RTÉ DTT Tests: Maghera

slegs

Mayo Exile has reported receiving channels on Ch 48 in Mayo this am. Maghera was planned to use Ch48 for DTT. Any confirmations that Maghera is now broadcasting DTT?

Update: Seems like this is not Maghera but could be Castlebar?

Further Update: Confirmed as Maghera on Ch48

The Cush

At GE06 Maghera was the only transmitter in the country assigned/alloted Ch. 48.
Castlebar's assigned/alloted channels are 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 33.

slegs

There was a report of reception in Galway on Ch48. This would make Maghera the likely culprit. Would be good news if so, as this would be all the major transmitters active.

The Cush

slegs wrote: »

Would be good news if so, as this would be all the major transmitters active.

except Holywell Hill

slegs

Just had a note confirming that it is Maghera live on Ch48

tjspock

just scanned maghera and the 4 irish channels coming in at 95% in my clarke tech combo great pic here in north kerry

CrowdedHouse

Receiving at 80% strength here(near Roscrea)...this is off the back of an old antenna !

I now have the choice of 4 different feeds(Kippure is off though atm)....When I get my aerial fixed(it's getting worst for wear and shifted in the wind) where should I point it..suppose Cairn Hill as all analogues are on UHF

JoeA3

I'm getting it now too from Maghera... RTE 1, RTE 2, TV3, TG4 and the RTE radio channels... all on my Sony Bravia.

Scottish paddy

The Cush wrote: »

except Holywell Hill

I don't think Holywell Hill is classed as a main transmitter anyway..........so Slegs would be right.......all main transmitters are indeed active, which is not bad going for RTÉNL ........fair play to them.

GerardKeating

The Cush wrote: »

except Holywell Hill

That's not a main transmitter, just a relay according to RTENL..

snaps

Strange how im closer to Truskmore with my grid aerial pointing north (Im in Mayo near castlebar) and the channel 48 transmissions from Maghera are stronger than the Truskmore transmissions on 53 & 57.

JoeA3

Any idea lads if I should be able to see an EPG with this? I have all the channels crystal clear (this is on a new-ish Sony TV), but no programme information whatsoever. I searched on here and saw some suggest you need to set the TV to UK region... I tried that, but still no joy.

Perhaps no EPG data from Maghera yet?

The Cush

Scottish paddy wrote: »

I don't think Holywell Hill is classed as a main transmitter anyway..........so Slegs would be right.......all main transmitters are indeed active, which is not bad going for RTÉNL ........fair play to them.

GerardKeating wrote: »

That's not a main transmitter, just a relay according to RTENL..

According to RTÉNL, BCI, ComReg it is a Main Transmitter, not a relay and is to be rolled out with the other main transmitters before the end of Q2 2009 together with three relays - Woodcock Hill, Dungarvan and Greystones.

CrowdedHouse

JoeA3 wrote: »

Perhaps no EPG data from Maghera yet?

I have full EPG from Mahera on an MVision Box

givecredit

JoeA3 wrote: »

Any idea lads if I should be able to see an EPG with this? I have all the channels crystal clear (this is on a new-ish Sony TV), but no programme information whatsoever. I searched on here and saw some suggest you need to set the TV to UK region... I tried that, but still no joy.

Perhaps no EPG data from Maghera yet?

This is NOT a fault of your TV. RTENL are doing some tests with EPG, which means some boxes get the epg and other dont. When tests are over this should all be resolved. Some of us had epg last week, some of us lost the epg yesterday.

ethernet

Delighted to hear it. Now to buy a box for testing!

Noticed 3 on analogue looked a little fuzzy today. Probably just a coincidence.

Mayo Exile

Originally posted by slegs: Mayo Exile has reported receiving channels on Ch 48 in Mayo this am.

Don't remember posting that! I posted in the "Cairn Hill" thread I was getting borderline reception from C.H. on channel 47 in the Westport area.

givecredit

Mayo Exile wrote: »

Don't remember posting that! I posted in the "Cairn Hill" thread I was getting borderline reception from C.H. on channel 47 in the Westport area.

In fairness to slegs, He probably got a bit excited with the potential of new customers from the Mayo area. It was Snaps that reported the DTT RECEPTION in mayo yesterday morning:

" DTT now available in mayo!!!
Done a scan on my TM6900 with UHF grid aerial pointing north from south east mayo (Towards castlebar/sligo).
Getting very strong DTT signals on ch48 (RTE 1,2,TV3,TG4 broadcasting), CH53 (RTE 1,2,TV3,TG4 broadcasting) & CH57 (No channels broadcasting).

Would say 53 & 57 are Truskmore (95% signal), Not sure where 48 is comming from (Which is 100% signal) could be Castlebar?"
__________________

Mayo Exile

No problem. It's actually encouraging to see posters in Mayo giving good initial reception reports from both Truskmore and Maghera. No chance of Maghera reception from where the Da's house is though.

