RTE on Freeview HD tv

veganrun

I have a new Hitachi LCD TV that has a Freeview HD tuner built in and supports DVB-T2 and I live in northern Ireland. For some reason I can't seem to pick up RTE or any Saorview channels. The TV is plugged directly into the aerial and we have a Freeview HD box in another room connected to the same aerial which can pick up RTE.

Any idea why none of the saorview channels are listed on the TV? I just did another network scan and there was no change.

formerly scottish paddy

The Saorview channels if they are there would show up in the 800's of the channel numbers. If they are not there then you may have a problem with your aerial feed. Do you get a strong signal on your other tv?

veganrun

The other TV/box seems to have a good signal and its all coming through the same aerial.

Sheldons Brain

Is the RTÉ you are picking up Saorview or the RTÉ service broadcast from the NI transmitters e.g. are you getting TV3 on the other set?

veganrun

The other TV/box is picking up TV3 as well.

Sheldons Brain

Try manually scanning the channels for Saorview first and then the ones for the NI muxes.
You don't say where you are, but if you are getting the signal from Louth then the channels are 52 and 56.

veganrun

I'm in south Armagh, not too far from the border.

When I try a manual scan it seems to want a frequency specified as well. Do I need to enter that?

The Cush

veganrun wrote: »

I'm in south Armagh, not too far from the border.

When I try a manual scan it seems to want a frequency specified as well. Do I need to enter that?

Find the recommended transmitter for your location together with the UHF channel nos. here - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/coverage-map/

veganrun

Clermont Carn and channels 52 and 56.

Sheldons Brain

veganrun wrote: »

Clermont Carn and channels 52 and 56.

as per http://www.2rn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/SAORVIEW-Frequencies-Rev-2.5.pdf

52 = 722 Mhz
56 = 754 MHZ

then if you are getting things directly from Divis, the main channels are
C27 (522.0MHz)

C21+ (474.2MHz)

C24 (498.0MHz) (HD)

you can also try the minor channels, these may not work if you are south of Slieve Gullion
C26 (514.0MHz)
C23 (490.0MHz

C29 (538.0MHz)

Einkorn

veganrun wrote: »

... I just did another network scan and there was no change.

Network scan? What other scan options are listed?

formerly scottish paddy

Is your tv a smart tv? Network scan sounds like it might be for WiFi?
Normally in the installation menu they have analogue channel scan and DTV (digital) channel scan, or combined. In south Armagh you should be getting Clermont Carn stronger than Divis.

veganrun

Just looking at this again. I haven't tried to figure this out since, but my previous attempts did not work.

The TV in the other room gets RTE, TV3 etc through a Freeview HD recorder box whereas the TV I am using has a Freeview HD tuner built in (no box). Would there be some sort of difference between the tuners in both that would explain why one room is getting RTE etc and the other isn't, even though its on the same aerial?

formerly scottish paddy

The Freeview HD tv should get Saorview ok. Have you checked the channel numbers from 800 up? That's where most tvs would place the Irish channels when the tv is set to UK as install location (you could even try going from BBC1 downwards on the remote). if there is nothing there then the split signal from your aerial may not be strong enough. You could also try bringing the tv into the other room and plugging it directly into the aerial that works.

veganrun

There are no channels in the 800+ range on the TV. The EPG goes as far as 795 which is some test channel and that's it. No sign of RTE etc.

Haven't tried moving the TV.

Digifriendly

Is your signal via the Freeview HD box strong or just on the cliff edge? If it is the latter then maybe it is a tuner problem with the slightly weaker tuner in the Hitachi TV.

veganrun

The aerial in the living room is plugged into a booster box and a cable from that goes into the Freeview+HD box.

In the other room, there's just a long running cable from the attic, there might be a splitter or something up there, not sure. Just wondering if I bought a booster box and plugged the aerial into that, would it help? I mean plug the aerial into the booster box and then the booster box into the TV. Not changing whatever the setup is in the attic.

veganrun

Ok, I tried moving the Hitachi and plugged it into the aerial that was plugged into the Freeview+HD box and did a rescan, it still didn't pick up RTE or TV3. I'm guessing there must be something about the Freeview+ HD box that allows the channels to be picked up. Even on the rescan the channel list doesn't go higher than 795

Thurston?

Can you change the country setting in the Hitachi? (Might need a 'factory reset'.)

Maybe in UK setting, it ignores other countries' networks. (Also was already asked what scan options are available along with 'network search'. Maybe take another look at that.)

veganrun

Hmmm, still no luck. Did a reset and tried choosing Ireland and Other as the country instead of the UK and still nothing.

ardmacha

Country settings would seem the first thing to look at. If there is an amplifier on the aerial, temporarily removing that would mean that only the RTE signal would be there, assuming you are in south Armagh.

formerly scottish paddy

I don't know if this has any bearing on things, but I notice that on the Saorview website there are no Hitachis at all on the approved equipment list.
You would still think that a DVB T2 set would be able to get Saorview in some shape or form?

