Digital signal from Mt Leinster

Why is it so weak ?

I can barely get rte indoors now, the signal was stronger during the digital trial.

I can't get DAB at all, just barely but I can't listen to it.

I have a strong signal on all the main stations on analogue radio and I never had problems with tv either.

I used an indoor aerial and I shouldn't have to install an out door aerial if it worked before, it's unacceptable. I pay my license every year.

Peter Rhea

Yeah, talk about hardship . . . How long ago is it since the indoor tv aerial 'worked'?

Peter Rhea

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Yeah, talk about hardship . . . How long ago is it since the indoor tv aerial 'worked'?

Since the switch to digital.

When I say the digital trial worked better, I had to go out and buy a high DB booster. The highest I could get.

I really think it's unfair. The analogue radio works perfectly. I'm listening to it now in the sitting room with the aerial hardly up and digital doesn't work what so ever.

If they switched the radio to digital I'd have no radio, apart from the internet but I don't always want the computer on to listen to the radio or the mobile on as it kills the battery.

Gerry Wicklow

Deleted User wrote: »

Since the switch to digital.

When I say the digital trial worked better, I had to go out and buy a high DB booster. The highest I could get.

I really think it's unfair. The analogue radio works perfectly. I'm listening to it now in the sitting room with the aerial hardly up and digital doesn't work what so ever.

If they switched the radio to digital I'd have no radio, apart from the internet but I don't always want the computer on to listen to the radio or the mobile on as it kills the battery.

Which implies your aerial system was never up to the job in the first case. Saorview is designed for an outdoor aerial. Indoor aerials will nearly always give trouble.

The Cush

Deleted User wrote: »

I used an indoor aerial and I shouldn't have to install an out door aerial if it worked before, it's unacceptable. I pay my license every year.

The network has been designed for adequate reception at 98% of households with a suitable aerial at 33 ft (10m) above ground or higher if there are local obstructions.

This is what Saorview say about indoor aerials

Can I Use An Indoor Portable Aerial, Rabbits Ears?

RTÉNL does not recommend the use of indoor portable aerials. They are too susceptible to localised physical and electrical interference. Terrestrial transmission of television, analogue and digital, is designed and built around rooftop reception.

It will be possible for over 50% of the population to receive SAORVIEW with an indoor portable aerial. However on a house to house basis there are many factors than impact on the effectiveness of a portable aerial. For example the orientation of your house, the location of the television in the house, the construction materials, the insulation materials, the proximity to neighbouring houses, walls and obstructions will all impact reception.

An outdoor aerial, positioned as high as possible, pointing towards the appropriate transmission site, with no local obstructions is recommended and will give the best results.

It worked perfectly on analogue without booster indoors.

There are many portable radios which shouldn't need a roof top aerial to receive a national broadcaster.

Point is it worked before and it should work now. It's ridiculous to say I have to get a roof top aerial for a portable battery radio that works perfectly on analogue.

The Cush

The Cush wrote: »

Mt Leinster changed frequency after analogue switchoff last year. Before switchoff it transmitted at a higher frequency maybe more suited to the indoor aerial.

In any case the network has been designed for adequate reception at 98% of households with a suitable aerial at 33 ft (10m) above ground or higher if there are local obstructions.

This is what Saorview say about indoor aerials

They can say what they want and change the conditions to suit themselves the fact is it worked on analogue.

Only there are so many on UPC or Sky, I bet there would be much more people complaining.

I think if I can't get DAB on a portable radio says it all.

I heard on the forum a while back that they turned the power down on Mt Leinster because it was effecting Wales.

Peter Rhea

Did you have 'perfect' reception of all 4 analogue tv channels with an indoor aerial?

Also, I don't think DAB is transmitted from Mt. Leinster. Are you sure your Saorview is even coming from there? (Channel 23 or 490 mHz.)

Peter Rhea

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Did you have 'perfect' reception of all 4 analogue tv channels with an indoor aerial?

Also, I don't think DAB is transmitted from Mt. Leinster. Are you sure your Saorview is even coming from there? (Channel 23 or 490 mHz.)

