Morning of the 25th ?

SPAWKER

Is this what people are going to wake up to on the 25th.

formerly scottish paddy

Actually morning of 24th (10:00am)

VampiricPadraig

Pretty much. Or more likely this,

charlemont

I can't wait to hear all the excuses from people who never heard about the shutdown..

"Ah Joe I couldn't even watch the news"

VampiricPadraig

charlemont wrote: »

I can't wait to hear all the excuses from people who never heard about the shutdown..

"Ah Joe I couldn't even watch the news"

On the 25th, people will be like "Ohhh, that's what the "X 24th October" meant on the bottom right of RTE 1 and 2".

charlemont

VampiricPadraig wrote: »

On the 25th, people will be like "Ohhh, that's what the "X 24th October" meant on the bottom right of RTE 1 and 2".

Ha they will too, I'd say the radio will get a new lease of life...

bmaxi

Joe Duffy's head will be wrecked, he'll have to get his old friend Gaybo back to tell people on the show what he's been telling them every day for yonks.

VampiricPadraig

bmaxi wrote: »

Joe Duffy's head will be wrecked, he'll have to get his old friend Gaybo back to tell people on the show what he's been telling them every day for yonks.

Give him a bottle of whiskey before he starts and some Paracetamol to keep him sane lol!

formerly scottish paddy

He should have Saorview Brian and Mary Curtis in with him for the duration.

MACHEAD

Wouldn't it be deadly craic to pull the plug on the radio Tx's for a while on that morning as well! Talk about panic, they'll think the Martians have landed or something.

watty

Most modern TVs don't display noise but put a blue screen or other display with [ No Signal ] text

VampiricPadraig

Sure it's only a matter of time before Analog Radio gets switched off :x

formerly scottish paddy

VampiricPadraig wrote: »

Sure it's only a matter of time before Analog Radio gets switched off :x

Well we've had MW going recently.......remember the outcry in the North over that!

Sam Russell

VampiricPadraig wrote: »

Sure it's only a matter of time before Analog Radio gets switched off :x

I hope they never get rid of FM (88-108MHz). It is good quality, cheap receivers with good battery life, and easy to tune programmes in. Compared with DAB, it is very good.

DAB does not deliver low cost receiver, small aerial, long battery life, ease of use, better quality sound. If signal dips, DAB quits. DAB does not have the coverage of FM.

As you lose FM signals, you can still hear it, but DAB just goes, so in a car it goes and then comes back, and then goes. Dreadful.

watty

DAB about 5,000 times power consumption and needs about x5 more transmitters for blackspot free mobile/portable coverage.

My Tesco DAB set has 4.5 hrs battery life. One of my VHF sets is 300hrs and one of my AM LW + MW sets with valves has 400 hrs battery.

An AM/FM headphone set with LW, MW, SW & VHF can easily have 1000 hours battery life.

DAB was too soon. Shame on RTE doing a partial roll out of an obsolete system inferior to FM rather than improving content of existing stations.

Even VHF-FM can't provide 100% coverage, which is partly why 252kHz LW AM has replaced the MW AM.

formerly scottish paddy

watty wrote: »

Shame on RTE doing a partial roll out of an obsolete system inferior to FM rather than improving content of existing stations.

Maybe that's why they abandoned the roll out?

mike65

The death of white noise, no more moments like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThI2-inDXW4

watty

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

Maybe that's why they abandoned the roll out?

Ran out of money. They had a DTT network to build

The Cush

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

Maybe that's why they abandoned the roll out?

The rollout has been halted because of the lack of money and lack of interest from the commercial radio sector. The emphasis has been on the rollout of the DTT network since 2008. I think it's been mentioned somewhere official that the focus will switch to digital radio in 2013 once ASO is out of the way.

watty

No, it isn't a SWITCH. There are no plans to end any VHF-FM. It's the ADDITION of DAB.

Mr Cumulonimbus

bmaxi wrote: »

Joe Duffy's head will be wrecked, he'll have to get his old friend Gaybo back to tell people on the show what he's been telling them every day for yonks.

The Cush

watty wrote: »

No, it isn't a SWITCH. There are no plans to end any VHF-FM. It's the ADDITION of DAB.

I wasn't clear, I wasn't referring to the switch off of analogue radio but to the stakeholders the BAI, RTÉ/RTÉNL etc. who will switching their focus from the rollout of DTT and ASO to the development/rollout of Digital Radio.

Steven Jay

The only person that seems to want dab to take off is Ivan Nolan, The reason he wants it to take off is so that he can live of the fat of the sound and vision fund. The guy already spend 15 years living of the fat of the tv licence money.

watty

The Cush wrote: »

I wasn't clear, I wasn't referring to the switch off of analogue radio but to the stakeholders the BAI, RTÉ/RTÉNL etc. who will switching their focus from the rollout of DTT and ASO to the development/rollout of Digital Radio.

