Could 4G be the culprit?

egal

Am getting Saorview channels from Longford using high-gain aerial and high-gain masthead amplifier. Over the last few weeks signal quality, especially on Channel 44, has reduced to practically zero with the result that RTE1 and the other channels on that mux are unwatchable; Channel 47 is affected too, though not (so far) to so great an extent as Channel 44. This seems to coincide with reports in the local papers of new 4G mobile telephone services coming into operation. Could they be responsible? If so, is there a fix?

winston_1

egal wrote: »

Am getting Saorview channels from Longford using high-gain aerial and high-gain masthead amplifier. Over the last few weeks signal quality, especially on Channel 44, has reduced to practically zero with the result that RTE1 and the other channels on that mux are unwatchable; Channel 47 is affected too, though not (so far) to so great an extent as Channel 44. This seems to coincide with reports in the local papers of new 4G mobile telephone services coming into operation. Could they be responsible? If so, is there a fix?

Unlikely, but if it is the fix is a 4G filter between the aerial and amplifier.

egal

winston_1 wrote: »

Unlikely, but if it is the fix is a 4G filter between the aerial and amplifier.

Thanks for taking the trouble to reply. Why do you think 4G unlikely? What do you think the cause is likely to be?

winston_1

4G is used on a number of frequencies, one of which is the discontinued TV channels above ch60. These frequencies are too far from ch44 or 47 to cause a problem with your TV. It is possible for them to overload your amplifier and cause problems. A solution would be a filter between the aerial and amplifier if, and it is a big if, that is the problem..only an expert with local knowledge and measuring equipment would be able to confirm or otherwise that is the problem.

The Cush

egal wrote: »

This seems to coincide with reports in the local papers of new 4G mobile telephone services coming into operation. Could they be responsible? If so, is there a fix?

I agree with Winston's comments above and a filter between the aerial and amp would be the quickest way to test.

If there are any new 4g masts nearby then your masthead amp could be causing a problem, is the hi-gain masthead amp required now for Cairn Hill DTT? I removed mine once analogue was switched off at Mullaghanish which is about 60 miles away.

What group hi-gain aerial are you using now?

Thurston?

egal wrote: »

Am getting Saorview channels from Longford using high-gain aerial and high-gain masthead amplifier.

You're in Omagh IIRC? The Cairn Hill aerial won't be too far off the line of Brougher too, & a high-gain group B would also have a fair bit of gain at group A freqs., I would think.

So if the amplifier is a wideband type, Brougher is probably as likely to be a source of overload as anywhere else, so I'd hazard a guess your reception problems go back more than a few weeks?

egal

So, 4G not the culprit, then. Thanks for all the replies. Maybe Summertime foliage (though no problem last Summer) or new builds or new wind turbines or.... I wonder which of the alternatives to Longford would work best, if at all.

Thurston?

Nobody is saying it isn't 4G. Perfectly possible it's causing you problems, but there's no way of confirming or ruling it out at this remove.

Best we could do is probably look at site locations & frequency allocations & just speculate a bit more.

A filter before the amplifier was already mentioned, & this is probably the handiest DIY diagnosis available: a 'suck it & see' kind of job, although as it involves climbing up to the aerial, you might prefer just to get someone in &, it might as well be someone who can do a proper investigation while they're there.

egal

Thurston? wrote: »

Nobody is saying it isn't 4G. Perfectly possible it's causing you problems, but there's no way of confirming or ruling it out at this remove.

Best we could do is probably look at site locations & frequency allocations & just speculate a bit more.

A filter before the amplifier was already mentioned, & this is probably the handiest DIY diagnosis available: a 'suck it & see' kind of job, although as it involves climbing up to the aerial, you might prefer just to get someone in &, it might as well be someone who can do a proper investigation while they're there.

I've recently noticed that sometimes my Sony 6-year-old TV pulls in the BBCs (with perfect picture) on channel 45 rather than on channel 28. These must be from Strabane and since Strabane is to my North and my aerials are pointing South they must be coming in via the masthead amplifier. And since the pictures are perfect this leads me to agree with you that the amplifier is not being adversely affected by 4G and the problem lies elsewhere - extra leaves on trees or whatever. My thinking is correct?

Thurston?

egal wrote: »

I've recently noticed that sometimes my Sony 6-year-old TV pulls in the BBCs (with perfect picture) on channel 45 rather than on channel 28. These must be from Strabane and since Strabane is to my North and my aerials are pointing South they must be coming in via the masthead amplifier. And since the pictures are perfect this leads me to agree with you that the amplifier is not being adversely affected by 4G and the problem lies elsewhere

I didn't say there was no 4G problem, I just suggested a possible alternative.

Anyhow, to counter your reasoning, the signal from Strabane is possibly still better than Cairn Hill, even coming more or less from behind the aerial, & might be better able to withstand any interference the amplifier would produce in an overloaded state. But this is just more speculation.

egal

OK. Thanks.

egal

Aerial man here today. Now getting acceptable reception from Clermont Carn. No filter. Thanks to all for interest and input.

Thurston?

egal wrote: »

Aerial man here today. Now getting acceptable reception from Clermont Carn. No filter.

So he thought it worthwhile switching transmitters anyway. (Discussed in OP's other thread.)

Does 'acceptable' mean there's still a bit of glitching &, did he make any comment about 4G?

STB.

egal wrote: »

Aerial man here today. Now getting acceptable reception from Clermont Carn. No filter. Thanks to all for interest and input.

Where were you getting your Saorview reception from before ?

I would have though that Clermont Carn being so just under the frequency (Ch 56) band used for 4G (60+) would be most prone to TVI with those who don't have an inline filter.

Your aerial was obviously pointing at a weak mast to begin with.

egal

[QUOTE

Does 'acceptable' mean there's still a bit of glitching &, did he make any comment about 4G?[/QUOTE]
No, no pixelation or picture break up. 4G not a problem apparently. Better signal from Clermont than from Longford presumably. Thanks again for all the help.