New connections to aerial

Poppycat

Dont live to far from main mast about 1 1/4 miles and you can see it from our front bedroom window we are also on a hill so line of sight isnt obstructed.

When we moved in Feb 2007 notice previous person left a amplified scart/aerial adaptor, we took it out and reception is fine we always wathc from freeview anyhow.

Okay tv aerial is on chimney stack and cable comes in the back and through the house under the floorboards/laminate.

We want the tvs upstairs in each of the 3 bedrooms a tv but we want a good reception indoor amplified aerials just dont work very well particularly at the back of the house.

We got a quote from a aerial man for £45 for each room done which would mean a distribution point in loft basically its a mains amplifier where main aerial goes in and 4 connections go out which feeds the other tv's in the house. Thats £180 which I thought was a little steep. If aerial needs replacing thats another £60 on top.

Last house we paid for two new aerials (not far from mast either), 3 tv points around £110 thats was about 2 years ago but cant remember the guy who did it, do you think thats steep? Thanks

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Assuming the aerial rigger will also be supplying a mains socket in the loft for the distribution amplifier, don't think it's over the top.

If your in England/ Wales he might also req; the services of an electrician.

dave2006

I've been quoted £300 for a new aerial and two cables to two different rooms. This seems a bit steep. Any thoughts?

Cheers

Dave

Moneymaker

Poppycat, if a proper masthead amplifier is used, there's no need for a power point in the loft. It gets its power from a power supply that's fitted to any aerial cable upstairs or downstairs.
See diagrams http://www.satcure.com/tech/amps.htm#masthead

Dave, you've given no details but £300 including labour could be quite reasonable, considering the work involved in fitting the aerial on the chimney, masthead amplifier and cables. I use the Satcure web site to estimate costs. You can add items to the "shopping cart" and total everything up (without placing an order).

Obviously it won't give you labour charges but I estimate a minimum of £35 an hour plus £50 - £100 to install a gable-end aerial (add another £50 - £100 if it involves climbing a roof).

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

Poppycat, if a proper masthead amplifier is used, there's no need for a power point in the loft. It gets its power from a power supply that's fitted to any aerial cable upstairs or downstairs.


WRONG !

Masthead amps only supply one receiver !

Distribution systems (1 in 2 out) 1 in 4 out) etc, are normally fitted in the loft hence the need for a mains socket, hence the mention , about an electrician PART P regulations.

espresso

You could save a lot of money if you DIY as it is not a difficult job. All you need is a distribution amplifier like this and a reel of co-ax cable and sufficient connectors etc.

whiskymincher

I agree that it can be done DIY other than in a lot of cases there is no socket in the loft and therefore professional help is needed to supply the power and in today's world that means it must be Part P. Only other issue is hiding the co-axial drops from the loft into the bedrooms. Fitted wardrobes are always a good hiding place for ariel cables.

espresso

whiskymincher wrote: »

I agree that it can be done DIY other than in a lot of cases there is no socket in the loft and therefore professional help is needed to supply the power and in today's world that means it must be Part P.

You are assuming that the aerial feed enters the loft but the distribution amplifier could be located at any suitable point in the property, where there is already a power point.

whiskymincher

The first post states that the quote received from the professional installer would have the ariel coming in to the loft. I was commenting on a DIY version of this set up hence the reference to the loft.

Browntoa

cost me £35 to do this myself for a 6 way amp including the mains socket,all the cable and co-ax plugs...(got the amp for £10 in an argos clearance) but I already had mains cable going into a socket near where I wanted to site it

depends how dusty and dirty you want to get