Sam Russell

It costs a lot to get approval. Clearly they do not think it worthwhile.

formerly scottish paddy

Sam Russell wrote: »

It costs a lot to get approval. Clearly they do not think it worthwhile.

Not that much, and plenty of manufacturers have, even smaller ones than Hitachi!

bjgrunner

Hi, sorry to post on an old thread, but better than a new thread. Did you ever get this sorted? I've a new Samsung TV with freeview HD built in, but the tuner is not picking up RTE! 😔

Thurston?

bjgrunner wrote: »

... I've a new Samsung TV with freeview HD built in, but the tuner is not picking up RTE!

And you have it connected to an aerial capable of receiving Saorview? (Or the Freeview mux with SD RTE & TG4 that's transmitted in NI.)

maringo

I have a tv with satellite tuner. To get the Irish channels I did a separate scan for digital which brought them up. They didn't show up on the main scan. Am in Meath and set my TV to UK not Ireland.

bjgrunner

Thurston? wrote: »

bjgrunner wrote: »

... I've a new Samsung TV with freeview HD built in, but the tuner is not picking up RTE!

And you have it connected to an aerial capable of receiving Saorview? (Or the Freeview mux with SD RTE & TG4 that's transmitted in NI.)

Honestly, I'm not sure, I'm a complete novice at this stuff. I thought the freeview HD was enough. Would a freeview HD aerial work?

Thurston?

bjgrunner wrote: »

Honestly, I'm not sure, I'm a complete novice at this stuff. I thought the freeview HD was enough. Would a freeview HD aerial work?

So you've plugged in some kind of indoor set-top aerial? It will only work if signal conditions allow, but neither the Saorview (ROI) nor Freeview (UK) networks were really planned with indoor reception in mind.

bjgrunner

Thurston? wrote: »

bjgrunner wrote: »

Honestly, I'm not sure, I'm a complete novice at this stuff. I thought the freeview HD was enough. Would a freeview HD aerial work?

So you've plugged in some kind of indoor set-top aerial? It will only work if signal conditions allow, but neither the Saorview (ROI) nor Freeview (UK) networks were really planned with indoor reception in mind.

Sorry no it's a rooftop aerial I have. Should that work with the TV freeview?

Thurston?

It has to be the right kind of aerial. In some parts of the country it might be a VHF or MMDS aerial you have up there, where it's a UHF TV aerial you want.

What part of the country are you in anyway? I assume you're not receiving any TV channels?

decky1

veganrun wrote: »

I have a new Hitachi LCD TV that has a Freeview HD tuner built in and supports DVB-T2 and I live in northern Ireland. For some reason I can't seem to pick up RTE or any Saorview channels. The TV is plugged directly into the aerial and we have a Freeview HD box in another room connected to the same aerial which can pick up RTE.

Any idea why none of the saorview channels are listed on the TV? I just did another network scan and there was no change.

don't fret about it there's nothing on it anyway. repeats, repeats, all the time.

bjgrunner

Thurston? wrote: »

It has to be the right kind of aerial. In some parts of the country it might be a VHF or MMDS aerial you have up there, where it's a UHF TV aerial you want.

What part of the country are you in anyway? I assume you're not receiving any TV channels?

It's Belfast, and we are getting all the freeview channels, including HD ones, but not RTE

Thurston?

bjgrunner wrote: »

It's Belfast, and we are getting all the freeview channels, including HD ones, but not RTE

Right then, if your aerial setup is for local reception only, I'd have thought you'd have RTE1 & 2 at nos. 52 & 53 in your programme guide. If there's a dedicated aerial for ROI reception (pointed Dundalk direction), they would probably appear in the 800 nos.

Having a 'southern' aerial connected would more than likely prevent local reception of RTE, due to the combiner used blocking the relevant frequency.

STB.

bjgrunner wrote: »

It's Belfast, and we are getting all the freeview channels, including HD ones, but not RTE

Anything in the 801's ?

bjgrunner

STB. wrote: »

bjgrunner wrote: »

It's Belfast, and we are getting all the freeview channels, including HD ones, but not RTE

Anything in the 801's ?

Unfortunately not, hard to diagnose when you haven't a clue about it in the first place :- (

STB.

bjgrunner wrote: »

Unfortunately not, hard to diagnose when you haven't a clue about it in the first place :- (

Is your aerial pointing towards Divis ?

The RTE channels broadcast from Black Mountain C39 (51-53 LCN's).

