Aerial for reception in Mayo

FX Meister

I don't really know where to start looking so hope someone can give me some pointers. I have a home in Mayo that my family use about every second weekend. We have an aerial on the roof, (not sure which type), and this gives us RTE 1 & 2 and a bad TG4. RTE signals are only mediocre really. Looking for advice on how I should change the system and if anyone know a company that may do it. Will a freeview sat. give many decent channels? Will the aerial pick up any UK channels? I know they used to in that area but this was years ago. I'm also putting in an LCD this weekend and am worried that this will boost any bad signals even more.

Mayo Exile

What part of the county are you in? The TV mast at Castlebar covers a fair bit of central Mayo. Frequencies are Rte1 - channel 29, Rte 2 - ch 33, TG4 - ch 23. Aerial needed is a Group A UHF, horizontally polarised.

Also a mast at Achill, Rte 1 ch40, Rte2 ch43, TG4 ch50. Need a Group B aerial here, vertically polarised.

Be aware, much of Mayo can't get a TV3 signal via a TV aerial.

Does the aerial look like any of these examples? First is vertically polarised UHF, second is horizontally polarised UHF. Third is VHF.

FX Meister

Cant say for sure but it's either 1 or 3, I'll take a look this weekend. Castlebar would be closest I'd imagine, I'm near Kilkelly if you know where that is.

Mayo Exile

Yes. You are in east Mayo. You would be a fair distance from the mast in Castlebar which would be west of you. If you were getting signals from there it be a horizontally polarised aerial you'd need. Which way is the aerial pointing? Take a look at other houses nearby. Should tell where most people are getting a signal from too.

snaps

Im in Ballinrobe and have a UHF grid aeriel on chimney (Like every one else does here) and i get perfect crystal clear reception of RTE 1, 2, TV3, TG4, BBC 1, BBC 2, UTV, CH4. The aeriel is looking north east as far as i can tell. Couldnt tell you what transmitter/deflector its using. Dont think Kilkelly is far from Ballinrobe either.

FX Meister

That's about 20 miles away from me. Did you put it up yourself? Or could you recommend someone who does this in the area?

snaps

The aeriel was already on the house, i think the houses in this estate had them all installed when built. Many aeriel installers will im sure be able to install them. Look at other nearby houses to see whats on the roofs? You will need a booster at aeriel level to boost signal and distribute around the house. Mine is split into 4 points in the house and all work crystal clear.

Rabbit's Ears

FX Meister wrote: »

Cant say for sure but it's either 1 or 3, I'll take a look this weekend. Castlebar would be closest I'd imagine, I'm near Kilkelly if you know where that is.

Depending on your exact location, you could have up to three options for reception of the Irish terrestrial analogue services:

Cairn Hill (Longford):
Ch 40, 43, 46 & 50 for RTÉ1, RTÉ2, TV3 and TG4 respectively

Truskmore (Sligo):
ChI, ChG for RTÉ1 & RTÉ2 (VHF BIII)
and
Ch 60 and Ch 63 for TV3 and TG4

Croaghmoyle (Castlebar):

Ch 29, 33 & 23 for RTÉ1, RTÉ2 and TG4 (no TV3)


All use horizontal polarisation. If you try to receive Truskmore you may need to use two aerials, if you receive Croaghmoyle you will not get TV3. Cairn Hill would be the simplest solution (approximately east of Kilkelly). It's probably not the closest to you but does have the biggest TV transmitters in the country with output power of 800 kW ERP. As another poster said, look at your neighbours' houses and see what types of aerials they're using and what directions they're pointed in.

plodder

I'm in West Mayo, and am having trouble with terrestrial reception. I have a freeview satellite dish, and terrestrial aerial (pointed at Achill). The signals are combined outside onto one cable and then split inside the attic. The sat works fine, but there is quite a long run from the splitter to the terrestrial TV downstairs, and the signal is really bad.

I was thinking of putting a booster of some sort on to it. The question is where? Would it be put in the attic between the splitter and the long cable run down to the terrest. TV ? Or can anyone recommend some other solution?

[EDIT] Just saw "Mayo Exiles" post about the different polarisations of the transmitters ... So, I climbed up the ladder and turned the aerial over to the vertical position, and the reception is almost perfect. Thanks for the info Mayo Exile .

snaps

Also UHF reception the last week has been prone to interfence from the weather conditions (Horizontal lines running down the picture) this happens sometimes i think because of high pressure.