Northern Ireland RTE1, RTE2, TG4 special mini-multiplex from 24 October
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV Following on from the 1st February 2012, article Northern Ireland "mini multiplex" (NIMM), here is a summary of the services that will be available to most Freeview homes in Northern Ireland.
It is VERY IMPORTANT to note, however, that you MUST have Freeview HD (DVB-T2) equipment to receive RTE1, RTE2 and TG4 - even though the services are NOT provided in high definition from the Northern Ireland transmitters.
Many homes in the province will be able to get a special "Northern Ireland" mini-multiplex from one of three transmitters - Brougher Mountain (Enniskillen AND Omagh) , Black Mountain and Carnmoney Hill (both Belfast). This very special service is broadcast using the latest standards, which are called DVB-T2 and MPEG4. In the UK, these are used to provide high definition, but only in Northern Ireland are they used to provide three standard definition services from RoI.
The NIMM coverage from these transmitters is shown here:
If you get the NIMM, you will find channel 51 is TG4, 52 is RTE ONE, and 53 is RTE TWO.
This is shown on the transmitter pages like this (Carnmoney Hill) example:
If you can't get the NIMM, you will probably be able to get the extra channels directly from transmitters in the RoI. The following map shows the transmitters:
Your existing aerial may not be the right "group", or be pointing in the correct direction.
The RoI service is called Saorview (which is Irish for "Freeview") - see Saorview interactive map.
However, even though Saorview broadcasts in DVB-T mode, it uses the MPEG4 "compression" system - most UK non-HD boxes use MPEG2 (apart from BT Vision boxes, which support MPEG4). So, again, you will need a Freeview HD box.
The services broadcast on Saorview at the time of writing are:
1 RTE One, 2 RTE Two HD, 3 TV3, 4 TG4, 5 RTE News Now/Euronews, 6 3e, 7 RTE jr, 8 RTE One +1, 200 RTE Radio 1, 201 RTE Radio 1 Extra, 202 RTE 2FM, 203 RTE Lyric FM, 204 RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta, 205 RTE Pulse, 206 RTE 2XM, 207 RTE Choice, 208 RTE Gold, 209 RTE Chill, 209 RTE Junior,
It is possible that the Freeview HD box will not place the channels on these numbers, but in the 800-899 range.
The Saorview trasmitter pages show the information like this:
Multiplex Broadcasting Services N I Ltd is the not-for-profit joint venture formed by RTE and TG4 to operate a new additional multiplex from a small number of transmission sites in Northern Ireland. The UK and Republic of Ireland Governments Memorandum of Understanding of February 2010 confirmed their intention to make TG4 available on digital terrestrial TV to much of Northern Ireland and to also facilitate the provision of RTE One and RTE Two through NImux or overspill from Saorview (the Republic of Ireland digital TV service).
Ofcom predicts that NIMM services will reach 76% of the population in Northern Ireland and that Saorview overspill will reach 56% of Northern Ireland viewers. Ofcom also predicts that the combined NIMM and Saorview coverage will reach 93.3% of Northern Ireland viewers.
Jim: Perhaps the one that puts RT channels in the 800s is receiving them from Cairn Hill. If you have a single aerial pointing to Brougher Mountain then it is roughly in the opposite direction. Should this turn out to be the case then the issue is that the NIMux hasn't been tuned.
The signal strength screen should identify which you are receiving. Cairn Hill is on C47 and Brougher Mountain is on C30.
Try a manual tune on C30. If, on the manual tune screen, there is an option for signal mode - DVB-T or DVB-T2 - then choose the latter.
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8:15 PM
hi can you help me I love rte tv my husband from south Ireland, I pay to sky for rte, I don't know how to get it on my 2nd tv I have an ariel in attic just got it done 2010 I live bt28, I have a small hd ready tv I got a saorview set top box but cant get rte tv with it, I tried it in south Ireland got rte with it there, can u enlighten me what I need for rte tv please help help help
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11:14 PM
I'm not exactly sure where exactly in BT 28 you are Deirde, but it appears to be west of Belfast in and around the Lisburn area, in which case you should be fine for both Saorview and the NI mux, unless live in Dunmurry which I gather is hopeless for Saorview.
Your TV must be Freeview HD, not HD ready. HD ready simply means it has an HDMI socket and capable of receiving HD from an external source.
It's likely you'll need to invest in a Freeview HD set top box or PVR (recorder) in order to receive either Saorview or the NI mux. Neither can be received on a standard definition Freeview TV.
Check to see if you can receive the Freeview HD channels at 101-104. Alternatively, you may be receiving Saorview in the 800's but with sound only if your TV is a Feeeview SD model.
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11:18 PM
Also, if you're not receiving Saorview with the Saorview set top box you may need to invest in a new aerial. Check to see if you have one. RTE aerials are vertically polarised i.e. the elements will be pointing up and down rather than across the way.
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deirdre: It depends on where your aerial is pointing as to what you might be able to pick up.
The only way your Saorview box will receive RT channels is directly from a Saorview transmitter in the South. In your area Clermont Carn may be available. However this will mean you won't receive Freeview with the same aerial. Indeed if your aerial is pointing to a Saorview transmitter then the HD Ready TV should pick up the channels without need of the Saorview box.
Knowledge of where your aerial is pointing and your location in the form of a full postcode would allow further advice to be given.
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11:54 PM
Hi PJH!
BT28 is just outside Lisburn. I would think that Deirdre's aerial would be looking at Blackmountain and not to Clermont Carn. I had a look at DigitalUK site and a prediction regarding reception at BT28. Here is the link: Coverage Checker - Detailed View
I hope this helps.
Regards
P. Kieran Ward
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9:12 PM
Hi Dave sorry for the delay in getting back to. My location is bt28. Seems to have been a good few problems reported about this area. Reception is usually ok during the day but is very flaky in evening. I am looking for rte channels in the 800s. When doing a scan this is on channel 52 frequency 7220000. Transmission DVB-T on bandwidth 8mhz. I have turned off the antenna power as recommended above. Any ideas why this would be good on soar view but not on the freeview when using the same ariel.
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9:15 PM
Hi Dave sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
My location is bt28. Seems to have been a good few problems reported about this area. Reception is usually ok during the day but is very flaky in evening.
I am looking for rte channels in the 800s.When doing a scan this is on channel 52 frequency 7220000. Transmission DVB-T on bandwidth 8mhz. I have turned off the antenna power as recommended above. Any ideas why this would be good on soar view tv in kitchen but not on freeview in living room off the same ariel? Can be perfect at times but no picture at all other times. Thanks for the advice.
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paddy: You are receiving from Clermont Carn.
If your aerial is vertical (elements up/down) and is pointing to Black Mountain then presumably you are picking up Clermont Carn off the back of it which would explain why reception might be hit and miss.
From Black Mountain you will only be receiving PSB channels (BBC, UTV, Channel 4, Channel 5, UTV+1, Channel 4+1, Film4 and a few others.
Depending on your location you may be able to receive all channels from Divis. You could then combine the feed from one aerial on Divis and a second on Clermont Carn to allow you to watch Saorview and Freeview on the same TV/box.
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11:14 PM
Hi Dave!
If Paddy is able to receive transmissions from Black Mountain and from the discussion I take it that he is using a DVB-T2 receiver/set-top box, he may be able to receive Channel 39 (NIMM) TG4, RTE One and RTE Two plus RTE Raidio na Gaeltachta.
Another question - has he an aerial pointing to Clermont Carn - you were saying he could be receiving Clermont Carn from the back of his aerial which is pointing towards Black Mountain.
Regards
P. Kieran Ward
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