My guess is that you have a Group A aerial which is why you dont receive that Freview Light minimux

Thurston?

STB. wrote: »

... My guess is that you have a Group A aerial which is why you dont receive that Freview Light minimux

A group A aerial will work fine for the NI mux, certainly one of the later up-to-ch.37 types.

As I mentioned already, if anything is blocking ch. 39 reception (apart from terrain), it would be a diplexer used for connecting an aerial for Clermont Carn.

The NI mux is also on ch. 48 from Carnmoney Hill.

OP, a pic. of what's on your roof would be helpful, I suppose, as at least then it should be obvious if you're set up for reception from the south.

STB.

Thurston? wrote: »

A group A aerial will work fine for the NI mux, certainly one of the later up-to-ch.37 types.

As I mentioned already, if anything is blocking ch. 39 reception (apart from terrain), it would be a diplexer used for connecting an aerial for Clermont Carn.

Anything thats going to drop dramatically will be above 37 even assuming its not an extended Group A. If the aerial was installed before 95 its likely that the drop would be even more dramatic.

If his signal is borderline anyway, it'll drop like a stone. The majority of the Black Mountain Muxes are in old group A territory. Red Tip.

THe info screen on the Freeview TV's give the Channel Frequency in any info page ? That will tell you what tx he is pointing at.

bjgrunner

STB. wrote: »

Thurston? wrote: »

A group A aerial will work fine for the NI mux, certainly one of the later up-to-ch.37 types.

As I mentioned already, if anything is blocking ch. 39 reception (apart from terrain), it would be a diplexer used for connecting an aerial for Clermont Carn.

Anything thats going to drop dramatically will be above 37 even assuming its not an extended Group A. If the aerial was installed before 95 its likely that the drop would be even more dramatic.

If his signal is borderline anyway, it'll drop like a stone. The majority of the Black Mountain Mux is old group A territory. Red Tip.

I'll get a photo up tomorrow guys, of what it looks like

Thurston?

STB. wrote: »

Anything thats going to drop dramatically will be above 37 even assuming its not an extended Group A. If the aerial was installed before 95 its likely that the drop would be even more dramatic.

If his signal is borderline anyway, it'll drop like a stone. The majority of the Black Mountain Muxes are in old group A territory.

I'd be pretty sure it's not the aerial grouping that's stopping reception of ch. 39.

And Black Mtn. is actually a group B (vertical) transmitter, for the other Freeview muxes. Divis is group A.

bjgrunner wrote: »

I'll get a photo up tomorrow guys, of what it looks like

Yeah, if there's an aerial for reception from ROI, problem could be something like a missing amplifier power supply, & hopefully replacing it would restore reception.

STB.

Thurston? wrote: »

I'd be pretty sure it's not the aerial grouping that's stopping reception of ch. 39.

And Black Mtn. is actually a group B (vertical) transmitter, for the other Freeview muxes. Divis is group A.

True and always was.

I'd asked the question earlier though. Any chance that aerial is pointing at Divis and not Black Mountain. And any chance its a Group A.

The frequency of the stations that he is getting will give it away. The picture of the aerial may also, but he has a low post count, so he wont be able to upload it as an attachment here.

kazoo106

Those diplexers (that are supposed to go pass 21-39) are muck - I unfortunately had to put one in line as Clermont Carn shoots over the top of me and the A antenna was just not doing it recently. In doing so, have lost 34 and 39 from Belfast completely. Thankfully, I have everything from Divis and CC over IP from a receiver high up in Dundalk so it don't really matter anymore.

bjgrunner

Below are links for images of the aerial, and the splitter used. The house was originally 1 house, and split into 2 semis, so the same aerial is used for both houses, with a splitter. The big aerial I think is for RTE (?) - it is pointing AWAY from Divis. I'm not sure what the smaller aerial is in the photo.
AERIAL: https://ufile.io/v2s0p
SPLITTER: https://ufile.io/85juv

Thanks for all your help so far!

Thurston?

The bottom aerial just looks like a smaller version of the top one i.e. a UHF 'contract' type.

One of those red boxes I would think is a masthead amplifier for the top aerial, remotely powered from an indoor PSU. The manual for that SLX 'Gold' distribution amplifier makes no mention of line-powering, so the PSU must be upstream of the UHF input, or is missing. Without the masthead amp. powered, there would be no reception from the top aerial.

Also the red 'short circuit' light appears to be on? What effect this would have on the overall operation of the amp, I'm not sure, but whatever output has the short circuit wouldn't exactly be performing.

Just to add to the above, the manuals for a couple of their other amps say the whole thing just shuts down when a short is detected, so if that's the case (& the light definitely is lit), your Divis signals are just being picked up on the cable from amp to TV.