Croagh Patrick and other mountains to the south will block it out completely. Will bring the trial box home again to try for Truskmore. Getting poor analogue reception from there on 60 and 63 (similar to Cairn Hill).

EDIT: Alot of Mayo (especially the east), quite early on may get good reception from Maghera and Truskmore going by this projected coverage map. The block in the middle of the county is probably caused by Benbulben and other mountains southwest of Truskmore. Castlebar coming on stream (sometime in 2010?) should fill in this gap. However the west of the county, will have to wait longer it seems to get coverage.

Link: http://www.bci.ie/DTT/boxer/licencea_section7_print.pdf

snaps

Mayo Exile wrote: »

No problem. It's actually encouraging to see posters in Mayo giving good initial reception reports from both Truskmore and Maghera. No chance of Maghera reception from where the Da's house is though.

Croagh Patrick and other mountains to the south will block it out completely. Will bring the trial box home again to try for Truskmore. Getting poor analogue reception from there on 60 and 63 (similar to Cairn Hill).

EDIT: Alot of Mayo (especially the east), quite early on may get good reception from Maghera and Truskmore going by this projected coverage map. The block in the middle of the county is probably caused by Benbulben and other mountains southwest of Truskmore. Castlebar coming on stream (sometime in 2010?) should fill in this gap. However the west of the county, will have to wait longer it seems to get coverage.

Link: http://www.bci.ie/DTT/boxer/licencea_section7_print.pdf

You may be surprised, I dont get any analouge pictures (Very fuzzy) but the DTT transponders are coming in very strong. I have noticed that my UHF analouge channels from the deflector and RTE transmitter at castlebar have gone a lttle fuzzy but that may be cause i have my TM6900 now looped through my aerial feed.

This has been great news for me as ive been waiting for the Irish channels to come on air in digital as ive not been watching them due to getting rid of sky and having not great analouge pictures.

installer

Are the services stable enough to recommend to people or do they drop out? if so any idea of the amout of downtime can be expected?

CrowdedHouse

There's no way of knowing - Kippure was on for a few days,then swithched off.

You could have it today,gone tomorrow.(As it still is only a test phase)

There's no cheap and simple Set top box available yet either and the(integrated iDTV) TV's suitable for Irish DTT have to be selected with great care..down to the exact letter of the model number.

installer

thanks..... Dont suppose there is a list of models that will work here? or what to look for in the model number to tell whether it will work or not?

givecredit

installer wrote: »

thanks..... Dont suppose there is a list of models that will work here? or what to look for in the model number to tell whether it will work or not?

See sticky thread at top of this page.

slegs

Mayo Exile wrote: »

Don't remember posting that! I posted in the "Cairn Hill" thread I was getting borderline reception from C.H. on channel 47 in the Westport area.

Sorry If I misquoted you

installer

givecredit wrote: »

See sticky thread at top of this page.

Thanks for that!!! top notch.....

was at my parents house today, they have a samsung 42" plasma with built in dtt tuner they brought it from uk last year, I did a scan and it found 8 services on ch48 but when i tried to view them it would only give sound, is that just todays transmission or would it suggest its not compatable.?

ethernet

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

... There's no cheap and simple Set top box available yet either and the(integrated iDTV) TV's suitable for Irish DTT have to be selected with great care..down to the exact letter of the model number.

Noticed this. Found links in older threads. "Basic" box seems to cost around €100. Not keen on the combo boxes at all.

givecredit

installer wrote: »

Thanks for that!!! top notch.....

was at my parents house today, they have a samsung 42" plasma with built in dtt tuner they brought it from uk last year, I did a scan and it found 8 services on ch48 but when i tried to view them it would only give sound, is that just todays transmission or would it suggest its not compatable.?

See this thread at top of page:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055384875

Your tv maybe compatable with this cam which can be bought for abount 50euro.

Your parents TV uses mpeg2 technology. Irish DTT uses Mpeg4. The Cam overcomes this problem for some tvs. Get your parents tv model no and check the thread i've provided link for to see is tv on the list.

Mayo Exile

Originally posted by slegs: Sorry If I misquoted you

Cheers. No problem.

Galway

I wonder if DTT on ch 48 from Maghera is causing any problems with DTT from Cairn Hill ch 47 as these are adjacent channels. If they were analogue broadcasts they certainly would clash.

snaps

My RTE 2 analouge picture has gone terrible since monday. Its coming from castlebar on either channel 31 or 33. It was so bad last night the football was unwatchable. I ended up watching it on a 422 feed on 1west FTA.

Galway

RTÉ 2 from Castlebar is on ch 33, i noticed it wasnt great over a week ago BEFORE Maghera DTT was switched on. I dont think the relay at Croaghmoyle is very well maintained really, VHF band 3 from Maghera pictures always better than the uhf one from Cbar. I doubt Ch 48 would have much of an effect on ch 33.

