Irish Band Scan

[87to108]

quite a reduction in pirates in Dublin in just a few years, compared to the list of ones in the attached article from 2019. (The writer was obviously well informed by industry source of the pirate situation, though got weekend AM station Energy, then 1395, in the wrong rough position on a radio dial, it would be up to the right of course).
Many of the stations listed would have been only weekend operations etc, with not too many tuning in

[Persona Non Grata]

During one of my occasional trips down to Dublin airport last night I noticed FreeDAB are now rebranding as SaorDAB (Saor is the Irish/Gaelic word for "Free" pronounced sare ) As driving conditions were pretty poor I didnt get much of a chance to note what stations were currently on offer although some of the listed stations seemed to be silent (maybe due to weather/power cuts ?)

Full disclosure: Like most "personalities" in Irish legal radio Kevin Brannigan (mentioned above) used to be a fairly prolific pirate operator himself and was occasionally given to bemoaning his persecution at the hands of the authorities on foot of complaints from FM104 (themselves mostly comprised of former pirates)

Ah the circle of life as they say !

[Persona Non Grata]

(Double post)

[dancemusicdj]

During one of my occasional trips down to Dublin airport last night I noticed FreeDAB are now rebranding as SaorDAB (Saor is the Irish/Gaelic word for "Free" pronounced sare ) As driving conditions were pretty poor I didnt get much of a chance to note what stations were currently on offer although some of the listed stations seemed to be silent (maybe due to weather/power cuts ?)

I was wondering what was going on as i checked yesterday and freedab.ie said suspended. That explains things. Good to hear they are still around.
Edit, freedab.ie is back working.

[dancemusicdj]

Full disclosure: Like most "personalities" in Irish legal radio Kevin Brannigan (mentioned above) used to be a fairly prolific pirate operator himself and was occasionally given to bemoaning his persecution at the hands of the authorities on foot of complaints from FM104 (themselves mostly comprised of former pirates)

Ah the circle of life as they say !

It is funny how the world turns alright. They should probably remember that they can't be complaining about others doing the very same thing they did themselves and were happy to do, and probably would have continued to do it but for the circumstances that lead them not to do it anymore. For all the millions spent on setting up stations and operating them legally and yet pirates still exist all be it on a small scale these days compared to years ago.

[Persona Non Grata]

Are FreeDAB/SaorDAB still on air. Couldnt hear their Dublin or North Multiplexes on my most recent trip down. ? Energy are sounding well on 1440 KHz but maybe August is a bit early to be playing White Christmas.

Think the Dundalk station are on 1494 now.

[dancemusicdj]

I don't know about saordab to be honest. I think they may be low powered and evenings only if still on air at all.

[Persona Non Grata]

Out of curiosity how do Dublin pirates link to their mountain sites these days.

Is it done by internet, Wifi, microwave or do any of them still use UHF or band 1 or 3 ?

99.5 - Relay of energy AM 1440 - Possibly weekends only.

Is the FM literally relaying off medium wave or have they something better in place ?

[dancemusicdj]

Pirates have to my knowledge been using internet to link to their sites for years now. I don't know the story with the energy relay as i am unable to hear it unfortunately as i am very much out of the area.

[Fudgebar]

What has happened to the free dab radio list.

[dancemusicdj]

I deleted the scan as freedab seems to no longer be on air. I will update it if i hear that it is still on air.

[yellowbeard]

The last time I was visiting with the guy from Energy AM he had a fairly beefy FM transmitter but no antenna, his site is at a good height with good take off all around too, so the FM may be getting a direct studio feed - I will listen out for it later. I picked that AM yoke up day and night in Killarney when they had just started off, thats 150-200 Miles overland.

[Persona Non Grata]

224 KHZ - All 80s - No further details

Presume that should be 1224 KHz or are they trying to fill the gap left by RTE's departure from long wave ?

[dancemusicdj]

224 KHZ - All 80s - No further details

Presume that should be 1224 KHz or are they trying to fill the gap left by RTE's departure from long wave ?

Yup 1224KHZ.

[The One Who Knows]

Is Radio Star of air ?

[dancemusicdj]

Is Radio Star of air ?

I don't know sorry.

[The Archivist]

Yes, I was listening to afternoon live programming from Star last Wednesday and Thursday

[Sparki]

Thinking of going to Ireland with the missus at some point this year (not sure where exactly yet) but Dublin was mentioned. Is there anything worth locking into on the FM? I dont tend to bother with AM as the quality is so poor and signal is usually shocking at times.

[dancemusicdj]

The honest answer is no. Just a couple of oldies stations that operate weekends only and a couple of low power stations left now and for how long who knows. Hard to get good sites, comreg apparently spending money like it's going out of fashion on writing letters to potential site owners every day and to be honest why bother when you can get more bang for the buck operating online. Sad really but the march of progress and time rolls on and ever forward.
Hope you have a good holiday.

[87to108]

224 KHZ - All 80s - No further details

Presume that should be 1224 KHz or are they trying to fill the gap left by RTE's departure from long wave ?

Yup 1224KHZ.

It was on 1206 in recent times including last weekend (Sat and Sun) with Dublin radio nostalgia of the 1980s professional super-pirates. (1224 not the clearest at night)

They have moved about the 1200 area of the band, using 1197 at one stage (all after Absolute closed their AM). Someone said sometime ago they tried 1188kHz (253m) , a frequency which 'Persona Non Grata' would no doubt relate has significant 'history' in the now distant past in Dublin.