Why is Clermont Not On Fully?

Rick_

Most other transmitters seem to be testing on all 4 MUX frequencies, but Clermont isn't? Anyone have any idea why? C60 was coming in much stronger than C53 ever was in the initial test stages a good while ago now so if they tested on C57, C60 or C63, I, along with many others, could probably pick the service up for once.

Antenna

Paddy C wrote: »

C60 was coming in much stronger than C53 ever was in the initial test stages a good while ago

They probably had to lessen the strength of DTT signals across the border. There is international agreement for analogue TV and radio to cover into northen Ireland from Clermont Carn, but not DTT and DAB.

Rick_

Even at that, it is still a mystery why most transmitters are testing all 4 MUX frequencies allocated but Clermont is not. Interference can't be an excuse as the signals from another transmitter on the East coast were interfering with a Walsh transmitter and the frequencies moved about to accomodate. Why aren't they doing the same with Clermont to test if it will interfere with NI? The 4 MUX's will have to be on at some point, so why not test them now to see if they interfere, even at low power, with any transmitters in southern NI instead of waiting until nearer the launch and it might delay it further.... oh, wait... :rolleyes:

mrdtv

Paddy C wrote: »

Even at that, it is still a mystery why most transmitters are testing all 4 MUX frequencies allocated but Clermont is not. Interference can't be an excuse as the signals from another transmitter on the East coast were interfering with a Walsh transmitter and the frequencies moved about to accomodate. Why aren't they doing the same with Clermont to test if it will interfere with NI? The 4 MUX's will have to be on at some point, so why not test them now to see if they interfere, even at low power, with any transmitters in southern NI instead of waiting until nearer the launch and it might delay it further.... oh, wait... :rolleyes:

Some of the frequencies allocated to CC are going to have to be changed as anything above Ch 61/62 is being cleared EU wide for mobile broadband in spectrum auctions. See 800Mhz articles. That station is particularly affected by this policy.

Rick_

Well, 60 and 63 will have to be cleared from Clermont then. Why don't they try broadcasting on C57 then, it should be fine.

mrdtv

Paddy C wrote: »

Well, 60 and 63 will have to be cleared from Clermont then. Why don't they try broadcasting on C57 then, it should be fine.

Only the existing analogue frequencies are coordinated for high power transmissions north of the Border. This took years to complete and cost over £1 million. I suggest you get Sky in Northern Ireland in the interim while this is sorted out or make do with analogue.

Digifriendly

mrdtv wrote: »

Only the existing analogue frequencies are coordinated for high power transmissions north of the Border. This took years to complete and cost over £1 million. I suggest you get Sky in Northern Ireland in the interim while this is sorted out or make do with analogue.

BTW noticed that European Cup Rugby on RTE was still blocked out on satellite in NI over the weekend. So still an advantage to receive RTE terrestrially here whether analogue or via DTT.

Rick_

I have RTÉ analogue and I also have Sky downstairs, I would love to have it via digital though via terrestrial as it would save having to flick back and forth between inputs when I want to check whats on. Also, there won't be any blocked programming to NI through DTT, and you can still get clear, widescreen pictures.

SRB

Paddy C wrote: »

Even at that, it is still a mystery why most transmitters are testing all 4 MUX frequencies allocated but Clermont is not. Interference can't be an excuse as the signals from another transmitter on the East coast were interfering with a Walsh transmitter and the frequencies moved about to accomodate. Why aren't they doing the same with Clermont to test if it will interfere with NI? :

Wales has switched - NI hasn't, so there'd really be no point in that kind of "switch on and see what happens" testing. The muxes from Kippure and Three Rock were tested, now only one is running on each. It'll be the same elsewhere as the testing rolls around the country.

Souriau

Talking about the 4 frequencies for the 4 MUXs.
Cairn Hill transmitter, how many MUXs are "on air" and being testing?
I am just receiving Ch.47, are there other also transmitting from CH?

Galway

Souriau wrote: »

Talking about the 4 frequencies for the 4 MUXs.
Cairn Hill transmitter, how many MUXs are "on air" and being testing?
I am just receiving Ch.47, are there other also transmitting from CH?

Im gettin one MUX ch 47 from CH and one from Maghera ch. 48, no others MUXES at present from these Txs.

While Three Rock and Kippure did have all four TXs active a few weeks ago, the only one I know which still does is Mount Leinster which I believe (as many others do) is a Nova-esque jamming attempt of Preseli's Freeview services.

Mike 1972

Antenna wrote: »

They probably had to lessen the strength of DTT signals across the border. There is international agreement for analogue TV and radio to cover into northen Ireland from Clermont Carn, but not DTT and DAB.

Most of NI cant get DTT from claremont (usually) due to them using a directional antenna with a large null to most of NI.

