Is digital in Clara, Offaly yet?

IrishHomer

Sorry for being so dumb here but i am a new to all this DTT and i would love to know is it possible to pick up the digital tests in the Tullamore, Clara Offaly area yet?

I think our local mast would be Cairn Hill

I have a two year old Sony Bravia that picks up the digital sounds but no picture.

Mike 1972

Sounds like your TV set is only MPEG2 (UK Freeview) capable and cannot get the MPEG4 signals that RTE broadcast

Bogger77

I'm picking it up loud and clear in Ferbane from Cairn Hill.

Check the specs on your tv to see if it's mpeg2 only, I've a newer sony bravia and I'm getting pretty much as good a picture of the aerial as from the sky box.

IrishHomer

Bogger77 wrote: »

I'm picking it up loud and clear in Ferbane from Cairn Hill.

Check the specs on your tv to see if it's mpeg2 only, I've a newer sony bravia and I'm getting pretty much as good a picture of the aerial as from the sky box.

Wow I'm impressed :eek:

I'm pretty certain mine is MPEG2 so i might purchase Sony Play tv as i see over on the playstation section that seems to be working with it.

I am just curious would really appreciate help here but i have a 20yr old classic style analogue BBC aerial on my chimney and i live on a high hill and i have always had decent reception of the UK channels in Analogue of course and also the Irish channels. Its also amplified or boosted to feed all around my home and it serves 6 tvs very well.

I noticed recently the reception has disimproved and the antenna on the chimney looks to be rotten with lots of pieced missing as have fallen off over the years from wear and tear.

Could anyone please advise me on what antenna to purchase for furure proofing for the new digital era?

I would also prefer to get a pro to install it as i was up there examining it a few days ago and i don't like working on such a high roof.

Any info greatly appreciated.

Bogger77

I did mean that RTE on DTT is as good as RTE on Sky, just in case, you thought I meant one of the HD channels.

I'm using a un-boosted UHF aerial, picked it up from tvtrade.ie (collected it from Portarlington) to supply 2 tvs and 2 recorders, my aerial is sitting inside the attic.
Analogue picture has been crap for the last while, but perfect on DTT.

coylemj

IrishHomer wrote: »

Wow I'm impressed :eek:

I'm pretty certain mine is MPEG2 so i might purchase Sony Play tv as i see over on the playstation section that seems to be working with it.

I am just curious would really appreciate help here but i have a 20yr old classic style analogue BBC aerial on my chimney and i live on a high hill and i have always had decent reception of the UK channels in Analogue of course and also the Irish channels. Its also amplified or boosted to feed all around my home and it serves 6 tvs very well.

I noticed recently the reception has disimproved and the antenna on the chimney looks to be rotten with lots of pieced missing as have fallen off over the years from wear and tear.

Could anyone please advise me on what antenna to purchase for furure proofing for the new digital era?

I would also prefer to get a pro to install it as i was up there examining it a few days ago and i don't like working on such a high roof.

Any info greatly appreciated.

If your current aerial is pointing N/NW then you're picking up the Irish channels from Cairn Hill in Co. Longford. If you're replacing this aerial then a Group B aerial will be the optimum choice for the Irish analog and digital channels.

If the existing aerial is also currently giving you the British channels then you're picking them up from Brougher Mountain in Co. Fermanagh and in order to pickup the digital channels from this transmitter and the Irish channels (on the one aerial) then you will need a wideband.

Could you clarify if you're currently using one or two aerials? if it's two then get a Group B to replace the existing aerial that's picking up the Irish channels and get a Group A aerial for the Brougher Mountain analog and digital channels.

IrishHomer

My current old arial appears to be pointing towards NE so Fermanagh i guess.

I don't really want the old analogue English channels anymore as i have wired sat boxes in most rooms and have fta and obviously the picture quality so much superior that i can never watch analogue any more except still obviously only for the Irish channels.

I actually have a spare Antenna that i originally bought for my mother in Maplins.

Can you please tell me if this is adequate to install for the whole house in replace of what is there?

here is :
Tri-Fold 43-Element High-Gain Digital TV Aerial






Product Features

<LI class=moduleBulletText>Suitable for receiving analogue or digital TV signals in all areas <LI class=moduleBulletText>Ideal for weak signal areas by limiting picture ghosting or picture break-up <LI class=moduleBulletText>Universal wideband aerial <LI class=moduleBulletText>3 extendable arms for easy installation <LI class=moduleBulletText>Loft or external mounting <LI class=moduleBulletText>Supplied with clamp for vertical or horizontal polarity <LI class=moduleBulletText>F-socket for aerial cable <LI class=moduleBulletText>Robust lightweight design <LI class=moduleBulletText>Multi-element directors give excellent forward gain and bandwidth <LI class=moduleBulletText>Rear deflector provides high protection from unwanted signals
• Fold into place with no time placing individual elements on the beam

With a unique design, this aerial is much simpler to install than a traditional aerial, no elements to fix on, just unpack and install.
Technical Specification


No. of elements: 43 Channels: Ch.21-69 Frequency range: 470-862MHz Antenna gain: 9.5 - 15 dB Beam width H/V: H32 /V35 Impedance: 75 Ohm Front to back ratio: 28dB

coylemj

That is a wideband (ch 21-69) UHF aerial and if your signal strength is good it will do the job. Starting from scratch however you would go for a Group B aerial to pickup analog and/or digital from Cairn Hill.

IrishHomer

coylemj wrote: »

That is a wideband (ch 21-69) UHF aerial and if your signal strength is good it will do the job. Starting from scratch however you would go for a Group B aerial to pickup analog and/or digital from Cairn Hill.

Could you please show me an online link to view a Group B aerial?

coylemj

You can't tell the difference looking at a picture, I think it's a subtle difference in the lengths of the bars on the aerial. Here is a neighbour (Co. Laois) of yours and he sells group aerials, this one is specifically good for Cairn Hill for both analog and digital. I suspect this aerial would not have the same wind resistance as that Maplins one you already have so should last longer. I think you said you're at the top of a hill which is good for reception but you don't want to be getting your aerial knocked down every time there's a storm....

http://tvtrade.ie/show/57,UHF-Contract-aerial-Group-B-Yellow