Freeview: Northern Ireland "mini multiplex" (NIMM) | Digital switchover
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Northern Ireland "mini multiplex" (NIMM)

I have added information to the UK Free TV database to cover the so-called mini-multiplex that will carry three Irish channels, TG4, RTE1 and RTE2 in a very special multiplex from three transmitters in Northern Ireland.

I have added information to the UK Free TV database to cover th
Published on by on UK Free TV

A special service for 80%-90% of households in Northern Ireland will see three Freeview additional channels being available. These will be:



Some homes will be able to receive the services directly from the Saorview transmitters in the RoI (see www.saorview.ie link icon SAORVIEW - Ireland's free digital television service ), and others will, from the digital switchover date of Wednesday 24th October 2012, have a service provided from three Freeview transmitters in Northern Ireland.



Northern Ireland RTE1 RTE2 TG4 minimux transmitters

However, you will not be able to view these services using a standard-definition Freeview receiver - a Freeview HD box or set will be required. It is not known at this time if the NIMM will carry RTE2 in HD, as per the Saorview service. TG4 and RTE1 are broadcast in standard definition at the moment.

The requirement for a Freeview HD receiver is because the services are being broadcasting in "D-Book Option 11", which uses the DVB-T2 standard ("a new mode, option 11, is being planned for a multiplex in Northern Ireland. Receivers should be able to switch between these automatically", D-Book 7, DTG164 is defined in appendix G as: FFT size 32k, 16QAM modulation, 1/128 guard interval, PP7, FEC 64800). www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk link icon Digital Television - Technical guidance on the availability of TG4 in Northern Ireland after digital switchover says that Option 11 is: DVB-T2 16QAM FEC 1/2.

Update: DVB-T2 16QAM FEC 1/2 provides a bitrate for the multiplex of 12.77Mb/s.

Update: DVB-T2, QPSK modulation, FEC 2/3, 32K carriers, 9.954 Mbit/s.





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Peter Henderson
Friday 24 February 2012 8:08PM
I very much doubt Saorview from Clermont Cairn will reach Larne Paul, even with the increase in power on October 24th.

If you're getting a patchy signal from Divis at present then things should be much better (if not perfect) after DSO. I'm not sure about the NIMM from Black Mountain. If what Mike is saying is true i.e re. the technical paramaters then you may be OK. I do know that some of the higher parts of Larne enjoy Freeview from Divis even now, so maybe a replacement aerial may help
Failing all that, the situation with Saorsat should become clearer over the next few months so that might be the better option, if you don't want to bother with the subscription service on Sky.

Scottish TV shouldn't be a problem with either the Stranraer or Portpatrick transmitters, although both are Freeview Lite.
Briantist
Saturday 25 February 2012 11:00AM
From www.bbc.co.uk link icon BBC News - New venture brings RTE and TG4 to NI homes :

The Irish Republic's competition authority has permitted the creation of a new digital television multiplex in Northern Ireland.

It will carry services from south of the border.

The joint venture by RTE (Raidio Teilifis Eireann) and Teilifis na Gaeilge (TG4) would bring programmes from both to around 90% of NI homes.

The authority consulted with broadcasting regulators in the UK and Ireland.

It found that the creation of Multiplex Broadcasting Services N.I. Limited would not substantially lessen competition in the market for the sale of television advertising.

Both the UK and Ireland are working towards the switch off of analogue signals at the end of 2012.

The new multiplex will broadcast in DVB-T2, the same parameters used by Freeview HD.

Unlike standard definition Freeview receivers, these devices can be used on both sides of the border.
U
Saturday 25 February 2012 11:49AM
My point Peter Henderson is while Welsh people were looking for ways to receive improved receptiono of Irish TV a mentality existed in our small island which sought to deny Irish people of stronger Irish tv signals.
The Cush
Saturday 25 February 2012 12:46PM
According to the Competition Authority press release Ofcom has already issued the Broadcast Licence to the RTÉ/TG4 joint venture company - www.tca.ie link icon 
The Competition Authority: News & Publications » News Releases » Competition Authority clears joint venture between RTÉ and TG4


Briantist
Saturday 25 February 2012 1:19PM
The Cush: Ofcom don't seem to have listed it yet - licensing.ofcom.org.uk link icon Ofcom | Multiplex licensees is where it should be.
Peter Henderson
Saturday 25 February 2012 1:38PM Newtownabbey
From the BBC report:

"The new multiplex will broadcast in DVB-T2, the same parameters used by Freeview HD"

but sadly, not in HD, which is a pity.

