FLOOD OF COMPLAINTS OVER POOR QUALITY OF TV RECEPTION
MAJORITY OF CASES CAN BE RECTIFIED BY REPLACING AERIAL MAST HEAD AMPLIFIER FEBRUARY 1989
TELEVISION dealers are flooded with calls as it’s believed up to 50% of households experience the worst reception for decades.
This results in the Dundalk Television Dealers’ Association carrying out an investigation. Four main areas of interference/poor reception are identified.
They say the main source of interference comes as a result of an increase in the power of the RTE radio transmitter on Annaverna in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
According to the association this leads to many Dundalk homes getting line patterns on English TV channels. At times Radio One and Radio Two broadcasts come over the television sound.
The situation can be rectified in the majority of cases by replacing the aerial mast head amplifier at a cost of between £35 and £45. However, dealers say many people cannot afford that.
They also claim that if RTE decides to further increase the power from the transmitter all amplifiers could be ‘wiped out’.
The association suggests to RTE that power be returned to old levels or the main beam be directed away from the Dundalk area.
RTE’s Reception Investigation Unit assures it is aware of the problem and adds that it is still transmitting from Annaverna below licensed power levels.
The broadcaster has been on lower power as there is only a temporary aerial there which means they aren’t covering the area as they wish. They are now coming on to full power.
A spokesman says the problem seems to be that the amplifier used by the majority of households is wide beam, which means it will pick up everything.
He makes the point there is no need to use these amplifiers. Instead group amplifiers should be used to concentrate on the particular channels being received in Dundalk. Otherwise, put in filters.
The spokesman continues sooner or later people will be in trouble with these wide beam amplifiers picking up interference such is the multiplicity of transmissions.
‘We are talking to the local trade about ways and means of overcoming the problem.
‘ The investigation is ongoing and we are assisting viewers, but we don’t take responsibility for the problems. It is a matter of attention to the viewer’s own installation.’
The dealers’ association identifies another area of interference in the eastern half of town and Blackrock area. It says ghosting or shadows on English channels are caused by an illegal TV transmitter in Jenkinstown.
The source is located and measures are in hand to bring it to an end, the association reveals.
Line pattern on Channel 4 is caused by a local system. The TV dealers hope to meet with the body concerned in the near future to discuss the problem.
In addition, over the past two years some areas of Dundalk experience a loss of picture quality. The reason is construction on nearby mountain ranges.
The association points out it will continue to strive to overcome TV reception difficulties.