RTE Announce FTA Saorsat service

Yes there are, they are no different in that regard. You cannot split a satellite signal or use a distribution amp no matter what band it is.

jobyrne30 wrote: »

This might be a stupid question but I'm sure it's of interest to many people. Is there such a thing a quad or octo Ka band LNB's ? Or can the signal be split multiple ways via a distribution amp similar to that use for aerials ?

True if they use only the one mux or two mux in the same polarity/band then in theory you could split but then we get into cable/amp losses so I think its going to be cheaper to go the lnb route or perhaps unicable . What happens though if another service starts that you want in the future on another polarity or band, you end up having to re cable.

Interesting times ahead Watty

watty wrote: »

So it's unlikely that Quad, Quattro or Octo ever needed.[/B] It's likely on Kasat that for any one spot all channels are same polarity and part of band

I'm 99.9% sure each spot is only one part of band.
I'm 100% sure each spot is only one polarity.

Infact for the single dish Satellite Internet + TV to work, the ALL the downlink in the spot has to be same part of band and same polarity as they simply T the RX coax to Modem and setbox. The TX uses a separate higher band and opposite polarity.

Hotbird 6 13E ka layout


You can see clearly on this the diplex filter guard band for frequency re-use per spot. (on downlink and uplink)
(WARNING: This may not be the frequency plan for KaSat!) The Hotbird Ka @ 13E has only 4 spots. The Kasat has a staggering 80 spots. but only FOUR different sets of "frequency reuse". Thus kasat is a x10 version of the existing 13E Ka Tooway system.

The TX /RX separation is via clever mechanical diplex filter and polarisation splitter called an Orthomode Transducer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthomode_transducer

So it's about 99.999% likely that kasat and future Ka band we can use passive splitters, single output LNBs and only need an amp for maybe 8 or 16 way split. Unlike a TV aerial, there is a Cable driving high level IF amp in the LNB. The modern LNBs have a massive output level. The dish really sets the SNR. The splitter will attenuate noise too.

I'd imagine only Guest houses, Hotels, Apartments will need the 950MHz to 2GHz sat amps. You can get splitters that will do 5MHz to 2GHz, but I'd stick to 900MHz to 2500MHz splitters, better performance.

How does €12M p.a. to more likely €21M p.a. cost less than €1.5M p.a.? It's COST driven, not tech driven.

It's not RTE's tech. they are renting this as it's at least 1/10th the cost of ANY possible other solution.

Also the capacity to have all the Irish services and simulcast in HD on Satellite doesn't even exist at 28.2.

This solution needs no SD / HD simulcast. Like Saorview, RTE can switch to HD on demand initially for special features and then HD only when full HD content is available. On installed Skybox base that's impossible.

We could be looking at 25,000+ households with no free Irish digital services without this, maybe 20,000 needing BIG aerials. RTE are in serious trouble if the launch fails as really the plan B doesn't exist. No money for more relays, which even at UK level of coverage we would have 10,000+ with no or poor DTT.

For SD the Saorview on 28.2E is €12M p.a. to more likely €21M p.a. For HD, it's €40M to €80M a year instead of €4M on Kasat, but the capacity for 9 new HD on 28.2 doesn't exist.

jobyrne30 wrote: »

Cheers Tony and Watty for answering my earlier question.

Your welcome. Once again thanks for your posts on other threads, you seem to be very well informed.

rlogue wrote: »

One thing that makes me very negative is the complete lack of regard by RTE for the diaspora audience.

I agree, but that's a completely separate issue. It should be funded by Dept of Foreign affairs, like almost every other country. Apart from a few half hearted SW Radio and RTE Radio on Satellite, we are one of the worst in the world in the nearly 90 years of Irish Broadcasting.

rlogue wrote: »

Where are RTE going to find the 1.5 million to fund the Saorsat service when they said they didn't have the 1 million or so to fund the RTE International service?

Of course Eamon Ryan let them get away with it.

It would cost more that that to run the last 7% to 5% of Terrestrial relays. The Roll out cost for the last 5% probably €15m.
RTE International service is a Government idea and the Government should pay for it directly. This solution saves RTE money and ensures an identical copy of Saorview TV & Radio to people that would not get DTT no matter how much was spent.

This is 9 channels now, more later and 12 Radio channels. And backup feed for ALL RTE DTT & DAB feeds.
Look here http://www.lyngsat.com/intel907.html
scroll to bottom of page.
Even BBC and Five don't use Sky for backup.
I looked at this satellite for Internet and TV for Ireland. A real genuine commercial project. Not enough capacity left.
Also while it's the only cheapish non 28.2E with Irish Spot it covers all of UK also. No use for Saorview without expensive card scheme.

Even the cheapest Real Digital TV non-Murdoch card scheme would cost more than €1.5M a year. I feel your pain about the ex-pat situation, but there isn't a "one fits all" scheme for Domestic TV and outside Ireland unless you are big country or don't speak English.

This is not a competitor to Sky & UPC. It's for people that don't want Sky or UPC and can't get DTT. Because the dish is tiny compared to a Sky/Freesat dish in Ireland (Zone 2) and can even be in a plastic box, people can easily have Freesat also. Possibly Freesat & Saorsat on one receiver. Unlike Sky it's almost certain one small dish (that is less obtrusive than MMDS and need not look like a dish) can feed any number of sets without multiple cables from dish or complex traditional Sat IF distribution gear.

Onthe3rdDay wrote: »

Actually The BBC have used SKY for backup in the past in the channel Islands.

They probably still use it for some things, or Crowncastle or who ever minds the TX sites since the Government forced the sale of them.