast its four main radio stations across Ireland and into the United Kingdom.

Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM and Radio na Gaeltachta will be transmitted from the 900 foot high mast, according to RTE spokesperson, Bride Rosney. “There are pockets of the country where these stations are not clearly received. In addition, we will broadcast into Northern Ireland and Britain on the longwave band,” she said.

RTE recently finalised a deal with online betting company, ukbetting plc, the previous owners of Atlantic 252 and its successor, Teamtalk 252, for the facility. The national broadcaster reacquired its shareholding in the radio station, when ukbetting decided to offload the former longwave Atlantic 252, initially set up as Radio Tara.

A spokesperson for the local community action group which was established in 1987, said that there is “great relief” that there is no emissions of electromagnetic radiation from the mast and that low levels of background noise in telephones has ceased. “The mast that was the kernel of what the campaign was about is still there as a symbol of injustice,” the spokesperson added.


I can see the mast from my house and it is truely massive. Never minded it really. Bit of a land mark.....

[the slut]

while on the subject of atlantic... anyone know where i could get any tapes or somit... i`m lookin for stuff like rick dusty robin banks then the new 12 in a row atlantic if ya gots anything let me know.. cheers

[Anorak]

RTE's plans still seem very vague but at least they've said something.

[021]

"Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM and Radio na Gaeltachta will be transmitted from the 900 foot high mast, according to RTE spokesperson"

Its strange that they suggest Lyric FM programmes will go out on LW! Imagine how noticeable the background interference from Algeria will be with classical music!

[Mike]

Yeah but remember when BBC Radio 3 used to be on 1215 MW

[Megawatts]

I got the impression they were going to multiplex FM from the top of the mast.

Certianly they could use 2 MFs off it, The ground conductivity of the site is amongst the best in Ireland, except for almost anywhere around Lough Neagh, As the strangulated to death 1521 found out.

Its worth holding on to the AM signals. New Digital AM signals will give fidelity to the Long Wave carrier, allowing for much clearer, long distance transmission.

I still don't understand why Ireland insists on keeping its often vastly superior programming talent restricted to Ireland.

OK RTE Radio is available in the UK on SKY Digital, but its not much use on a car radio, and much of the content is not relevant to a non resident.

That's exactly what NOVA / Atlantic gave to a non resident... great radio, but not that geo-specific... which is why Atlantic was used as the on air name, and not Tara.

RTE should get out of its box, and gaive a service that can be credible outside Ireland, and yet still gaive a good enough product for Ireland.

Or better still launch it as a Digital AM service.. and get the trade to sell the radios.. now there is a big push to sell DAB radios in all forms, for under a ton.

[Justin Speck]

Er, surely digital on the "AM" bands would be DRM rather than DAB. DAB receivers are here but DRM ones are not.

There was talk a while back of RTE re-engineering each of their two main MF sites. Maybe this could save them the bother and enable them to close Athlone and Tullamore.

Discuss.

BTW, one comment in the newspaper article - expressing great relief - suggested (if I have understood correctly) that transmissions from the mast were being turned off. Either that or it indicates that the speaker doesn't think future RTE transmissions would cause (as much) EMC and radiation hazard.

J

[Mike]

EMC and radiation hazard.

Its like the "pulsing" phenomen associated with Digital PMR (tetra) and mobile phones.

Its not the power or frequency that causes these problems its the PULSATING nature of the signal thats related to the frequency of the brains alpha waves

The PULSING associated with pop and particularly dance music on 252 would obviously far more intense than that encountered with say Marian Finnucane

* For the benefit of those who havent got it yet the rant above is an attempt at vaugly humorous parody of anti-mobile phone mast websites

[Charles T Wolf]

Quote: I still don't understand why Ireland insists on keeping its often vastly superior programming talent restricted to Ireland.


Which is?

[Lenny]

Sure he must be talking about you Charlie........

or maybe people like Rick O'Shea who lets face it at the moment is the best nightime jock in the country!

Lenny