Freesat installations

Freesat have done everything they can to ensure your dish installation will be safe and appropriate.

^{Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV 9th May 2008 at 11:19}

When you buy a Freesat box you will be offered an appropriate installation by the retailer. You can, if you already have a satellite dish that is unused or if you are replacing a Sky box with a Freesat one, just take the box home and do it yourself. See Upgrading from Sky to Freesat - ukfree.tv.

If you choose to have have a new dish installed, this will be done in one of two ways.

The major high-street retailers Argos, Comet, and John Lewis will arrange for TSG - Total Support Group; Currys.digital will employ Euroaerials to come and fit it at an arranged time. All these retailers will allow you to select the type from a basic disk, single LNB and one cable to a eight-output one to eight locations. Whatever you needs are.

If you buy the box from an independent retailer there is a slightly different arrangement. Some of the independents will also use Euroaerials and TSG.

However, other independent retailers that have their own installation services as part of their company can select to perform this function themselves. There retailers have to sign a contract to ensure that they match the service levels required by Freesat.

This requires that each and every installer must:

• have an appropriate registration with the Registered Digital Installers scheme (RDI); you can check at Registered Digital Installer Licensing Body - Find an Installer.
• be registered as a member of the CAI (Confederation of Aerial Installers). You can check that here: TV Aerial Installer Search - The Confederation of Aerial Industries Limited.
• have a clean check from the CRB (Criminal Records Bureau).

In addition, when the installer visits your home, they must:

• agree with the customer first where the dish and receivers are to be positioned;
• explain to the customer the work they are going to do and the effect it will have;
• install the dish, cables and connectors to the correct standards;
• align the dish to the satellites.
• connect the Freesat box to the television using the correct cables;
• explain the operation of the box and remote control to the customer.

If the retailer does not keep to these strict rules their contract to supply boxes will be terminated and they could face court action. Freesat say they have a 'zero tolerance' policy towards inappropriate customer service.

Basically, all Freesat boxes and installation will be sold though retail outlets, so there is always someone you can go and see if you have a problem. This does not mean these shops cannot also sell online, but they must have an address you can go to.

So, let's test out this advert that keeps being posted here on ukfree.tv:



Interestingly the Digital Television Services says "13 years experience" but RDI site says (Associate RDI), which is for someone under training, see Registered Digital Installer Licensing Body - Becoming an RDI/ARDI




(And you can multiple rooms, but A multitude is a large number of people)

Now, we can check the address:


View Larger Map

And verify the CAI qualification: results in a 'not found'.

Freesat say that only installations though their high-street retailers will have passed their security, safety and customer service quality tests.

Conclusion

So, you can conculde that this person may or may not be fit to enter your house, it would appear that neither he or his business are 'Freesat approved'.

Additional information by supplier

Supplier	Notes
John Lewis	What about installation? We offer a range of installation options, starting at 80 for a standard installation. This includes: A satellite dish and external components Fixing the dish to a suitable outer wall, up to 10 metres above ground level Up to 15m of cabling to supply one room of your household Cable ties and clips to neatly run the cabling from the dish to the entry point Connection of one freesat receiver to the dish Signal strength and functional check of dish and freesat receiver Tuning and demonstration of freesat receiver Other options are available, such as connection to a freesat receiver with a built-in recorder or connection to more than one room.
Comet	1 room 79.95, 2 rooms 119.95, 3 rooms 159.95, 4 rooms 189.95,
Argos	This item is for the satellite equipment and cabling only, NOT the freesat box. Our installers will call within 48 hours to arrange a convenient date for set up and installation of your Freesat equipment and satellite dish. Installation has restrictions so the installer will also check with you the details of your property to ensure that the standard installation service will be suitable. The installer may quote additional charges for installations outside the scope of the standard conditions. There is no obligation to accept an additional charge - you may cancel the installation and claim a refund instead. Any additional charges are paid directly to the installation company. This service is suitable for domestic premises only.