RRC06 allocations

lawhec

Managed to get a programme from the ITU with the framework agreed at the RRC06 conference, which lists future DTT and DAB allocations. Looking at the Irish (Republic) allocations some things become clear...

* Frequencies have been cleared for a regional SFN in Band III for DTT use. These will follow the mainland Europe allocations (E5-9) rather than the traditional Irish channel allocations.
* Local Band III allocations have been set for DAB.
* On UHF, most/all of the main sites have had eight multiplexes cleared for use. As far as possible sites have all eight allocations located within the traditional aerial groups, some exceptions include Kippure (W), Mount Leinster (K-ish), Spur Hill (E), Crosshaven (W), Churchfield (K), and Three Rock (W).

It means that The Irish Republic has nine DTT multiplexes to play with as set out from the framework. I'll try and get all the stuff up later, including that of the north.

byte

Oh interesting stuff NC.

Most interesting is the regional stuff on Band III. I wonder what will be done with these

I'm surprised we'll be using 8 multiplexes (mainly). That leaves plenty of room for channels, and perhaps a few HD channels?

L1011

Eight? Hrm, the old ODTR system has the relays on 4 and the main sites on 6; so 8 (+ the SFN if applicable if its only regional and not nationwide) would make the relays service even shoddier. (4+the SFN if applicable). Particularly if the ODTRs transmission modes are used, because the SFN it laid out had a HUGE guard interval - would be about 16Mbits I think, compared to 24 on the MFN muxes.

lawhec

OK, first up is an excel spreadsheet detailing the DAB and VHF DTT allocations to the Irish Republic, DAB on sheet one and DTT on sheet 2. Having sifted through the info better, it becomes clear that the allocations set aside for DTT are all vertically polarised and are also highly powered, some sites are cleared for 200kW! :eek: This strongly hints to me that they've been set up for some sort of portable receiving service (maybe done in part with the current DAB-IP trials between RTÉ & BT from Three Rock & Clermont Carn?)

DAB will use channels between 5-12, a third national multiplex has been gained (10A) alongside 12A and 12C, with a number of the allocations being interleaved with DTT allocations.

lawhec

RRC06 UHF DTT allocations for the Irish Republic.

Slight edit - The "main broadcast sites seem to be cleared for powers of up to around 175kW per multiplex, with Three Rock cleared for ~125kW!

Ulsterman 1690

What exactly are they going to fill those nine multiplexes with ?

I mean the UK a country with around 14 times the population of the Republic of Ireland has six multiplexes and half of these are shopping and quiz channels ?

lawhec

Just a little info so not much point putting this in a spreadsheet

Multiplex :: Centre Frequency (MHz) :: Transmission Area

10C :: 213.360 :: BELFAST
11A :: 216.928 :: NORTHERN IRELAND II (To be used for new UK commercial Multiplex)
11C :: 220.352 :: LONDONDERRY
11D :: 222.064 :: FERMANAGH & TYRONE
12B :: 225.648 :: UK BBC (Already used by BBC UK Wide)
12D :: 229.072 :: NORTHERN IRELAND I (Already On Air)

It looks like Digital 1's coverage won't be extended. :rolleyes:

L1011

On the DAB, what does "DAB L" and "DAB R" refer to? I note Donegal has two blocks, one L one R. Local and Regional? Something else?

I'm guessing we'll never need our L-band allocations now. Thank feck for that.

lawhec

The (fairly short) excel file with the N.Ireland allocations cleared at RRC06.

The transmission powers are notacibly lower compared to the south - Divis is cleared for 100kW while Brougher Mountain and Limavady are cleared for 20kW. A few small relay sites are cleared for just four multiplexes.

Edit - those in the Republic might be glad to hear that all these allocations are (provisionally) omnidirectional.

lawhec

MYOB wrote:

On the DAB, what does "DAB L" and "DAB R" refer to? I note Donegal has two blocks, one L one R. Local and Regional? Something else?