I was sure you knew what you meant, but not everyone reading it would have

Capt'n Midnight

I feel sorry for all the programmers who thought the changeover was the 20th of December









24 Oct = 20 Dec = 10100 Bin

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/northernireland

On Wednesday at 6am they will pull the plug on BBC2 analog on the main transmitters up above
(the other transmitters will change at different times during the day)

Select the transmitter you are watching from the list below.

BBC Two will go to digital and some new digital channels become available. This means that:

If you haven’t switched, you’ll lose BBC Two
The time of day you switch will depend on which relay transmitter you are watching
If you have Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV you’ll need to re-tune your equipment

The Cush

Capt'n Midnight wrote: »

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch/northernireland

On Wednesday at 6am they will pull the plug on BBC2 analog on the main transmitters up above
(the other transmitters will change at different times during the day)

They'll pull the plug on analogue BBC2 shortly after midnight on Oct 10th at all transmitters (maybe about 1220am after Later Live... with Jools Holland). The main transmitters and some relays should be transmitting the new BBC A mux by 6.00am - http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitternetwork/tools__and__resources/almanac/installer_newsletters_transmitter_groups2009_pdfs/NI_BroMtDivisLima_1MO_13_Sept_12_Final_revised.pdf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01n8619#programme-broadcasts

What happens in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, 10 October 2012 (stage one)?
What happens in Northern Ireland on Wednesday, 24 October 2012 (stage two)?

Mr. Rabbit

VampiricPadraig wrote: »

Pretty much. Or more likely this,

Believe it or not, that is the cosmic microwave background radiation !

The Cush

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Believe it or not, that is the cosmic microwave background radiation !

The digital big bang is coming. So wave goodbye to the real one - The Irish Times - Saturday, September 22, 2012

Capt'n Midnight

Mr. Rabbit wrote: »

Believe it or not, that is the cosmic microwave background radiation !

only a few %
most is local noise generated inside the TV to prevent old TV's burning a spot in the centre of the screen

watty

On old sets about 90% might be noise from the (transistor) tuner as the RF & IF AGC turns up to maximum. By 1970s you'd see the noise reduce dramatically if you unplugged the aerial. On newer sets with ICs, most of it is from the aerial, but they blank it. On very old sets with 405 lines and valve tuners you might simply get a blank screen! Not sensitive enough to display much noise.

No set ever deliberately generated noise. The issue of a spot in middle of screen is only as you turn it off and some makers solved that in early 1950s and all by 1960s with a suppression circuit to blank the CRT when power failed (some had it operate when scan failed. All projection TVs had beam blanking on scan failure or tube would be damaged instantly).

Sam Russell

Why are people obsessed by Digital Switch Over when all that is happenning is the old obsolete analogue transmitters are being switched off. The digital switch over occured eighteen months ago when Mr Rabbitte launched Saorview up in Montrose in May 2011. (It had in fact been running since Aug 2008).

formerly scottish paddy

I suppose it's just the historical aspect, end of an era of technology that we have lived with for 50 years, that's all.

Digifriendly

Sam Russell wrote: »

Why are people obsessed by Digital Switch Over when all that is happenning is the old obsolete analogue transmitters are being switched off. The digital switch over occured eighteen months ago when Mr Rabbitte launched Saorview up in Montrose in May 2011. (It had in fact been running since Aug 2008).

Maybe the case for most in ROI but here in NI it is a big deal with digital services going on much greater power, some viewers getting digital for first time (those served by relays) and retuning being essential. Also for some in ROI in areas close to the border who at present pick up signals from NI it will be a big deal.

watty

I know people in N.I. that have no C5 on terrestrial and no Digital Terrestrial at all till ASO/DSO.

I think a large number of people in N.I. need to retune twice. Most here don't need to retune at all. (Holyhill, Clarmont cairn and Mt Leinster retunes once).

formerly scottish paddy

No retune required for Holywell Hill, just power increase like Truskmore.

the_tractor

There is still quite a lot of confusion up north in regard to the RTE reception.

There is talk of RTE1/2 and TG4 being broadcast on a freeview mux in the north.
So some people will get RTE channel for the 1st time.

Also most people who get analogue RTE don't get Saorview yet, and won't know until after the switchover.

I've been to several shops in Belfast and not one of them could tell me whether you needed a DVB-T2 tuner (Freeview HD) or just a DVB-T tuner that supports MPEG-4 to be able to get the RTE over Freeview where it's available.

So it seems that we will have to wait for the the morning of the 24th(*) to see what happens.:D

the_tractor

(*) - I say the 24th, cause it is the 24th isn't it - not the 25th.

All analogue transmissions in the north will cease just after midnight on the 24th, and all digital transmissions should be active starting around 6am on the 24h.

I assume it's the same for RTE analogue transmissions?

The Cush

the_tractor wrote: »

(*) - I say the 24th, cause it is the 24th isn't it - not the 25th.

