Freeview Aerial Installation
Why do I want a Freeview aerial installed?
I have NTL. Many NTL customers will instantly know why I now want a Freeview connection as well. So, the freeview will provide a back-up broadcast source when NTL is unavailable. I am also building a home theatre PC (HTPC) and it has a DVB-T tuner card. The signal from my existing loft mounted narrow band aerial is too poor. I can tell because although I can see the channels the picture is blocky has a low frame rate (like watching a still picture slide show). This is indicative of a poor signal for a digital transmission (on or off), whereas analogue would let you watch but with a grainy or distorted picture.
In the loft or or the roof?
My existing old aerial is in the loft. The roof tiles and any metal in the roof construction will attenuate (reduce) the signal it receives by at least half. There is also some loss of signal due to the fact the higher you can mount the aerial the better the signal it will receive. So, despite it costing more to have an aerial on the roof (primarily due to the fact I won't install it on the roof, but I would in the loft!) I'm ideally going for the roof for the best signal I can get.
Aerial Type
Is there such a thing as a digital aerial? Well, contentious question with some. An aerial that will give you the best chance of receiving a good digital tv signal is a Group W or wideband aerial (picks up channels 21-68) ideally one with a high gain and possibly with a mast head (i.e. at the aerial) mounted amplifier. Maplins sell an Extra Gain Wideband Aerial for £39.99 (as of June 2006).
Installation
As I said my first choice is a roof mounted aerial. I don't possess any ladders and whilst I'm OK with heights I don't fancy falling off my roof for the cause of a htpc build. So, I phoned around for parts and labour costs for 'freeview' aerial installs. Whilst I'm not a cheap scate my initial reaction to the pricing was "you're joking!". The prices varied from £100-190 for parts and installation plus VAT from a sample poll of 8 companies in my area. The aerial to be installed was anything from a basic 15 element wideband aerial up to a 52 element high gain wideband aerial. Although looking at aerial pricing it shouldn't make much more than £20 difference whether you get a basic or high gain aerial. I asked how long a typical aerial install takes and was told 1 hour. This means that an aerial installer is charging up to £80 an hour. Not quite up there with a lawyer, but close!
Why so expensive?
Conclusion
Tough one. Whilst I want the best signal I can get I'm a little lothe to pay more than £100 for it when I know the component costs aren't high. I've considered buying the components and putting one in my loft, however if I don't get enough signal then I've wasted my time. Considering that my existing aerial picks up the channel information OK, but just not enough signal has pushed me into paying for someone to come round and put the aerial on the roof. It's expensive, but at least I will get the best reception possible at my location - excluding that acheived by amateur radio fans!
UPDATE:
After phoning around one large regional company had a listed of price of from about £65 for supply and install. Sounds good. Bloke turns up next day. Looks at chimney and other types of aerial on roofs nearby and says it will cost £200!! Err, no I say, goodbye. At which point he blusters a bit and then says well how much do you think it should cost. I mention, too honestly, that most other companies I have spoken to wanted to charge around £130 for a 52 element wide-band aerial and bracket including install. So, he agrees to do it for that price. Talk about trying it on! Under what circumstances would I actually need the £65 aerial install the company advertises and the sales staff discuss? Looking at some of the feedback below mentions the danger of the job. Fair enough, I wouldn't do it, but that danger is the same for a £65 roof install and a £200 roof install. Are you insisting that the difference in price between two aerials could be £135?? Oh bye the way I have Sky now and don't use the aerial anyore ....
Author: Jonathan Pearson
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Date Added: Saturday 23rd February 2008
"I AM AN AERIAL AND SATELLITE INSTALLER AND ALL I CAN SAY IS EVERY AREA IS DIFFERENT SIGNAL WISE SOME GOOD SOME BAD, SO THIS WILL AFFECT THE PRICE BUT YOU SHOULDNT PAY MORE THAN £150 UNLESS ITS FOR MORE ROOMS. A STANDARD INSTALL SHOULD BE AROUND £70. WE ARE DOING A DANGEROUS JOB IN DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS.WOULD YOU CLIMB ON A ROOF IN GALE FORCE WINDS WITH THE RAIN IN YOUR FACE FOR £20 POUND I THINK NOT SO THINK OF THIS IF YOU NEED A NEW ONE!!!!!!!"
L. CUTHBERT
Date Added: Thursday 31st January 2008
"I have a small aerial in the loft that I used for analoge, I have now bought 2 free veiw boxes and the aerial works perfectly well even with both tv switched on, I do have a cheap amplifier on the aerial. "
T E GREGORY
Date Added: Saturday 1st December 2007
"I know that outdoor aerial installation is a bit expensive but I think the benefits are good. I got what I think is a good deal, High gain aerial with all the cable I needed plus the guy even split the cable 3 ways so it would plug into my set top box, my DVD recorder and my VCR. Total cost was £108 and the guy did have to put the cable around the side of my house. Total job time - 45 minutes"
J Bainbridge - Newcastle
Date Added: Thursday 8th November 2007
"I agree with you, its very hard to get a cheap aerial installation. I have had two done at two different area's and both cost £100 + VAT. "
boo man
Date Added: Wednesday 3rd October 2007
"Sound advice from William Wallace re-iterating the general sentiment of this website - get someone in who has been recommended and won’t charge over the odds. £99 sounds great by the way!"
Jon P
Date Added: Tuesday 25th September 2007
"pricing it must depend on where you stay we are an aerial company in dunddee scotland and we charge £99.oo for a 52 element aerial fully installed with a five year warranty. it is not recomended to go onto any roof as there is a really good chance you can get hurt. aerial install 1. 4 bolts .standpole.cable clips.cable ties.wall shatter shield.silocan sealant.wall bush. coax plug. tools you will need drill.socket set hammer tape.ties.sealant gun.drill.screwdiver.stanley knife. snips.ladders with someone to hold them for safty reasons.so i do not think most people have all the above . for your information i have been installing tv aerials for 28 years and we have not always had the prices that you pay now and had to risk life and limb. so ask your frends wich have had an digital aerial fitted and are happy with the aerial company and use them "
willam wallace{engineer}