CrowdedHouse

Galway wrote: »

I wonder if DTT on ch 48 from Maghera is causing any problems with DTT from Cairn Hill ch 47 as these are adjacent channels. If they were analogue broadcasts they certainly would clash.

I haven't noticed except for the occasional momentary freeze on Cairn Hill(it's odd first there is a 'crackle' on the sound and then about 2 secs later the pic freezes for a second).

I can receive 4 different transmitters,Mahera is the strongest even though it's at the back of my aerial.

installer

No they dont interfere with one n other because they are set up with whats called a critical mask configuration, allowing them even to broadcast analogue and digital on adjacent channels even from the same transmit site...

snaps

CrowdedHouse wrote: »

I can receive 4 different transmitters,Mahera is the strongest even though it's at the back of my aerial.

Same with me and im quite further north than you. Its due south of me and my aerial is pointing north. CH48 is coming in at nearly 100%

I just tried my USB stick on my parents' Maghera setup outside Listowel, which I installed a few years ago. The analogue reception was always grainy but the DTT signal is coming in with 85% strength and 100% quality so all seems well! Their TV is a Philips 42PFL5603D/10 which I think is MPEG-2 only though (if my memory is right the MPEG-4 model ends with 03H).

MBSnr

Hi

I just put in a VHF loft aerial for RTE1/2 and I was surprised to find DTT up near Cong in Co Mayo coming from Maghera... ( I don't have a UHF aerial)

So I get all the national channels RTE1&2/TV3/TG4 & Radio1/2FM/Lyric/RnaG. The TV I have is MPEG2 UK Freeview so couldn't see any pics, just the audio (plus radio). Strength about 80-100% but I haven't tweaked the aerial yet.

Anyhow the question I have is I didn't expect to get them on a V polarity VHF TV aerial as I thought DTT from Maghera needed a UHF aerial in H polarity.

Is that normal then or them just testing from the transmitter?

ethernet

That does seem odd. Definitely wasn't Truskmore, no?

I know a few people who have just a VHF aerial in these parts (served by Maghera also) and manage to get 3 and TG4 reasonably clear with no amp but perhaps it is possible.

MBSnr

Nope defo pointing South (around 140-150 degrees so has to be Maghera from my location) and in V Pol as well. The aerial is 1.5m long.

I can view TV3 and TG4 on the VHF aerial (again I was surprised) but they are both very grainy.

All the DTT channels are showing a scrambled/subscription icon on the Sony TV but I think that's it just mis-reporting unless there is a flag set?

snaps

MBSnr wrote: »

Nope defo pointing South (around 140-150 degrees so has to be Maghera from my location) and in V Pol as well. The aerial is 1.5m long.

I can view TV3 and TG4 on the VHF aerial (again I was surprised) but they are both very grainy.

All the DTT channels are showing a scrambled/subscription icon on the Sony TV but I think that's it just mis-reporting unless there is a flag set?

Im 12 kms north of you in Ballinrobe. The DTT from Maghera is very strong. I can even get it in the house with a indoor aerial! My UHF grid aerial is pointing north towards castlebar & im getting maghera at 100% (Ch48) & the 2 transponders from truskmore slightly weaker.

Im surprised your not using castlebar on UHF for your RTE pictures? I have no luck on maghera for analouge pictures, thats why im so surprised that the DTT is so strong.

MBSnr

snaps wrote: »

Im surprised your not using castlebar on UHF for your RTE pictures? I have no luck on maghera for analouge pictures, thats why im so surprised that the DTT is so strong.

That'll be because I didn't know about the Castlebar transmitter! In fact the whole terrestrial aerial thing has me slightly confused TBH as I have satellite and was looking to dump Sky+ and get Freesat+ (but needed RTE1/2 - I can live with out TV3 and TG4). Each house seems to have a number of different aerial configurations all pointing in different directions. I found out that you needed a VHF aerial mounted vertically pointing to Maghera so that's what I got as alot of neighbours seem to have this type of aerial.

Actually you may be able to help and I know it's going slightly OT but can you clear up the confusion about aerials/transmitters in Mayo. I see these configs on houses. These I understand;

1. RTE VHF V Pol pointing Maghera and H Pol pointing to Truskmore
2. TV3/TG4 UHF pointing Maghera
3. MMDS pointing to Galway - (mesh with short central arm)

These I don't;

4. MMDS pointing Northeast ish - (mesh with two vertical pickups)
5. 2m long UHF pointing Northeast ish (Castlebar?)
6. Aerial for Mayo community TV relay (from where? - is it 5 above?)

PM me if it's better than going OT.
Cheers

Galway

Anyone know what power DTT from Maghera is currently on? Judging from the reports the DTT on ch 48 is covering a huge area already.

