Map of RTE Transposers Relays and Transmitters (INC Self Helps)

Sponge Bob

This map was submitted to Clare County Council as part of the RTENL Application to replace and marginally increase the height of the Maghera mast in 2009. The application was granted.

It would be of interest to many around here.

FRIENDO

Do you think all transmitters and relays on this map will transmit DTT signal.

Sponge Bob

FRIENDO wrote: »

Do you think all transmitters and relays on this map will broadcast DTT.

Most will never broadcast DTT, the map shows around 170 analogue installations and RTE intends to replace them with a network of 50 DTT installations in 2012 and to abandon the rest and supply those areas with satellite.

This is impossible to do if you want to guarantee service, especially in areas ( say with a mountain to the south) where you cannot see the satellite or a DTT mast. These satellite shadow areas will have to be done with relays or some sort...even if the relay is satellite fed not microwave fed.

FRIENDO

I have contacted RTE/Saorview via E-mail in relation to Monasootha Relay, Wexford asking the question if Monasootha will be transmitting the DTT signal in the future.
Hopefully I will have news soon.

watty

They will probabily keep many of the sites for Other Services. Just not use them for TV.

Sponge Bob

'Self Helps' ( possibly including Monasootha or Monasoothagh) are not actually owned by RTÉNL in many if not indeed in all cases.

FRIENDO

What do you mean by 'self helps' Re - Monasoothagh

I think the relay is on a local farmers land.

Sam the Aerialman

Is there not an RTENL pdf document (Section 2 - DTT transposers) were it lists all the transposers intended to be converted to 1 multiplex, with ERP's and available aperture? It went on to describe the use of feeders, electrical length, phasing even tower bracing. They were very detailed and contained individual site layouts.

STB

FRIENDO wrote: »

I have contacted RTE/Saorview via E-mail in relation to Monasootha Relay, Wexford asking the question if Monasootha will be transmitting the DTT signal in the future.
Hopefully I will have news soon.

There are 2 TX sites in Wexford at Forth Mountain and Gorey.

FRIENDO

Sam the Aerialman wrote: »

Is there not an RTENL pdf document (Section 2 - DTT transposers) were it lists all the transposers intended to be converted to 1 multiplex, with ERP's and available aperture? It went on to describe the use of feeders, electrical length, phasing even tower bracing. They were very detailed and contained individual site layouts.

Thanks Sam,
I had a look back at a previous thread 'BCI stage increase maps - RTENL DTT'.
I dont expect to get saorview DTT in the future as I look to be living in a shadowed area.

Sponge Bob

Sam the Aerialman wrote: »

Is there not an RTENL pdf document (Section 2 - DTT transposers) were it lists all the transposers intended to be converted to 1 multiplex, with ERP's and available aperture? It went on to describe the use of feeders, electrical length, phasing even tower bracing. They were very detailed and contained individual site layouts.

That wa a tender for 13 of the proposed 35 odd relays and issued early last year Sam, then that 'Ka Sat' plan came along Tonabrocky was one of them.

The various analogue/dtt channel allocations are collected in this thread

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?threadid=2055768825

cillo2000

Got a new TV for my grilfriend's parents and told them that they would now get perfect reception. After 10 minutes of set-up I started to panic, no sign of the digital channels. Even tho I'm only 3 miles down the road from their house they are on the Bonane relay and I'm picking up Mulla.

So now instead of 21 inches of poor reception, they have 40. They refuse to get SKY, freesat might be a option but they would be happy with RTE if the picture was decent.

I sent a mail to RTENL to see if Bonane will be upgraded to DTT, still waiting on a reply.

This saorsat sounds like an awful pain in the hole.

STB

cillo2000 wrote: »

Got a new TV for my grilfriend's parents and told them that they would now get perfect reception. After 10 minutes of set-up I started to panic, no sign of the digital channels. Even tho I'm only 3 miles down the road from their house they are on the Bonane relay and I'm picking up Mulla.

So now instead of 21 inches of poor reception, they have 40. They refuse to get SKY, freesat might be a option but they would be happy with RTE if the picture was decent.

What kind of aerial ? Is it a group aerial ? Is it the right group, pointing ion the right direction ?

watty

Outdoors?

