DAB in Ireland

Digital Audio Broadcasting in Ireland is the only current form of digital radio transmission in the state. It was launched to the public on 30 November 2006, with trials taking place in 1998, 2001 and 2006. Currently, 56% of Ireland's population - mainly in Counties Cork, Limerick and the North East - can receive permanent DAB services.^[1]

One permanent multiplex exists, operated by the national broadcaster RTÉ. The service began to be marketed in May 2007 by a collective of commercial broadcasters, digitalradio.ie; and receivers are now sold by most major electronics retailers.

21 services were available in Dublin, surrounding areas and the north-east, and 11 were available in other coverage areas during the trial phase.

A temporary licenced trial multiplex began transmission using block 9B in April 2010. It is operated by Total Broadcast Consultants Ltd. Initially it covered the Waterford City area and from mid May, expanded to cover much of the South East of Ireland.

DAB Ireland Mux1

This multiplex operates on Block 12C (227.360 MHz) from Three Rock Mountain, Kippure and Clermont Carn in Leinster, Woodcock Hill in Limerick and Spur Hill in Cork. Its line-up has varied heavily since its launch - initially on January 1, 2006. All stations are provided by RTÉ. As of June 2009, it is carrying^[2]:

• RTÉ Radio 1, 128 kbit/s Stereo
  • RTÉ Radio 1 Extra, 64 kbit/s Mono (part-time service, uses bandwidth from Choice and Chill)
• RTÉ 2fm, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• RTÉ lyric fm, 160 kbit/s Stereo
• RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, 112 kbit/s Stereo
• RTÉ Choice, 112 kbit/s Stereo. Drops to 80kbit/s Mono when required.
• RTÉ Gold, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• RTÉ 2XM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• RTÉ Junior, 128 kbit/s Stereo (07:00-21:00, timeshares a slot with RTÉ Chill). Drops to 96kbit/s Mono when required
• RTÉ Chill, 128 kbit/s Stereo (21:00-07:00, timeshares a slot with RTÉ Junior). Drops to 96kbit/s Mono when required
• RTÉ Pulse, 128 kbit/s Stereo

DAB Ireland Mux2

No longer operating since November 2008, this multiplex launched in mid-March 2007 and operated from Three Rock Mountain and Clermont Carn on Block 12A (223.936 MHz). It carried ten services - four stations supplied by Communicorp, two by Digital Audio Productions, two by UTV Radio, and two privately held. As of July 2008, it consisted of^[3]:

• All 80s, 128kbit/s Stereo
• Dublin's 98, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• FM104, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• Mocha, 128kbit/s Stereo
• Newstalk, 64 kbit/s Mono
• Phantom 105.2, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• Q102, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• Radio Kerry, 96 kbit/s Mono
• Today FM, 128 kbit/s Stereo
• Spin 1038, 128 kbit/s Stereo

Radio stations licenced by the broadcasting commission of Ireland ceased broadcasting on Ireland’s second digital radio multiplex (Mux 2) on Sunday, 30 November 2008. The stations were broadcasting on Mux 2 as part of a digital radio trial. RTÉ continues to broadcast on the RTÉ multiplex. ComReg and the BCI are currently exploring regulatory frameworks for digital radio multiplex licensing and broadcast licenses.^[4]

South-East Ireland DAB Trials (TOTAL-DAB)

DAB and DAB+ trials were begun in April 2010 in the South-East area of Ireland on channel 9B (204.64 MHz) by Total Broadcast Consultants Ltd, a broadcast engineering company. The company initially obtained a 1 year test and trial license from Comreg to perform tests from sites in Waterford City and a high site in the Blackstairs Mountains, providing coverage in Co. Wexford, Co. Carlow, Co. Kilkenny and East Co. Waterford. In March 2011, a 1 year extension was granted. This is the first DAB multiplex in Ireland to be operated by an independent/private organisation (RTÉ NL operating previous multiplexes), and the first known broadcasts of DAB+ content in Ireland. In addition to all local and regional radio stations, it is carrying several stations previously unavailable in the region. At present there are 6 DAB+ services and 6 standard DAB services live. Past trial participants have included Christmas FM, Zenith Classic Rock & Raidió Rí-Rá.

• 4fm, 160kbit/s Stereo
• Beat 102 103, 192kbit/s Stereo
• Sunshine, 128kbit/s Stereo
• KCLR 96FM, 48kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
• Phantom FM, 128kbit/s Stereo
• Radio Nova, 192kbit/s Stereo
• RTE 2XM, 72kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
• South East Radio, 88kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
• talkSPORT, 56kbit/s Mono
• Tipp FM, 56kbit/s DAB+ Stereo
• UCB Ireland, 32kbit/s AAC+
• WLR FM, 64kbit/s AAC+ Stereo

References

1. ^ "RTÉ trials DAB digital radio in Cork and Limerick cities". Radio Netherlands MediaNetwork. 2008-03-19. http://blogs.rnw.nl/medianetwork/rte-trials-dab-digital-radio-in-cork-and-limerick-cities. Retrieved 2008-04-11. 
2. ^ [1]
3. ^ [2]
4. ^ "Notice on www.digitalradio.ie". http://www.digitalradio.ie. Retrieved 2009-03-08. 

External links

• DigitalRadio.ie
• RTÉ Digital Radio
• Digital Radio Ltd Ireland
• DAB Ensembles Worldwide - technical information about DAB transmissions in Ireland