TV Ariel Help

[Clapham Saint]

I hope that somebody on here knows about these things and can offer some advice but...

 

Up until a couple of weeks ago we were receiving perfect reception on an old analogue aerial. There were 3 sockets in the house (2 in use).

 

 

After badgering from the Mrs “we” decided to get an additional socket installed in the top bedroom which we currently use as an office. A chap came round a quoted £85 to put the new socket in and hook everything up. All fine so far.

 

 

An installer came round a few days later (whilst I was at work) and persuaded Mrs CS that we needed a booster unit because 4 sockets was too many to run from the aerial and was “diluting” the signal. He also persuaded her that the old aerial was loose and that although it wasn’t strictly required she would be better off getting a digital aerial. This ended up costing £200 but the reception was awful and genuinely unwatchable (all aside from the fact that anybody competent enough to give a quote should have spotted the issue before hand).

 

 

 

After an unimpressed phone call the guy came back and this time persuaded Mrs CS to part with another £50 (yes I know) for a splitter box (or something very similar) to split the cable properly (apparently the pervious set up was just a bunch of cables taped together).

 

 

Now the signal in the main is fine, however intermittently it still goes through periods where it is impossible to watch anything at all. I thought this might be weather related but it happened again yesterday when there was no wind/rain to speak of at all.

 

 

Anyway, I’ve thrown a tantrum and the guy is coming back again on Wednesday when I will be here. I suspect that the reception at the time will no doubt be fine making my argument difficult but I need to get this sorted. Does anybody know enough about aerials to be able to make suggestions as to what the problem might be?

 

 

If he can’t fix it them I’ll write a letter of complaint, copy in the credit card company etc to try and get some money back but right now I just want a tv that doesn’t become unusable once every week.

 

Thanks in advance guys,

 

CS

[Saint in Paradise]

When reception is bad can you record it to show him when he visits?

[Sevvy]

Spliter box about £6,

 

Booster is no good will only boost a bad signal eg more noise etc,

 

Fitted aerial myself and run cables, all the kit can be bought from screwfix. fitted one aerial and linked this to a 6 port spliter using 'f' connectors then ran 3 cables to various rooms.(some took more time than others) signal strength very good, hardest bit is getting the aerial to pick up best signal, but with trial and error you can do it, total cost less than £100,

[Baj]

Agree, my dad did all his himself, it really isnt a hard job for even a beginner to do. I know retrospect is a fine thing, but if you're able to, get some sort of refund if it doesnt work and finish the job yourself.

[ecuk268]

Any competent aerial installer will have a signal-strength meter which they can use to get the best alignment and test the signal at each socket.

[dune]

I've been told that upgrading to a so called digital aerial is a con. There's no difference apart from it being a new design. It's not required and once the digital switchover happens and the signal is boosted there will be even less of a reason to "upgrade".

 

I have a digial aerial and if it's ok but no better than before.

[Clapham Saint]

Thanks guys.

 

I think it's fairly clear that although I did need the guy to come and put the socket in, we've been done.

 

Does anybody know what the cause of the bad reception might be? It does seem strange that it can be perfect for days and then totally unusable one morning for no obvious reason before then getting back to normal.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Go to Screwfix and look up how much a digital aerial, a booster and splurged cost and compare it to how much ge has charged you for said parts. I think he is well OTT.

 

The signal intermittently dropping out sounds like it may be slightly out of line. The smallest of tweaks on your aerial could solve the problem. I'm no expert but done my own aerials and have done so for a few mates too and have always had to play around a bit.

 

Boosters can be very hit or miss and you generally get what you pay for. If he has installed the cheapest of cheap options (which I no doubt he would have) then it will be about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Better of getting a refund for it and reading some reviews on them before sorting yourself out one and connecting it yourself. It's easy enough.

[Secret Site Agent]

Sorry but I too think you have been ripped off. When I work away I live in what is called a bunker bin, which is a containerised bedroom/bathroom/living room, so I have to set up a new aerial every 3 to 6 months. The costs for an individual set up, from Screwfix is:

Labgear TV Aerial High-Gain Digital £19.99

SLx Digital Signal Finder £13.99

Labgear Coaxial Cable Kit 25m £11.57

Co-Axial Cable Clip 7.0mm Black Pack of 100 £ 1.86

Labgear Metal Coax Plugs Pack of 10 £ 2.85

Labgear TV Aerial Loft Fixing Kit £ 3.95

Labgear Screened Flush Coaxial Socket £ 3.52 each

Philex Signal booster £ 6.99

 

Or, to be fair you can get 4 Room Digital TV Distribution Kit with Infra Red Link for £41.99 (Product Code: 26992). This includes

4 way aerial amplifier, 3 x SLx link remote extenders, 25m digital coaxial cable, 4 x 1m coaxial leads, 3 x surface coaxial sockets, 3 x coax plugs, 25 x cable clips.

 

So as said above you could do the whole lot for less than £ 100.00.

 

The problem with you signal could be that the signal cone you aerial is picking up is only a shadow, or is not the strongest signal. It could be interference from another banded signal, or you arte still in the middle of a switchover.. Without seeing it it's hard to say, but the digital signal finder could help here. Also if you put in Freeview(it's here http://www.freeview.co.uk/availability/main) or Digital TV (it's here http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/) into google you can go to the coverage checker and find out where your transmitter is by putting in your postcode, (for me it's Rowridge on the Isle Of Wight) but there are booster stations on the transmitter group, (you can get a map that shows them for the South here http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/transmitternetwork/tools__and__resources/switchover_maps/maps/Ofcom_Meridian_May11v2.3.jpg) And if you don't want to shell out 14 quid for the signal finder, just use the map, find your house and point your aerial in the direction to the transmitter. You'll also find info on installers, the different types of aerial, when the switch over is and what channels you should be getting.

 

Up in Rochester me and two foreman helped an old girl who was going to be ripped of £ 350 for a digital aerial and it took us 4 hours to put up a new aerial, fit 3 outlets and find the best signal, so it isn't a problem if an old Civil Engineer, a Groundworks foreman and a Chippie foreman can nock one together, i'm sure you can.

 

Hope this all helps.

Edited 30 June, 2011 by Secret Site Agent
Got to be a bit more helpful