UK Terrestrial Providers

[guff daddy]

Ok I think I've figured it out.

I had to change some of the other items in order for the scan to work for me. Picks up 19 channels for me now.

    <terrestrial name="Maghera(Ireland) (Europe DVB-T)" flags="5">
        <transponder centre_frequency="690000000" bandwidth="0" constellation="3" guard_interval="4" transmission_mode="2" hierarchy_information="4" inversion="2" />
        <transponder centre_frequency="746000000" bandwidth="0" constellation="3" guard_interval="4" transmission_mode="2" hierarchy_information="4" inversion="2" />
    </terrestrial>

Finbarr

what did you do to get this? My transmitter is Kippure but I normally just do a complete scan to get the DVB-T frequencies.

 

[finbarr]

Basically look up what channels (Mux's) your transmitter uses here

http://www.tvtrade.ie/digital-tv-aerial-selection-guide.html

Then get the corresponding frequency from here

http://www.saortv.info/terrestrial-saorview/tuning-saorview/

And copy my format of XML and just change the frequencies (followed by 000000)

 

[guff daddy]

Cheers - worked fine for me. Turns out I'm Three Rock, not Kippure. Tested the below in my terrestrial.xml and it works fine

<terrestrial name="Three Rock (Ireland) (Europe DVB-T)" flags="5">
        <transponder centre_frequency="546000000" bandwidth="0" constellation="3" guard_interval="4" transmission_mode="2" hierarchy_information="4" inversion="2" />
        <transponder centre_frequency="570000000" bandwidth="0" constellation="3" guard_interval="4" transmission_mode="2" hierarchy_information="4" inversion="2" />

 

[hermit]

Below is the correct setting for me, I haven't had a chance to test this yet :

<terrestrial name="Castlebar(Mayo,Ireland) (Europe DVB-T)" flags="5">
		<transponder centre_frequency="482000000" bandwidth="0" constellation="3" guard_interval="4" transmission_mode="2" hierarchy_information="4" inversion="2" />
		<transponder centre_frequency="506000000" bandwidth="0" constellation="3" guard_interval="4" transmission_mode="2" hierarchy_information="4" inversion="2" />
</terrestrial>

Based on the information in the following link the attached file has the settings in xml for all transmitters in Ireland for Saorview (Irish DTT)
http://www.2rn.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/2RN-DTT-Television-Transmission-Network-Nov-2013.pdf

 

[hermit]

Hi Andy,

I have create the xml for most/all sites in the UK from info on the ofcom site and a couple more locations. I was able to get settings for Muxes PSB1 PSB2 PSB3 COM4 COM5 COM6 COM7 COM8 LMux NiMux and GiMux.

The info matches the example you put up as well as the Crystal Palace example above except the offset values are slightly different but should still work.

I included the same settings for all transponders parameters as in the original example except of course the frequencies.

Some site locations had parenthesis included already so this may cause an issue, if it does I can strip them out quite easily and create new XML.

 

[andyblac]

Hi Andy,

I have create the xml for most/all sites in the UK from info on the ofcom site and a couple more locations. I was able to get settings for Muxes PSB1 PSB2 PSB3 COM4 COM5 COM6 COM7 COM8 LMux NiMux and GiMux.

The info matches the example you put up as well as the Crystal Palace example above except the offset values are slightly different but should still work.

I included the same settings for all transponders parameters as in the original example except of course the frequencies.

Some site locations had parenthesis included already so this may cause an issue, if it does I can strip them out quite easily and create new XML.

thanks,

but, can you do it transmitter name only, there are far to many in that file, looks like you did it by area name (ie Durham).

 

[hermit]

I based it on Site name column in this file :
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/broadcasting/Complete-DTT-frequency-plan.xls

Should I limit it to Primary Transmitters only? There are about 70

 

[andyblac]

I based it on Site name column in this file :
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/broadcasting/Complete-DTT-frequency-plan.xls

Should I limit it to Primary Transmitters only? There are about 70

i would say yes by 'Transmitter Group'

 

[Larry-G]

I based it on Site name column in this file :
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/broadcasting/Complete-DTT-frequency-plan.xls

Should I limit it to Primary Transmitters only? There are about 70

Ideally it should be based on transmitters rather than area as the area can hold multiple transmitters for the coverage needed.

 

[Martincape]

Mines already been done . Caldbeck

 

[abu baniaz]

This is the file I compiled. I used one of the files from the ofcomm site. dtt pocket guide

 

[hermit]

i would say yes by 'Transmitter Group'

If they are grouped by transmitter group then some groups will have all channels in the spectrum, e.g. For Pontop Pike or Crystal Palace they will have to scan almost all frequencies, so no real benefit to speed up for people in these regions.

Ideally it should be based on transmitters rather than area as the area can hold multiple transmitters for the coverage needed.

The original file is based on Transmitter, every Site Name is a unique transmitter, its just there are too many

I can do it any way you guys request though so just let me know & I can run it again

 

[andyblac]

If they are grouped by transmitter group then some groups will have all channels in the spectrum, e.g. For Pontop Pike or Crystal Palace they will have to scan almost all frequencies, so no real benefit to speed up for people in these regions.



The original file is based on Transmitter, every Site Name is a unique transmitter, its just there are too many

I can do it any way you guys request though so just let me know & I can run it again

sorry ?, pontop pike only has 9 transponders. i use the one i created, and it scans 133 channels, in less that 1 minute.

so what i need a just a list of Transmitters, with ONLY the transponders that transmitter has.

