Question
I have a Sky dish at the moment and I want to change to BT Vision, but I don’t have an aerial. Can I use my Sky dish to receive signal for it?
submitted online by Kelly J
Our Answer
No. Freeview and BT Vision get live TV channels using a TV aerial, not a satellite dish. It’s a different technology to satellite TV.
Note: Satellite TV uses a dish pointing into space at a specific satellite, Freeview and BT Vision use a rooftop aerial pointing at one of the many land-based transmitters in the UK
OK. How do I get a TV aerial?
Look in the phone book for a local TV aerial installation company, and get them to come and quote for installing a TV aerial. Prices vary depending on the complexity of the job. Prices generally between £75 and £200. Ideally, look for a CAI-approved TV aerial installation company, and try to get comparative quotes.
Can I install my own aerial?
Sure. If you want, and you know what you’re doing. Here’s how:
- Buy a suitable TV aerial
- Get up on the roof and attach the aerial to the chimney
- Make sure the aerial is pointing at the correct transmitter. Aerial installers carry equipment to test the signal whilst they’re on the roof
- Run 50 ohm co-ax aerial cable from the connector on the aerial to the TV set, drilling a hole through the wall in the appropriate place
- Terminate the cable in a standard co-ax aerial plug and connect to the TV
You can get aerial, cable and connectors from Maplin – See TV Aerials and accessories
We have an aerial, but it’s broken
OK. A TV aerial installer should be able to diagnose and fix the fault. It could be one of the following problems:
- Aerial not pointing at the right transmitter
- Unsuitable aerial
- Damaged aerial (broken elements, rain damage, etc)
- Broken cable, or water in the cable
- Damaged connector (aerial, TV plug or anywhere in the chain