If I need a new aerial, who can install it?
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV If you do need a new aerial, you may wish to employ a professional to install one for you. Most people don't have the head for heights combined with roof-walking skills.
First, check with the Confederation of Aerial Industries Limited. They have a installer-finding website at http://www.cai.org.uk/asp/installer.asp
A good installer will provide you with a written quotation for the work beforehand, and not require payment until the work is complete. Good companies provide identity cards to staff that work in customer's homes.
It's often best to ask friends and neighbours for recommendations too. They may know, for example, if you need a high-cost class I aerial or if there is a more economic solution.
The aerial should be installed in a place that is good for reception and complements the building. Ideally, it should not be visible from the street. If this is impossible, it should not distract from the building. If you live in a listed building or conservation area you may have other restrictions.
Any existing aerials should be disconnected. If the building has multiple aerials any new aerial should be around one metre away from any existing aerials. If the signal is poor, it may be more economic to have a single high-quality aerial and a mast-head amplifier, rather than several poorer aerials.
Mounting many aerials on the same pole will degrade the signal received by each, unless they have about one metre spacing.
The cable that connects to the aerial can be a variety of colours; the one chosen should be complementary. It must be secured at regular intervals and travel either vertically or horizontally. When it enters the house from the outside, this should be done directly though a hole drilled right though the brickwork, and then sealed. A hole though a wooden window-frame is OK but one though double-glazing is not.
The cable inside should be tidy and run horizontally or vertically too, and be securely and regularly fixed. The cable should end in a wall-mounted socket within a few metres of the television set.
From this socket another fly-lead connects to the TV or set-top box. In the event of a thunderstorm, the equipment can be protected from random lightning damage by the disconnection of this "fly-lead" cable.
You should expect a installation for Freeview reception to give the full range of channels with uninterrupted video and sound on all channels once connected.
ABC Aerials have a Installers from Hell section, where you can see great examples they have found of bad installers. You have been warned!
Don't have digital nightmares.
4:51 PM
I had an aerial fitted by Northwest Aerial & Cable Com and they drilled through the double glazed window frame! The unit is now damaged and has moisture spots in the lower corners as well as letting in rain and an almighty draught where the cable enters. I complained to the company - turns out it was the boss that did it! He told me it is up to the individual fitter as to where they drill and has refused to replace the frame and do the job properly. One of his lads whilst checking the aerial said he would'nt have done that, he'd have come through the wall above the skirting, he's a perfectionist and likes everything neat and tidy! Surely the boss should be the perfectionist and lead by example not the other way round!! They're supposed to be a reputable firm, 100% customer satisfaction guaranteed - maybe, if you don't get the boss! What do you think? I intend reporting him to trading standards and the local newspaper and would really appreciate any additional advice or comments.
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7:31 PM
Kelly - Have a chat with Citizens Advice Bureau..they will advise you on your rights.
The job should have been done to reasonable standards without incidental damage, but any reputable firm will always carry third-party insurance for the occasional time when things go wrong, even accidently.
CAB may advise you that you can sue the firm in the Small Claims Court for the cost of a replacement frame (a simple and easy procedure which you can do yourself), but I'd ask them first.
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Kelly: I would call the government-funded Trading Standards Hotline, called Consumer Direct on 08454 04 05 06 or see Consumer rights : Directgov - Government, citizens and rights .
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5:45 PM
just installed new high gain aerial on the chimney, Harriseahead S.O.T, Digital reception is average at best !!!! is there a compass reading i should know about, to point aerial at ?? I believe Sutton Coldfied transmitter is now on line now ..maybe you can help.
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Micky: If you provide a postcode, it might be possible to help. Sutton Coldfield goes to full power a week on Wednesday.
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10:16 AM
Emsworth
I have just bought a new LED 1070 digital sharp tv which I want to install for the kitchen. I have 2 tvs in other rooms each with their own separate digital aerial in the loft. 1. Can I run a coax and link the new tv from one of the existing aerials ?
2. Can this coax feed directly into the TV or should i install a aerial termination point ?
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
10:20 AM
Emsworth
Re My previous note.
I want to fix my new Sharp TV wall mount but I notice that the aerial and power connections protrud 2-3 cms directly out of the back of the tv. Even with a wall mount plate this does not give sufficient clearance. How do people do this when faced with this configuration ?
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Richard: You can get mains leads with right-angled connectors on the end. You can also get right-angled aerial connectors. Would this have sufficient clearance?
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Dave's: mapD's Freeview map terrainD's terrain plot wavesD's frequency data D's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Superb site Brian, just a quick ? I live at SW4 6JB and have my aeriel pointed at Crystal palace all should be well but channels 50-54 all the good stuff have become unavailable since the switchover, I have discovered that the signal strength was multiplied tenfold and i have an inline splitter amp. I have switched this off and at one point managed to retune the elusiver channels in, but impossible to watch. Aeriel first then start attenuating or am I missing something basic on the tuning front. many thansk in advance>
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Ceathan's: mapC's Freeview map terrainC's terrain plot wavesC's frequency data C's Freeview Detailed Coverage