Terrestrial

Feardorca

I presently receive RTE 1 & 2 about 90% on old VHF antenna with Masthead amp and Distributer amp, from Maghera, but on my TV3 antenna TV3 and RNaG is hopeless is this an indication that with a Digital Antenna I will also get poor reception. The coverage map shows good for my general area, but I might be part of the 2% who will need Saorsat, thanks guys

Peter Rhea

Can you describe the UHF aerial or even post a photo? Does it have an amp?

Sometimes the aerials are under specified due to re-use of old masts already fitted with large VHF aerials.

watty

Stick your address here. Maybe Maghera isn't the best choice
http://coverage.rtenl.ie/RTENLcoveragechecker.php

And click here
http://maps.techtir.com/ireland-dtt.htm

Maybe your aerial isn't correct anyway...

The Digital signal in many cases is stronger.

Feardorca

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Can you describe the UHF aerial or even post a photo? Does it have an amp?

Sometimes the aerials are under specified due to re-use of old masts already fitted with large VHF aerials.

Thanks Peter for your reply, my UHF aerial is about 3ft long with 6" cross bars and a dipole with a rere reflector, you see them everywhere usually on top of VHF on mast. I have an masthead amplifier UHF/VHF combination and an amplified distribution. All this is in the attic (it was there when I bought the house). I have just examined all the connections and now I have all four about equal, watchable but a bit snowy. I have Sky but would like to get Saorview close to Sky quality, sorry to be so long winded. Regards

Feardorca

watty wrote: »

Stick your address here. Maybe Maghera isn't the best choice
http://coverage.rtenl.ie/RTENLcoveragechecker.php

And click here
http://maps.techtir.com/ireland-dtt.htm

Maybe your aerial isn't correct anyway...

The Digital signal in many cases is stronger.

Thanks Watty, yes I have the Saorview maps and they repeatedly direct me to Maghera. I am about 50 km from transmitter but I am down very low about 20ft above the Shannon. My antenna is in attic but now will get a lashing kit and install Digital aerial on chimney. I have all 4 stations equal but snowy, just needed an indication from analogue before investing in Digital. If that is not good then I will go Saorsat. Thanks again.

Peter Rhea

Feardorca wrote: »

My antenna is in attic but now will get a lashing kit and install Digital aerial on chimney.

The existing UHF aerial will probably work fine outside if it's still in good shape.
There's no such thing as a 'digital' aerial btw, the same properties that give good analogue reception apply equally (although it may have been easier to get away with some crappy designs in analogue only days).

The Cush

@Feardorca

I wonder if Mullaghanish is available to you? Might be an option if Maghera doesn't give you good signal on an outdoor aerial.

Do you have the correct Group CD (green bung) aerial for Maghera?

lucernarian

Feardorca wrote: »

Thanks Peter for your reply, my UHF aerial is about 3ft long with 6" cross bars and a dipole with a rere reflector, you see them everywhere usually on top of VHF on mast. I have an masthead amplifier UHF/VHF combination and an amplified distribution. All this is in the attic (it was there when I bought the house). I have just examined all the connections and now I have all four about equal, watchable but a bit snowy. I have Sky but would like to get Saorview close to Sky quality, sorry to be so long winded. Regards

That will likely work very well for Saorview. It's a bit concerning that you got an improvement just from fiddling about with the cables. Is there a chance the cables need replacing? You can get a good improvement on TV3/TG4 and Saorview reception using the newer double-screened cables out there. E.g. TX100, WF100 or for shorter lengths RG6. RG6 is also called ordinary "sat cable" by a lot of electrical wholesalers. RG6 as described in American websites is a different cable to what RG6 is here. Don't ask me why!:D

If you have a flatscreen TV with just a digital tuner then you can use it to scan for the channels even if they can't show the TV.

In my experience an attic aerial installed properly with no broken cables or joins or splits or shorted inner and outer wires, along with the aerial mounted in the right direction and with no water tank in the way will nearly always work for Saorview reception.

Is it possible to photo the aerial set up, the distribution amp and perhaps a look at where the cable is connected to the aerial? And upload it here?

Tech note: Except in areas served by Clermont Carn and Mt. Leinster where I've found coverage is not meeting my expectations when I've used it. CC is getting a big power boost next year though. Mt Leinster is more complicated and may or may not.

Machinehead

I'm outside green reception zone - according to coverage checker - Maghera Mux 48 @ 100% quality & 100% strength atm. Try the rooftop aerial it might work out, I'm a lot farther away than yourself;)

lucernarian

I would get a saorview receiver/telly first before moving the aerials outside. The work on an aerial can always be done once you have a TV which definitely is not working 100% for Saorview. There's no way it will be guaranteed to work if the aerial's moved outside until the moment you see it working on your TV.

Feardorca

Thanks Guys AOK now, just got a STB Ferguson ARIVA T50 from www.satellitetv.ie hooked it up and now recieving 97% Quality reception with scart only, with original group CD (Green Bung) aerial VERY HAPPY with that.

eskin

I am getting saorview reception off the existing Aerial used for the Loughrea deflector which was carrying BBC & UTV etc. Only problem is with RTE2 where I get sound but no picture. Any ideas ?

lucernarian

Whatever you're using to receive Saorview is not fully Saorview compatible most likely. Any channels which switch to HD will not be receivable I suspect.

Have you tried doing a reinstall of all the Saorview channels on the telly?

What box/TV are you using to pick up Saorview?

Mr Keek

OP I'm living in Oranmore Co Galway using poxy Bunny Ears and I'm getting 98% Signal strength, perfect picture and no pixlation.

In my home house in Tuam, we are using our old contact aerial like the one you described, TV3 & TG4 were unwatachable on Analogue but Saorview is 100% signal strength.

Both Aerials pointing to Maghera. Don't know if that's any help but it might give you an idea of what to expect.

The Cush

eskin wrote: »

I am getting saorview reception off the existing Aerial used for the Loughrea deflector which was carrying BBC & UTV etc. Only problem is with RTE2 where I get sound but no picture. Any ideas ?

Looks like you have an MPEG-4 L3.0 STB such as a Sky Picnic box or Triax TR110. RTÉ 2 HD requires a receiver with an MPEG-4 L4.0 video decoder, without that you get sound and no video.

eskin

I suspect you are right about the MPEG-4 L3.0 STB. Dont remember what the box brand is - bought in in DID electrical in Dublin a few months ago - tested it in DUblin and it worked fine. I will check the box type next tome im down in Athenry.
I would have thought they would be transmitting an SD version of RTE2 also. Know of any plans to do that or is it a case of being very careful with what STB you purchase to ensure it is fully Saorview compliant ?

The Cush

eskin wrote: »

I suspect you are right about the MPEG-4 L3.0 STB. Dont remember what the box brand is - bought in in DID electrical in Dublin a few months ago - tested it in DUblin and it worked fine. I will check the box type next tome im down in Athenry.
I would have thought they would be transmitting an SD version of RTE2 also. Know of any plans to do that or is it a case of being very careful with what STB you purchase to ensure it is fully Saorview compliant ?

A temp RTÉ2 SD (L3.0) channel ceased on Apr 18th. It won't be returning for a few non compliant receivers.

STB

eskin wrote: »

I suspect you are right about the MPEG-4 L3.0 STB. Dont remember what the box brand is - bought in in DID electrical in Dublin a few months ago - tested it in DUblin and it worked fine. I will check the box type next tome im down in Athenry.
QUOTE]

Post the name when you get a chance.

Would probably be advising you to bring it back.