Combi box query.... Mayo area

makavelithedon

I have recently moved into a rented house which has two aerials on a pole outside. A larger flat one for BBC's and below that a smaller UHF one for RTE's.
In the attic crawl space there is a plug in distribution system, splitting the signal to three rooms. The BBC's would not be brilliant but the RTE's are pretty good even after being split.
I want to install a Combi receiver, I know i need a dish obviously for the FTA signal.
Can I simply run a new cable from the dish to the 'sat input' on the receiver, and just plug in the existing cable for the digital Irish channels?
Does the UHF signal need to be a direct feed for Saorview or will it be ok running through the plug in distribution unit?
Would it be advisable to remove the larger aerial (BBC) and its cables as it will no longer be needed?
Thank you for your time and perspective advice.

Peter Rhea

Mayo's a big place . . .

Are you sure the 'larger flat' aerial isn't a VHF aerial for RTE? Are all your analogue channels on UHF & do you have TG4 or TV3?

makavelithedon

The smaller one is pointed towards achill, i am pretty sure its the rte one. Yes tv3 and tg4 good quality as well. I am in the Erris area.

Peter Rhea

The UK channels must be coming from some kind of 'deflector' (local rebroadcast). TV3 could also be coming from this or else Truskmore (Sligo).
A VHF aerial if present would also be receiving from Truskmore.

What frequencies or channel nos. does your tv display for the received analogue services?

makavelithedon

Yes there is definitely a local broadcast system for bbcs, TV3 im not sure about. Can i just plug in my existing cable in the living room as a saorview feed(without changing anything) and run another cable in for the fta signal?

Peter Rhea

If a Saorview signal is present on the cable, no problem.

You can take a look here to check coverage. You (obviously) need the appropriate UHF aerial pointed at a transmitter that's actually broadcasting Saorview.

makavelithedon

Achill, small aerial seems to point towards it.
should the fact that its all going through a distribution system cause any problem?
Thanks for your help friend.

Peter Rhea

Any distribution box I know of won't be a problem.

coylemj

Saorview coverage checker says you can receive DTT on channel 47 from Achill. Your current reception from Achill includes analogue RTE1 (CH 40), RTE2 (42) and TG4 (50) so your current aerial will get you a DTT signal no bother assuming the current TG4 signal quality is good as that's the closest existing channel to the DTT signal but the old and new signals all fall into Group B so it's highly unlikely that you'll have an issue with the DTT signal.

Peter Rhea

OP didn't provide any proof of reception from Achill, only said 1 of his aerials was pointing that way.

coylemj

Peter Rhea wrote: »

OP didn't provide any proof of reception from Achill, only said 1 of his aerials was pointing that way.

Not sure where he's getting TV3 from but his RTE must be coming from Achill, otherwise he'd be getting everything from Truskmore.

makavelithedon wrote: »

The smaller one is pointed towards achill, i am pretty sure its the rte one.

makavelithedon wrote: »

The BBC's would not be brilliant but the RTE's are pretty good even after being split.

Kristopherus

If he gave even his locality it would be possible that he would get good DTT reception from Castlebar, that is if Nephin is'nt blocking the signal. That mast for Castlebar is about 8 miles away out the Erris road. As it is we dont know if he's from Blacksod or Keenagh

coylemj

Kristopherus wrote: »

If he gave even his locality it would be possible that he would get good DTT reception from Castlebar, that is if Nephin is'nt blocking the signal. That mast for Castlebar is about 8 miles away out the Erris road. As it is we dont know if he's from Blacksod or Keenagh

Have you read the whole thread or just the first post?

The OP lives 'in the Erris area' and is currently receiving RTE from Achill on UHF. The Saorview signal from Achill is on Channel 47 which falls within the same Channel group (B) as the current Achill analogue signal so he shouldn't have any problem picking up Saorview with his existing aerial.

The only unknown is how he's receiving TV3, it could be from the same deflector system that's giving him the UK channels but he's definitely getting RTE and TG4 from Achill.

makavelithedon wrote: »

The smaller one is pointed towards achill, i am pretty sure its the rte one. Yes tv3 and tg4 good quality as well. I am in the Erris area.

makavelithedon wrote: »

Achill, small aerial seems to point towards it.

Peter Rhea

coylemj wrote: »

The OP lives 'in the Erris area' and is currently receiving RTE from Achill on UHF.

Once again, the OP provided no proof of receiving from Achill, only that a UHF aerial 'seems to be' pointing there. Do you have a knowledge of deflector locations in that area?

coylemj

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Once again, the OP provided no proof of receiving from Achill, only that a UHF aerial 'seems to be' pointing there. Do you have a knowledge of deflector locations in that area?

You want proof, a sworn affidavit perhaps? Is this a legal situation or are we talking about TV reception?

makavelithedon wrote: »

I have recently moved into a rented house which has two aerials on a pole outside. A larger flat one for BBC's and below that a smaller UHF one for RTE's.

makavelithedon wrote: »

The smaller one is pointed towards achill, i am pretty sure its the rte one. Yes tv3 and tg4 good quality as well. I am in the Erris area.

I am prepared to take him at his word which is that (1) one of his aerials is UHF and (2) is pointing towards Achill.

Mexecutioner

makavelithedon wrote: »

I have recently moved into a rented house which has two aerials on a pole outside. A larger flat one for BBC's and below that a smaller UHF one for RTE's.

Maybe all for Truskmore?

A lot of people think UHF aerials with "arrow" reflectors are pointing in the direction of the arrow.

coylemj

Mexecutioner wrote: »

Maybe all for Truskmore?

A lot of people think UHF aerials with "arrow" reflectors are pointing in the direction of the arrow.