Yeah My Saorvies comes from Mount leinster on CH 23.

I never had perfect reception but it was good, it worked, It was a whole lot better than digital. Digital works but it's dodgy and with a 60 odd DB booster.

Regarding DAB, if I go upstairs and point the aerial at the direction of Mount Leinster it finds a signal and tunes but listening to it is impossible, it breaks up all the time.

The Cush

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Also, I don't think DAB is transmitted from Mt. Leinster.

That's correct Kippure (Wicklow), Three Rock (Dublin) and Clermont Carn (Louth) in that area - DAB coverage map here http://www.rte.ie/digitalradio/faq_map.html

The Cush

Deleted User wrote: »

I never had perfect reception but it was good, it worked, It was a whole lot better than digital. Digital works but it's dodgy and with a 60 odd DB booster.

That's the problem with Digital vs. Analogue, analogue picture quality decreases gradually but once the digital signal reaches a certain point it breaks up into blocks or the picture disappears completely - the so called "Digital Cliff".

An outdoor aerial or maybe one located in the attic should pull in a better signal.

2008 ? that's a bit out dated !

Peter Rhea

Deleted User wrote: »

I never had perfect reception but it was good, it worked

Was it actually a bit ropey, particularly on TV3 & TG4, without working teletext?

Deleted User wrote: »

2008 ? that's a bit out dated !

There's no mention of Mt. L. DAB on the Comreg technical parameters dated 15/05/2013.

The Cush

Deleted User wrote: »

2008 ? that's a bit out dated !

That would be the most up to date, approx. 50-55% population coverage. No further investment into or development of DAB radio until there is a national policy and the commercial broadcasters commit to digital radio

Irish Times article posted here from 3 years ago on the situation then, nothing has changed since - http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=68784944&postcount=23

Peter Rhea

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Was it actually a bit ropey, particularly on TV3 & TG4, without working teletext?


There's no mention of Mt. L. DAB on the Comreg technical parameters dated 15/05/2013.

Indeed I can't find any info about Mt Leinster, so I must have been picking a weak signal from Kippure ?

No the analogue was fine perfectly watchable with teletext.

I can't believe DAB isn't transmitted from Mt Leinster.

Regarding the TV, if they streamed live tv from the internet and it could be got on a Samsung TV or Apple tv I wouldn't mind at all. At a decent high bitrate.

The Cush

Deleted User wrote: »

I can't believe DAB isn't transmitted from Mt Leinster.

RTÉ didn't have the cash to roll out further DAB transmitters at the time due to its commitment to DTT transmitter upgrades.

If I remember correctly Kippure, Cork and Limerick were upgraded from spare equipment they already had from the Clermont Carn and Three Rock upgrades.

bernardo mac

Am in Mt Leinster region.No RTE radio or tv from Saorview box now.UK Freeview fine radio/tv.Just paid my tv licence !

bernardo mac

bernardo mac wrote: »

Am in Mt Leinster region.No RTE radio or tv from Saorview box now.UK Freeview fine radio/tv.Just paid my tv licence !

Recently or since the switch over ?

Peter Rhea

bernardo mac wrote: »

Am in Mt Leinster region.No RTE radio or tv from Saorview box now.UK Freeview fine radio/tv.Just paid my tv licence !

Two years in a row? What are the chances?!

Seriously though, current atmospheric conditions could indeed be causing problems in the south & east of the country. Mt. Leinster should be pretty much unassailable though, unless maybe signals from Belfast are getting all the way down there.

bernardo mac

First time down tonight.Has been working fine since switchover.Occasionally UK signals affected during high pressure.Tonight even RTE Player online has picture,no sound.As I type BBC ....and returns.Thanks anyway...one is not missing much

Peter Rhea

Well, I would say this thread is pretty pointless, dealing with non-existant 'issues' but 'Mt. Leinster' is in the title so, you should at least confirm that is where your Saorview signal is coming from, rather than the lower power sites in its area.

Why is the thread pointless ?

RTE obviously haven't the same signal strength as they did at the digital trial. And the signal is obviously weaker than the Analogue.

