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MAGHERA CHANNEL E INTERFERENCE

  • 12-06-2011 09:32PM
    #1
    Galway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭


    Is anyone noticing horizontal patterning interference on RTÉ 1 channel E (VHF Band 3) analogue from Maghera?

    I have monitored 4 tv sets at two different locations some 8 miles apart and it is present on all. It can't be caused by the RF output of any of the connected equipment or the equipment itself as it was present also on the TV set connected solely to an aerial ouput. I wonder does it have anything to do with DTT Mux 2 being fired up on channel 55 - though I doubt it. All other analogue transmissions from Maghera on channels H, 66 and 68 are unaffected as is the main DTT mux on channel 48.


Comments

  • #2
    lucernarian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,236 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    I'd suspect Sporadic E interference, with the reports of Spanish radio in Dublin recently.


  • #3
    Galway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭Galway


    To_be_confirmed wrote: »
    I'd suspect Sporadic E interference, with the reports of Spanish radio in Dublin recently.

    Sporadic E only affects VHF BAND 1 TV and Band 2 Fm. Thats why RTÉ 1 was moved from channel B Band 1 in the early 90's to channel E. Also sporadic E interefence is 'sporadic' and this is constant.


  • #4
    lucernarian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,236 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    Galway wrote: »
    Sporadic E only affects VHF BAND 1 TV and Band 2 Fm. Thats why RTÉ 1 was moved from channel B Band 1 in the early 90's to channel E. Also sporadic E interefence is 'sporadic' and this is constant.
    Where's your source for SpE only affecting Band 1 and 2? My own reading of a few articles and also a couple of DXer reports suggests that Band 3 is quite possible, just not as common. But now that you've mentioned that the interference is consistent, it's enough reason in itself to rule SpE out.

    Perhaps a call to RTENL is in order?


  • #5
    Galway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭Galway


    To_be_confirmed wrote: »
    Where's your source for SpE only affecting Band 1 and 2? My own reading of a few articles and also a couple of DXer reports suggests that Band 3 is quite possible, just not as common. But now that you've mentioned that the interference is consistent, it's enough reason in itself to rule SpE out.

    Perhaps a call to RTENL is in order?

    It is definitely NOT sporadic E or I would have noticed it every summer during the Sporadic E season. Reason channel B was replaced with E was because of how prone Band 1 is to SpE.

    My post was to see if anyone in the service area has noticed the same. I don't think Maghera gets into Co. Louth under normal atmospheric conditiions.


  • #6
    leex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,247 ✭✭✭leex


    I have seen it too as has a neighbour. Only affecting RTE on analog and not digital version.


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  • #7
    Galway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭Galway


    leex wrote: »
    I have seen it too as has a neighbour. Only affecting RTE on analog and not digital version.

    Thanks, where are you and your neighbour based?


  • #8
    lucernarian
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,236 ✭✭✭lucernarian


    Galway wrote: »
    It is definitely NOT sporadic E or I would have noticed it every summer during the Sporadic E season. Reason channel B was replaced with E was because of how prone Band 1 is to SpE.

    My post was to see if anyone in the service area has noticed the same. I don't think Maghera gets into Co. Louth under normal atmospheric conditiions.
    I already accepted that it wasn't sporadic E, it was a suggestion based on what was said in the first post. It's not true to say SpE doesn't affect Band 3, it's just far more uncommon. I made the suggestion in good faith and there shouldn't be anything wrong with someone from outside the "service area" offering their tuppence worth in this thread...


  • #9
    leex
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,247 ✭✭✭leex


    Galway wrote: »
    Thanks, where are you and your neighbour based?

    North of county Galway.


  • #10
    Antenna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,403 ✭✭✭Antenna


    Sounds like Maghera is relaying another (VHF/UHF) transmitter due to failure (?) of link system. Incoming signal suffering from some CCI.
    I remember the same thing happened on Mullaghanish (several years ago) on one of the two RTE channels.
    Could you post a picture, just curious to see?


  • #11
    Galway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭Galway


    Antenna wrote: »
    Sounds like Maghera is relaying another (VHF/UHF) transmitter due to failure (?) of link system. Incoming signal suffering from some CCI.
    I remember the same thing happened on Mullaghanish (several years ago) on one of the two RTE channels.
    Could you post a picture, just curious to see?

    Had a look this eve and it seems to have cleared up. I had relations complaining about a lot of 'flicking' on RTÉ 1 the other night. You are suggesting they have been using 'off air signals' from Mullaghanish for RTÉ 1 so? This would only happen in a case of the microwave link failing, and I believe all main TXs now have fibre optical cable feeds also?


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  • #12
    Mike 1972
    Closed Accounts Posts: 8,018 ✭✭✭Mike 1972


    Given that Maghera shares its VHF channels with Kippure (albeit on opposite polarisation) maybe tropospheric rather than Sporadic E propagation was the issue here ?


  • #13
    Antenna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,403 ✭✭✭Antenna


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    Given that Maghera shares its VHF channels with Kippure (albeit on opposite polarisation) maybe tropospheric rather than Sporadic E propagation was the issue here ?

    Only one of the two channels affected, one would expect both to be affected to some extend if that was the case as they are co-channel for both VHF channels. It appears from the OP that the patterning was steady rather than varying.
    Galway wrote: »
    You are suggesting they have been using 'off air signals' from Mullaghanish for RTÉ 1 so?
    I didn't say Mullaghanish (it could have been), I said they might have been taking another transmitter (or transposer not fed from Maghera).

    BTW a few weeks ago - the Saturday night during the Champions League Final (28 May) - all 4 (RTE1/2 TV3 TG4) analogues from Spur Hill (Cork) went "bananas" with severe digital breakup/stuttering, until all 4 were switched to I assume satellite backup (judging by the time lag). I was told it was happening for at least half an hour before I had seen it myself


  • #14
    Galway
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 654 ✭✭✭Galway


    Mike 1972 wrote: »
    Given that Maghera shares its VHF channels with Kippure (albeit on opposite polarisation) maybe tropospheric rather than Sporadic E propagation was the issue here ?

    Possibly BUT the intereference was constant , i.e. no fading. I believe that way back in 1978, before the microwave link for RTÉ 2 was in place, that 'off air' signals from Mullaghanish were used for the tests on Channel H vertical. This was anounced in the old 'technical information' bulletins then broadcast.


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