TV aerial connection

Robisere

+1 for the last two posts. I wonder if the cable pictured was actually used to make a usable connection? Leave the braiding on, twist it as shown (but not tightly enough to split: the thin wires are easily broken) and make sure it makes good contact with the outer shell.

[Deleted User]

I know you are right, Rodders53.  I was really harassed and I hurriedly got someone (just mobile number) to erect an aerial at short notice.  To be fair the person came back to adjust it but it still was not right and I had so much on that I decided to just accept it - there were a few other cosmetic problems too.

Now that I am 'on my feet more' I would like to have the aerial sorted properly - even if it means starting again with a new aerial from a reputable company.  I'm afraid I think I have the type you describe - the rectangular pressed aluminium one - is that a poor choice?  I'm afraid I don't know exactly what I have had installed.  It was a very rushed job and, to be fair, I probably didn't take time to ask questions.

I had other, unrelated difficulties to deal with at the time, including the internet and landline, so I probably didn't make a good choice.

The positive thing is that at least I have TV (albeit more limited channels than I am used to) and at the time I was so happy to have that.  I can see my neighbours who have roof aerials all have really tall ones and mine is low down - I should have noticed but I was too preoccupied with other things going on at the time.

I'll take time to find a reputable aerial installer as I have had two enquiries with my calls not returned, so far. 

Thank you everyone for the very helpful replies.  I've learned a lesson and deserve no sympathy!

Crimson

[Deleted User]

Rodders 53 mentioned an aerial:  one with a rectangular pressed aluminium plate as the reflector, a masthead amplifier and how the signal is split. I'm afraid I am not sure exactly what I have although I  there is just one roof aerial and my living room and bedroom televisions seem to run from it.

Neither of the two fairly local aerial installers I contacted since posting has got back to me (both have good on line reviews) and I am now looking for another installer.

What sort of questions should I ask or, if possible, can anyone suggest how I can, briefly, describe the problems I have, please?

Crimson

RumRat

If you are going to get someone out at least get someone with a few reviews......TV Aerial specialists Lincolnshire
If I got the area wrong just change it...

DoaM

And you're using Rated People as your benchmark for reviews? Don't the trades people pay to register with the site?

RumRat

I'm not using it.....However, the OP has used and phoned most of the Cowboys locally. I doubt Rated People is any worse than other review sites. At the end of the day it's just a starting point.

DoaM

I forgot a couple of emojis from my previous post, namely 🙄 and 😉

[Deleted User]

The aerial installer (good on line reviews and established local company) came today at the agreed time and spent nearly an hour and a half here.  Unfortunately the 'set up' I had was never going to work as not properly installed.

This new installer is coming back to take the existing set up out completely and put an effective system in, attending to the aerial supply for both living room and bedroom.  It will be done through the loft and all the unnecessary internal wiring will be removed.

 Instead of a 'proper thing' to let the signal go to two televisions, the wires were just twisted round - so it would never have lasted - regardless of how good the signal was. The installer showed me the bare 'wires' which had just been twisted round with nothing to actually keep them together properly.

I'll post again once everything is back to normal. Thank you all for your interest and help.

Crimson

renegadefm

I guess this isnt much help, but I know some areas near to where I live have such a poor freeview signal that they cant get any channels at all and we're forced to have Sky fitted just to gain access to the free channels on there, they were issued a special freeview card at the time. 
This was when the terrestrial signal went from analog to digital, lots of people lost their channels altogether, and the solution was free Sky. 
I only know this because I used to work with a guy that lived in the poor signal area. 

Robisere

Deleted_User, if I had known you were in Lincolnshire, I would have given you the number of the guy I and all the villagers in my old village used for all things TV, phone and internet. It sounds as if you were royally ripped off by the previous 'fitter' whose work was not fit for purpose. In my old home, I had two TV's, one being a TV tuner in my PC. The company I use fitted a switch box in the laft to take another coax cable. It worked perfectly, but the transmitter signal has to be very strong for this.