Aerials - IRS Communal Aerial systems - Regional dealer locator
Also see: Fibre Optic IRS
An IRS (Integrated reception system) allows the signal from a single TV aerial, FM/DAB aerial, a Satellite dish, or a combination of signals to be distributed to multiple TV points.
The most popular systems use IRS multiswitches to combine UHF/IF and FM/DAB on one downlead to the TV point where a diplexed wallplate is used to seperate the signals. Generally two coaxial cables are installed to facilitate the use of a PVR recording receiver (plus box) where required. A single feed is adequate to receive Freeview or for use with standard Freesat boxes.
Communal dishes are fitted with quattro LNBs that provide a fixed feed for each of the frequency bands required that can be split to provide a signal to multiple multiswitches.
Some multiswitches including the models from Optima can be connected to a standard Quad LNB (like the ones used with Sky plus etc). This is a easy and economical way to expand the system capacity in smaller properties.
There are multiswitches available that allow several satellites to be distributed on one downlead. They use the disecq protocol so compatible receivers can switch between the connected satellites. These would generally be free to air receivers as Freesat and Sky receivers do not operate disecq.
A system using coaxial cable requires careful planning if there are long cable runs and lots of points due to the losses incurred in cabling and splitters etc. Fibre optic systems are now available with virtually no loss. Systems often use a combination of both coaxial and fibre generally to get the signal from the dish and aerial equipment to the headend where it is adapted back to coax to feed the multiswitch. Launch ampifiers are often used in coaxial systems where there are long cable runs from the dish prior to connection to the multiswitch.
If a system is required to only receive UHF signals then a system of amplifier,splitters and taps are used to distribute the signal. Most developements opt to use multiswitches and many now opt for fibre or a combination of coaxial and fibre optic. For more info on Fibre optic see our Fibre information page.
Triax, Delta, Proception, Spaun, Optima and Blake are popular manufacturers of communal components and IRS Multiswitches