[DTT] Tests @ Cairn Hill

givecredit

Dtt commenced from Cairn Hill Today Tuesday 24th. Carrier Name RTE. No 634000 carrying 4tv and 4 radio channels. Also full 7 day epg.

Edit: Picking it up loud and clear from Ballinasloe, Albeit no video as i only have mpeg2 tv tuner.

mullingar

CONFIRMED!

Picking up all services here in Mullingar, Signal strength & Quality 100% on Ch 41

Now I can pull down my Clermont Carn aerial.

Scottish paddy

Has anyone picked this up North of Longford? Does anyone know the ERP at the moment? I hope the signal is not reduced to the North and is available in NI

channelsurfer

interesting. I was wondering why my analogue singal went weak all of a sudden. any cheap mpeg4 decoders for sale around the offaly area?

mullingar

Attached is a snapshot from a laptop of the tech details from RTE1 DTT from Cairn Hill via a bad aerial cable connected to a USB DAB/DTT dongle.

The TV reports a 100% quality so it must be the dongle or cable

Onikage

Woohoo!

Channels found: 8
Strength: 62%
Signal: 79%
Coax: the cheap shoddy stuff that I've been meaning to replace

Looking good.

mullingar

I just read the BCI plan for mast installs/upgrades for Cairn Hill

http://www.bci.ie/DTT/boxer/appendix7.3_coverageplotsmapsA3.pdf

Q3 2009 = 80kW
Q3 2011 = 160kW :eek:


No transmitter in the UK ever got near this!

Good old Brougher Mtn is only on 0.5kW DTT (100k ATT), but in 2012 this will be 11kW DTT, thats 22 times stronger but still tiny compared to Cairn Hill's 160kW by 2012

http://www.ukfree.tv/txdetail.php?a=IH350527

givecredit

channelsurfer wrote: »

interesting. I was wondering why my analogue singal went weak all of a sudden. any cheap mpeg4 decoders for sale around the offaly area?

Not so cheap, but how does Eur113 sound including delivery:

http://www.pixmania.ie/ie/uk/2024987/art/sigmatek/dvb-500-hd-freeview-recei.html

channelsurfer

not bad. might give it a try and purchase. thanks for that. can always buy another model later for my other tv.

Galway

Well the analogue signal needs to go bak on full power cause its grim at the moment.

mullingar

Galway wrote: »

Well the analogue signal needs to go bak on full power cause its grim at the moment.

Galway,

If u are in Galway, Cairn Hill was always never intended to fill any areas in Co. Galway

TVDX

I was under the mistaken impression that Woodcock hill was a main transmitter but it doesn't appear to be mentioned on that map.
How long more will it take for this site to get going is a mystery?.
I hope it isn't a case of Autumn 2009.

But I was amazed last night to pick up using a loop aerial and usb dvb-t stick signal found and 49% strength 7% quality from Cairn Hill which of course was totally useless and un-usable but amazing to get a sniff of anything on a very limited setup in Woodcock hill signal area.

Galway

FYI, I am in North Galway, 16 + miles north, of city, south of Tuam on high ground. Have been receiving very good quality transmission from Cairn Hill on RTE 1, 2 TV 3, TG4 has always been weakest - is everywhere. Also FYI a lot of north-east Galway receives from Cairn Hill. Whether intended or not the CH signals extend WELL beyond the intended service area - the ERP is 800kw remember - Ireland's most powerful TX. DTT should be easily receivable at this location. Analogue does require a masthead amp from CH here, but I am using high gain aerial and a Johanssson amp, with fully screened satellite quality cable -not some shoddy half baked installation.

MiketheMechanic

Folks,

does anyone have a coverage map of the existing Analogue service from Cairn Hill?

Thanks,
MtM

MiketheMechanic

No problem, found it. Thanks.

http://www.irish-tv.com/cairnh.asp

robbie red

Scottish paddy wrote: »

Has anyone picked this up North of Longford? Does anyone know the ERP at the moment? I hope the signal is not reduced to the North and is available in NI

I've asked this question elsewhere but I'm not sure where the best place is to post it. Anyway, here goes

Would a BT Vision box work for this? I'm in Northern Ireland. I have a BT box in the house and would hook it up again if I knew for sure I'd get the full video and audio broadcasts.

So far I can get audio but no video from my tv tuner and also my Humax pvr (both are MPEG2 only).

On looking at the specs for the BT Vision box it says:

VIDEO DECODING
Microsoft Windows Media VC1
MPEG4 pt10 (H.264) in MPEG TS
MPEG1 Video
MPEG-2 DVB compliant up to MP@ML
Video Formats
PAL (interlaced)

PS.. My RTE analogue comes from Cairn Hill.

