Band 1 (Low VHF) Channels are A,B,C (This band is no longer used for TV transmission)
Band 3 (High VHF) Channels are D,E,F,G,H,I,J (Ch J no longer used for TV transmission)
UHF Channels are 21 to 69. Group A aerials (Colour code red) cover UHF
channels from 21- 37, Group B
aerials (colour code yellow) cover channels 35-53,
whilst Group 'C/D' aerials (colour code green) cover 48-69.
Wideband UHF aerials cover all UHF channels 21-69.
| SITE (County) | RTE1 | NET2 | TV3 | TG4 | Pol. | E.R.P. | SERVICE AREA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAIRN HILL (Longford) | 40 | 43 | 46 | 50 | H | 800kW | Midlands |
| CLERMONT CARN (Louth) | 52 | 56 | 66 | 68 | V | 250kW | North-East |
| HOLYWELL HILL (Donegal) | 23 | 26 | 29 | 33 | H | 20kW | North Donegal |
| KIPPURE (Wicklow) | E | H | 62 | 59 | H/H | 160kW/500kW | East |
| MAGHERA (Clare) | E | H | 66 | 68 | V/H | 200kW/500kW | Mid-West |
| MT. LEINSTER (Carlow) | F | I | 26 | 23 | V/H | 230kW/500kW | South-East Site 796m asl, mast 122m agl |
| MULLAGHANISH (Cork) | D | G | 27 | 31 | V/H | 220kW/500kW | South-West |
| SPUR HILL (Cork) | 53 | 57 | 60 | 63 | H | 10kW | Cork city/Lee valley |
| THREE ROCK (Dublin) | 29 | 33 | 35 | 55 | H | 25kW | Dublin |
| TRUSKMORE (Sligo) | I | G | 60 | 63 | H/H | 280kW/500kW | North-West |
E.R.P. = 'Effective Radiated Power'
The letters 'H' and 'V' under 'Pol' correspond to Aerial Polarisation (H=Horizontal/V=Vertical). In the case of sites which use a mixture of VHF Band 3 and UHF, two polarisations are listed as follows: VHF Band 3 polarisation/UHF polarisation
In addition to these main
transmitters nearly 100 lower powered relay sites exist. These are listed below. It should be noted that the majority of relays do not radiate omnidirectionaly. Furthermore a very small number of relays operate with Vertical polarisation in certain directions, and Horizontal polarisation in others (HV)
Locality (site) COUNTY RTE1 N2 TV3 TG4 Pol. Max ERP Abbeyfeale Limerick 39 42 *45 49 H 100W Achill Mayo 40 43 *46 50 V 8kW Arainn Mhor Donegal 39 42 *45 49 V 8kW Ashford Wicklow 22 25 *28 32 V 20W Ashleam Mayo 21 24 *27 31 V 25W Ballingeary Cork 54 58 *61 64 V 25W Ballintrillick Sligo 30 34 *? 37 H 50W Ballybofey/Stranorlar Donegal 54 58 *61 64 V 200W Ballydavid Kerry 22 25 *28 32 V 20W Ballymacarbry Waterford 54 58 *61 64 H 80W Bandon Cork 41 44 *47 51 H 10W Bantry/Glengarriff Cork 40 43 *46 50 VH 4kW,1kW site: Seskin Bealanabrack Galway 39 42 *45 49 H 100W Blarney Cork 29 33 *26 23 H 100W site: Woodside, 99m asl,omnidirectional, mobile phone (Esat?) comp. on same mast Broadford Clare 40 43 *46 50 V 20W Cahir Tipperary 40 43 *46 50 V 100W Cahirciveen (Kilkeaveragh) Kerry 39 42 *45 49 V 10kW Carlingford/Greenore Louth 61 67 *? 