RTÉ (Ray Maguire) Presentation to ISAA - TechTir (watty) Summary

The Cush

watty wrote: »

Gerry gave his excellent H&S talk
I gave my hurriedly cobbled together talk on Spectrum, Aerials, LNBs and Noise figures.

HSA guy showed scary Building site photos!

Highlight was RTE testing their Saorview Presentation on us.
Ray Maguire did a great job, with him and the RTE NL guy giving good answers to questions from the floor. I believe ISAA is first group to get this preseantation.

Good brochure (one little layout issue) with coverage maps and complete list of DTT sites. (added missing channels, Sites correct!)

Some discussion on Retailers and Product dumping. They want existing consumer law to be enforced by appropriate agencies.

RTE presentation ended with "photo shoot".

More no doubt later.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=70788943#post70788943

Submitted by Watty on 21 February 2011 - 11:32pm

Ray Maguire (from RTE) gave an excellent presentation and also a possible Brochure on Saorview with list of sites (list was correct but missing channels filled)

Highlights

• EPG and Series link for PVRs coming when infrastructure complete. Uses Nordig PVR specification.
• No channels above 60 will be used.
• Channel line up approval from Regulator was expected in January. Hope it will be soon.
• Seminars
• Tommy and PJ Advert campaign (Cartoon fat dog and skinny cat)
• Expect 4HD channels by end of 2013 approximately.
• As much as possible RTE2 will be HD from May 2011. All shows that are made in HD will be HD.
• Online Coverage checker soon

Statistics

• 5 Masts replaced
• 5 new sites
• 30 new Aerial systems
• 2 PSB Multiplex at all 51 sites
• Extra Multiplex at 13 sites
• New links and new SCADA

Approvals
FIVE major brands to soon have Saorview Certification

Consumer

• There will be a call centre / Help line
• Point of Sale Information packs.
• Merchandising
• Co-op Marketing
• Expect Consumer laws to be enforced (Retailers trying to sell analogue only or MPEG2 TVs, these are no longer "fit for purpose". Arguing they are for Sky/UPC isn't acceptable.
• RTE doesn't recommend marking TVs "Irish Digital Compatible" as without certification they may not be as compatible as thought. MHEG5 mandatory.

Installation Recommendation

• Outdoor Aerial. Minimum is 7dB to 10dB wideband,
• CT100 or similar cable minimum
• No-one to sell so-called "Digital Aerials"
• Standard Aerial €120 ... €150
• Extra points €30 ... €40
• Distribution Amp €25 ... €30
• Alignment/Check callout €50 ... €60
• CATV to avoid Ch61 ... Ch 68
• Saorview certified TVs and Setbox.
• Single tuner PVR if you have a Compatible TV, else a Dual tuner PVR

http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/rte-presentation

RTE list of Confirmed DTT sites. (bold are main. 21st February 2011)

Only the 1st Mux / 1st Channel is confirmed. NO channel above 60 will be used (Digital Dividend)

1 Mullaghanish Cork 21H
2 Truskmore Sligo 53H
3 Clermont Carn Louth 53V
4 Three Rock Dublin 54H
5 Mount Leinster Carlow 45H
6 Cairn Hill Longford 47H
7 Kippure Wicklow 54H
8 Maghera Clare 48H
9 Woodcock Hill Clare (Limerick) 47H
10 Spur Hill Cork 45H
11 Dungarvan Waterford 55H
12 Holywell Hill Donegal 30H
13 Greystones Wicklow 52V
14 Castlebar Mayo 22H
15 Forth Mountain Wexford 52V
16 Arklow Wicklow 21V
17 Gorey Wexford 55H
18 Suir Valley Waterford 52V
19 Gallows Hill (Rathfadden) Waterford (City) 22H
20 Tonabrocky Galway 23V
21 Crosshaven Cork 46V
22 Mitchelstown Cork 40V
23 Knockmoyle Kerry 52V
24 Laragh Wicklow 47H
25 Collins Barracks Cork 50V
26 Clonakilty Cork 48V
27 Glanmire Cork 47H
28 Kinsale Cork 30V
29 Fermoy Cork 52V
30 Cnoc an Oir Kerry 47V
31 Ballybofey Donegal 47V
32 Kilduff Tipperary Nth. 50H
33 Arranmore Donegal 44V
34 Malin Donegal 28H
35 Castletownbere Kerry 55V
36 Kilkeaveragh Kerry 47V
37 Ferrypoint Waterford 47V
38 Maamclassach Kerry 46V
39 Clonmel Waterford 55H
40 Cahir Tipperary Sth. 28V
41 Moville Donegal 45H
42 Clifden Galway 23V
43 Dooncarton Belmullet, Mayo 22H
44 Casla (RnaG) Galway 45V
45 Achill Mayo 47V
46 Monaghan (Lugad) Monaghan 55H
47 Bantry Cork 52H&V
48 Magheraroarty Donegal 22V
49 Letterkenny Donegal 53V
50 Glencolmcille Donegal 45H
51 Fanad Donegal 55V

http://www.techtir.ie/tv-radio/Irish-DTT-Sites

Many thanks to watty for uploading so much information after such a long day, driving etc. Much appreciated.