Still RTE in SD is better than nothing.
Dave Lindsay
Saturday 25 February 2012 1:57PM
Perhaps HD will come later.

Sometimes there are licensing issues with programmes broadcast on certain platforms. Could it be that RTÉ will not be able to broadcast certain content (e.g. particular films) north of the border due to licensing issues and that this will mean that if it supplied it in HD, it would have to be a different HD feed to that in Ireland so as to allow opt outs?
Briantist
Saturday 25 February 2012 6:32PM
Dave Lindsay: Quickly looking at the maths from

www.dveo.com link icon Bit Rate Calculation for COFDM Modulation

A=54E6 * (packet length/204) = 54E6 * 1
B=A*Bandwidth= 54E6 * 1 = 54E6
C=B*modulation scheme (16QAM=0.5) = 27
D=C*code rate = 216 * .5 = 13.5E6
E=D*guard interval value = 13.5E6 * (128/129) = 13395349

So the bitrate for the multiplex is 12.77Mbps, which probably explains why the services will be SD and you can't really get more than one HD service in 12.77Mbps.
the cush
Saturday 25 February 2012 11:24PM
According to a post by reslfj over in DS the bitrate will be 15.04 Mbit/s

RTE1, RTE2 and TG4 confirmed for Freeview NI from 2011 - Page 5 - Freeview - Digital Spy Forums
http://dvb.org/technology….pdf
Briantist
Sunday 26 February 2012 1:24PM
the cush: I've shown my working though.
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 26 February 2012 8:04PM
Briantist: So is there a reason they didn't use DVB-T as then it still would have been SD, but would have been viewable on many more receivers?

If they had have made it DVB-T, they could have changed it to HD by switching it to DVB-T2 at a later date.
Briantist
Sunday 26 February 2012 8:16PM
Dave Lindsay: Yes, as I think Mike said above, you get better coverage for the same signal output, DVB-T2 "co-operates" better and the RoI services are in MPEG4, which is part of Freeview HD in the UK. Ofcom specifically banned using MPEG4 on DVB-T.

Given that NI is the very last region to switch in the UK, there should be mainly Freeview HD in the shops by then.

Yes, they could have done a MPEG2/DVB-T solution but the coverage would have been poor.
ronan o dwyer
Monday 27 February 2012 4:11PM
if freeview hd is mpeg4..ahern ireland nd saorsat is mpeg4 ..can saorsat be recievable in ni from roi transmitters?
ronan o dwyer
Monday 27 February 2012 4:16PM
if freeview hd is mpeg4..and in southern ireland saorsat is mpeg4 ..can saorsat be recievable in ni from roi transmitters?
sorry for gobblygook in previous message..
Briantist
Monday 27 February 2012 5:56PM
ronan o dwyer: Saorsat is a satellite service and has nothing to do at all with terrestrial transmitters.

Soarview, however, can be watched from NI using a Freeview HD in some areas, as Freeview HD boxes can display all of the Soarview channels, and you won't be limited to three channels in SD.
ronan o dwyer
Monday 27 February 2012 8:21PM
i apologise i meant saorview...my apologies
Briantist
Monday 27 February 2012 8:41PM
ronan o dwyer: No problem, I understood I think.
ronan o dwyer
Monday 27 February 2012 8:57PM
Ronan: is there any high powered transmitters on the isle of man...i.m a tv dxer and enjoy it..i.ve a samsung 46 inch tv mpeg 2 and mpeg 4 combined so can recieve freeview from ni and possibly wales from clandonna and have clear view to isle of man wonder is there any horizontal transmissions from there ..thanks for your help
Peter Henderson
Monday 27 February 2012 10:33PM Newtownabbey
Depends on your location Ronan.

Cambrett Hill in Southwest Scotland comes in well in parts of East Antrim and East Down, as do some of the relay stations on the Isle of Mann (Beary Peark for example) on the East Down coast.

All are Freeview Lite, including Cambrett Hill Cambrett is horizontally polarised and has an ERP of 2.8 Kw, which is stronger than Freeview from Divis at present.
Dave Lindsay
Tuesday 28 February 2012 9:23AM
ronan o dwyer: Ofcom published a list of post-switchover transmitters by region here:

stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk link icon Ofcom | Digital Switchover Transmitter Details

It has been found to be the case that these appear not to bt being updated, so ERP could be wrong.

