Irish TV uses System I, i.e. PAL colour with a 625 line standard with a 6MHz separation between the sound and vision signals. This is the same system as the UK but unlike the UK, VHF is used in addition to UHF. RTE One and Network Two are transmitted using a mix of UHF and VHF, but TG4 and TV3 are transmitted solely on UHF. 

The four Irish terrestrial channels are also broadcast in MPEG2 on the Astra 2D satellite. Only Republic of Ireland subscribers to the SkyDigital Family pack can pick up these transmissions, they are blocked elsewhere. 

Clermont Carn turns up the juice on TG4

updated 14th August 2002

The new Clermont Carn mast has started testing; TG4 is the first service to be transmitted. Vastly improved reception is reported in Portaferry and Bangor, places where Clermont Carn TG4 was weak before. Scroll down the page to view a picture of the new mast in the Clermont Carn section.

Spur Hill VHF closes down (almost)

Spur Hill has almost ceased VHF transmission of RTE One and Network 2. However, as discussed in the Bar Room, some limited VHF transmissions continue. Kieran from Cork provided the screen grab above and the following information:

The caption was on ch H for a period of one week (see the postings). RTE have finally switched off the aerials for the Spur Hill VHF service to the city in recent days. HOWEVER VHF is still being transmitted from Spur Hill on a narrow beam for Chs E (Net2) and H (RTE1) to an area west of the city (as was explained on the Msg.Board.) and this will continue, for the time being.
 

Kilduff - A new main transmitter for the South Midlands

RTÉ intend to open a 300 kW transmitter at the existing Kilduff site to fill in reception gaps in the South Midlands. Kilduff is also earmarked to be a main Digital Terrestrial transmitter site. Kilduff should be on the air by the end of 2001.

Digital Terrestrial Network channel allocations

A full list of channel allocations for the main DTTV transmitters can be seen at the Digital page.

RTE Analogue Television Transmitter Network

Note that some transmitters in the table now have their own dedicated page. Click on the transmitter name to follow the link!

 

TRANSMITTER	AREA	RTE1	N2	TV3	TG4	TRANSMITTER POWER	ON AIR DATE	BAND
Kippure	Dublin & East	E	H	62	59	160 kW (VHF) /500 kw (UHF)	1-Dec-1961	VHF/UHF
Truskmore	Sligo, Mayo and Donegal	i	G	60	63	280 kW (VHF) /500 kw (UHF)	1-Feb-1962	VHF/UHF
Maghera	Galway and Clare	E	H	66	68	200 kW (Band III) /500 kw (UHF)	10-Sep-1963	VHF/UHF
Mullaghanish	Cork and Kerry	D	G	27	31	220 kW (VHF) /500 kw (UHF)	12-Sep-1963	VHF/UHF
Mount Leinster	Southeast	F	i	26	23	230 kW (VHF) /500 kw (UHF)	12-June-1963	VHF/UHF
Cairn Hill	Midlands	40	43	46	50	800 kw	1-Mar-1978	UHF
Three Rock	Dublin City & County	29	33	35	55	25 kW	1-Aug-1978	UHF
Clermont Carn	Louth	52	56	66	68	300 kw	1981	UHF
Holywell Hill	Derry and Donegal	23	26	29	33	20 kw	1981	UHF
Spur Hill	Cork City	53	57	60	63	10 kw	1996	UHF

Spur Hill

 Spur Hill is the relay that grew up to be a transmitter. Spur Hill started life in the sixties as a VHF Band III relay of Mullaghanish on Channel H. There is still a Band III relay at this site, but it is likely to be discontinued shortly. The UHF transmitter has a power of 10kW and carries RTE One on Channel 53, Net 2 on Channel 57, TV3 on channel 60 and TG4 is on Channel 63. 

Further information on Irish TV transmitters, Relays and deflectors can be found here at Corkradio's site.

For information on Northern Ireland TV transmitters, visit Mike Brown's site.