Some questions on the above

1. Will all 51 sites be rolled out this year or will some slip into 2012 as originally planned.
2. What is the plan for the 3rd Mux from the 13 sites i.e content?
3. The 3rd mux I assume will be from the 12 main sites plus 1 other, which one?

watty

The map on page 9 of new Brochure shows all "97% by end of May 2011" Coverage in Green. Substantial parts of N.I. coverered, but holes in Kerry, Mayo Donegal, Sligo, South west Cork, bits between Clonmel and Dungarvan and also Wicklow.

As you would expect. The "holes"/Mountain places.

It shows additional Blue "increased coverage at analogue switch-off in late 2012 (98% coverage)" Curiously there are NO blue patches in the Republic.

1) This suggests all 51 sites will be active by May 2011.

There is a multi-coloured Map on last page showing "best coverage", looks like colour per TX.

2) I think there is no 3rd Mux plan. I think they had 13 sites done when pay TV abandoned.

3) No idea which is the "lucky" 13th site!

If there is too much TV channels for two Mux they will apply for 3rd for all 51 sites.

After ASO there can be more than 6 mux if there is the demand. They will organise carriage for what ever the BAI licences, Free TV or PayTV, no doubt assuming the proposed "channel" can prove it has finance.

They plan to have re-tunes to a minimum, maybe only once, and only some sites rather than the UK "Freeview" madness of multiple changes. Mt. Leinster sadly can't be fixed till 2012. They are as baffled as us on the channel allocation of two powerful transmitters facing each other with just a bit of sea between.. They mentioned same thing apparently Channel Is. and Belgium.

Coverage Checker
Not working yet http://www.rtenl.ie/coverage-checker.html

Their presentation mentioned €500M digital dividend. I said to him I thought that was Eamonn Ryan's fantasy. He said it was the figure they were given.

mise23

I assume one of the areas without coverage (apart from saorsat) will be Dingle?

Atlantic Dawn

Does this mean that the Series Link capabilities of a Freeview hd box will be compatible?

watty

Er.. I don't know. I need to re-read Nordig and what published info there is on Freeview/Freeview+ etc.

Maybe STB knows.

I have maps scanned. Upload soon.

galtee boy

watty wrote: »

Er.. I don't know. I need to re-read Nordig and what published info there is on Freeview/Freeview+ etc.

Maybe STB knows.

I have maps scanned. Upload soon.

Watty, you'll be bombarded with questions, so can I get in early and ask, do you think series link will be available in May, when Saorview officially launches ? I know you said RTE NL said " when infrastructure is complete ", but what is your understanding, of what/when they meant ?

watty

What they said. It's ready when it's ready.

galtee boy

watty wrote: »

What they said. It's ready when it's ready.

Right, I'll shut up and ask no more questions.

watty

RTE isn't the Kremlin. No point in analysing each statement for hidden meaning.

SRB

Be interested to see the "official NI Overspill" on the map. Coverage from Kippure towards my part of NI did vanish suddenly last year and while they may not be the Kremlin they have stopped responding to any e-mails asking about this and if the coverage will be improved after DSO.

watty

Here you are

Official overspill
I have not finished.
http://maps.techtir.com/ireland-dtt.htm

Clicky on the techtír ireland map logo to go back

Channels & explanation is here
http://www.techtir.ie/tv-radio/Irish-DTT-Sites
and http://www.techtir.ie/blog/watty/rte-presentation

I'll put TX information on each sub page. Let me know if anything seems broken (with URL).

Detail maps I believe are for 10dB gain roof top outdoor aerial. Unless you can see the mast, don't bother with attic or indoor aerials.

watty

This one is nearly complete.

http://maps.techtir.com/dtt-wicklow.htm

Clicking on edges of map moves to next map.

No Google earth, so no Google Snooping

/me checks tinfoil supplies.

watty

Only Mayo, Dublin & Donegal, to add clickyness and tables to. Coverage is there.

I think done.

I need to tidy a bit, put disclaimers, explanations etc.

But that's RTE's two maps with per transmitter map chopped up into overlapping regions.

No server code, no javascript, no Google watching and gathering. Old Skool static web pages.

I probably put loads of mistakes.


RTE's own Google based Coverage tool is now running

http://coverage.rtenl.ie/

Mr. Rabbit

I assume Moville is now confirmed ?

There was concern since Limavady isn't getting Saorview Lite.

watty

yes
Moville is definate.
This list http://www.techtir.ie/tv-radio/Irish-DTT-Sites is now confirmed and the missing channels in. It looks like all additional sites will be running by June 2011.

STB

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

I assume Moville is now confirmed ?

There was concern since Limavady isn't getting Saorview Lite.

Saorview Lite ????? All the Donegal fill ins will most possibly be on come summer as previously advised.

The Txs in NI are the extra Mux within NI.

Mr. Rabbit

That's good then.

It'll please the folks in Portrush, Portstewart, Castlerock, and Coleraine etc.

Mr. Rabbit

Saorview Lite ?????

i.e. The N.I. mini mux wont carry the full Saorview service. Only RTE's 1 and 2 along with TG 4 (as well as some radio stations). Hence Saorview Lite.

watty

It's a DVB-T2 lite also. Not DVB-T, at lower than normal QAM to make signal more robust.

Satellite may be a better option.


I've updated this to have same order and names as RTE Brochure.
http://www.techtir.ie/tv-radio/Irish-DTT-Sites