RTE on Freeview! - Freeview

Ronan OF · 01-11-2009, 09:42

Hi all.

I did a rescan of my box last night and picked up the following stations:

RTENL: RTE One
RTENL: RTE Two
RTENL: TV Three
RTENL: TG4

Now, I've rescanned 3 boxes in my area (north west northern ireland) with the following results:

Box 1: View the channels in the channel list with black screen and sound (I think it was the correct sound).
Box 2: Channels appears on the rescan list - but you can not view them (ie 802 was meant to be RTE Two but it didn't work)
Box 3: Rescanned and didn't pick up any of the RTE family of channels!

Does anyone know anything about this?

Tony Richards · 01-11-2009, 09:46

You won't be able to view them with a UK receiver as they use MPEG4.

Ronan OF · 01-11-2009, 09:48

So how come the box is registering them?

StoppingService · 01-11-2009, 10:07

Hi

Because Eire is using the same transmission format as the UK for the "outer layer" of the signal, i.e. DVB-T. Therefore the mux shell/header/NIT can be read by UK Freeview equipment. Within that, the actual picture/sound stream is MPEG4 (not the UK's MPEG2) which UK Freeview equipment is not required to be able to read (though Sony TVs can AFAIK).

So you get the NIT data providing the station names but not viewable reception.

Regards

ProDave · 01-11-2009, 10:43

Get yourself one of the "Sky Picnic" boxes that are on sale, they will handle MPEG4 and decode them for you.

David (2) · 01-11-2009, 12:50

Sony LCD's have MPEG4/DVB-T.
they should pick and decode the signal, as long as the channels are free to air and not subscription.

krooney · 01-11-2009, 15:27

Any chance of picking the Dublin channels up in South East Northern Ireland off the Divis Transmitter. If they came through as epg,sound etc then I could go out and purchase a Picnic Box in Currys.

RickyB · 01-11-2009, 18:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by krooney

Any chance of picking the Dublin channels up in South East Northern Ireland off the Divis Transmitter. If they came through as epg,sound etc then I could go out and purchase a Picnic Box in Currys.

No chance. No Northern Ireland transmitters broadcast RTE channels on Freeview. Any reception of channels or headers in NI is due to reception of transmitted over the border.

krooney · 01-11-2009, 22:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyB

No chance. No Northern Ireland transmitters broadcast RTE channels on Freeview. Any reception of channels or headers in NI is due to reception of transmitted over the border.

I look to Divis for anything else. I had a late night and got somewhat tangled up in that post. I meant overspill from the ROI transmitters. I am tech-savvy albeit that previous post would have had u wondering otherwise!!

mrdtv · 02-11-2009, 09:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ronan OF

Hi all.

I did a rescan of my box last night and picked up the following stations:

RTENL: RTE One
RTENL: RTE Two
RTENL: TV Three
RTENL: TG4

Now, I've rescanned 3 boxes in my area (north west northern ireland) with the following results:

Box 1: View the channels in the channel list with black screen and sound (I think it was the correct sound).
Box 2: Channels appears on the rescan list - but you can not view them (ie 802 was meant to be RTE Two but it didn't work)
Box 3: Rescanned and didn't pick up any of the RTE family of channels!

Does anyone know anything about this?

These RTE stations are being transmitted from Holywell Hill in MPEG4. Get a Sagem Picnic box from Currys or PC World for £19.99 and you watch them as well as Freeview which is MPEG2.

Digifriendly · 02-11-2009, 18:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickyB

No chance. No Northern Ireland transmitters broadcast RTE channels on Freeview. Any reception of channels or headers in NI is due to reception of transmitted over the border.

Some talk that at DSO Divis will carry RTE1/2 and TG4 but unsure of the source or its reliability.

dodrade · 02-11-2009, 20:19

I live in Tyrone and am currently getting RTE 1 and 2, TV3, TG4, RTE Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM and RnaG plus a RTENL test channel on my nearly new Samsung but sound only on my 2 year old Sony.