The analog RTE1 & 2 signal from Truskmore is VHF, he would have three aerials instead of two if he was getting RTE from Truskmore. He'd have a VHF aerial for RTE1&2, a UHF aerial for TG4 and TV3 and the flat aerial he talks about sounds like it's to receive the deflector signal from Mayo Community TV which is giving him the UK channels.

It looks pretty clear that he does not have a VHF aerial which means he is not getting RTE from Truskmore.

Kristopherus

coylemj wrote: »

The OP lives 'in the Erris area' and is currently receiving RTE from Achill on UHF.

So he does. But when Mayo people say they live in the Erris area, they are usually referring to a huge area of about 500sq miles that stretches from just west of Crossmolina to the coast and from Keenagh in the south to the north coast. It is colloqually referred to as "The Barony"(of Erris).
So my understanding is that he is living in the general Erris area, not just Bangor-Erris. In that case it is possible that he may get DTT signals from Achill, Castlebar and Truskmore. As I said in my previous post, if the OP would give his actual locality or any other indication of what town or village nearby, then it would be easier to nail down whichever aerial is best for him. He also may be able to pick up Deflector signals as their transmitter is quite close to the RTE Castlebar mast.

makavelithedon

Im in Belmullet, sorry guys I probably should have been a bit clearer to begin with.
Should a UHF aerial in this area (perfect view of Achill) require any kind of amp for a good Saorview signal?
And should I remove my larger (Grid type??) aerial on which I currently receive BBCs and TV3, and all its attachments? When I get my dish up that is.

coylemj

makavelithedon wrote: »

Im in Belmullet, sorry guys I probably should have been a bit clearer to begin with.
Should a UHF aerial in this area (perfect view of Achill) require any kind of amp for a good Saorview signal?

No, you said you are currently receiving RTE1&2 and TG4 from Achill so you don't need any change to your receiving equipment to get DTT. The analogue channels (40,42 & 50) and the DTT channel (47) all fall into Group B though with a 'perfect view' of Achill you probably have a wideband aerial. Either way, you're all setup to get DTT.

makavelithedon wrote: »

And should I remove my larger (Grid type??) aerial on which I currently receive BBCs and TV3, and all its attachments? When I get my dish up that is.

Yes, assuming there are no channels on the MCTV service that are not on Freesat.

http://www.freesat.co.uk/

Wasn't aware that 'the erris area' covered such a large chunk of Co. Mayo, thank you Kristopherus.

Kristopherus

makavelithedon wrote: »

Im in Belmullet, sorry guys I probably should have been a bit clearer to begin with.
Should a UHF aerial in this area (perfect view of Achill) require any kind of amp for a good Saorview signal?
And should I remove my larger (Grid type??) aerial on which I currently receive BBCs and TV3, and all its attachments? When I get my dish up that is.

I have that larger grid type aerial that you mention. Yes the Deflector stations come in on it, but if you connect that aerial to a DTT set-top box or mpeg 4 tv, you should get the all the DTT stations.

Be very mindful, though. There are very high winds promised for early tomorrow. You may just have to re-erect one aerial;)

coylemj

Kristopherus wrote: »

I have that larger grid type aerial that you mention. Yes the Deflector stations come in on it, but if you connect that aerial to a DTT set-top box or mpeg 4 tv, you should get the all the DTT stations.

Be very mindful, though. There are very high winds promised for early tomorrow. You may just have to re-erect one aerial;)

But if you live in a different part of Mayo, from your house the MCTV deflector and the local RTE transmitter could be in the same direction so that statement above might be true for you but not necessarily for the OP.

The OP can see Achill to the south across Blacksod Bay and already has a UHF aerial pointing to it, surely his best solution (when he installs the Freesat dish), is to dump the grid and use the dish for Freesat and the UHF aerial for Saorview?

You say he should be able to pick up DTT using the grid aerial today, where would that signal be coming from and why isn't he picking up RTE on analogue from the same transmitter today i.e. are you saying he never needed to install the separate UHF aerial pointing to Achill?

Peter Rhea

makavelithedon wrote: »

And should I remove my larger (Grid type??) aerial on which I currently receive BBCs and TV3, and all its attachments? When I get my dish up that is.

So it's a grid, makes sense. Unless you are upgrading every tv point to digital, you might as well hold on to it until the deflector is turned off.

Peter Rhea

This thread shows why it's extremely helpful if people with reception & aerial queries can post a photo of their aerial & also list the frequencies or channel nos. they receive.

Whole thing could be resolved in a couple of posts.

makavelithedon

Peter Rhea wrote: »

This thread shows why it's extremely helpful if people with reception & aerial queries can post a photo of their aerial & also list the frequencies or channel nos. they receive.

Whole thing could be resolved in a couple of posts.

True man, if I have any similar queries in the future ill be sure to do so. Thanks everyone, this is truly a useful source in obtaining information like this.

coylemj

Peter Rhea wrote: »

This thread shows why it's extremely helpful if people with reception & aerial queries can post a photo of their aerial & also list the frequencies or channel nos. they receive.

Whole thing could be resolved in a couple of posts.

+1 but some TVs don't tell you what channels/frequencies they're getting, they just give you a list of the stations.

Example: I have a Phllips 42" LCD purchased in 2009, if I plug the UPC co-ax straight into the aerial port on the TV and tell it to do a scan, it finds the 20 or so (VHF) analog stations but it doesn't even tell me if they are VHF or UHF, let alone what channels or frequencies they are on. The only thing it tells me is if they are analog or digital stations.

A photo showing the aerial(s) and indicating what direction they are pointing would be very useful.