51 V 60W Casla Galway 39 42 *45 49 V 3kW Castlebar Mayo 29 33 *26 23 H 9kW Castletownbere Cork 53 57 *60 63 V 6kW site:Knockgour, 481m a.s.l. Clermont Carn - fill-in Louth UHF A 29 33 Clifden Galway 22 25 *28 32 V 2kW Clonakilty Cork 39 42 *45 49 H ? Clonmany Donegal 39 42 *45 49 V 20W Clonmel Waterford 39 42 *45 49 H 400W Cork (Collins Barracks) Cork 39 49 46 43 V 165W Corrnamona Galway 21 24 *27 31 V 100W Crossbarry/Halfway Cork 54 58 *61 64 V 100W Crosshaven Cork 55 59 *62 65 V 1kW Dingle Kerry 23 26 *29 33 V 100W Dooncarton Mayo 21 24 *27 31 V 500W **Dowra Cavan/Leitrim 39 42 *45 49 V 20W Dromanassig Cork 54 58 *61 64 H 16W Dungarvan/Cappoquin Waterford 53 57 *60 63 H 10kW Dunquin Kerry 30 34 *26 23 H 10W Dunmanway Cork 41 44 *47 51 V 20W Ennistymon Clare 54 58 *61 64 H ? " I F H 12W (VHF has closed?) Failmore Galway 54 58 *61 64 V 10W Fanad Donegal 61 58 *? 64 V 4.7kW Fermoy Cork 39 42 *45 49 V 50W Glanmire Cork 41 44 *47 51 H 100W Glenbeigh Kerry 39 42 *45 49 H 15W Glencar Kerry 22 25 *28 32 V 10W Glencolumcille Donegal 39 42 *45 49 H ? Glenties Donegal 40 43 *46 50 H 100W Gorey Wexford 54 58 *61 64 H 10W Greystones Wicklow 53 57 *60 63 V 500W Headford Kerry 39 42 *45 49 H 25W Inchigeelagh Cork 40 43 *46 50 V 5W **Innishannon Cork 40 43 *46 50 H 50W Inistioge Kilkenny 53 57 *60 63 H 20W Kells Bay Kerry 22 25 *28 32 H 32W Kilkee Clare 54 58 *61 64 H 20W Killaloe Clare 54 58 *61 64 V 10W Killeagh (Garda Mast) Cork 54 58 *61 64 H 10W Kilmacomma Tipp/Waterford 22 25 *28 32 H 20W Kilmacthomas Waterford 54 58 *61 64 V 6W Kinsale Cork 29 33 *26 *23 V 5W Knockmoyle (SlieveMish) Kerry 53 57 *60 63 V 2kW Lahinch Clare 40 43 *46 50 V 20W Laragh/Glendalough Wicklow 41 44 *47 51 H ? Lauragh Kerry 55 59 *62 65 H 16W Leap Cork 41 44 *47 51 H 20W Letterkenny Donegal 52 56 *66 68 V 2.5kW Limerick (Woodcock Hill) Clare 39 42 45 49 H 2kW Listowel Kerry 53 57 *60 63 H ? Lomanaugh Kerry 39 42 *45 49 H 25W Maam Galway 21 24 *27 31 H 20W Macroom Cork 62 65 *59 55 H 50W Magheroarty Donegal 21 24 *27 31 V 1kW Malin Donegal 22 25 *28 32 H 50W Mamclasach Kerry 40 43 *46 50 V 20W Mitchelstown Cork 41 44 *47 51 V 1kW Monaghan Monaghan D F *61 64 H/H 1kW/5kW Monasootagh Wexford 54 58 *61 64 H 25W Mountainstage Kerry 22 25 *28 32 H 16W Moville Donegal 40 43 *46 50 H 2kW Mt. Gabriel Cork 29 33 *26 23 HV 1kW (UHF A) Mulranny Mayo 55 59 *62 65 H 32W Nire Valley Waterford 21 24 *27 31 H 25W Passage West(Marino Pt.) Cork 29 33 *26 23 V 40W Rosscarbery Cork 53 57 *60 63 H ? **Sligo Town Sligo no details yet 500W Suir Valley Kilkenny 53 57 *60 63 V 5.5kW Termon Donegal 54 58 *61 64 H 16W Tomriland Wicklow 21 24 *27 31 V 10W Westport Mayo 54 58 *61 64 H 40W Youghal-East (Ferry Pt.) Waterford 41 44 *47 51 V 125W Youghal-South (Strand) Cork 29 33 *35 37 H 3W
UHF TV channels in the UK and Ireland often follow a particular pattern see here
'SELF HELP SCHEMES': in the past, communities living in small pockets with serious TV reception
problems, and with no immediate plans by RTE to build a relay for these areas, have been themselves granted licences to operate very low power relays (perhaps 1W ERP) of the national TV networks, known as 'Self Help Schemes'.
