Original RTE VHF transmitter planning model

D8 boy

I am sure that I read that in the 1950s, technical staff planning the introduction of VHF radio and television built a 3 dimensional map of Ireland to model the range of different possible transmission sites. A lightbulb would be placed on a possible location and the amount of land it illuminated compared with others to determine the optimal network.

Did I dream this up entirely or does anyone have a reference to this?

Lord Glentoran

D8 boy wrote: »

I am sure that I read that in the 1950s, technical staff planning the introduction of VHF radio and television built a 3 dimensional map of Ireland to model the range of different possible transmission sites. A lightbulb would be placed on a possible location and the amount of land it illuminated compared with others to determine the optimal network.

Did I dream this up entirely or does anyone have a reference to this?

It was on the late lamented Irish-tv.com website.

ka2

Lord Glentoran wrote: »

It was on the late lamented Irish-tv.com website.

You're right. https://web.archive.org/web/20030217173212/http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/rlogue/hist50s.htm

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Around about this time, Radio Eireann were considering the introduction of FM broadcasting. In order to get an idea as to how many transmitters would be needed to cover the country, a relief map of Ireland was produced and light bulbs were placed on potentially suitable 'mountain tops'. Using this Heath Robinsonian method, the five main sites that would later serve as television transmission sites were identified. Ironically, Radio Eireann would not start FM broadcasting until 1966, a good five years after television had started from the same transmitter sites.[/SIZE][/FONT]

Glaceon

There's another reference to this here from the Irish Times.

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/rte-says-hello-to-the-big-four-o-1.343906

Glaceon

From the horse's mouth, about 23 minutes in:

https://www.rte.ie/archives/2012/1022/342672-building-a-national-television-network/

D8 boy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118442068#Comment_118442068

Thanks Glaceon! I had actually seen that video before on the RTE Archive but evidently didn't watch it until the end!