| DAB Radio in the Republic of 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.
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. |
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| DAB Ireland Mux1 |
| This multiplex operates on Block 12C (227.360 MHz) from Three Rock Mountain, Kippure and Clermont Carn (both in Leinster), Woodcock Hill, Limerick and Spur Hill, Cork. Its line-up has varied heavily since its launch - initially on January 1, 2006. All stations are provided by RTÉ. |
Station |
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Information |
RTÉ Radio 1 |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
RTÉ's main radio station |
RTÉ Radio 1 Extra |
64 kbit/s |
Mono |
Part-time service, uses bandwidth from Choice & Chill |
RTÉ 2fm |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
RTÉ's second national radio station |
RTÉ lyric fm |
160 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Classical and Jazz music |
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, |
112 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Irish language |
RTÉ Choice |
112 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Drops to 80kbit/s Mono when required. |
RTÉ Gold |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Golden oldies |
RTÉ 2XM |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Rock, Indie, Metal, Electronica, Alternative and Nu Metal. |
RTÉ Junior |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Timeshares a slot with RTÉ Chill. Drops to 96kbit/s Mono when required, Stereo 07:00-21:00. |
RTÉ Chill |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Stereo (21:00-07:00, timeshares a slot with RTÉ Junior). Drops to 96kbit/s Mono when required. |
RTÉ Pulse |
128 kbit/s |
Stereo |
Dance |
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| South-East Ireland DAB Trials (TOTAL-DAB) |
DAB and DAB+ trials started 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. |
Station |
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Information |
4fm |
160kbit/s |
Stereo |
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Beat 102 103 |
128kbit/s |
Stereo |
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Country Mix |
96kbit/s |
Mono |
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KCLR 96FM |
96kbit/s |
Mono |
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Phantom FM |
96kbit/s |
Mono |
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South East Radio |
128kbit/s |
Stereo |
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Tipp FM |
128kbit/s |
Stereo |
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Total |
56kbit/s AAC+ |
Stereo |
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Total+ |
16kbit/s |
Stereo |
DAB Slideshow |
WLR FM |
96kbit/s |
Mono |
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