Maghera transmission site

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Maghera
Mahera Tx.jpg
2RN site on Maghera
Island of Ireland relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Maghera in Ireland
LocationKillanena, County Clare
Mast height160 metres (525 ft)
Coordinates 52°58′07″N8°43′06″W / 52.968554°N 8.718311°W / 52.968554; -8.718311
Built1962

The Maghera transmission site is situated on a 400 metre (1000 foot) hill (Irish : Cnoc an Ois) located at Killanena in the East of County Clare, Ireland. It is home to one of 2RN's network of radio and television transmitters.

Contents

History

The links tower and transmitter mast Maghera mast.jpg
The links tower and transmitter mast

The Maghera television transmitter first went on air in February 1963 on low power before becoming fully operational on 10 September 1963. It was one of Telefís Éireann's original five main transmitters, the others being Mullaghanish, Kippure, Truskmore and Mount Leinster. The transmitter originally carried the 625 line television service on VHF Channel B (Band I), changing to Channel E (Band III) in 1999, with UHF channels being added in 1996 (TG4) and 1999 (TV3). When it was operating on Channel B certain atmospheric conditions during the summer months could cause interference from a transmitter on similar frequencies in Spain, this resulted in viewers in the south west of Ireland occasionally seeing bullfights on their television. In 1966 the new RTÉ Radio FM service started broadcasting from the site with more FM radio stations added over the years.

The original 147.5 metre (484 foot) mast that was erected in 1962 was replaced in 2011 [1] with a 160 metres (525 feet) tall cable-stayed steel lattice mast that would enhance its service area for the start of digital terrestrial television (DTT) broadcasting. [2] All analogue television transmissions from the site ended on 24 October 2012, and since then the Irish digital television service Saorview, has been broadcast from the site in addition to six national FM radio networks and a number of local radio services. Maghera's service area is the West of Ireland, covering counties Clare and Galway, as well as parts of counties Limerick, Kerry, Cork, Tipperary and Mayo.

Current Transmissions

Digital television

FrequencyUHFERPMultiplexPol
690 MHz48160 kw Saorview 1H
674 MHz46160 kw Saorview 2H

FM radio

FrequencyERPServiceNotes
88.8 MHz160 kw RTÉ Radio 1 Since 1985. Shared RnaG frequency 1972-85
91.0 MHz160 kw RTÉ 2fm 94.1 MHz Before 1985
98.4 MHz160 kw RTÉ lyric fm Since 1999
93.2 MHz160 kw RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta 97.0 MHz Before 1985 (Mono only before 1982)
96.4 MHz5 kw Clare FM Since 1989
100.6 MHz160 kw Today FM Since 1997 (was Century Radio 1989-91)
102.7 MHz20 kw Spin South West Since 2007
104.6 MHz50 kw Classic Hits Radio Since 2009
107.6 MHz20 kw Newstalk Since 2006 (Mono Only)

Maghera Relay transmitters

DTT RelayCountyMux 1Mux 2ERPPol
AchillMayo47442 kwV
BallinaTipperary23260.1 kwV
CaslaGalway45412.5 kwV
ClifdenGalway26235 kwV
Cnoc an ÓirKerry47441.5 kwV
EnnistimonClare33360.02 kwH
TonabrockyGalway26230.25 kwV

References

  1. "RTÉ Transmitters Go Digital". You Tube. RTÉ NL. 24 October 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. "Television transmitter to be replaced". 24 September 2009.