Galway

Anyone know where I can access the full list of the DTT channels allocation.

givecredit

robbie red wrote: »

Would a BT Vision box work for this? I'm in Northern Ireland. I have a BT box in the house and would hook it up again if I knew for sure I'd get the full video and audio broadcasts.
.

Below is taken from Techradar.com:

In use, the Freeview side of the box is par for the course. Its pictures look much like any other Freeview box and recordings are transparent to the original source. When it comes to the quality of VOD material, playback is smooth and moderately detailed.

Although it feels as if the VOD selections are unspooling from the hard drive, they are in fact streaming from a BT server. Standard FF/REW/pause control is possible. Smoothness depends on your broadband speed. BT recommends a minimum of 2Mb.

Interestingly, the box can decode VC1, MPEG-4, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 DVB SD video, MPEG-4 AVC and MPEG-2 HD, and MPEG-1 layer 2, AAC and Dolby Digital audio. This gives it huge future-proofing potential as and when appropriate firmware is released. 128Mbytes of RAM is available to system resources, while a 300MHz processor drives the EPG.

mullingar

Galway wrote: »

Anyone know where I can access the full list of the DTT channels allocation.

http://www.bci.ie/DTT/boxer/appendix7.3_coverageplotsmapsA3.pdf

It lists proposed dates, full frequncies, ERP's and coverage maps!

scath

Have you checked htp://www.bci.ie/DTT/Licensing.htm for the transmission maps to see if there's anything about the frequencies there. Not sure myself but I would assume there.

Galway

Er...no frequency lists there at all.

channelsurfer

my rte2 and the other channels have deteriorated significantly since the start of the digital broadcasts from Cairn Hill. I have a masthead booster would that be anything to do with it?

mullingar

Found it:

http://www.comreg.ie/_fileupload/publications/ComReg0765.pdf

LIST A - Main Transmitters MUX 1 - 4

Cairn Hill 41 44 47 51
Clermont Carn 53 57 60 63
Holywell Hill 25 30 32 35
Dungarvan 55 59 62 65
Kippure 54 58 61 64
Maghera 55 48 67 65
Mt Leinster 39 42 45 49
Mullaghanish 21 24 25 28
Spur Hill 45 49 66 68
Three Rock 54 58 61 64
Truskmore 52 56 53 57
Woodcock Hill 41 44 47 51

LIST B MUX 1 - 4 (relays/infill)

Achill 41 44 47 51
Aranmore 41 44 47 51
Casla 41 44 47 51
Castlebar 22 25 28 32
Castletownbere 55 59 62 65
Clifden 23 26 29 33
Clonmel 55 59 62 65
Crosshaven 45 49 66 68
Drogheda 21 24 27 31
Kilduff 53 57 60 63
Fanad 55 59 62 65
Falcarragh 22 25 28 32
Greystones 52 56 66 68
Iorras 22 25 28 32
Kilkeeveragh 41 44 47 51
Knockmoyle 52 56 66 68
Letterkenny 53 57 60 63
Suir Valley 52 56 66 68

Galway

Yes, all the 4 analogues are down. Where are u based?? Its damn annoying. I wonder will analolgue be permanently down till analogue switch off?

STB

robbie red wrote: »

I've asked this question elsewhere but I'm not sure where the best place is to post it. Anyway, here goes

Would a BT Vision box work for this? I'm in Northern Ireland. I have a BT box in the house and would hook it up again if I knew for sure I'd get the full video and audio broadcasts.

Yes it fits the profile...... once you are with BT Broadband still.

The BT Vision Box is a Philips DIT9719.

http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/d/dit9719_05/dit9719_05_pss_eng.pdf

They are widely available second hand on ebay for little or nothing and have MHEG as well as a built in 160g hard disk.

HOWEVER, One important question remains to be answered. Does the DTT tuner work if NOT connected to broadband ? Or is it locked down to connect to BT first.

The answer is NO it wont work for those not connected to BT Broadband. Not alone does it have to be connected to Broadband. It has to be connected to BT Broadband and wont work otherwise. Dont even contemplate buying this as a cheap option.

There was meant to a firmware update to allow the tuner to work alone but this has never happened.

Otherwise it would be a steal.

the_wabbitt

Guys
Cairn Hill is on air with and ERP of 600KW - That is FACT - Truskmore was due to start this week, but will probably end up going to air at the back end of next week or early the following.

robbie red

STB wrote: »

Yes it fits the profile...... once you are with BT Broadband still.

The BT Vision Box is a Philips DIT9719.

http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/d/dit9719_05/dit9719_05_pss_eng.pdf

They are widely available second hand on ebay for little or nothing and have MHEG as well as a built in 160g hard disk.

HOWEVER, One important question remains to be answered. Does the DTT tuner work if NOT connected to broadband ? Or is it locked down to connect to BT first.