These are not listed above or in RTE's transmitter list.
In the past RTE 1 was usually assigned Ch 30 (sometimes 48), and Net 2 on CH 34 (sometimes 52) on such services. No more up-to-date info is available.
Whilst these relays are not owned by RTE, RTE gives technical assistance. In other areas with reception difficulties such as some villages in valleys, small cable systems
have in the past been installed to supply the national TV services.
Some of these Self-help relays and cable systems have in recent years been made obsolete by the introduction of new RTE relays serving the areas concerned
Considerable change has taken place in recent years to the national TV transmission network, as a comparison with an old list will show. Recent tech bulletins available here
(These services re-transmit UK national TV, and in some cases satellite programs and are commonly known as 'Deflectors') . Many of these systems, unlicensed for many years, were licensed by the ODTR in early 2000. However such systems may be forced to close down if/when Digital TV is introduced on UHF
The following transmission sites listed below, and operated by the South Coast Community TV group (licensed in the year 2000 after 15 years), are receivable in the South East,East,North-East of Co.Cork.
They have further outlets in South/West Co.Cork for which I do not have details for. Some of the details below may now be out of date (I've included the dates the information was last verified/updated)
These transmissions are not scrambled - conventional UHF aerials are all that are required to receive it (though aerial amplifiers are often required to improve reception, due to the lower signal strengths). The operators conduct annual door-to-door collections to households in the areas served seeking 'voluntary subscriptions' (membership) of now 65 Euros per annum. (out-of-date)
The South Coast Community TV group (SCCTV) operates by relaying BBC1,BBC2,ITV,S4C of the Presely transmitter (South West Wales) from their Comeragh Mountains site.
This Comeragh Mountains relay in turn feeds SCCTV's relays in County Cork. (Update - signals are now being taken from satellite instead for most areas. S4C has been replaced with Channel 4 in most areas). In the past one or two satellite stations were also relayed in many areas (i.e. SKY1, Eurosport), but with increased use of the spectrum by TnaG (now TG4),TV3 and RTE relays, these were discontinued.
In the year 2000 South Coast Community TV launched a website at www.southcoasttv.net. A history of its beginnings in 1985, and its plans for the future can be read here.
SITE BBC1 BBC2 ITV S4C/C4 Pol West Comeragh Mts, 69 61 66 64 V areas of east Cork/west Waterford) Fermoy (Ballyhooly) Co.Cork 21 33 25 29 H High Power(Fermoy and surrounds) as of 1998) Bandon A (Cashelmore) 22 25 30 34 H Bandon B ? ? ? ? Carrigaline(A), Co.Cork 48 42 45 40 HV High Power(Southeast Cork) (The above site uses Horizontal polarisation to the East, Vertical to the West) Carrigaline(B), Co.Cork ? ?Grp A? ? H Low Power(parts of Carrigaline town) East Ferry (Marlogue)Co.Cork 50 34 47 52 H Low power (Midleton,Aghada) (as of 1999) Crosshaven, Co.Cork 28 21 26 32 V Low Power(Cobh,Monkstown) as of 1999) Myrtleville Bay, Co.Cork 46 39 43 51 H Low Power (area south of Crosshaven) as of ? Passage West(Upper Pembroke) 61 64 66 69 V 'low power' (as of late 2000 -thanks to John) Rushbrooke(for Passage West) 51 36 38 68 V 'low power' Mitchelstown (Knocknascrow) 58 54 56 n/a H (as of 11/2005) (n/a = station not available)
(1998) Because of the nature of these services it is difficult to obtain details of similar operations still in existence elsewhere in the country (I however have received the following contribution:)
(May 1998) Email received From Michael Byron of Co. Mayo:
"Many Thanks for an Interesting and Informative website.