Sponge Bob

Good question , look here

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

It is supposed to be 42kw q2 2009

Then to 160kw q3 2009 and THEREAFTER ( it seems like 160kw already )

It may be in 160kw test mode right now to aid Relay/Propogation planning but could be cut thereafter , an email to RTENL would be an idea lest you invest in gear that becomes surplus to requirements quite shortly .

Then again I fail to see why 160kw is not feasible right from the off if the electrical works are done .

More Music

The main reason for DTT transmitters not operating at full power is the antenna systems. DTT is combined with analog TV and both are transmitted out through the same antenna system.

If you operate the DTT transmitter at allocated power along with the analog transmitters you will exceed the power handling of the antennas.

There is also some issue with arcing. I cannot remember the exact reason but it was to do with combining analog and digital signals above a certain ERP.

snaps

MBSnr wrote: »

That'll be because I didn't know about the Castlebar transmitter! In fact the whole terrestrial aerial thing has me slightly confused TBH as I have satellite and was looking to dump Sky+ and get Freesat+ (but needed RTE1/2 - I can live with out TV3 and TG4). Each house seems to have a number of different aerial configurations all pointing in different directions. I found out that you needed a VHF aerial mounted vertically pointing to Maghera so that's what I got as alot of neighbours seem to have this type of aerial.

Actually you may be able to help and I know it's going slightly OT but can you clear up the confusion about aerials/transmitters in Mayo. I see these configs on houses. These I understand;

1. RTE VHF V Pol pointing Maghera and H Pol pointing to Truskmore
2. TV3/TG4 UHF pointing Maghera
3. MMDS pointing to Galway - (mesh with short central arm)

These I don't;

4. MMDS pointing Northeast ish - (mesh with two vertical pickups)
5. 2m long UHF pointing Northeast ish (Castlebar?)
6. Aerial for Mayo community TV relay (from where? - is it 5 above?)

PM me if it's better than going OT.
Cheers

4. MMDS pointing Northeast ish - (mesh with two vertical pickups)

There is a ntl relay from castlebar. Its weaker than the one from Galway but like here in Ballinrobe, some people can get Galway & others cannot & can only get Castlebar. But when you say 2 vertical pick ups, are you sure it is not a grid aerial used for UHF reception?

5. 2m long UHF pointing Northeast ish (Castlebar?)

Would say thats for the deflector east of Castlebar (Not 100% sure exactly where) The RTE transmitter using low powered UHF is also near the deflector (Mayo community tv) so you can kill 2 birds with 1 stone and receive both the RTE repeater & the deflector from the 1 aerial pointing north east.

6. Aerial for Mayo community TV relay (from where? - is it 5 above?)

Would say that is for the above.

Castlebar is strong from here, but i think you have hills in the way from cong.

MBSnr

But when you say 2 vertical pick ups, are you sure it is not a grid aerial used for UHF reception?

Snaps you're right - just googled it. Didn't realise you could get UHF grid types so I assumed it was another type of MMDS aerial!

Thanks for the reply. It's cleared things up a good bit!

Just as an aside I noticed that the digital signal had dropped off a good bit last night and was dropping out. I'll put in a UHF aerial at some point once I have a something that can decode MPEG-4...

snaps

MBSnr wrote: »

Snaps you're right - just googled it. Didn't realise you could get UHF grid types so I assumed it was another type of MMDS aerial!

The UHF grids are very popular around this area, They also have a lot of gain ive found compared to the normal long style uhf aerials. Ive one on the top of my chimney, I think some wideband grids have 3 sections on them.

I wouldnt go spending loads of money on gear until we really know whats happening with all this DTT etc.

snaps

Signal yesterday was well down from recently. Ch48 (The RTE channels) were only coming in at around 35% last night compared to the 98% last few weeks.

The Cush

snaps wrote: »

The UHF grids are very popular around this area, They also have a lot of gain ive found compared to the normal long style uhf aerials. Ive one on the top of my chimney, I think some wideband grids have 3 sections on them.

Grid aerials (aka stacked dipole, Billboard, Bow-Tie Antenna) have low forward gain and are wideband (o.k. for medium to strong signal areas) - their advantage (and why they get used) is that they have better anti-ghosting properties.
In the UK they are generally regarded unsuitable for Freeview DTT reception.

JoeA3

I noticed the EPG on my TV (Sony 4500) started working over the weekend, looks good! And the channel numbers moved from 800-804 to 001-004.

ethernet

Finally got an MVision box from slegs. Very impressed!

95% quality using a simple UHF antenna (the cheap round ones you get with a portable TV). Same quality with the external aerial (no masthead amp either).

Could be just me -- hardly an audiophile -- but audio on RTÉ 1 sounds slightly overly-compressed.