The answer is NO it wont work for those not connected to BT Broadband. Not alone does it have to be connected to Broadband. It has to be connected to BT Broadband and wont work otherwise. Dont even contemplate buying this as a cheap option.

There was meant to a firmware update to allow the tuner to work alone but this has never happened.

Otherwise it would be a steal.

I already have the box as indeed I do have BT Broadband. I very seldom used it so actually put it into storage before Christmas. I think I might just set it up again after work today. To be able to receive RTE digital would be a real coup for me, especially as analogue is ropy up here in this part of Tyrone.

mullingar

the_wabbitt wrote: »

Guys
Cairn Hill is on air with and ERP of 600KW - That is FACT - Truskmore was due to start this week, but will probably end up going to air at the back end of next week or early the following.

Source?

If as you say it is true @ 600kW DTT (Analogue was 800kW) , It should cover nearly all of Ireland!

I believe in the UK's system the average DTT ERP was 10-20% of the ATT, so for an 800kW ATT, 20% ERP is 160kW DTT

the_wabbitt

Source = Very high up please understand that I cannot name.

The ERP is indeed 600KW. the antennae system is critical to the way it is being propigated. 600KW would indeed cover all of ireland if the following were removed ;

Mountains!!!

BTW the TX units are Rode and Shwartz, quite sexy units as well

R

Onikage

Given that I can recieve a signal lock with a magnetic antenna under my desk, I would have to say it is pretty strong.

Galway

well can your high up source, say if they analogue power is down?? And when it it going back up to 8ookw as we are suffering!

the_wabbitt

without saying too much,

just imagine , the possibility of HD TV on a DTT platform WITHOUT THE NEED FOR AN EXTERNAL ARIEL (for most of the country) ....... hmmmm dream or reality......?

the_wabbitt

ooooooooooooh me an my big mouth!!!!

You must understand that for integration of services to occur safely, some services (i can only imagine) would have to be brought down slightly in power. if that is the case than knowing the crew that work on this side of things I am sure that normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

just a foot note here. I feel that these boards are too quick to critisise the national broadcaster. Please understand that they are forgeing ahead with a highly ambitious plan for DTT under a very tough financial period , and while the pace of same may not suit everyone (me included as i am served off truskmore) it is the best they can do in the current climate. A little patience and you will be highly satisfied with the outcome.

lucernarian

What criticisms?? I've never seen many RTÉ criticisms, beyond inadequate numbers of relay sites...

TV3 are the real gob****es in terrestrial broadcasting in this country. They never paid to have TV3 broadcast from any relay except the ones in Cork city and Limerick.

slegs

I think RTENL are doing a great job to date on this rollout. They have delivered on most of the planned dates so far. Long may it last.

Galway

So can one say that the analogue power will be back up to 800kw sometime soon? Or do we have to have poor pictures due to the installation of a service 99% of the country does not have the equipment to receive yet?

givecredit

Galway wrote: »

So can one say that the analogue power will be back up to 800kw sometime soon? Or do we have to have poor pictures due to the installation of a service 99% of the country does not have the equipment to receive yet?

If you have a look at the Cairn Hill range map. Your position is very borderline for reception from there. Why not turn your aerial towards Maghera.

http://www.irish-tv.com/cairn_hill.jpg

Galway

Pardon me, but you do not know my exact position nor the nature of the terrain. I am using a high gain gr B multi element aerial with a 39-69 johnansson variable gain masthead amp, fully screened satellite cable with the aerial mounted on a 16 ft pole on the chimney and to boot I am on high ground. I would not have attempted reception from CH if I did not know it was feasible. I am NOT in Galway city, but north east of city 23 km. Signals from CH extend well beyond the so called 'service area' - that coloured map is not very accurate.

I was getting 55 dbu - unamplified off the aerial so with amplification prior to the power decrease. In Mullingar and Tullamore - well within the service area, they are reporting impaired reception of late. If I point my aerial to Maghera - as you suggest - I wil not be able to receive RTÉs 1 & 2 as I have a number of UK UHF only tv sets in the house. I have an aerial combineDwith the grB for TV3 and TG4 from Maghera as these are UHF.

The point is the CH Tx should be radiating on the full 800kw!

The Cush

I have attached the RTÉNL roll out schedule (appendix 5) which were attached to the Boxer and EasyTV DTT applications to the BCI.

The EasyTV DTT application Appendix 5 (overall coverage plots and timeframe) appears to be slightly more up to date than the Boxer version even though both were prepared by RTENL, possibly because RTE were part of the EasyTV bid, e.g. Dungarvan & Greystones (in the EasyTV application) is rolled out by the end of Q2 2009 - as they have been, in the Boxer version Dungarvan & Greystones were to be rolled out by the end of Q3 2010 & Q3 2009 respectively.

sesswhat

the_wabbitt wrote: »

Guys
Cairn Hill is on air with and ERP of 600KW - That is FACT - Truskmore was due to start this week, but will probably end up going to air at the back end of next week or early the following.