Geemac · 02-11-2009, 22:31

Have a look here for all the latest on these Test Transmissions:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=56

kunawonderdog · 06-11-2009, 22:11

getting the RTE channels and TV3, TG4 shows test screen, all on BTvision box. Great picture

mrdtv · 06-11-2009, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunawonderdog

getting the RTE channels and TV3, TG4 shows test screen, all on BTvision box. Great picture

This is, of course, an MPEG4 DVB-T1 box. Where are you located?

janet owen · 07-11-2009, 07:42

If anyone is interested, Currys Carmarthen have picnic boxes
on sale, its on the way to fishguard for the ferries to Europort. A 40

Saw them on Wednesday, with all the data posted over on the boxes with blank paper,

kunawonderdog · 08-11-2009, 16:37

mrdtv I live in Limavady

egal · 08-11-2009, 22:04

From Holywell Hill, do you think?

mrdtv · 09-11-2009, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by kunawonderdog

mrdtv I live in Limavady

Yes, you will be getting Holywell Hill. I would get the Curry's picnic box for £19.99 and you are in business...

krooney · 09-11-2009, 19:52

What about one of these MPEG4 boxes with an RTE aerial connected to it in Downpatrick, County Down!! Would it be a waste of time since we are about 45 miles from the border????

mrdtv · 10-11-2009, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by krooney

What about one of these MPEG4 boxes with an RTE aerial connected to it in Downpatrick, County Down!! Would it be a waste of time since we are about 45 miles from the border????

Its worth a punt getting the Picnic box from Currys at £19.99. But I think Clermont Carn DTT is currently restricted to the North: if your UK Freeview receiver displays the names and the sound of the RTE channels when connected to the RTE aerial, then you can get it. Others are receiving fine from other transmitters.

Digifriendly · 10-11-2009, 09:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrdtv

Its worth a punt getting the Picnic box from Currys at £19.99. But I think Clermont Carn DTT is currently restricted to the North: if your UK Freeview receiver displays the names and the sound of the RTE channels when connected to the RTE aerial, then you can get it. Others are receiving fine from other transmitters.

Agree entirely with this. Live just 17 miles SW of Belfast (Moira) and am picking up sound of DTT tests loud and clear from CC on both Sony idTV and Sony DVD/DTT/Analogue recorder. I do have a high gain aerial with masthead amp and my analogue RTE is crystal clear but nonetheless think that being in Downpatrick gives you a reasonable shout at decent DTT pictures. BTW as these are still tests there will sometimes be no sound or picture but just be patient!

mrdtv · 10-11-2009, 09:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Digifriendly

Agree entirely with this. Live just 17 miles SW of Belfast (Moira) and am picking up sound of DTT tests loud and clear from CC on both Sony idTV and Sony DVD/DTT/Analogue recorder. I do have a high gain aerial with masthead amp and my analogue RTE is crystal clear but nonetheless think that being in Downpatrick gives you a reasonable shout at decent DTT pictures. BTW as these are still tests there will sometimes be no sound or picture but just be patient!

Digifriendly: You should get the Picnic Sagem box from Currys for £19.99. This works perfectly with Irish DTT. Also available from PC World. It is an MPEG4 DVB-T1 box and the forthcoming Freeview HD DVB-T2 boxes will also decode MPEG4 DVB-T1. But the Picnic is a nice throwaway solution for now...

Digifriendly · 11-11-2009, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrdtv

Digifriendly: You should get the Picnic Sagem box from Currys for £19.99. This works perfectly with Irish DTT. Also available from PC World. It is an MPEG4 DVB-T1 box and the forthcoming Freeview HD DVB-T2 boxes will also decode MPEG4 DVB-T1. But the Picnic is a nice throwaway solution for now...

Thanks for that. Just wondering if putting aerial into Picnic box first, then into Sony analogue/digital recorder (remember it's looped through digital first then to analogue) and then to idtv would reduce signal on either recorder or TV or even muck it up altogether? I have one of the multiplexes a liitle near the 'cliff edge' (Ch. 48 -Sky News/Sky Sports News/Sky 3). Also at present I am getting the ROI radio channels on both digital recorder and idtv and crystal clear analogue ROI TV channels so i suppose not a lot to be gained apart from regular EPG for ROI channels with Picnic box but I think I may take your advice as box is real bargain as you suggest.

PhilH36 · 11-11-2009, 17:06

Could you pick them up with a Picnic box on the Welsh or English west coast?

