[Merged]Freeview aerial installation

[Nedkelly]

I have showed this to my mate i cant repeat what he said .Did he use a digi meter ? it is a very poor install

[Hornet]

Yes he had a machine in the loft that showed readings and when he switched a button the screen had the actual TV pictures on. He said 100% same as you'd get outside with next aerial down for same price.

I have DMX10 in loft outside would have been DM15.

So on Wednesday I take it I should be saying all advice (Freeview & CAI) websites say it should be roof mounted?

If as expected they say not cahnging I have to go to CAI? As no other options left?

Thanks for help everyone

Originally Posted by Hornet

So this national company are taking the p? Although did include 4 point head amp and plug in amp thing next to point.

How much would the aerial and other bits cost ?
As I see it you could have fitted that yourself and saved a packet, if you were just after a loft aerial >>>>>>>>>> http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Produc...er/5352526.htm

Keep the photos for future reference.

---------- Post added at 12:33 ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 ----------

Originally Posted by Hornet

Yes he had a machine in the loft that showed readings and when he switched a button the screen had the actual TV pictures on. He said 100% same as you'd get outside with next aerial down for same price.

I have DMX10 in loft outside would have been DM15.

So on Wednesday I take it I should be saying all advice (Freeview & CAI) websites say it should be roof mounted?

If as expected they say not cahnging I have to go to CAI? As no other options left?

Thanks for help everyone

How did you pay? if you do not mind me asking, if you do just tell me to sod off
If you have paid by credit card there is section 75? someone correct me if wrong, but the credit card company could also be liable.
Another port of call could be trading standards department in your local area.

[fatmat8]

twice i have tired to install freecoms dvb-t usb stick & both times it takes my cd-rom & my dvd drivers out
ie it corrupts them so i have to restore the system "any ideas" anyone !

[Graham M]

Rip. Off.

[nffc]

Originally Posted by fatmat8

twice i have tired to install freecoms dvb-t usb stick & both times it takes my cd-rom & my dvd drivers out
ie it corrupts them so i have to restore the system "any ideas" anyone !

CD-ROM access is missing and messages cite error Code 31, Code 32, Code 19, Code 39, or Code 41

[fatmat8]

thank you nffc for that info

[Hornet]

Credit card payment. But I remember trying to use that law and making them liable when I bought a car and they said take us to court also...Mastercard!

I will wait and see what they say on Wednesday first, not holding out much hope though. Having watched TV today through it Sky News no glitches in 30 mins, nothing on Sports news 30 mins, BBC1 5 freezes of a split seond over an hour viewing.

I am not expecting a good outcome Wednesday, probably wont even turn up! Ideally aerial will be reinstalled outside. If not CAI next is only option, then local radio consumer show and trading standards.

How far from the actual aerial should the mast amplifier be? Mines about 2 metres of cable away, does it lose effect the futher it is?

Only asking as if aerial moved and amp left where it is it will be about 5 metres away! Or can cable from TV points be joined to new cable and run to a new positioned mast amp?

Cheers

[altis]

2 metres of cable sounds fine. 5 should be no problem either. The amp shouldn't be right next to the aerial 'cos this can cause interference.

Looking at the picture again, it seems that the whole weight of the aerial is supported by two tywraps round the ends of two elements of the reflector. That seems pathetic. I suppose the tight run of the cable is to stop the aerial sagging too much! And I wonder if the transmitter is *exactly* at 90 degrees to your roof.

Here's some info from the Beeb. They seem a little more forgiving of indoor aerials - if you have a strong signal.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/info/..._tvaerials.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/info/..._digitaltv.pdf

Do you know which is your transmitter:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/transmitters.html

[toots66]

The coax shouldn't have been routed as it has been against the bottom element of the reflector as this will affect the performance of the aerial.

[Hornet]

So will they turn up Wednesday after this to CAI and cc'd to company.........?

CAI

Thank you very much. I will be in touch after Wednesday if I do receive a satisfactory outcome. I did ask the company on Friday night to send a differnent engineer to the original installer, but they couldn't promise this would happen.

Attached are two photographs of how my aerial was installed. I paid £200 for this poor installation by one of your members. I have a slot lined up on a BBC local consumer programme to discuss this later this week as luckily they are covering digital TV switchover, therefore they were very interested in my professional installation experience.

These pictures show how my aerial has been :-

Tied to loft beams with two cable ties that actually bend the top reflectors
Coax cable is trailing over the bottom reflectors
The aerial rests on my roof felt at one end
No local installer would place an aerial in a loft in my location due to reception quality, I have explained below why I accepted a loft aerial following the engineers advice, but later research has shown I was misadvised
Yours sincerely






> Dear
>
> We are sorry to hear of your complaint against one of our member companies.
> I have forward this onto them for their immediate action.
>
> Best Regards
> > Administration Secretary
> Society of Cable Telecommunication Engineers
> Communications House
> 41a Market Street
> Watford
> Hertfordshire
> WD18 0PN
> Tele: 01923 815500
> Fax: 01923 803203
> Email: office@scte.org.uk

Email to CAI (17/6/07)



I had an aerial installed by Skyforce Ltd on 15/6. I believe I have been misled by the technician who carried out the work as upon doing research after the installation, the aerial should never have been fitted in the loft in the area I live in, even with the mast amplifier as I live in a poor reception area. I live in a detached house where there is not a problem fixing an outside aerial.



The installer said I may as well have the DMX10 fitted in the loft instead of a cheaper aerial outside (DM15 - £30 less), as he could do them for the same price and the reception would 100% be the same (I would be getting the best aerial in my loft for the same money as a cheaper aerial outside). I have pixilation of picture roughly every 10 minutes on BBC1, BBC2 and ITV currently, seems to be more frequent at times. I presume I would not have this issue if my aerial had been correctly roof mounted.



I agreed at the time for the loft installation because of what was explained to me above, that I would get same reception in the loft as outside, it was only after doing research that everyone says no installer should have fitted my aerial in the loft (CAI website, Freeview and other aerial companies).

The company have agreed to send an engineer to look at the aerial on Wednesday 20th, very likely the same person. I have been told to express my issues to them. I will obviously do this and I appreciate them responding positively to date. I actually first reported the issue on the evening of the 15/6 when my signal completely failed. Wednesday is the first day I am available for a visit.

Additionally the aerial has been bent to hold it onto the rafters and is held by two cable ties. One end of the aerial actually touches the roof felt. I am sure this is not a satisfactory installation. I have photographs if required of the bent aerial and of it pressed into my roof felt.

I will be in touch following Wednesday's visit if I do not get a satisfactory outcome to this issue.

[Hornet]

Man has been back moved aerial to roof and all is fine...well almost.

I get 100% reception on all Digital channels including about 10 I never even received via the original loft aerial.

Only thing I get very distorted picture of is BB2 analogue signal, yet I got this fine via loft. Why would this be?

Thanks for any help, I have a direct line to CS manager now so just wondered what this BB2 issue is before I ring to complain yet again!

[Nedkelly]

Is it fine through digital ?

[altis]

For those that are lost, the previous thread about this saga is here:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/64...tallation.html

Hornet, do you know which transmitter your aerial is pointing at?
There's a list of them here:
http://www.dtg.org.uk/retailer/transmitters.html

[pedantic]

Just to expand on the post by Altis, you can find out your transmitter by putting your postcode into this checker.