Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal announces on its website that it is to resume mediumwave broadcasts from 30 March. The station will have new names for its two networks, RVi 1 becomes Radio Radio Vlaanderen Info and RVi 2 becomes Radio Vlaanderen. The mediumwave broadcasts will be on 927 kHz, a frequency previously used for the domestic service. The mediumwave transmitter will carry the Radio Vlaanderen Info service.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 17:42
This is a pointless move. If the station wants a bigger audience, it should resume broadcasts in English, German and French, so that more people who can pick up the signal will be able to understand the programmes.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 17:50
Does anyone remember the Jean Michel Jarre-esque theme to the Radio World programme that BRT’s English service used in the 80s? I would love to know what the song was, it’s been bugging me for a quarter of a century now!
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 13:18
These transmissions will replace the VRT Radio 1 signal.
The covergae of the 927 TX is not much now, maybe power will be increased.
What is the target area? Benelux?
on Mar 30th, 2009 at 12:48
RVI should resume it’s English German and French language services and have an a good powered omnidirectional MW and SW signal with a decent power output of at least 150kW to cover Europe.
on Mar 31st, 2009 at 07:33
Just as Ruud I am curious about the target area. For Flanders 25 kW (just like the 1512 kHz was during daytime) is sufficient.
But the 927 kHz is allowed to use 600 kW during daytime and 300 kW during night time. The installation is ready to go to 300 kW but at the moment the power transmitted is 180kW with a 20 kW backup and the TX is even shut-off during night-time.
With the 300 kW on the high mast RVi would be received in a big part of Europe.
on Mar 31st, 2009 at 15:20
Could it be that this re-purposing of 927 kHz helps VRT to keep the frequency, whereas continued duplication of R1 was making it hard to justify their retention of it? So the coverage area is a secondary consideration.
Would be good to get some input from VRT in the discussion.
on Mar 31st, 2009 at 15:43
The VRt indeed kept the 927 kHz, but not only for Radio 1. It was also used for their sports station 927Live, which became later Sporza.
on Apr 1st, 2009 at 10:46
The duplication argument does not play a role. As I undertand tyhe duplication is only for the Flemish part of the country, the Belgiums claim the AM to cover the whole country, including the French speaking part.
The same goes for the 621 TX in Wavre, also simulcasting an FM-network, FM is only available in the French speaking part.
During the night 927 and 1512 are real clear channels