The latest list of multiplex licences are here:

licensing.ofcom.org.uk link icon Ofcom | Supplementary licence documents in relation to DSO

They don't give polarisation, so you might have to switch between the two.
Briantist
Tuesday 28 February 2012 11:39AM
ronan o dwyer: Or you can look at the same data graphically on TV regions overview map | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice .
Mike Dimmick
Tuesday 28 February 2012 3:11PM
Briantist: Ofcom don't have the 'Channel M' multiplex licence anywhere either, and that was issued more than two years ago!
Briantist
Tuesday 28 February 2012 3:34PM
Mike Dimmick: Yes, that's true, the mentions of Channel M on the Ofcom site are somewhat tangential...
ronan o dwyer
Tuesday 28 February 2012 8:30PM
briantist i.d like to recieve manx radio on fm and made numerous enquiries to various satellite dealers looking for a 8 element directional fm aerial as i.ve a clear view to isle of man from my location..do you know anywhere i could get an 8 element fm aerial..thanks for all your help
Graham.F.Lewendon
Wednesday 29 February 2012 9:48PM
RE ronan o dwyer
Tuesday 28 February 2012 8:30PM
Manx radio via FM
Have you tried a google search?
I found many dealers online with a simple search.
I'm located in the NW corner of Essex and could get Capital FM from Crystal Palace on a 6 element antiferance yargi all through the 80's & 90's up till I upgraded two years back to an 8 element yargi pointing the 6 element sort of towards BBC oxford, Good luck
Don,t forget hight is important as is a low loss down lead with no joints in the run Re hight signal quadrouples each time hight doubles , but beware signal loss in feeder
ronan o dwyer
Wednesday 29 February 2012 10:00PM
I found one finally from uk..its an 8 element directional aerial and have 10 ft pole on chimney clear view out to sea..isle of man is roughly 50 miles away approx and can get manx radio on car radio up near dublin mountains.. i.m about 60 ft above sea level...by the way how far does digital tv signals travel as divis is roughly 90 miles away and will transmit 100 kw of radiating power..i can recieve it in poor analogue at moment using amp . will digital make much difference...thank you for help..
Briantist
Thursday 1 March 2012 7:01AM
ronan o dwyer: See www.ukfree.tv link icon Douglas DAB transmitter | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice for details of the only DAB transmitter on the Isle of Man.
ronan o dwyer
Thursday 1 March 2012 8:37PM
ronan o dwyer: i just checked that and beam is aimed northwards...Divis i guess it is...would 100kw power from divis make much difference signal wise comparing to 500 kw of Analogue...
PaulN
Sunday 4 March 2012 11:50PM Larne
So a quick update from partially successful testing at the weekend.

I bought a Labgear 450W aerial last week (triple decker wideband yagi with 16.5dB gain) and hooked it up to a SaorView TV (powered off an AC inverter in the car) via a DVB-T signal strength meter on some high ground (on an adjustable 6ft pole) near whitehead lighthouse and aimed it vaguely south to see if I could pickup SaorView.

Setup with Vertical polarisation I positioned it halfway between the points where signal strength fell to 50dBuV so I had a solid reading of 60dBuV on the meter (two lights)... Then performed a channel scan and was a bit surprised to see the TV pickup a lot of UK Freeview channels - which I wasn't expecting on VERTICAL - it must have been working off a Freeview repeater in range (but I thought they were very limited range).

The TV couldn't find anything at channels 52 (RTE1) or 53 (SaorView) as I expected from Clermont Cairn, but it did find RTE1, TV3 and TG4 on analog elsewhere in the spectrum. I was too busy holding the aerial in the stiff breeze to see where it found them.

So... is it worth me trying a mast-head amplifier along with a filter that blocks channels 21-48 to give me a better chance of latching onto the Clermont Cairn feed so far North or am I way too optimistic ?
Peter Henderson
Friday 9 March 2012 12:51AM Newtownabbey
Interesting Paul.

The UK Freeview channels are possibly from the Isle of Mann (or maybe Portpatrick or Stranraer) as there are no vertically polarised Freeview transmissions in the province at the moment (try checking the BBC region).

