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.
4:45 PM
W. Matchett: Not on "Freeview", but you can on Saorview, if you're able to pick it up from a transmitter in the South. Knowledge of you location, preferably in the form of postcode or that of a nearby property such as a shop should allow us to gauge how likely this might be.
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12:10 AM
W. Matchett: I stand corrected. RT RnaG is available on Freeview, if you can receive the special NI Mux which also carries RT One, RT Two and TG4.
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7:57 AM
Hi, I live on the north side of the rep / Northern Ireland border. I bought a smart tv from the north which said it supported freeview but since iv started using it I can only get saorview channels. I have set the country setting to UK on my LG smart TV and have tried to retune on many occasions. Can anybody tell me how I will get freeview instead of saorview? Thank you
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4:42 PM
Sharon: Where does your aerial(s) point? Have you ever received Freeview with the aerial in question?
Are Freeview services on logical numbered channels 800 upwards?
It might also be helpful to know your location, preferably in the form of postcode or that of a nearby property such as a shop.
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10:13 PM
Sharon/David
Sharon - I take it that you had a TV set before purchasing the Smart LG set. If so, what channels did you receive on your old TV set? As David has asked you - your location, preferably in the form of postcode or that of a nearby public building will help to determine what transmitter you may be able to get the Freeview channels from. David has previously assisted lots of others with their reception problems.
Kieran (North Belfast)KieranKieran
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11:28 PM
Can you tell me on what frequency the DTV-T2 NIMM/NImux transmits from Black Mountain? The web kinks on 5his page to the three NI transmitters Brougher Mountain, Carnmoney Hill and Black Mountain don't work. Thanks.
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12:23 AM
Sean Quinn:
I assume you really mean Brougher Mountain transmitter in Ulster? Look at the channel data on the page at Which Freeview channels does the Brougher Mountain transmitter broadcast? and you will see that NIMM Mux is on channel 30 (545.8 MHz). It is transmitted at 1kW so less than the PSB multiplexes (which are 20kW) and half the power of the COM multiplexes.
There are three main transmitters shown in Ulster: Brougher Mountain, Limavady and Divis.
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10:30 AM
Sean Quinn: The NI mux is broadcast from Black Mountain on C39+ (618.2MHz) and covers a roughly similar area to the main PSB/COM muxes from Divis. The working link to the Black Mountain page is Which Freeview channels does the Black Mountain transmitter broadcast?
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7:20 PM
Hello,
I was watching The Ladies football just now, Ire v NI, and the picture kept breaking up. Now I get a screen message, NO DIGITAL TV SIGNAL AVAILABLE.
There is mostly a good reception on these channels, but occasionally, this happens.
I was told that the DIVIS Ariel does not transmit on full power.
If so why will RTE not provide a stronger signal.
Thanks
Regards
Jake
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