Attic can be very poor. Indoors in room facing wrong way can be terrible.

If they are only 3 miles away there should be no problem.

championc

What transmitter feeds Clonmel, and is it DTTised yet ?

Sponge Bob

Suir Valley ...and quite some time back.

cillo2000

I used an indoor aerial that has a gain of 49db, on the box it says it's suitable for UHF, VHF and digital. The aerial on the roof is a VHF aerial and only ever received RTE 1 and 2. The indoor aerial picks up TG4 and from looking at RTENL I see that most of the relay masts don't transmitt TV3.

I live 3 miles down the road, and I think i'm in line of sight with the Mullaghanish mast. They have some mountains blocking it and the relay was installed ages to over come this. I assume once they pump up the power on the mulla mast it still won't make a difference as they're are not in it's line of sight?

Looking at the map of the relays, there's loads around south Kerry and east Cork. Can't imagine them upgrading them all...

STB

cillo2000 wrote: »

I used an indoor aerial that has a gain of 49db, on the box it says it's suitable for UHF, VHF and digital. The aerial on the roof is a VHF aerial and only ever received RTE 1 and 2. The indoor aerial picks up TG4 and from looking at RTENL I see that most of the relay masts don't transmitt TV3.

I live 3 miles down the road, and I think i'm in line of sight with the Mullaghanish mast. They have some mountains blocking it and the relay was installed ages to over come this. I assume once they pump up the power on the mulla mast it still won't make a difference as they're are not in it's line of sight?

Looking at the map of the relays, there's loads around south Kerry and east Cork. Can't imagine them upgrading them all...

So you are saying that you tried your indoor aerial in the house 3 miles up the road and it didnt work.

What kind of aerial do they have on their roof. If its VHF it is no good an will have to be replaced by a UHF aerial.

cillo2000

My only fear is after telling her old lad to get a UVF aerial for the roof it won't work.

With the indoor aerial I can receive the analogue channels but not a trace of a digital signal, so that confirms that no DTT signal is coming for the Bonane relay.

I'll have to stalk the neighbours to see what aerials they have

cillo2000

I just gave RTENL a buzz and the bloke that answered the phone (forget his name) was extremely helpful.

He said that Mulla is currently transmitting at 1.6KW and will be going to full 6.8Kw once comreg give the go ahead. He said with the digital signal you don't need a line of sight and it should work of reflected signals.

Bonane won't be upgraded as it should be covered by Mulla once comreg get the finger out. He also said to check with a UHF-A aerial on the roof as it might pick up a reflected signal.

Apparently JJ-Dwyers in Cork (off the airport road) is the place to go for roof top aerial, it's possible to pit one up for a tenner

Sponge Bob

cillo2000 wrote: »

My only fear is after telling her old lad to get a UVF aerial for the roof it won't work.

Did you give him a number in Belfast so he could order a one a dem lads

But even if they have bad ghosting from Mulla today on analogue then Mulla digital may work is there is no mountain between them and Mulla because Digital handles multipath well. Watty has a blanced twin aerial model that may also work.

The sat is up now, should be commissioned in May.

watty

cillo2000 wrote: »

I used an indoor aerial that has a gain of 49db,

No!

it's got a gain of -6dB to 3dB depending how good it is at UHF. Probably with a 46dB amplifier.

And it has a stupid amplifier strong enough for 150m of cable. Or a 32 way splitter.

Put a proper aerial up. Try it in the attic first.

or


This is an Indoor aerial for UHF. "Do everything" models with amps are rubbish.


See the aerials here too: http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/

I blame the Wholesalers and Retailers

STB

If the girldfriends parents house has an aerial already it is likely that it is UHF. However there are different types of UHF aerials that operate certain bands only. That could be the reason as Mullagh DTT is down on Channel 21 and the local analogue fill in is in the 50s channel wise.

In any event it is pointing the wrong way if it is now pointed at the local transmitter. You need to move it to the North east of the present position to get Mullaghanish. There is and will be nothing else that will get in there as Bantry is too far away and lower power.

Try that first. Its all about testing.

If it doesnt work, post a photo of the aerial they have.