The only transmission on UHF Channel 53 in NI as far as Im aware is a low power relay in a place called "Letrim" (South County Down)

Surely they could have used an antenna with a narrower null in the direction of Letrim ?

That said there may be other transmitters in Scotland/IOM/N England on Ch 53 which require protection as well.

reboot

Antenna wrote: »

They probably had to lessen the strength of DTT signals across the border. There is international agreement for analogue TV and radio to cover into northen Ireland from Clermont Carn, but not DTT and DAB.

Am I right in saying that RTE Gold appeared for a short period and then was removed?Pity.It was loud and clear in Annalong S. Down.

craoltoir

Yes the DAB channels were transmitted for a short while and then removed (from DTT).

Antenna

Eternal Wonderer wrote: »

C60 was coming in much stronger than C53 ever was in the initial test

Probably because they were using the analogue antenna for that DTT channel in the 'initial test' before putting on a more directional antenna for DTT. The Clermont Carn analogue antenna is intended to cover Northern Ireland.

Eternal Wonderer wrote: »

if they tested on C57, C60 or C63, I, along with many others, could probably pick the service up for once.

It is pointless talking about having it duplicated across other channels if you are not going to receive it on any of them. It would be more sense to talk about increasing the power of the one channel. There is no plan to have the RTE MUX duplicated on other channels from Clermont Carn in the future, the other three channels are for Boxer, or whatever commercial MUX operator. It would have been the same situation as having a duplicate transmission of RTE Radio 1 on the frequency destined for Today FM prior to the latter station existing.

lawhec

Mike 1972 wrote: »

The only transmission on UHF Channel 53 in NI as far as Im aware is a low power relay in a place called "Letrim" (South County Down)

Limavady currently has a DTT multiplex broadcasting on E53, can't remember off hand if it is still planned to be used post-DSO.

Jymbo

Forgive me if I'm asking a stupid question but is there any way of picking up Irish DTT in Crumlin Co. Antrim? I understand Clermont Carn is not transmitting to the North but what about any of the other transmitters?

Souriau

Jymbo wrote: »

Forgive me if I'm asking a stupid question but is there any way of picking up Irish DTT in Crumlin Co. Antrim? I understand Clermont Carn is not transmitting to the North but what about any of the other transmitters?

You could try Cairn Hill, UHF 47, I am 66 miles from it and receiving it at 60% with no breakup
I see that Crumlin is 85 miles from Cairn Hill, so I am not sure...

Rick_

Souriau, what is your analogue pictures like from Cairn Hill?

I'm in Armagh and am using Clermont, analogue is almost perfect but digital just won't seem to come in any more. Before I got the MPEG-4 TV it was always coming in but with sound only. Typical, eh? I wonder if it would be worth trying to get someone out to give Cairn Hill a spin to see if we can get anything seeing as I'm sure it doesn't have a null to the North so might be stronger around the border areas at least...

Souriau

Eternal Wonderer wrote: »

Souriau, what is your analogue pictures like from Cairn Hill?

I'm in Armagh and am using Clermont, analogue is almost perfect but digital just won't seem to come in any more. Before I got the MPEG-4 TV it was always coming in but with sound only. Typical, eh? I wonder if it would be worth trying to get someone out to give Cairn Hill a spin to see if we can get anything seeing as I'm sure it doesn't have a null to the North so might be stronger around the border areas at least...

poor analouge, TG4 is watchable but not perfect
perfect digital pictures on all 5 channels so I use the Digital RTE since last year,

Rick_

I'm moving in to a new house in a few weeks. I believe it doesn't have any aerials up. I wonder if I could get the installer to try Cairn Hill before putting it on Clermont? If I explain the analogue pictures will be rubbish but the digital signal may be better he might just try it. Anyway, the new house is much higher up than my current house which gets a great RTÉ analogue and Divis Freeview signal as it is. Being higher up (much higher up too) should give me a more rock solid Freeview picture and, hopefully, a damn good digital RTÉ picture too!

Jymbo

Souriau wrote: »

You could try Cairn Hill, UHF 47, I am 66 miles from it and receiving it at 60% with no breakup
I see that Crumlin is 85 miles from Cairn Hill, so I am not sure...

Did a bit of experimenting and found that I can receive a very snowy black and white reception of RTE1 with decent sound from Cairn Hill. That was in the loft with a Philex high gain wideband aerial and a basic antiference masthead amp. So maybe I could get a good enough reception for the DTT if I mount it on the chimney. I'd like to know though before I go to the trouble.

I also tried the aerial in the back garden and pointed it towards Truskmore (can't pick this up in the loft as the signal is blocked by brick at the gable wall). It seemed to pick that up as well, although not as strong as Cairn hill. Truskmore would be preferable as the DTT frequencies are all much higher than Cairn Hill so they won't interfere with the freeview reception from Divis.