Do your sources have anything to say about Holywell Hill?

medoc

Tonight I got an onscreen message that new services were available. A rescan gave only the same 8 services on Ch41 ie. 4 Tv and 4 Radio. However I noticed a text page on RTE Radio 1 and 2FM which appears automatically. the 2FM page has a details of the program on, a logo and the name of two songs which change every so often. I'm using a Panasonic TH-46PZ81B tv.

Galway

Signal power is deffinately down on Analogue. My aerial isnt exactly allaigned on cairn hill as it's for BBC from NI but RTE 1 is slightly down on a few weeks ago. RTE2 is a lot worse with TV3 poor and TG4 worse again. It used to be crystal until few weeks ago.

Galway

yes RTE 1 is least affected 2 more so and as u say TV 3 and TG4 worst. TV3 used to be the strongest with TG4 the weakest (Well it is towards the end of the group there on ch 50). RTEs 1 and 2 used to be near perfect. Im out the of the official service area so it is noticeable. I wonder if they are going to restore full power to the analogue services soon?

Are you getting BBC/ITV from Divis or Brougher Mountain? whats the reception like? what aerial and equipment are u using?

byte

I'd imagine Holywell will follow some time after Truskmore.

@ the wabbit, I hope your sources are right regarding Truskmore. (I have heard from another relaible source that equipment etc is ready to go, but he wouldn't elaborate too much on it)

channelsurfer

I have to agree with Galway. I am right in line for Cairn Hill here in Tullamore and the signal is awful even with a masthead booster compared to last week. whats the point in putting on DTT (even though i have bought the receiver suggested from pixmania, awaiting delivery) if 99% of the population cant or dont have the knowledge to buy a digital receiver yet until rte or whoever publicise em and retailers stock em??? Bring back my analogue to 800W asap!!!

Galway

Any indication when Maghera is getting DTT? Or the west going to be left till last as usual?

medoc

Galway wrote: »

Are you getting BBC/ITV from Divis or Brougher Mountain? whats the reception like? what aerial and equipment are u using?

From Brougher Mountain judging by the frequencies ( 22,28,25,32). Been getting it for years. Channel 4 is the poorest but watchable most of the time. UTV is unavailable recently because of interference from a local farm yard camera, but used to be the best. Sorry dont know aerial type its about 6 to 7 foot long with X shaped elements along its length and its on a 15ft pole. We dont use it much anymore since Freesat, probably take it down soon.

byte

Possibly a Triax UNIX100 or Antiference XG21

mullingar

medoc wrote: »

From Brougher Mountain judging by the frequencies ( 22,28,25,32). Been getting it for years. Channel 4 is the poorest but watchable most of the time. UTV is unavailable recently because of interference from a local farm yard camera, but used to be the best. Sorry dont know aerial type its about 6 to 7 foot long with X shaped elements along its length and its on a 15ft pole. We dont use it much anymore since Freesat, probably take it down soon.

Dont take it down just yet!

Brougher's digital signal is going to be boosted from 500W to 20,000W in 2012, so if you can pick up a reasonable BBC1 analogue pic you should get the Freeview signal

robbie red

Got the test from Cairn Hill working on my BT Vision box in the North. Only problem is that, although TV3 and TG4 are broadcasting properly, both RTE 1 and 2 are only filling one quarter of the screen (via HDMI). I have to use my scart output to get them to output "widescreen" with huge bars top and bottom (and not quite stretching to fill the right side of screen). Anyone else experience this or am I doing something wrong? Digital text is working properly on all of the channels.

byte

robbie red wrote: »

Got the test from Cairn Hill working on my BT Vision box in the North. Only problem is that, although TV3 and TG4 are broadcasting properly, both RTE 1 and 2 are only filling one quarter of the screen (via HDMI). I have to use my scart output to get them to output "widescreen" with huge bars top and bottom (and not quite stretching to fill the right side of screen). Anyone else experience this or am I doing something wrong? Digital text is working properly on all of the channels.

You've already asked this on another thread. Once is enough.

robbie red

I am only trying to find the best place to ask. Not that it matters because obviously there is no answer to my query so I assume no-one knows what is going on with RTEs tests.

Regardless, I apologise for upsetting you guys, I've never known a group of people on all the many forums I subscribe to get so uptight and obnoxious when it comes to helping out there fellow man. God help us!!!

Through the medium of this forum I would like to request my details / username etc be removed from these forums forthwith as I'd rather not continue in the only forum medium I have ever joined where people can be so nasty and objectionable to others.

Many thanks, Robbie the Red