You may be interested in some more info on the deflector situation.
It is only recently that MMDS has been introduced to Co Mayo, Coverage Is
Poor, The service is VERY EXPENSIVE (especially for households with more than
one TV set or who want to be able to make full use of the service with their
videos i.e. everybody) and take-up has been very low so far (I can count on
the fingers of one hand the number of houses I've seen with MMDS aerials)
The Deflector service is not great where I live (Castlebar) and I would
consider getting Cable if CMI were to fulfill their licence conditions and
make it available but this MMDS is a complete Con-Job and I can't see what the
need for it will be when Digital TV comes in !
In Castlebar the Deflector system operates on the following channels:
(HORIZONTAL) 39 EuroSport 42 Sky News 47 BBC1 (N.I.) 50 UTV 53 BBC2 56 Channel 4
Some low power deflectors can re-transmit signals on the same channels as they
receive but with opposite polarisation.
Some Deflectors (including Castlebar ) also occasionally carry localised opt-out
programmes (Do these count as "Pirate TV stations" ?)
There are many other deflectors still operating throughout Mayo and other
parts of Ireland but info on these is very difficult to come by (Do any of
the groups have websites ?)
Incidentally part of the motivation behind RTE's sudden enthusiasm for moving
VHF services to UHF may be to make life difficult for deflectors."
an update from Michael Byron:
"Even here in Ireland it is difficult to get accurate information on the
deflector situation, media coverage varies widely in quality and accuracy so
much so that I've often wondered if the newspapers cover other issues as
badly, if so we are frighteningly badly informed about the world in general !
I've often wondered myself what will be the point of MMDS when DTT comes in?
The MMDS companies talk about Digital MMDS but surely that will simply be
duplicating what's already available on Astra? In 1991 the Anti-MMDS lobby
claimed that "Satellite TV would make MMDS obsolete within 5 Years " These
claims sounded wild then but now they seem positively prophetic!
RTE claim that UHF gives a better picture quality than VHF !!??..!!??
They did announce that they were duplicating Truskmore on UHF for N.I.
viewers but this (reasonable) idea seems to have been axed in favour of
moving the VHF relays to UHF instead for no apparent reason. Has anybody in
the affected areas not complained about the cost of UHF aerials ?, also isn't
the coverage of hilly areas on UHF inferior to Band 3 or even more so to
Band 1, and aren't electricity costs for transmitting UHF higher ?
I have never been approached to make a "contribution" to my local deflector
(Our aerial is loft mounted to avoid damage from winter storms) and have no
idea what the charge is. Around the country the charge varies, is generally
£30-40 although some groups charge up to £80 while others don't charge
anything ! Deflectors operators range from non-profit community groups
through fully-fledged businesses, many are operated by TV dealers or aerial
contractors in the hope that it will increase their businesses (Second TVs, Videos etc.)
Some are financed by Local "Insert" advertising on UTV/HTV.
Anyway I hope I've given you a good "picture" (excuse the terrible pun!) of
the deflector situation, any further queries don't hesitate to give me a
shout."
Date: 13/10/98 07:30
Folks,
TV3 are currently only reaching 85% of the Irish population due to their
failure to use all but two (Collins Barracks and Woodcock Hill) of the RTE
network of relay/transposer stations.
