RADIO DONEGAL - LETTERKENNY (1980)

Radio Donegal was heard for the first time in 1980. Frequencies heard were 1600, 1560, and on one occasion seemed to be on 1539ish // 1560. But not only did the MW signals come through. 6240 was strong one particular Sunday, (4 x 1560). There were also harmonics at a different time, on 4800 and 6400 (3 and 4 x 1600). Although not noted after the summer of 1980, it resurfaced again in 1981 on 1560. It may still have been on the air of course, but just not heard in the UK, or of course, it could have moved frequency to a channel which was no use in Scotland. Who knows..

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Listen to a short aircheck from Radio Donegal on 7th August 1981, 0830 1560kHz. There is a good peak in the audio and a lesser loud ID, and a mumbling newsreader.

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Below is another recording of Radio Donegal from 14th June 1980 in the afternoon recorded in Scotland. There are airchecks from both 4800 and 6400. Switching on the Grundig Satellit 3400 between SW and tropical bands was a simple click of a button, and that clicking can be heard during the airchecks. Apologies for the electrical noise and deep fades, but such was the reception on the receivers and antennas of that time. This is a long 11 meg recording. There are some ads maybe 2/3 of the way through, and note an old two digit phone number even in 1980. It is so annoying when a decent bandwidth is selected for a time and then switched back by inexperienced ears that seem to think muffled is good!! But we can't go back and flick a switch nowadays, that was in the wrong position over 30 years ago!!

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Radio Donegal on 6240kHz SW, 4 x 1560. This recording was made in Scotland on 6th July 1980, and the announcement states that they are installing a new transmitter and needed to be off air for a week. I wonder if the original was only needing a retune!!!

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