 

[hermit]

sorry ?, pontop pike only has 9 transponders. i use the one i created, and it scans 133 channels, in less that 1 minute.

so what i need a just a list of Transmitters, with ONLY the transponders that transmitter has.

Yes the Pontop Pike transmitter has only 9 transponders, but it was suggested to group the transmitters by "Transmitter Group" and I was replying to that suggestion. Pontop Pike "Transmitter Group" has 25 additional transmitters and the transponders on all those transmitters cover almost all Frequencies :
http://www.ukfree.tv/maps.php?key=subregion&c=35

The original file has the list of all transmitters, with only the transponders that transmitter has but unfortunately as stated already there are too many in it.

Either some transmitters have to be omitted or a change needs to be made to handle the large number.

I have tested the terrestrial.xml with the saorview settings and the two Muxes for Castlebar tune the 19 available channles in less than 20 seconds, a huge improvement on scanning all frequencies this will make flashing a new VIX version even quicker/easier than it already is.

 

[andyblac]

but imo, that file is un-useable, far to many to find your transmitter, IMO the file should 'ONLY' list actual physical transmitters.

 

[hermit]

but imo, that file is un-useable, far to many to find your transmitter, IMO the file should 'ONLY' list actual physical transmitters.

I agree it's unusable. Attached is the xml for Primary transmitters so should cover around 90% of the population in the UK. It is sorted alphabetically, let me know if any changes needed

 

[Joe_90]

The difficulty with what you are trying to do is coverage of the last 10%-20% of population not served by the main transmitters. The problem is a whole order of magnitude more complex than that in the Republic of Ireland Saorview network. Here, there are only two multiplex (transponder) entries per transmitter and only 12 main high power transmitters. Most of the population here would be covered by those transmitters. The remaining relay stations (52) are generally low power infill transmitters and the majority are vertically polarised so people know (should know) whether they are served by a relay transmitter. So it's probably "do-able" to include all RoI Saorview transmitters in one xml file and have people select the appropriate one from the list. It certainly works for me in that I have an xml entry for my local relay. However, it doesn't really work if you're not absolutely clued in to local reception conditions where you might select a transmitter which doesn't provide you with the best reception.
Perhaps a way forward for Freeview is to list the primary transmitters as you have done which will cover the majority and produce another list with the in-fill transmitters grouped by geographical area? A further complexity with the Freeview network is that the HD multiplexes are carried on DVB-T2 and the SD multiplexes are on DVB-T so you need a T2 compatible tuner for HD. This could be quite a task to maintain an up-to-date list.

 

[andyblac]

The difficulty with what you are trying to do is coverage of the last 10%-20% of population not served by the main transmitters. The problem is a whole order of magnitude more complex than that in the Republic of Ireland Saorview network. Here, there are only two multiplex (transponder) entries per transmitter and only 12 main high power transmitters. Most of the population here would be covered by those transmitters. The remaining relay stations (52) are generally low power infill transmitters and the majority are vertically polarised so people know (should know) whether they are served by a relay transmitter. So it's probably "do-able" to include all RoI Saorview transmitters in one xml file and have people select the appropriate one from the list. It certainly works for me in that I have an xml entry for my local relay. However, it doesn't really work if you're not absolutely clued in to local reception conditions where you might select a transmitter which doesn't provide you with the best reception.
Perhaps a way forward for Freeview is to list the primary transmitters as you have done which will cover the majority and produce another list with the in-fill transmitters grouped by geographical area? A further complexity with the Freeview network is that the HD multiplexes are carried on DVB-T2 and the SD multiplexes are on DVB-T so you need a T2 compatible tuner for HD. This could be quite a task to maintain an up-to-date list.

and why i am trying to get ABM working for DVB-T thus the old xml is redundant.

 

[Joe_90]

... and while satellite channels are organised (somewhat) by region and all can be received equally by anyone with a satellite dish and tuner, some pre-defined code and some transponder searching will result in a bouquet which matches that of a commercial service very well. I think it's a much much harder problem to crack when you are dealing with terrestrial services. You can't be sure in a given geographic location that you will be able to receive specific multiplexes due to varying reception conditions. I'm not saying that it's impossible, just that it's very difficult outside of areas covered by the main transmitters to ensure that you've covered all the muxes properly.
The RoI is much simpler in that there are no regional variations in the programming (yet) and there are only two muxes to receive to ensure you have all TV and radio programmes covered. It's an interesting challenge, certainly - go for it :thumbsup:

 

[andyblac]

... and while satellite channels are organised (somewhat) by region and all can be received equally by anyone with a satellite dish and tuner, some pre-defined code and some transponder searching will result in a bouquet which matches that of a commercial service very well. I think it's a much much harder problem to crack when you are dealing with terrestrial services. You can't be sure in a given geographic location that you will be able to receive specific multiplexes due to varying reception conditions. I'm not saying that it's impossible, just that it's very difficult outside of areas covered by the main transmitters to ensure that you've covered all the muxes properly.
The RoI is much simpler in that there are no regional variations in the programming (yet) and there are only two muxes to receive to ensure you have all TV and radio programmes covered. It's an interesting challenge, certainly - go for it :thumbsup:

try ABM and you will be surprised