Madam, - The report in your edition of March 18th on next week's planned closure of the RTÉ Radio 1 service on medium wave focused on the effect on Irish emigrants in Britain.
I would like to add the voice of a Northern Ireland resident to the clamour of opposition. Most radios sold today do not have long wave, and sitting by the computer to listen to radio is not ideal or always practical.
Last week RTÉ was trumpeting its solution for Northern Ireland residents - an FM frequency swap which would reach listeners in Belfast and elsewhere and allow us happily to switch from medium wave. The new service started on Friday.
I eagerly searched for it on all four FM radio receivers in my home. Nothing. The medium-wave signal, however, came through as before - a bit crackly, and not really clear enough for listening to music, but perfectly adequate for speech. I went for a drive around Belfast. The FM signal cut in and out at various points around the city; when it was present, it was inferior to the medium wave broadcast.
I drove south, towards the transmitter. Only after I passed Sprucefield, more than 10 miles south of Belfast, could the signal be said to be reliable and acceptable.
I noted from the Irish Newsover the weekend that listeners in the Glens of Antrim, who had been eagerly anticipating the new FM service, were also bitterly disappointed with what was delivered.
Next Sunday I will listen to Sunday Miscellany - for the last time if the current proposals are implemented. RTÉ's promises to Northern Ireland residents, which were welcomed by us all just a few days ago, have been shown to be empty, hollow words.
Surely this is precisely not the time for RTÉ to diminish its service to Northern Ireland. - Yours, etc,
WILLIAM HANNA,
Kensington Gardens,
Belfast.