Northern Ireland RTE1, RTE2, TG4 special mini-multiplex from 24 October
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.
2:25 PM
Ballyclare
Hi, I have an hd freeview 1080p tv. Tried a manual digital tuning for rte on uhf 30 then 39 with no results. I'm in bt39 0jr. What should I be tuning to? Regards, George
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George's: mapG's Freeview map terrainG's terrain plot wavesG's frequency data G's Freeview Detailed Coverage
6:58 PM
Armagh
I bought a hd tv from lidls last year, they were emphasising that they would receive rte because of the mpeg4, today I find differently, the reason being that they are dvb t.
Have i been conned/
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tommy's: mapT's Freeview map terrainT's terrain plot wavesT's frequency data T's Freeview Detailed Coverage
7:32 PM
Tommy afraid so it seems from the posts just above.
(50 sets in Tesco only one Freeview HD and second a 3D set with Freeview HD.).
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8:48 PM
Tommy: DVB-T/MPEG4 should pick up Saorview, either from the Monaghan or Clermont Carn transmitters in ROI. Try a manual search on UHF ch 52 or 55 and see what you pick up.
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10:14 PM
Omagh
Michael: To Briantist. I took the MPEG4 set back to the shop where assistant retuned and there there were, all 8 RTE channels. He is receiving from Strabane. Took the set home, and all 8 gone (Brougher). All othere Freeview channels perfect. The DVB T2 set still has all Freeview channels, perfect, but not RTE. TV is marked HD Ready. I know there is some difference but I don't understand it.
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Michael's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:26 PM
Michael: You cannot receive RTE channels from Strabane, as it's a Freeview (relay) transmitter...
Clearly when you took it to the shop there was a good enough Saorview reception for it to find the Saorview channels, as it should. Where about is the shop?
Looking at your location on the Saorview coverage map - ukfree.tv - 10 years of independent, free digital TV advice - it seems you might not be able to get it, except from Brougher. In which case you need a DVB-T2 tuner.
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10:38 PM
Omagh
michael: The shop is in Gortrush. Apparently they have no Saorview coverage either, according to the map. The channels the set picked up there were 801 etc. The two sets I was talking about are a DVB T2 currently connected to an old aerial on the chimney and an MPEG4 connected to a separate MPEG4 aerial at the rear gable. Do you mean that if I move the DVB T2 to the kitchen (MPEG 4 aerial) I should get a result?
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Michael's: mapM's Freeview map terrainM's terrain plot wavesM's frequency data M's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:19 AM
Ballyclare
Been retuning my freeview hd box and been getting every other channel, but i dont seem to be getting RTE1, RTE 2, TG4. Even when i do a manual scan and but the setting to dv-t2, it still cant find it. I live in Ballyclare, and postcode is BT399EL.
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Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Colin: I presume you get 101 BBC One NI 102 BBC HD 103 UTV HD and 104 Channel 4 HD ?
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10:25 AM
Ballyclare
Yea i get all those np and good signal strength . Just cant get rte at all.
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Colin's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage