Reception query.

Cú Giobach

According to the Saorview coverage map I live in a marginal reception area, in a valley. Just on a line between coverage and no coverage.
I have a Sony Bravia EX401 32inch. In the manual it says it will work where DVB-T MPEG-4 AVC signals are broadcast. I thought this should receive SV......?
I get perfect, exellent quality pictures on the 4 analogue channels, with a good UHF Grid aerial in my attic.
The thing is I can't get Saorview and am wondering is it the telly or the coverage, seeing as I get a perfect analogue signal for RTE1/2 TV3 and TG4, is there a reason the Saorview signal isn't "coming in" the same way?
Just wondering about this before I go climbing on the roof to stick the aerial higher or forking out for a Saorview box, (or will I have to wait for Saorsat )
Thanks.

The Cush

Reception of the 4 analogue channels should give you perfect Saorview. The Sony Bravia EX401 is MPEG-4 and will work fine.

Have you done a digital scan?

What are the channel numbers for the analogue channels?

Cú Giobach

The Cush wrote: »

Reception of the 4 analogue channels should give you perfect Saorview. The Sony Bravia EX401 is MPEG-4 and will work fine.

Have you done a digital scan?

What are the channel numbers for the analogue channels?

Just what I was thinking.
I've done a full digital scan. And also tried manually the channels for all the local transmitters.
The analogue channel numbers are
RTE1 29
RTE2 33
TV3 35
TG4 37

Thanks.

The Cush

Cú Giobach wrote: »

The analogue channel numbers are
RTE1 29
RTE2 33
TV3 35
TG4 37

Thanks.

The 4 analogue channels you list don't match any of the transmitter carrying the 4 analogue channels. Some relays match the frequencies for RTÉ 1&2 and TG4 but TV3 doesn't transmit on Ch 35 from any of the sites.

Are you receiving your TV from a local community transmitter, you say you are in a valley?

If so it won't be upgraded for DTT, in that case your options are Saorsat or maybe the DTT signal from another transmitter.

Cú Giobach

The Cush wrote: »

The 4 analogue channels you list don't match any of the transmitter carrying the 4 analogue channels. Some relays match the frequencies for RTÉ 1&2 and TG4 but TV3 doesn't transmit on Ch 35 from any of the sites.

Are you receiving your TV from a local community transmitter, you say you are in a valley?

If so it won't be upgraded for DTT, in that case your options are Saorsat or maybe the DTT signal from another transmitter.

I've just made a few phonecalls and it turns out it is a local community transmitter, gonna have to wait for Saorsat.

Thanks for your help.

fat-tony

Cú Giobach wrote: »

I've just made a few phonecalls and it turns out it is a local community transmitter, gonna have to wait for Saorsat.

Thanks for your help.

Check out the Saorsat thread in the satellite forum - RTE currently testing! You may have to wait a couple of months for suitable LNBs to become available.

lukejr

Are you using a set of rabbit-ear, loft or rooftop aerial? I have found that rabbit-ears just don't pick up Saorview unless you are living in direct view of the transmission site.

The Cush

lukejr wrote: »

Are you using a set of rabbit-ear, loft or rooftop aerial? I have found that rabbit-ears just don't pick up Saorview unless you are living in direct view of the transmission site.

As he said above he's in a valley not served by any of the RTÉNL transmitters only a community relay.

Another option would be to upgrade the relay for 2 mux DTT but at what cost?

Capt'n Midnight

Don't forget that there will be a satellite option too

The Cush

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

Don't forget that there will be a satellite option too

Mentioned in post# 1,4,5,6.

Cú Giobach

lukejr wrote: »

Are you using a set of rabbit-ear, loft or rooftop aerial? I have found that rabbit-ears just don't pick up Saorview unless you are living in direct view of the transmission site.

What's annoying here, is that from the top of the field behind my house you can see Mullaghanish, I'm tempted to get 200m of aerial cable and stick an aerial up on the top of the hill, might tangle up the cows though .

Machinehead

Hi. I live in an area which according to the coverage checker has no reception (white area on the map). Since launch I have signal quality 80-100% & strength @ 100%. My first thought would have been to get the aerial outside on the roof & some sort of masthead amplifier. I can let you borrow my son who was on the roof making the fine adjustments while I checked the levels inside;-)

lucernarian

OP, how much higher is this hill behind your house? Mullaghanish's frequencies are not the worst at penetrating into valleys and the very high ERP and increased mast height could make Saorview work with just a chimney aerial on a long pole.

Another thing is that this community relay might possibly be reconfigured to simply provide a rebroadcasted Mullaghanish signal on the same channels, unaltered. This would only work if the site of the deflector was able to broadcast only into the valley with no Mulla coverage but it's quite possible that this is indeed the case. RTENL may not be happy with this approach unless it's small scale and won't interfere with a nearby area's reception.

The feed of the community deflector could be changed to simply broadcast the existing 4 analogue channels supplied from Saorview boxes instead, after DSO. That's also understandably not very desirable.

There's inadequate info on the net as to how Saorview could be rebroadcast on different channels like a typical transponder. Some say the signal would need to be "retransmitted" using DVB-T modulators for each multiplex and each site but I think that Arqiva in the UK have managed to DSO various relays which simply rebroadcast the PSB multiplexes on a different frequency and without expensive transmitter/modulator equipment.

wicklowgaz

I had a similar problem, in a saorview blackspot on the website. But I just tried it with a wideband aerial (a grouped one would be better if possible). And it worked ok. I think the digital signal is a bit more robust than the analog, because I could never get a good analog signal from mt lenister (a main transmitter). However with Saorview it is just about possible.

My advice is to just try it with a grouped aerial and see what happens. If that doesnt work maybe try a masthead amp. Make sure to use low loss sat cable (RB6 or CT100). Give it a go at least it will put your mind at ease whatever the outcome.:D

STB

Saorview will get into areas that analogue didnt.

The coverage checker is predictive for worst case scenarios.

Peter Rhea

STB wrote: »

Saorview will get into areas that analogue didnt.

It won't go through a hill that completely shadows your location any better than the analogue signal, although you may be able to use reflections off an opposing surface (haven't tried it myself).

STB

Peter Rhea wrote: »

It won't go through a hill that completely shadows your location any better than the analogue signal, although you may be able to use reflections off an opposing surface (haven't tried it myself).

I accept that it cannot perform miracles but dvb-t is more robust than analogue. I have already read reports that the prediction coverage is reporting no available signal in certain areas despite the reception of 60% quality and 100% strength. These percentages would seem quite high to be attributed to reflections, but would require suitable field test gear to be sure.

Peter Rhea

STB wrote: »

These percentages would seem quite high to be attributed to reflections, but would require suitable field test gear to be sure.

I was thinking of the OP's specific case, I agree the coverage checker is pessimistic.

If he's far enough out of the shadow of the hill & can get a decent high aerial position there's every chance of a usable signal.

Cú Giobach

Cheers for all the replies folks, sorry I didn't answer the questions asked but I just gave up on getting Saorview, was resigned to the Sat option and haven't been back here.

Regarding my location I'm at sea level in an East West orientated valley/inlet on the coast of South West Cork, the hill behind me is actually Ireland.
Being at the foot of this hill (about 170 feet high) I can understand signals not getting in from Mulla, I'd say I could get something if my aerial was about 50 meters to the south but I would have to put navigation lights on it and it might not work too good in a heavy swell
I'm gonna try a long pole and a grouped aerial, though large stretches of the coast of West Cork are in a serious shadow so I'm not gonna hold my breath.

It really is annoying to be in that tiny proportion of the population that is going from perfect terrestrial TV to none.