01-11-2009, 09:42	#1
Ronan OF Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3	RTE on Freeview! Hi all. I did a rescan of my box last night and picked up the following stations: RTENL: RTE One RTENL: RTE Two RTENL: TV Three RTENL: TG4 Now, I've rescanned 3 boxes in my area (north west northern ireland) with the following results: Box 1: View the channels in the channel list with black screen and sound (I think it was the correct sound). Box 2: Channels appears on the rescan list - but you can not view them (ie 802 was meant to be RTE Two but it didn't work) Box 3: Rescanned and didn't pick up any of the RTE family of channels! Does anyone know anything about this?

01-11-2009, 09:46	#2
Tony Richards Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Sidcup, Kent Services: Sky+ HD, DTT, Astra 19.2 Digital Posts: 3,410	You won't be able to view them with a UK receiver as they use MPEG4.

01-11-2009, 09:48	#3
Ronan OF Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 3	So how come the box is registering them?

01-11-2009, 10:07	#4
StoppingService Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Anglia (Sandy Heath TX) Services: Sony 4:3 CRT TV, Panasonic VCR, Pace DTR735 OnDigital STB, Digihome PVR80 Posts: 983	Hi Because Eire is using the same transmission format as the UK for the "outer layer" of the signal, i.e. DVB-T. Therefore the mux shell/header/NIT can be read by UK Freeview equipment. Within that, the actual picture/sound stream is MPEG4 (not the UK's MPEG2) which UK Freeview equipment is not required to be able to read (though Sony TVs can AFAIK). So you get the NIT data providing the station names but not viewable reception. Regards

01-11-2009, 10:43	#5
ProDave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Northern Scottish Highlands Services: Freesat From Sky+ HD, Astra 1 / Hotbird FTA, Freeview, Freeview PVR, ADSL Posts: 7,228	Get yourself one of the "Sky Picnic" boxes that are on sale, they will handle MPEG4 and decode them for you.

01-11-2009, 12:50	#6
David (2) Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: the middle of nowhere Services: Sony Bravia LCD, Freesat-HD, Freeview HDD/DVD combi, DAB, 6.3Mb Broadband Posts: 10,447	Sony LCD's have MPEG4/DVB-T. they should pick and decode the signal, as long as the channels are free to air and not subscription.

01-11-2009, 15:27	#7
krooney Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: County Down Services: Tiscali, Telefis Eireann, TV3, Freeview, ESPN, DAB/Internet Radio, PS3 Posts: 353	Any chance of picking the Dublin channels up in South East Northern Ireland off the Divis Transmitter. If they came through as epg,sound etc then I could go out and purchase a Picnic Box in Currys.

02-11-2009, 20:19	#12
dodrade Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 291	I live in Tyrone and am currently getting RTE 1 and 2, TV3, TG4, RTE Radio 1, 2FM, Lyric FM and RnaG plus a RTENL test channel on my nearly new Samsung but sound only on my 2 year old Sony.

02-11-2009, 22:31	#13
Geemac Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Northern Ireland Services: Sky TV & UTV Internet Posts: 16	Have a look here for all the latest on these Test Transmissions: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=56

06-11-2009, 22:11	#14
kunawonderdog Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Services: BT vision, BT total broadband Posts: 18	getting the RTE channels and TV3, TG4 shows test screen, all on BTvision box. Great picture

07-11-2009, 07:42	#16
janet owen Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: gwynfryn/wrexham Services: All FTA/DTT & SAT/No pay channels Posts: 38	If anyone is interested, Currys Carmarthen have picnic boxes on sale, its on the way to fishguard for the ferries to Europort. A 40 Saw them on Wednesday, with all the data posted over on the boxes with blank paper,

08-11-2009, 16:37	#17
kunawonderdog Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Services: BT vision, BT total broadband Posts: 18	mrdtv I live in Limavady

08-11-2009, 22:04	#18
egal Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: N Ireland Posts: 154	From Holywell Hill, do you think?

09-11-2009, 19:52	#20
krooney Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: County Down Services: Tiscali, Telefis Eireann, TV3, Freeview, ESPN, DAB/Internet Radio, PS3 Posts: 353	What about one of these MPEG4 boxes with an RTE aerial connected to it in Downpatrick, County Down!! Would it be a waste of time since we are about 45 miles from the border????

11-11-2009, 17:06	#25
PhilH36 Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: London Services: Sky+(Pace v2 unmodded),AOL Broadband,Freeview Posts: 6,898	Could you pick them up with a Picnic box on the Welsh or English west coast?