digital tv and communal aerials

"andyc" andyatajchard.co.uk wrote in message
.. .
Just some thoughts on communal aerials and moving over to digital tv...

My block of flats has a perfectly good analogue aerial, Reigate Hill is
our
transmitter.

But I was thinking about buying a freeview box as the prices are good now,
so I asked the other people in the flats if anyone has a freeview box and
what the reception is like. Answer, not very good, can't get all the
channels.

So just for a laugh got a local aerial company to quote on a new communal
aerial for the whole block, just over £2000 +vat, with some re-wiring
needed
to each flat.

Sounds cheap to me! I presume that you did not ask for an FM, DAB and a
satellite system to be installed at the same time? Recently, a friend was
quoted £2.5k plus VAT for a new high gain aerial, DAB and FM aerials and two
satellite dishes to be installed and cabled round to four flats. I trust
the firm as they have done work for me in the past, and came in well below
another firm which has quoted £3.5k for the same job. Admittedly, this is
Central London where it is probably more pricey anyway.


Sound about right? Anyway, getting all 12 flat owners to cough up their
share would probably never happen, we have some neighbours who don't give
a
crap about anything apart from their own little world!

I know exactly what you mean!


Hmmm, what do when do when analogue tv dies, if I'm still living here?

Frankly, it is for the landlord to install it and charge all of the
leaseholders. I suspect that you are now going to tell me that the
leaseholders also own the freehold? If that is so, you could tell them that
if it is not done now, it would have to be done in future anyway when it
might be more expensive since all of the aerial firms will be busy like hell
with changeover jobs. Also, you could try telling them that the value of
the flats is compromised by not having access to the now popular DTT
service. I would not be willing to buy a flat where the aerial could not
give me what I want.

My advice to you would be if you meet any resistance at all is to get a
price for having your own personal system installed at roof level, or you
might find one or two others who might want to join you and you can split
the costs between willing participants and not aggravate the misery guts in
the block.


--
MESSAGE ENDS.
John Porcella

Surely if all you want is a bigger/higher aerial that's all you should
have
to pay for. Best to get a cowboy operator and bung him a couple of hundred
quid in cash.

I presume that was an attempt at humour? If you get a cowboy you will have
a cowboy job done with few if any guarantees. Why the reference to the
method of payment? I hope you are not encouraging tax evasion?


--
MESSAGE ENDS.
John Porcella

Sounds like a rip-off as all you should need is an upgraded aerial using
the
existing wiring.

The impression I got was that the block was to be rewired. The existing
ampification system may also have to be binned.


Maybe they say you need the new *digital* coax.

If you are going to do a job, then it makes sense to relay the cable.


--
MESSAGE ENDS.
John Porcella

"andyc" andyatajchard.co.uk wrote in message
...

"Dave Fawthrop" wrote in message
...


First *borrow* a freeview box, plug it in and see if it works.


Hi Dave, one of the neighbours has one, can't receive all the channels on
the exisiting aerial.

Would like to get a new aerial for the block, with everyone's
co-operation.

Andy

As I have written elsewhere, consider getting your own. I have done this.
The communal system feeds 115 flats, but since it took the local authority
until last month to upgrade it to DTT, they allowed me to have my own
private one fitted some years back. I added DAB which is not available
communally.


--
MESSAGE ENDS.
John Porcella

On Sat, 4 Dec 2004 19:00:47 -0000, "andyc" andyatajchard.co.uk wrote:

|
| "Dave Fawthrop" wrote in message
| ...
|
|
| First *borrow* a freeview box, plug it in and see if it works.
|
|
| Hi Dave,

| Would like to get a new aerial for the block, with everyone's co-operation.

This is clearly the best solution if you can pull it off. My sister is in
a similar situation. They upgraded the aerials for digital, and I plugged
in a Freeview box for her and it worked, no problems.


| one of the neighbours has one, can't receive all the channels on
| the exisiting aerial.

Then the signal is not too bad
As a second best this might work.
If you have a bootlace link from the wall plate to the set throw it away
and make a news one with one made from satellite cable CT100.
An amplifier in this cable will probably make *yours* work.



--
Dave F

On Sun, 5 Dec 2004 04:34:12 +0000 (UTC), "John Porcella"
wrote:

As I have written elsewhere, consider getting your own. I have done this.
The communal system feeds 115 flats, but since it took the local authority
until last month to upgrade it to DTT, they allowed me to have my own
private one fitted some years back. I added DAB which is not available
communally.

genuine question: what is the point in getting DAB installed when you
already have DTT anyway?

--
http://www.kingqueen.org.uk
remove .lartsspammers to email me

"Bill" wrote in message
...

I'm assuming of course that it isn't high. Like two flats per floor, or
anything.


4 flats/floor, ground, first and second floors, 12 flats in all.

Andy

"John Porcella" wrote in message
...

Surely if all you want is a bigger/higher aerial that's all you should
have
to pay for. Best to get a cowboy operator and bung him a couple of
hundred
quid in cash.

I presume that was an attempt at humour? If you get a cowboy you will
have
a cowboy job done with few if any guarantees.

A 200 pound job that works could be better value than a 2000 pound job with
guarantees. If it works and stays working that's all that's required. Think
extended warrantee ripoffs.

Why the reference to the
method of payment? I hope you are not encouraging tax evasion?

You are Gordon Brown AICMFP.

--
Max Demian

"John Porcella" wrote in message
...

Sounds like a rip-off as all you should need is an upgraded aerial using
the
existing wiring.

The impression I got was that the block was to be rewired. The existing
ampification system may also have to be binned.

Those might be the impressions given by those giving the quotes.

Maybe they say you need the new *digital* coax.

If you are going to do a job, then it makes sense to relay the cable.

Are you, or have you ever been, an aerial rigger?

--
Max Demian

Hi John,

Sounds cheap to me! I presume that you did not ask for an FM, DAB and a
satellite system to be installed at the same time? Recently, a friend was
quoted £2.5k plus VAT for a new high gain aerial, DAB and FM aerials and
two
satellite dishes to be installed and cabled round to four flats. I trust
the firm as they have done work for me in the past, and came in well below
another firm which has quoted £3.5k for the same job. Admittedly, this is
Central London where it is probably more pricey anyway.

I didn't ask for FM, DAB and satellite as well.

I know exactly what you mean!

lol, not just me then!

Frankly, it is for the landlord to install it and charge all of the
leaseholders. I suspect that you are now going to tell me that the
leaseholders also own the freehold? If that is so, you could tell them
that
if it is not done now, it would have to be done in future anyway when it
might be more expensive since all of the aerial firms will be busy like
hell
with changeover jobs. Also, you could try telling them that the value of
the flats is compromised by not having access to the now popular DTT
service. I would not be willing to buy a flat where the aerial could not
give me what I want.

We don't own the freehold, sadly when it came up for grabs, there was not
enough interest from enough people. What I'll do now is send the quote to
the owner of the freehold (local property management company) and see what
their reaction is. It'd be good for them to be interested in getting it
installed and pushing it, like you say it'll have to be done sometime
anyway,and would be a good investment.


My advice to you would be if you meet any resistance at all is to get a
price for having your own personal system installed at roof level, or you
might find one or two others who might want to join you and you can split
the costs between willing participants and not aggravate the misery guts
in
the block.

I'll look into that and also see what my lease says about doing such things,
though we do ignore bits of our lease, like having pets without prior
permission, such rebels ;-)

Thanks for all your suggestions, copy of the quote will be off to the
landlord today,highlighting benefits of getting it done.

Andy