Cost of digital aerial?

RainbowsInTheSpray

Yes, I'm just another of the millions who were taken in by the advertising on the box about 'just a small one-off payment for a digital box'. How are they allowed to get away with repeating this blatant lie?

No reception on the old equipment.

I asked a passing aerial installer and he said 'around £150 if it's just a straight replacement job'.

This strikes me as exorbitant. Can anyone else tell me what they had to pay for a new aerial to be installed, please?

heatherw_01

That is roughly what I paid for mine replacing a few years ago.

earthmother

Yes, that (£150) sounds about right - although I think there are 'better' aerials that will cost even more.



One of the reasons we went for Sky - ok, so it's a monthly bill, but it's easier to find for some than a lump sum like that.

Browntoa

the aerials are about £20-45

this is a top grade one

http://www.tracsat.co.uk/catalog/televes-dat75-p-119.html

it's best to replace the cable with digital grade co-ax at the same time but you may get away with that

about £20 for 50 metres

http://www.tracsat.co.uk/catalog/wf100-cable-p-287.html

needaspirin

I bought mine from Maplin http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=906&criteria=aeriel&doy=15m12
£40. It can be mounted in the loft or externally.

RainbowsInTheSpray

albertross wrote:

£20 from a local aerial shop, fitted it myself in the loft.

I really don't understand this con line that comes out on these boards, the aerial issue has always been prominent in any publicity I've seen, as is the need to be in a freeview area, and not everybody needs a new aerial..

You mean you're the only person in the country who hasn't seen these tv commercials for freeview which keep on about 'just £40 for a set top box and away you go'...? If you squint and ruin your eyesight you can just about make out some tiny mention at the bottom of the screen about 'checking your broadcast area' or suchlike...

heatherw_01

There is also sky freesat which costs £150 for installation and a box which I asuming you wouldn't need another aerial for.

espresso

RainbowsInTheSpray wrote:

You mean you're the only person in the country who hasn't seen these tv commercials for freeview which keep on about 'just £40 for a set top box and away you go'...? If you squint and ruin your eyesight you can just about make out some tiny mention at the bottom of the screen about 'checking your broadcast area' or suchlike...

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.

:rolleyes:

RainbowsInTheSpray

espresso wrote:

The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it.

:rolleyes:

The talent for unsolicited sarcasm is often called crap by those who neither called for nor merited it...

LizEstelle

Well I think Rainbows is spot on. It's all very well the technically-minded among us being au fait with the situation - but since the whole nation is expected to switch over to digital in the next few years, this is something which should be mentioned upfront and out loud, not hidden sneakily away.

What a gravy train this must be for the installers.

LizEstelle

albertross wrote:

The point is, it has been mentioned up front and loud, for several years, you just weren't listening.. it's nothing to do with being technically inclined. When freeview first came out, every single news channel covered it in depth.

The situation may get better at the point of the analogue switch off, because there will be more spectrum to play with, and they can turn the signal strength up (assuming that the government don't sell it off to the highest bidder for some other purpose).

I don't agree. This is something which should be mentioned at point of sale with eack digital TV/box. It's only fair to the millions of OAPs etc to whom this might come as a rude shock. £40 is one thing but being suddenly faced with, as it were, a blackmail demand for 'another £150 or no viewing' is another entirely.