If you live in a flat then it is more difficult to have Digital satellite or Digital terrestrial reception than in a normal house as it is against planning regulation to have multiple satellite dishes on a single building and can ruin the appearance of the building. However a single dish can be installed in a discreet location to serve all the flats through a distribution system.
Digital services are in great demand. Already, over 10 million households have acquired digital reception equipment. The Government will progressively switch off analogue broadcast services in different parts of the country in a phased programme through to 2012. Households which do not already have access to digital services must be upgraded before analogue services cease.
IRS is the only communal aerial system that can meet the demand for access to the full range of digital services. It delivers everything to everyone and gives households connected to the system freedom to choose the services that best meets their requirements.
System Types
There are several ways of distributing TV signals in buildings with multiple receivers.
MATV – Master Antenna TV System
For many years communal aerial systems have been designed using a configuration known as “tree and branch” and a variant known as 'loop' In these systems, signals are received via a shared antenna, amplified by a head end amplifier and distributed through a distribution cable to sub-feeds connected to each system outlet. 'Loop' systems are similar in design except that cables are looped through the outlets.
Screening levels in older communal systems are often insufficient for consistently reliable reception of digital services.
SMATV – Satellite Master Antenna TV System
As MATV, but includes satellite signals from central satellite head end.
IRS – Integrated Reception Systems
IRS uses a system configuration known as 'star-wire'; co-axial sub-feeds run from each system outlet to one or more common locations, creating a direct connection between each outlet and the system electronics. For larger sites, a cabled backbone is used to extend the star wire configuration. Star-wired systems have fewer connections between each outlet and the system electronics than other system configurations and are typically more reliable and easier to maintain than systems built to older designs.
The key to a successful large-scale commercial installation is thorough planning, and Silver TV have established highly efficient procedures for multi-point aerial installations. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we can produce an installation plan which will include safe access, aerial location and installation, network design, suitability and maintenance of equipment.