The Cush

cillo2000 wrote: »

He said that Mulla is currently transmitting at 1.6KW and will be going to full 6.8Kw once comreg give the go ahead. He said with the digital signal you don't need a line of sight and it should work of reflected signals.

I thought the figure at the moment was between 20 and 40kW going up to 200kW at ASO. I'm receiving Mullaghanish here in NE Co. Limerick 100%, those figures above seem a bit low.

lucernarian

The Cush wrote: »

I thought the figure at the moment was between 20 and 40kW going up to 200kW at ASO. I'm receiving Mullaghanish here in NE Co. Limerick 100%, those figures above seem a bit low.

I take that to mean the strength of the actual transmitters. With antenna gains of 10-13dB which seems to be normal for TV masts, you'd definitely manage 200 kW ERP with a 6.8 kW transmitter.

cillo2000

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Did you give him a number in Belfast so he could order a one a dem lads

Those boys could never get a good reception

I'm going to try pointing a UHF-A aerial at Mulla and we'll see what happens. My results maybe a few weeks away as I'm woking Dublin, which brings me to my next point. Can anyone recommend a decent place to buy an aerial in the Dublin area?

Sponge Bob

Cheap one

http://www.tvtrade.ie/tv-and-radio-aerials/uhf-aerials.html

Dearer Ones

http://www.vanjak.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29891

http://www.vanjak.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29907

Dearer again, ( more elements is better for weaker signal and have office in Dublin)

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/20304-uhf-v-range-27-element-yagi-aerial-1443-televes.html

http://cpc.farnell.com/antiference/xg8-a/xg8-extra-gain-group-a-aerial/dp/AP01227

STB

UHF Group A aerial RX range double dipole €30 - shop in kimmage
http://www.satworld.ie/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=19


Red Group A UHF Aerial (Blakes) €12
http://www.tvtrade.ie/red-group-a-uhf-aerial.html


TRIAX - 108788 - UNIX 52, UHF AERIAL GROUP A €33
http://cpcireland.farnell.com/triax/108788/unix-52-uhf-aerial-group-a/dp/AP00067

BSOH

Sponge Bob wrote: »

Cheap one

http://www.tvtrade.ie/tv-and-radio-aerials/uhf-aerials.html

Dearer Ones

http://www.vanjak.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29891

http://www.vanjak.com/index.php?dispatch=products.view&product_id=29907

Dearer again, ( more elements is better for weaker signal and have office in Dublin)

http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/20304-uhf-v-range-27-element-yagi-aerial-1443-televes.html

http://cpc.farnell.com/antiference/xg8-a/xg8-extra-gain-group-a-aerial/dp/AP01227

The cheap one from tvtrade works excellently in my attic in Bray (clear line 10 km to Three Rock, so got the Green Tip group C/D version). Signal strength 91 and quality 100 according to Bravia TV. Complete installation kit (aerial+cable+wall bracket+etc) for €47.74. Wall bracket screws neatly to wooden truss, aerial points through pitched concrete roof tiles over felt. Two dead metal watertanks couple of metres away and an ungodly amount of attic junk don't seem to affect adversely. Even if it were visible, aerial is aesthetically better than weird indoor or chimney aerials.

12 element

Them contract aerials are flimsy enough, should be grand in an attic though if you're in a strong signal area.

cillo2000

Finally got around to setting up the UHF-A aerial, unfortunately it didn't pickup anything. Looks like we have to wait for RTENL to start broadcasting at full power or the launch of Saorsat.

marno21

Not sure if it has been posted on the forum before, but there's a similar map on the RTENL site here (http://www.rtenl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/installations-map.png) showing the RTENL installations but missing self help schemes.

It's in full colour and doesn't have Clare County Council marked across it so it may be handier for finding out site names.

It's likely a tad outdated though cause it shows planned sites at Sligo Town and Kerry Head, I'm not sure if either came to fruition.

marclt

It doesn't have Forth Mountain on there?

marno21

Doesn't include new sites created with the switch to digital. Hence Knockanore and Gallows Hill being listed as FM sites, and the lack of Kilduff, Tonabrocky and Arklow in addition to Forth Mountain.

Sponge Bob

Marnos map dates from 2000 or so, so does the one in the OP.