The saving grace for me has been aertv.ie live streaming, I can't understand why RTE don't have live streaming, their player is crap.

I would say there are many people effected by the issue as most people that have signal problems like that just get sky or upc.

Peter Rhea

Deleted User wrote: »

. . . RTE obviously haven't the same signal strength as they did at the digital trial. And the signal is obviously weaker than the Analogue..

I would say there are many people effected by the issue as most people that have signal problems like that just get sky or upc.

All you know is that there isn't the same signal strength where your own indoor aerial happens to be located. Did you even try moving it around a bit? A lot of work has taken place at Mt. Leinster, since the 'trial', including the erection of a new mast: maybe your signal 'sweet spot' just moved to a different part of the room.

Or maybe you could just get an outdoor aerial. A modest installation should do the job for you.

Are you suggesting that people would prefer to pay for Sky & UPC, rather than pay for a basic aerial installation?

The Cush

Deleted User wrote: »

RTE obviously haven't the same signal strength as they did at the digital trial. And the signal is obviously weaker than the Analogue.

As a general rule of thumb DTT transmission are one fifth the power of analogue transmission for the same coverage. Mt Leinster DTT transmits at one third of it analogue power.

DTT reception is less forgiving with instant loss of service whereas analogue gradually deteriorates with a low quality signal, just the nature of the technology. A better aerial installation would overcome this.

bernardo mac

Phoned,emailed RTENl no Info yet.Non existent Signal mostly this morning.Am 20 miles approx as a crow might fly W.n.w.Poss.Aerial might require slight adjustment but was told by tv engineer that it is fine as it is.This has proved to be so in the main.Have no Intention of paying Sky or Upc.

Peter Rhea

bernardo mac wrote: »

Am 20 miles approx as a crow might fly W.n.w.

20 miles WNW of Mt. Leinster? What does the coverage checker have to say about your location?

And you have UK reception from an aerial at that location? Must be pretty high up.

bernardo mac

Sorry Peter R for poor phrasing.[will blame phone!]Should have stated that Mt.Leinster is...20+miles W...Actually coverage checker says Mt L.is 35km and 259 W.thanks for reminding about checker.Neighbours have similar problems with signal so we will look into matter re.positioning of aerials which seem uniformly close to correct.Regards BM

Peter Rhea

You would have noticed the Gorey transmitter on the map? It's low powered & directional towards the town so, if you're on the east side of it you wouldn't get much signal from it. In the right place you could probably get UK & Saorview on a single aerial, although an aerial pointing at Preseli could be at risk of bringing in Huntshaw Cross (Devon) at times, & this has a mux. co-channel with Gorey.

How long ago was your aerial installed?

I don't know how long the Gorey transmitter has been there but it had analogue RTE & TG4 afaia. I suppose it's possible it could have been used to pick up these channels & save having to use a VHF aerial for RTE. Maybe have a separate aerial for TV3 from Mt. L.

Trick of the Tail

There is no DAB from Mt Leinster - but the Total Broadcast independent DAB mux is on air from a site in a similar (but not the same) direction.

If you're in N co. Wexford OP, you're on the fringes of that DAB transmitter's range.

bernardo mac

Much obliged for Info.Peter and folks,am learning .....Signals back to good health with pressure change.Not certain Re.Aerial Installation.but got a health Check about 7+ years ago.Slainte,alls well for present.

marclt

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeah My Saorvies comes from Mount leinster on CH 23.

I never had perfect reception but it was good, it worked, It was a whole lot better than digital. Digital works but it's dodgy and with a 60 odd DB booster.

Have you tried turning down the gain on the booster, you could be overloading the signal or 'boosting' noise which is knocking out the signal. Either way, it is worth moving the aerial, adding some additional cable and exploring other options with what you've got.

marclt

marclt wrote: »

Have you tried turning down the gain on the booster, you could be overloading the signal or 'boosting' noise which is knocking out the signal. Either way, it is worth moving the aerial, adding some additional cable and exploring other options with what you've got.

It's not adjustable, however it looks like at this stage I have to install an outdoor aerial.