In Co. Mayo/North Connemara there are supposed to be five relay stations:
Castlebar (Croaghmoyle-Glenisland)
Westport
Achill
Mulranny
Clifden.
TV3 don't use any of these. As a result over 50% Of Mayo (including such
remote, isolated, backwaters as Castlebar and Westport!!!) isn't covered.
To solve this problem the "Illegal" deflector systems in Castlebar and
Westport now carry TV3 along with
BBC1/2, UTV, C4 and Sky News.
Cable TV (Promised since 1985) still hasn't reached Castlebar and MMDS
coverage is poor (even less than TV3) VERY expensive, and take-up seems to
be in single figures (HOUSES not percent)
Anyway the frequencies in Castlebar are (Horizontal),
39 TV3
42 SKY News
47 BBC1 (N.I.)
50 UTV
53 BBC2
56 Channel 4
(TnaG are using the official RTE transposers -Ch 23 in Castlebar)
Regards,
Michael.
39 TV3
42 UTV
47 BBC1
53 BBC2
56 Channel 4
The following bands are assigned for Broadcast TV:
VHF frequency channels were assigned letters by the Irish authorities, however many TV
sets display numbered VHF freq. channels (The usual numbered equivalent on portable TVs is shown in brackets, though this is not standardised.)
The information under MAIN TRANSMITTERS indicates major transmitters in Ireland using each channel, and has the following format:
NOTICE TO SCANNER USERS So as to minimise the severity of co-channel interference, 'Precision offsets' of carrier frequencies are often used at TV transmitters: the actual transmitted vision and audio carrier frequencies for a particular channel may offset, commonly in this country an offset of +/- 41.6 kHz (0.0416 MHz) from the listed 'Nominal' frequencies ('deflectors' may use different offsets) for that channel.
This difference is too small to notice even on a TV with channel step tuning. However scanner users attempting to receive TV audio on their scanners should therefore note that fine tuning may be necessary to properly tune in TV audio carriers clearly (and set to 'Wideband FM' mode) - otherwise the audio will sound distorted.
NOTE: CABLE TV systems may use a different arrangement whereby vision carriers are exact multiples of 8MHz (i.e. 48.00, 56.00, 64.00 MHz in Band 1) Sound carriers are 6MHz above these as usual.
Cable TV systems also use VHF channels outside these official broadcast bands, which older TVs are unable to tune in.
Aerial Polarisation (H=Horizontal/V=Vertical), Transmitter Site, Network:(RTE1/NET2/TV3/TG4)
| VHF-L Band 1 | VISION MHz | SOUND MHz | MAIN TRANSMITTERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| A (2) | 45.75 | 51.75 | |
| B (3) | 53.75 | 59.75 | |
| C (4) | 61.75 | 67.75 |
| VHF-H Band 3 | VISION MHz | SOUND MHz | MAIN TRANSMITTERS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D(5) | 175.25 | 181.25 | (V)Mullaghanish(RTE1) | |
| E(6) | 183.25 | 189.25 | (V)Maghera(RTE1) | (H)Kippure(RTE1) |