I'm guessing we'll never need our L-band allocations now. Thank feck for that.

It looks like that, it seems that the "local" allocations seem to match that roughly of current local-station FM coverage while the regional allocations seem to match the proposed regional FM services along with those in place e.g. Beat 102-103.

What exactly are they going to fill those nine multiplexes with ?

I mean the UK a country with around 14 times the population of the Republic of Ireland has six multiplexes and half of these are shopping and quiz channels ?

Not quite half Ulsterman, but I see your point.

I reckon the VHF multiplex will probably be used for mobile purposes, either something similar to the DAB-IP trial currently taking place or maybe DVB-H or DMB. Small screen viewing I guess, while on UHF in the short term it'll probably allow for a MPEG2 SD service say on four of the multiplexes with the remaining four carrying an MPEG4 HD service, with in the long term the aim for the MPEG2 SD service to be discontinued. Whatever the case the Comreg reps have obtained plenty of frequencies to play about with for future-proofing for quite a while.

byte

Good work with the Excel sheets NC. Thanks for the headsup.

The Cush

10C :: 213.360 :: BELFAST
11A :: 216.928 :: NORTHERN IRELAND II (To be used for new UK commercial Multiplex)
11C :: 220.352 :: LONDONDERRY
11D :: 222.064 :: FERMANAGH & TYRONE
12B :: 225.648 :: UK BBC (Already used by BBC UK Wide)
12D :: 229.072 :: NORTHERN IRELAND I (Already On Air)

It looks like Digital 1's coverage won't be extended.

Maybe Digital 1 will be awarded the new Northern Ireland "National Commercial / Regional" 11A multiplex. The two national commercial stations currently on the 12D "Score Digital" Regional / Local multiplex - Classic FM & talkSPORT may return to the new Digital 1 multiplex as per the rest of the UK thus freeing up space on the current multiplex. The space may be available to broadcast RTE Radio 1 digitally within Northern Ireland.


A list of the UK TV multiplexes following RRC-06 is available on the Telly Aerial website.

byrnefm

It's great to hear that the number of channels Ireland currently has allocated is being increased - when will this take effect from (assuming RTÉ use them!)?

lawhec

The Cush wrote:

Maybe Digital 1 will be awarded the new Northern Ireland "National Commercial / Regional" 11A multiplex. The two national commercial stations currently on the 12D "Score Digital" Regional / Local multiplex - Classic FM & talkSPORT may return to the new Digital 1 multiplex as per the rest of the UK thus freeing up space on the current multiplex. The space may be available to broadcast RTE Radio 1 digitally within Northern Ireland.[/URL] website.

DAB Channel 11A is also allocated for England, Scotland and Wales to carry the same services so that won't be happening I reckon.

In theory RTÉ may be allowed to run a multiplex on 12C in N.Ireland if the UK authorities cleared it for use here and were satisfied it didn't conflict with services in Britain.

It's great to hear that the number of channels Ireland currently has allocated is being increased - when will this take effect from (assuming RTÉ use them!)?

I believe the allocations take affect as of right now. At the conference there were a number of analogue allocations agreed to be "protected" that were drafted from previous agreements. My understanding is that these allocations are protected (in that any country looking to start a service on such a frequency will need to co-ordinate with another whose allocation may be affected) until 2015 on UHF and 2020 on VHF Band III in some places.

In the Republic, some of the new DTT allocations are currently used by analogue services so its obvious that they will have to shut down before it can be used for DTT.

marclt

Will be interesting to see how the Presely / Mount Leinster situation is handled.. they have a number of shared frequencies.

I can't see Ireland using all 8 multiplexes from the word go. In the UK, only 6 multiplexes will be used from Main transmitter sites, with relays using only 3 allocations, providing the main services. Allowing extra space to be sold off!

byrnefm

marclt wrote:

Allowing extra space to be sold off!

I can see (hear?) it now - "You are listening to Sky DAB Ireland"