After the increase in power from Saorview from Clermont Cairn post DSO, It's quite possible you may get a signal from Saorview, despite the Whitehead transmitter being on the same frequency (channel 52). It's very low power and could probably be nulled out.
Briantist
Saturday 10 March 2012 8:46PM
Peter Henderson: You can now see the Whitehead transmitter's radiation pattern here - www.ukfree.tv link icon Whitehead digital switchover date | ukfree.tv - independent free digital TV advice
Ronan o dwyer
Wednesday 14 March 2012 7:57PM
2 analogue channels from 3 rock mountain still open..
ch 33(RTE2)and ch 35 (TV3).
Mike Dimmick
Thursday 12 April 2012 2:30PM
There are some coverage maps in the Republic's Competition Authority's review statement. (The TCA were required to review the joint venture between RTÉ and TG4, as both sell advertising.)

See www.tca.ie link icon http://www.tca.ie/images/….pdf , annex 1 and 3 specifically.

Ronan o dwyer: Analogue switch-off on the island of Ireland is not until 24 October. All four services are still broadcasting from Three Rock, RTÉ One on C29, RTÉ Two on C33, TV3 on C35 and TG4 on C55, all at 25 kW. Three Rock broadcasts the first Saorview multiplex on C54 at 63 kW, quite an increment when digital services are usually considered equivalent at one-fifth to one-tenth the power of analogue!
Iderown
Friday 13 April 2012 7:13AM
Six months to go until DSO in Northern Ireland region. Does anyone know anything further comcerning the NI mini-multiplex (RTE channels)arrangements. Specifically, channel allocations and polarisation at Black Mountain, Carnmoney Hill and Brougher Mountain? Indeed, if these are still the proposed transmitting sites?
Will need to consider the aerial here (Bangor, Co Down) sometime over the summer.
Mike Dimmick
Friday 13 April 2012 2:33PM
Iderown: The map I pointed to suggests that the NIMM will cover Bangor. For the full range of UK services you will need to point the aerial to Divis. If you already get a good Channel 5 analogue service from Black Mountain, you're probably good for the NIMM.

We don't yet know which channel will be used, unfortunately, so you may have to gamble on wideband.

If you're the same Iderown on Boards.ie, you should be good to stick with your Group C/D on Clermont Carn. Saorview from there will be 160kW digital after analogue switch-off, which is approximately equivalent to 800kW analogue using the scaling factors that the UK uses to set the digital power level. The current analogue output at Clermont Carn is 250kW. Saorview signals are currently restricted to the north, that restriction is lifted on 24 October. It will replace RTÉ One on C52, so if you have good reception of that already, you'll probably get good results from Saorview directly.
Iderown
Friday 13 April 2012 5:43PM
Thank you for that Mike Dimmick. Yes, I am the same Iderown. Reception from Clermont Carn (analogue) is marginal to reasonable at Bangor (North Down).
I will most likely hedge the bets, leave the group C/D (V) aerial on the chimney, and keep the diary empty for a few days at the end of October!
It will be an interesting time.
Peter Henderson
Friday 13 April 2012 11:34PM Newtownabbey
If you can't get the NIMM from Black Mountain Iderown, you may be able to receive it from Carnmoney Hill which is only across the lough.

Briantist
Tuesday 29 May 2012 6:56PM
UPDATE from www.bbc.co.uk link icon BBC News - RTE channels will go on Freeview in Northern Ireland :

RTE channels will go on Freeview in Northern Ireland

People in Northern Ireland will be able to watch RTE TV channels on Freeview following digital TV switchover, the government has confirmed.

Three channels - RTE One, Two and TG4 - will be available.

Freeview delivery of the channels will be supplemented by overspill coverage from Saorview, its equivalent in the Republic.

Digital switchover is to be completed in Northern Ireland on 24 October of this year.

Minister of State for Northern Ireland Hugo Swire said:"This announcement is the culmination of a great deal of work involving the UK and Irish governments, the broadcasters themselves and the regulatory bodies.

"I'm pleased to welcome this important practical step, which will increase the coverage of RTE1 and 2 and importantly of TG4 following digital switchover later this year."

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: "I'm delighted that the digital future for TG4, RTE One and RTE Two in Northern Ireland is now strengthened and secure.

"Today's announcement is good news for viewers and continues our delivery on commitments set out in the Good Friday agreement."

Irish Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte added: "This announcement means that from Analogue Switch-off on 24 October, over 90% of viewers in Northern Ireland will be able to receive TG4 and the two primary RTE channels in digital.

"It is a hugely positive result in terms of practical cooperation resulting from the Good Friday Agreement."
Peter Henderson
Tuesday 29 May 2012 11:23PM
At last, something official Brian !
Mike Dimmick
Thursday 31 May 2012 2:45PM
Information on the NI mini-mux is now on Digital UK's postcode checker. The selected mode is DVB-T2, QPSK modulation, FEC 2/3, 32K carriers.