| F(7) | 191.25 | 197.25 | (V)Mt. Leinster(RTE1) | |
| G(8) | 199.25 | 205.25 | (V)Mullaghanish(NET2) | (H)Truskmore(NET2) |
| H(9) | 207.25 | 213.25 | (V)Maghera(NET2) | (H)Kippure(NET2) |
| I(10) | 215.25 | 221.25 | (V)Mt.Leinster(NET2) | (H)Truskmore(RTE1) |
| J(11) | 223.25 | 229.25 | ||
| UHF | VISION MHz | SOUND MHz | MAIN TRANSMITTERS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 471.25 | 477.25 | ||
| 22 | 479.25 | 485.25 | ||
| 23 | 487.25 | 493.25 | (H)Mt.Leinster(TG4) | (H)Hollywell Hill(RTE1) |
| 24 | 495.25 | 501.25 | ||
| 25 | 503.25 | 509.25 | ||
| 26 | 511.25 | 517.25 | (H)Mt.Leinster(TV3) | (H)Hollywell Hill(NET2) |
| 27 | 519.25 | 525.25 | (H)Mullaghanish (TV3) | |
| 28 | 527.25 | 533.25 | ||
| 29 | 535.25 | 541.25 | (H)Three Rock-Dublin(RTE1) | (H)Hollywell Hill(TV3) |
| 30 | 543.25 | 549.25 | ||
| 31 | 551.25 | 557.25 | (H)Mullaghanish (TG4) | |
| 32 | 559.25 | 565.25 | ||
| 33 | 567.25 | 573.25 | (H)Three Rock-Dublin(NET2) | (H)Hollywell Hill(TG4) |
| 34 | 575.25 | 581.25 | ||
| 35 | 583.25 | 589.25 | (H)Three Rock-Dublin(TV3) | |
| 36 | 591.25 | 597.25 | Common VCR RF o/p | |
| 37 | 599.25 | 605.25 | ||
| 38 | 607.25 | 613.25 | ||
| 39 | 615.25 | 621.25 | ||
| 40 | 623.25 | 629.25 | (H)Cairn Hill (RTE1) | |
| 41 | 631.25 | 637.25 | ||
| 42 | 639.25 | 645.25 | ||
| 43 | 647.25 | 653.25 | (H)Cairn Hill (NET2) | |
| 44 | 655.25 | 661.25 | ||
| 45 | 663.25 | 669.25 | ||
| 46 | 671.25 | 677.25 | (H)Cairn Hill (TV3) | |
| 47 | 679.25 | 685.25 | ||
| 48 | 687.25 | 693.25 | ||
| 49 | 695.25 | 701.25 | ||
| 50 | 703.25 | 709.25 | (H)Cairn Hill (TG4) | |
| 51 | 711.25 | 717.25 | ||
| 52 | 719.25 | 725.25 | (V)Clermont Carn (RTE1) | |
| 53 | 727.25 | 733.25 | (H)Spur Hill-Cork(RTE1) | |
| 54 | 735.25 | 741.25 | ||
| 55 | 743.25 | 749.25 | (H)Three Rock-Dublin(TG4) | |
| 56 | 751.25 | 757.25 | (V)Clermont Carn (NET2) | |
| 57 | 759.25 | 765.25 | (H)Spur Hill-Cork(NET2) | |
| 58 | 767.25 | 773.25 | ||
| 59 | 775.25 | 781.25 | (H)Kippure(TG4) | |
| 60 | 783.25 | 789.25 | (H)Spur Hill(TV3) | (H)Truskmore (TV3) |
| 61 | 791.25 | 797.25 | ||
| 62 | 799.25 | 805.25 | (H)Kippure(TV3) | |
| 63 | 807.25 | 813.25 | (H)Spur Hill(TG4) | (H)Truskmore (TG4) |
| 64 | 815.25 | 821.25 | ||
| 65 | 823.25 | 829.25 | ||
| 66 | 831.25 | 837.25 | (V)Clermont Carn (TV3) | (H)Maghera (TV3) |
| 67 | 839.25 | 845.25 | ||
| 68 | 847.25 | 853.25 | (V)Clermont Carn (TG4) | (H)Maghera (TG4) |
| 69 | 855.25 | 861.25 |
Up to date RTE transmitter/engineering news is available on Aertel (Teletext) P530 on NET 2 or via the Internet at:
www.rte.ie/aertel/aertelplus/p530.htm
These pages are similar to teletext page 698 on BBC and 606 on HTV Wales.
The consultants report re.
'the Future Delivery of TV Services in Ireland' can be downloaded from the website of the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (now Comm Reg) at
www.odtr.ie