House doesn't have a TV socket - what options do I have?

LiveOnce

Hi all,

We have moved into a new home. I have a HD TV but the house doesn't have a TV socket.

I have a little aerial but the connection is really choppy and I am hardly getting any freeview channels.

Is the best option to get a TV aerial fitted on the roof? Or are there new ways of getting a good TV reception inside the house?

I am not keen on getting cable TV as I am happy with freeview.

Any info would be appreciated :beer:

[Deleted User]

LiveOnce wrote: »

Is the best option to get a TV aerial fitted on the roof?

Yes, this is still the cheapest and easiest way of getting a stable quality TV picture.
You could also consider Freesat which requires a dish mounted on your home.

All the other options usually involve some kind of subscription...

LiveOnce

Thanks Money,

How do I get about getting a TV aerial fitted? Do I buy it and ask a handyman to fit it? Sorry for my lack of knowledge.

marleyboy

You could buy a Loft Aerial and fit it yourself, if you want a roof aerial installed, your better off looking for your local TV aerial installer and buy one with installation rather than separately.

[Deleted User]

LiveOnce wrote: »

Thanks Money,

How do I get about getting a TV aerial fitted? Do I buy it and ask a handyman to fit it? Sorry for my lack of knowledge.

just look for a CAI (Confederation Of Aerial Installers) approved fitter
http://www.cai.org.uk/members/member-search

They should both supply and fit to your specification.

macman

If you go the Freesat route, you will require a Freesat digibox or PVR as well as a dish. Have you checked on the roof that an aerial isn't installed but the cabling is not in place?
A loft aerial may or may not give adequate reception.

LiveOnce

macman wrote: »

If you go the Freesat route, you will require a Freesat digibox or PVR as well as a dish. Have you checked on the roof that an aerial isn't installed but the cabling is not in place?
A loft aerial may or may not give adequate reception.

Hi macman,

The roof does not have an aerial installed. I want the most reliable connection possible.

What would be the best option?

teddysmum

If you are taking the aerial option, do ask for a number of quotations, as I found a large price difference, when replacing our older one .


Some, unscrupulous installers still try to sell special digital aerials. They don't exist; you just good, well fitted aerial.

PasturesNew

Pick up one of those free, local, advertising papers - or one of the weekly local papers. At the back, in the classifieds, look for adverts about aerials .... phone them and get a quote. Could be under £100 to get an aerial, fitted and an indoor socket, fitted.

AndyPK

A loft ariel is much easier to fit DIY and good enough usually.

[Deleted User]

AndyPK wrote: »

A loft ariel is much easier to fit DIY and good enough usually.

You mean good enough sometimes? In many cases a loft aerial will not provide good reception at all. There is no doubt that a roof aerial will provide the best quality TV pictures, especially if HD is a requirement.

The Op should by all means get several quotes to get the best deal-but needs to be sure they are each offering the same level of service. The cheapest isn't always the best (or the worst)

The link I provided earlier is not Spam and anyone considering having someone clamber about on their roof to fit an aerial should use a CAI accredited installer. If you do, you won't have to worry about them being "unscrupulous" and providing an aerial you might not need.