Incamedia are specialists in the design and procurement of large-scale digital communal TV systems for new housing developments. We are currently working on a number of networks serving 150 - 4,500 units on key development sites. Click here for information on our IRS consultancy and technical services.

Communal TV systems have been common on flats and apartment blocks for many years and Integrated Reception System (IRS) is a newer communal TV standard designed in particular to provide for modern Satellite and Digital TV distribution.

In the past, the cost and complexity of a co-axial cable network has precluded the use of IRS for individual housing developments of any scale, except in unusual circumstances.

In recent years however, the cost of fibre-optic equipment and installation has fallen to the point where a fibre-based IRS has become a viable proposition for serving large housing developments. The advantages of a fibre optic system are that it is capable of serving large numbers of houses and over considerable distances.

Fibre-based IRS can serve 1,000's of homes from a single antennae set

 Typically an IRS will provide all homes with:

• Analogue TV (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4, C5)

• Digital TV (Freeview)

• Satellite TV (Sky, Sky+, Sky HD)

• Radio (FM, DAB)

 With an IRS residents receive the full range of free-to-air and pay TV channels direct to their TV outlet – the only difference is they don’t need dishes and aerials.  They must however have a TV license and they will need a Sky subscription to view Sky services.

An IRS network is easily adapted to supply other services such as broadband, voice and video services such as video on demand, community TV and CCTV. Other satellite channels (such as foreign language services) can be added as required.

This article provides useful information on IRS for developers.

Click here for more information on our IRS consultancy and technical services.