Combining Three Rock (Saorview) & Divis (Freeview) - possible?

KeRbDoG

Per the title, what would I need to combine a signal from antennas picking up Three Rock (Saorview) & Divis (Freeview).

Ignoring distance/signal issues, do I need a UHF/UHF diplexer for combining them or a simple combiner which will allow power pass for whatever masthead amp might be needed?
From checking the freq used, 30+33 is used on Divis - can you get a UHF/UHF diplexer to shift the freq coming in from Divis maybe?

Suggestions/thoughts welcome

Thurston?

Would I be right in thinking you're a lot closer to 3 Rock than Divis?

Assuming that, & depending what your 3 Rock reception is like, you'd probably get enough signal on the aerial pointing at Divis, & just hope it didn't overload the amplifier you'd more than likely be using for Divis.

You won't get channel 30 or 33, unless you go & retune the 3 Rock transmitters ...

Anyway, channel 30 is just the Belfast local TV mux, & coverage is very limited.

Thurston?

And of course, depending on your location, Kippure or Clermont Carn might be usable, though they'll be changing channels within the next few years, with Kippure probably ending up in the same frequency range as 3R & Divis, CC somewhere in the 40s, so would be the longer term option if available.

The Cush

Current provisional frequency plan from 2019 for those site with existing plan in brackets. We don't know which of the frequencies will be used for the Saorview muxes yet.

Kippure 22, 25, 28, 32, 34, 35, 48 (54, 58)
Clermont Carn 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 48 (52, 56)
Three Rock 23, 26, 30, 33, 36, 48 (30, 33)

Divis 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30 (21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29)

KeRbDoG

Lets say there isn't a freq crossover, how would you combine the signals?

The Cush

KeRbDoG wrote: »

Lets say there isn't a freq crossover, how would you combine the signals?

Maybe something like this - http://www.triax.com/FindProduct/ProductDetails.aspx?product=%7B67BDB8C2-A90A-448F-AE66-9DF8149017B6%7D

Thurston?

KeRbDoG wrote: »

Lets say there isn't a freq crossover, how would you combine the signals?

A UHF/UHF diplexer, with unwanted frequencies in each input being attenuated, to try & minimise the effect of the aerials behaving as a single large aerial with who-knows-what radiation pattern.

These seem to be getting harder to come by, as are the group A aerials that would be useful for Divis reception.

More complex/expensive filtering can also be implemented.

Do you actually have a usable signal from Divis? Since you want to combine it with 3R, I'd doubt you're in the best of reception areas. I think I'd see how that works out before I'd worry too much about combiners.

Sam Russell

I think you might be better looking at Kippure rather than 3R but that would be short term. You would have a hi-gain band A looking at Divis with a good f/b ratio, and use something like a log periodic looking at Kippure and use a diplexer like this.

A satellite might be a more reliable option.

coylemj

All over the southside of Dublin at elevated spots there are houses with one large yagi aerial pointing north with vertical alignment and none of them has an aerial pointing south to 3R or Kippure. As Divis is horizontal, I assume they are picking up Freeview from Kilkeel.

exaisle

I'd be inclined to wonder why you wouldn't use a satellite dish for UK freesat and an antenna for the irish channels? You'll get more channels (whether you want them or not)...

There are lots of combi boxes available to combine the signals...

The Cush

exaisle wrote: »

I'd be inclined to wonder why you wouldn't use a satellite dish for UK freesat and an antenna for the irish channels?

I assume the convenience of relaying both terrestrial services using a single cable to various TVs around the house without the requirement for an additional box or cabling, an option I'd like.

byte

The Cush wrote: »

I assume the convenience of relaying both terrestrial services using a single cable to various TVs around the house without the requirement for an additional box or cabling, an option I'd like.

Yup, which would also be handy for a PVR. Also, if receiving a full-Freeview Tx, then you'd have some channels not on Freesat too like Dave, etc.

Thurston?

Yeah, I think it's source-switching this particular OP wants to minimise, as they had another thread re. integrating RTE & TG4 into the satellite end, via Saorsat.

They already have a multi-sat., multiswitch setup installed.