£620 for digital Ariel + installation

[hallowitch]

my sister-in law paid £620 for a digital Ariel plus installation she is getting the same firm to my aunts I'm not happy with my aunt paying this much

 

I am going to phone the digital switch over help line tomorrow as she may be entitled to help as she is 86 however she is quite well of and if this is means tested she wont get help

 

so i am looking for options have check her post code and she is in the winterhill area

 

her telly is about 12 years old and i wondered if she could get freesat + dish would this work on a telly that old

[bigpaddy1754]

hi people over 75, can get a free box and aerial. bigpaddy

[IdaInFife]

and also availablefor peeps in in digital switchover areas -

 

can get sky equipment free and jusy pay a min package for 12 months and then have freesat after the 12 months - alot cheaper than the above price

 

 

but deffinatley worth following bigdaddy's advice and there are many people that qualify for the helpline offers

 

 

Ida x

[enamae]

Before paying out check that she actually needs a new aerial as most don't actually need changing.

 

More Information provided on the following link.

 

 

 

Here

 

 

enamae

[Alphageek]

I had a new one fitted last year and I'm sure it was under £100 fitted.

[hallowitch]

thanks for all the replies i am going to check it out tomorrow to see if i can get it sorted for her for free

[dx100uk]

my sister-in law paid £620 for a digital Ariel plus installation she is getting the same firm to my aunts I'm not happy with my aunt paying this much

 

I am going to phone the digital switch over help line tomorrow as she may be entitled to help as she is 86 however she is quite well of and if this is means tested she wont get help

 

so i am looking for options have check her post code and she is in the winterhill area

 

her telly is about 12 years old and i wondered if she could get freesat + dish would this work on a telly that old

 

that is outrageous!!

 

see the watchdog site.

 

most people dont even need an aerial upgrade its all a big [problem].

 

stick a freeview box on the aerial feed she has first and test it!

 

a 'digital' aerial is typically

 

RIP OFF!!

 

dx

[Conniff]

No such thing as a digital aerial

 

Most aerials require no more than realigning with the transmitter as a lot of installers don't check and just point it in the same general direction as other aerials are facing.

One other common problem is oxidation of the cable connection at the aerial, all it requires it cleaning and reconnection.

Edited December 7, 2009 by Conniff
Correct typo - oops

[dx100uk]

No such thing as a digital aerial

 

Most aerials require no more than realigning with the transmitter as a lot of installers don't check and just point it in the same general direction as other aerials are facing.

One other common problem is oxidation of the cable connection at the aerial, all it requires it cleanting and reconnection.

 

well my avatar gives a clue.......

 

typically freeview is sometimes outside the bandwidth of many old aerials, they are not wideband, thats what causes the issue.

but no there is no such thing as a digital aerial.

 

but sadly corrosion and the non use of rubberweld tape leads to many issues that can very easily be fixed.

 

they are all rip off merchants.....

 

dx

[Conniff]

You on air dx??

[dx100uk]

for 37yrs yep

 

dx

[Conniff]

I'll pm you

[dx100uk]

wilco

 

gotta do a pmr tower at 2pm so i'll resp later

 

dx

[ashmk]

The aerial on my house dates from the 1980's and picks up freeview just fine. Its old, tatty looking and rusty but the picture is perfect.

 

Also £620 ?? I bet whom ever fitted that was laughing all the way to the bank.

[ozzywizard]

That is a crazy price and totally not justified. the ariel is not affected by the switchover and only needs to pick up a signal for the freeview box or decoder to convert into digital.

Supplied and fitted I would say inbetween 40 - 80 . .

[kiptower]

the confusion with Aerials

 

in simple terms

 

area's around the country are in groups ,

 

eg, London group a , because it uses channels 21 - 35

 

other parts of the UK will have other groups

 

it is also done so that the transmitter do not interfere with ajacent ones

 

and freeview uses a group "W" ( wideband ) WHICH COVERS ALL CHANNELS ( often called a DIGITAL AERIAL )

 

if you have a single group aerial you may miss some of the channels

 

however if you are close to the local transmitter you may well receive everything

 

true cost for a group W is about £20 - £80 Depending on the elements , more elements more gain ( further you are from the mast the higher the gain needed )

 

installation is on top

 

if your aerial is 20 years or more it is ideal to replace everything inc cable,

 

and unless you have an unusal install problem its going to be under £100 ( install is normally about £35 - £50 on top of the cost of the aerial )

[Acropolis]

£620 is a ridiulous amount to pay for an aerial install, but I have heard of higher charges.

 

An aerial can cost the installer anywhere from £5-£80 depending on what type they use.

 

We charge £115 for an aerial install, which includes an aerial, bracket and pole (upto a certain size) and caling to one point in the house. If an amp is required then this is extra, price dependant upon what amp you have, but we will not try and sell the most expensive unless it si genuinely needed.

 

A lot of old aerials will work perfectly fine with freeview and dont need upgrading.

 

With regards to freesat working on an old TV, so long as it has a scart socket then yes it will. freesat box's so not have a RF out on them, so have to be connected via scart or HDMI if you get the HD version.

 

We dont typically do residential installs and concentrate mainly on commercial work, so I am unsure of the free aerials/box's for people over a certain age, but I would imagine the scheme was set up for older people so that when their area switchs over they are able to continue recieving viewing, even they are unable to afford to pay for an aerial/box. As you have mentioned she is quite well off, then I dont think this is in the spirit of claiming for a free on really.