Saorview reception in kerry + aerialm

sydthebeat

Hello all, Hope my query makes sense.
We're heading down to glenbeigh, co kerry, for a couple of weeks and bringing a Saorview ready tv with us.
Does anyone know what the saorview reception is like around glenbeigh? We will be staying in a house on the side of a hill so really only north west available for reception. ..all south areas is covered with mountain.

Also, what kind of aerial would i need? Can anyone suggest where and how much such an aerial would be. I don't mind spending a little more to be guaranteed reception and ill also have the use of it when we come home.

Thanks for any help you can Give.

coylemj

Can't give a definitive answer as to what the signal is like but if you're on the side of a hill with a view to the NW you may be able to pick up the 500W signal from Dingle. The transmitter is on a hill to the left of Dingle town as you look across the bay from Glenbeigh. It's at a compass (true) bearing of 286 which is WNW.

Are you sure the house has no aerial installed? I was in Ballinskelligs recently and practically every house had a small UHF aerial on the chimney stack.

The Cush

Have a look at the Saorview coverage checker for the location in Glenbeigh - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

coylemj

The Cush wrote: »

Have a look at the Saorview coverage checker for the location in Glenbeigh - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

The Saorview checker takes no account of the fact that the OP only has a clear view to the NW. I tried it earlier and it say that the best signal in Glenbeigh come from the Knockmoyle transmitter which is to the NE.

The Cush

coylemj wrote: »

The Saorview checker takes no account of the fact that the OP only has a clear view to the NW.

With the coverage checker the OP will see what options are available at their location. Maamclassach also comes up at certain locations around Glenbeigh.

coylemj

The Cush wrote: »

With the coverage checker the OP will see what options are available at their location. Maamclassach also comes up at certain locations around Glenbeigh.

The coverage checker is pretty terrible to use, even finding it on the Saorview website is a challenge. I typed in 'Glenbeigh' in the search box so it found the village no problem but then I see a black line running to Knockmoyle and no matter how often I click on other spots in the area, it doesn't seem to want to offer any other options in terms of a location.

Please don't take this personally, just saying. If you can enlighten me as to how to check the coverage for a specific point on the map I'd be grateful.

Edit: Just figured it out, you drag the map pointer. Looks like there's a lot of black spots inland of the N70 (Ring of Kerry) with no coverage in the Glenbeigh area, especially south of the village.

The Cush

coylemj wrote: »

Please don't take this personally, just saying.

Not at all. I'm just saying give the OP the tools to do his own research and come back with any questions he may have.

marno21

In the analogue days, Glenbeigh area had 3 relays: Glenbeigh, Glencar and Mountainstage. Neither were upgraded so it's a matter of trying the strongest nearby site. A vertical wideband should do the job because it's a case of Knockmoyle, Dingle or Maamclassach.

Knockmoyle transmits 0 signal directly west due to the rest of the Slieve Mish mountains so it's a case of Knockmoyle as long as you have a view in that direction and you're not west of a certain point (it can't be seen on the coverage checker cos it's a mix of all sites)

I miss the days it was a case of trying to find the best site and not "look at the coverage checker."

sydthebeat

thanks very much everyone.
i think maamclassach and dingle is our best bet... we're pretty much blocked back to the other ones.

there is an aerial on the roof of the house we're going to but ive no idea if its uhf or vhf... ill try it first anyway...

after that, if i go buy one, whats the best option? should i go for an outdoor one and put it in the attic, or are those indoor ones worth while at all? i know thats an open ended question

The Cush

sydthebeat wrote: »

there is an aerial on the roof of the house we're going to but ive no idea if its uhf or vhf... ill try it first anyway...

after that, if i go buy one, whats the best option? should i go for an outdoor one and put it in the attic, or are those indoor ones worth while at all? i know thats an open ended question

These are UHF types - http://www.tvtrade.ie/tv-and-radio-aerials/uhf-aerials.html (VHF)

The aerial on the roof, if UHF, may need to be realigned if it was originally pointing at an analogue transmitter not now used for Saorview. Test it before you buy anything.

Difficult to advise about attic or indoor aerial, depends on what signal strength/quality is like where you locate the aerial.

Gerry Wicklow

Indoor aerials are generally only useful if you live within spitting distance of the mast or have a clear view of it. For the same kind of money you'd spend on a fancy indoor aerial you can get an outdoor aerial and mount it in the attic. At the end of the day a properly installed roof aerial will always be the best option.

coylemj

sydthebeat wrote: »

there is an aerial on the roof of the house we're going to but ive no idea if its uhf or vhf... ill try it first anyway...

Before Saorview, do you have any idea if people were able to receive TV3 or TG4 from that aerial? If they could, it's a UHF aerial and there's a good chance it will work with Saorview.

I see from an old TV listing that there used to be a transponder in Glencar which is not far away but if you are only able to see to the NW I suspect the aerial must be pointing towards Dingle.