DTT Questions

yel

Hi All,
Could anyone answer the following questions please?

Can I receive the RTE tests in Portlaoise?
What equipment do I need?
Where can I purchase this equipment?
Do I need to change where my existing ariels are pointed (I have 2 one for RTE and one for TV3)

Thanks
G

Our man in Havana

I would say you have a very slim chance of getting anything in Portlaoise. I can't get anything down near Rathdowney.

How is your Mt. Leinster UHF reception?

watty

With a big enough mast and a good site...

yel

Hi
reception currently is really good on the ariel I have

tellyman

Hi Yel. It should work if you are getting TV3 & TG4 from Mt Leinster on Ch26 & 23.
I have seen it work from aerials in attics in Ballyfin and also in Edenderry Co. Offaly.
If you like I have a spare DTT box and am in your area every week.

ei9go

Does a UK Freeview box work for DTT in Ireland?

Our man in Havana

It will work for the time being but Ireland is expected to change to mpeg4 for launch rendering the UK boxes useless.

ei9go

Thanks for reply.

What type of box should I buy?

Our man in Havana

You will need something that will do both MPEG 2 and MPEG4. No idea as to makes yet.

stanley1

Humax - hdci - 2000t (trial box)

Charles Slane

ei9go wrote: »

Thanks for reply.

What type of box should I buy?

Don't buy anything at all for the time being.

dhaumi

Sorry if this has been asked before. Does anyone have an idea about where I can get information about the roll out ?
I live in Galway and I have to the bad feeling that when the DTT eventually begins, only the transmitters into place will be operational, and the West/North (apart from Limerick) will have to wait...
Frustrating all the same.

P.S: Newest LCDs (e.g Sony w4000) include a MPEG 4 decoder in case somebody wants to buy a LCD.

aquascrotum

Sorry for hijacking another users thread, but....

I'm moving to rented accomodation in Bettystown and am not au fait with with the TV reception in RoI generally (am from N. Ireland). The house I'm going to has a Sky installation which is fine for the main telly in the house but I want TV's in the living room, kitchen & den. I'm not up for paying for Sky Multiroom and only want the bare-bones channels anyway.

So:
Bog standard terrestrial - will an internal antenna be sufficient to pick up non-digital terrestrial RTE broadcasts? Can't install a roof aerial. Is there any way to pick up non digital UK broadcasts?

DTT - is Bettystown in range of the DTT trials? Again, is a digital internal antenna likely to give me reception? And will I be able to use my current Freeview tuners to pick up the DTT signals?

Freeview - Is Bettystown too far south to pick up UK/NI Freeview signals? This would be more in hope than expectation really, especially with no external aerial.

watty

dhaumi wrote: »

Sorry if this has been asked before. Does anyone have an idea about where I can get information about the roll out ?.

No. It's apparently secret. RTENL guys have been threatened with black helicopters and dismissal if they even hint at what is going on...

But I'm unreliably informed that all non-relays will be upgraded by end of August.

Woodcock (100W ERP!) and Spur are no longer relays.

TheDriver

will the non relays be transmitting by that stage?

dhaumi

watty wrote: »

No. It's apparently secret. RTENL guys have been threatened with black helicopters and dismissal if they even hint at what is going on...

But I'm unreliably informed that all non-relays will be upgraded by end of August.

Woodcock (100W ERP!) and Spur are no longer relays.

Funny that the irish government feels the need to keep it secret. In France, they let us know way before the launch, and the map with the relays to be launched is made public...
It sure helped to make DTT boom.
You seem very well informed watty, is it a rumor that BBC might not be part of DTT?

That would be a pity, and I would suspect Murdoch to be behind this:mad:

the freesatter

anyone know when transmisson tests will start
from cairn hill

MiketheMechanic

Anyone know if there's any chance of a DTT signal being transmitted from Woodcock during this mast survey on Friday? Watty?


From Aertel Page 169...

RTE TECHNICAL INFORMATION
TRANSMITTER SITE: Woodcock Hill
SERVICE: All TV & Radio services
DATE: 16/05/08
TIME/DURATION: 11.00 - 13.00
A survey needs to be carried out on the mast for the installation of DTT antenna.

MtM

watty wrote: »

No. It's apparently secret. RTENL guys have been threatened with black helicopters and dismissal if they even hint at what is going on...

But I'm unreliably informed that all non-relays will be upgraded by end of August.

Woodcock (100W ERP!) and Spur are no longer relays.

watty

No.

The transmissions come later.

On separate dates:
1) Survey to see where on mast to run new feed cables and bolt on new aerials.
2) Install new aerials and feeds for DTT
3) Transmissions

Obviously this announcement fits with what I have been saying.

During Survey and Install they turn off transmitters when anyone is climbing close to aerials.

It's interesting that they admit clearly what the transmitter outage is.


I have no specific information as to dates and order of enabling and switch on of sites for DTT, except that it is likely for the 4 main channels before the Autumn.

MiketheMechanic

Thanks Watty.

I guess I'll have to wait for the Autumn then.
Hopefully they find a spot further up the tower, and increase the power a bit for DTT - then the people of Limerick might actually be able to get good reception without needing an outside antenna

MtM

watty wrote: »

No.

The transmissions come later.

On separate dates:
1) Survey to see where on mast to run new feed cables and bolt on new aerials.
2) Install new aerials and feeds for DTT
3) Transmissions

Obviously this announcement fits with what I have been saying.

During Survey and Install they turn off transmitters when anyone is climbing close to aerials.

It's interesting that they admit clearly what the transmitter outage is.


I have no specific information as to dates and order of enabling and switch on of sites for DTT, except that it is likely for the 4 main channels before the Autumn.