All analogue transmissions in the north will cease just after midnight on the 24th, and all digital transmissions should be active starting around 6am on the 24h.

I assume it's the same for RTE analogue transmissions?

ASO south of the border 10.00am on the 24th.

formerly scottish paddy

the_tractor wrote: »

I've been to several shops in Belfast and not one of them could tell me whether you needed a DVB-T2 tuner (Freeview HD) or just a DVB-T tuner that supports MPEG-4 to be able to get the RTE over Freeview where it's available.

DVB-T2 (Freeview HD) for Freeview NIMM from Black Mountain and Carnmoney Hill TXs, and also Saorview direct reception if available. If you can get reasonable reception (including Aertel with no breakup) of Clermont Carn analogue at the moment it looks like you will get Saorview from the 24th.

the_tractor

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

DVB-T2 (Freeview HD) for Freeview NIMM from Black Mountain and Carnmoney Hill TXs, and also Saorview direct reception if available. If you can get reasonable reception (including Aertel with no breakup) of Clermont Carn analogue at the moment it looks like you will get Saorview from the 24th.

But do I really need a DVB-T2 tuner, would MPEG4 not be enough?

I currently have an oldish DVB-T (freeview)HDD recorder that is MPEG2, and a newer TV also DVB-T but MPEG4.

I recently bought a DVB-T2 decoder for the computer, so it should be able to pickup everything, but its in a Windows XP machine, so it'll be a pain to get the EPG correct for Freeview/Saorview mix.

formerly scottish paddy

Sorry but you need DVB-T2 for the NIMM. Your DVB-T MPEG4 tv should be OK for direct Saorview from Clermont Carn, have you got an RTE aerial?
(actually we should be discussing this on the "Digital Switchover - UTV Region (DigitalUK)" thread above)

The Cush

the_tractor wrote: »

But do I really need a DVB-T2 tuner, would MPEG4 not be enough?(

For the NImux a receiver with a DVB-T2/MPEG-4 tuner will be required, for Saorview overspill a DVB-T/MPEG-4 tuner will do.

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitternetwork/tools__and__resources/almanac/special_editions/Special_edition-010612_NI_trade_update_on_Nimux.pdf

the_tractor

formerly scottish paddy wrote: »

Your DVB-T MPEG4 tv should be OK for direct Saorview from Clermont Carn, have you got an RTE aerial?

The Cush wrote: »

for Saorview overspill a DVB-T/MPEG-4 tuner will do.

I have an RTE Aerial, and receive the Analogue RTE channels nice and clearly, so should be ok then.

formerly scottish paddy

Yea your MPEG4 tv sould be ok. Clermont Carn is nulled to the North and on reduced power until the 24th when it goes up to 160kw (as a comparison: Divis will be 100kw)
Saorview from Clermont will be on channel 52 where RTE 1 is now on analogue.

thesandeman

Double post.

thesandeman

Why? What's happening on the 24th/25th?

On a serious note I think there's going to be a discussion about it on Pat Kenny in the morning 10-12 on Radio 1.
Still not got myself sorted. Might be watching a lot of telly on my phone for the next month if I don't get my act together.

touts

bmaxi wrote: »

Joe Duffy's head will be wrecked, he'll have to get his old friend Gaybo back to tell people on the show what he's been telling them every day for yonks.

Actually I'm going to tune into your man on 4fm. Someone at work told me about the show (1pm-3pm) and I've tuned in in the last few days. This week it's been whackjob racists in a shouting match with Nigerian asylum seekers. The host gets involved only to stir the sh1t every now and then. I couldn't put up with it ongoing but suspect on the 24th it will be a classic. I'd say we'll have conspiracy nuts and all on about what the government will be doing with the freed up band with etc.

dowtchaboy

touts wrote: »

I'd say we'll have conspiracy nuts and all on about what the government will be doing with the freed up band with etc.

You mean those Frequencies Reserved For Government Exclusive Use That Every Radio and Phone Must Include And That Can Take Control Of Your Device....?? Apparently "Everybody Knows" that this is true..... (why oh why do I scan through Reddit/conspiracy....?)

Antenna

The Cush wrote: »

ASO south of the border 10.00am on the 24th.

What is going to happen with RTENL analogue relays which are satelllite fed from Astra 28E (A number of them are). These are independent of the rest of the analogue network. Are they going to be somehow disabled at that time, or will there be some (either official or unofficial) extension of analogue from these sites?

Attached are pictures of one such transmitter at Leenaun (on the shore of Killary Harbour) in Co. Galway taken a few months ago.
The mast also hosts a TETRA fill-in, so obviously it is not going to be dismantled. BTW (first picture) the satellite dish (black) is partially visible through a tree on the righthand side of the mast and for transmit a single UHF panel just down from the top (other side of mast from camera).
BTW I could not spot any Saorsat installations on houses nearby.

Mr Cumulonimbus

Some houses in Leenaun may not get Saorsat either. It's in a valley, hills to the south may block the signal.