Frequencies:

Carnmoney Hill on C48 at 16 watts
Black Mountain on C39+ at 1kW/2kW (directional)
Brougher Mountain on C30- at 1kW

No information on the Guard Interval, but since the obvious pairing of Carnmoney Hill and Black Mountain are on different frequencies, I expect it'll be 1/128. Similarly it will probably use Pilot Pattern 7 to match the HD mode. The recommended configuration in the DVB-T2 Implementation Guide gives 9.954 Mbit/s (the frame lengths can also be altered in T2). Using this mode requires 2.6 - 2.8 dB less signal, compared to the noise level, than the 16QAM 1/2 mode previously suggested, and 14.7 - 15.8 dB less than the HD mode. That's equivalent to broadcasting at 29.5x - 38x the power of the HD mux.

The change in mode could be down to the power level permitted at Brougher Mountain, which is half that previously indicated (i.e. 3 dB less).
Conor
Wednesday 20 June 2012 10:54PM
I think that RTE 1 and 2 and TG4 should also be put on freesat and cable and sky F T A just like freeview to mirrior freeview on all platforms in northern Ireland dose any body agree with me
KMJ,Derby
Wednesday 20 June 2012 11:57PM
Conor: There is no way RTE would consider going free-to-air on the Sky /Freesat group of satellites as such a move would cause problems with TV rights with the signal being available over so many countries in Europe. That is why Saorsat is using a satellite which does not reach beyond Wales. There are many viewers in England who would welcome the chance to receive RTE, but sadly real choice has actually gone down (without using equipment to receive from other orbital positions) since satellite transmission was first introduced on Astra 1A in the early days of Sky.
Richard
Tuesday 26 June 2012 2:40PM
I have seen boards where Saorsat is being received in Devon and Avon.70% signal strength.
Conor
Tuesday 3 July 2012 4:16PM
the people who have freeview are going to have to move to freesat because this 4g is a lot worse than what they are saying Bt vision are starting to go down the freesat route to get over this they have told me that they are in talks with freesat box manufactures so rte may go on to freesat any way to satisfy the good friday agreement
Andy boyd
Wednesday 25 July 2012 3:48PM
My freeview line up has all the rte channels in placement at present, is it possible i will get all channels in october when the switch over happens, i live in antrim
Peter Henderson
Wednesday 25 July 2012 8:52PM
Conor:

I've been told, in no uncertain terms, that RTE will never, ever, be on Freesat, ever.

It's all down to rights issues. Apparently the Irish government believe that if RTE were free to air ad 28.2 degrees east, millions of people in the UK (and all across Europe) would be tuning in and watching their programmes (some US series air before the UK, or are exclusive to RTE for example).

Hence Saorsat, which has a very narrow spot beam and will not be receivable in the UK (apart from west Wales, South West England, and maybe South West Scotland), and the need for the NI mux.

Personally, I think Saorsat may be a dead duck, in my opinion (lack of equipment for example, will installers even bother ?).

Still, time will tell.

It'll be interesting to see Clermont Cairn's coverage after October 24th.
Peter Henderson
Wednesday 25 July 2012 9:07PM
Andy: Re. RTE on Freesat after October 24th.

Definitely no.
Peter Henderson
Wednesday 25 July 2012 9:09PM
Andy: Sorry, thought you w2ere talking about Freesat.

You should get Saorview after DSO if you have good analogue reception at present.
joe mc keown
Saturday 29 September 2012 12:04AM
i have bought a triax t2-td pvr is there any way of connecting to internet to receive extra channels triax says it cannot be done i connected it up the other night i got the conection it lasted for about 15 teen minutes then losted it it did not work since could any body help me
Helen
Sunday 7 October 2012 9:05PM
Why will rte not broadcast via Freeview transmitter in limavady making it 100% available in northern Ireland?
Helen
Sunday 7 October 2012 9:06PM
I have been told having researched this - For information,Company who runs TV Mast at Limavady is called - Arqiva they can be contact directly at www.arqiva.com or on +44 (0) 1962 823434.

I do hope that problem I highlighted is successfully resolved asap if any problems with switchover this is the place to contact above to report/issues/problems.
raymond dunlop
Friday 26 October 2012 8:03PM
i have lost r t e how do i regain it through limavady service. thank u.



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