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What price for an aerial installation?

What prices have you been quoted and paid for an aerial installation?

What prices have you been quoted and paid for an aerial install
Published on by on UK Free TV
In responses to the guideline I posted about how much having a new aerial fitted should cost, Ian Grice posted: "£40-£50? Every aerial fitter I contacted wants at least £150+VAT considering you can get a class 3 aerial for under £10 and a class 2 for under £15 and cable is 40p a metre why are they charging so much for 30 minutes work?"

OK, for some places putting up a TV aerial is hard work, such as multi-story properties. As many people will simply be exchanging a Group A, B, C/D, E or K aerial for a wideband type, often without changing the supporting pole or cable, a high price cannot be justified.

I am concerned that some companies will exploit vulnerable groups (such as the elderly).

So, I what prices have you been quoted for aerial installations? What price have you paid for installation?

Do you know of any companies to avoid? Do you know of any companies that are good value for money?

Or do you work for a great aerial installation company?





Your comments: most recent posts are at the bottom

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Your comments are always welcome. Please use the form below to add your thoughts or questions to this page. We will get back to you as soon as we can.

jb38
Monday 16 July 2012 9:21PM
Ian: My definition of nearby is exactly that NEARBY, this meaning a shop or whatever in the same street or across the road, as some people are for understandable reasons reluctant to provide any info that they "think" might pinpoint their location, "think" because post codes do not usually indicate exactly on a persons property anyway, and with any time that they might actually do always being purely through sheer luck, as in many areas the same post code will in many cases hold out for a few rows of houses.

The other aspect about this being, that I have never at any time found that reception predictors (trade or otherwise) are accurate to the degree anyway that a few streets away either side of an exact code makes any difference, this also applying to terrain predictors that take no account of anything except a naturally occurring hill, as a person could reside behind either a row of high rise tower blocks or alternatively be on the edge the Sherwood Forest furthest away from the transmitter and yet a terrain predictor would give a clear line of sight, although in fairness to terrain predictors they do state "ground level between".

I fully appreciate that in certain difficult reception areas the level of signal as tested on one property can be found to be vastly different simply by crossing the road, this being why I referred to predictors not being accurate to the extent that an exact spot on post code would make any difference to the outcome of any assessment made.

jubaer
Saturday 4 August 2012 2:37PM
I received a quotation of £215 including VAT and 12 months guarantee but still think this is very expensive! Do I need an outdoor aerial or would it be ok just using an indoor one. Also, what if I was to install the aerial myself after purchasing one from Argos? Would it be ok
Stephen P
Saturday 4 August 2012 4:22PM
Jubaer £215 is steep - about double - the going rate for a SIMPLE installation to a single TV.

What did you need and where are you (postcode) - to see what signal you should have.
Ian
Tuesday 7 August 2012 11:06AM
"what if I was to install the aerial myself after purchasing one from Argos? Would it be ok"

Why not try it and see, at worst all you will be doing is wasting your own money.
NICK ADSL UK
Tuesday 7 August 2012 12:24PM
It is steep but as for doing it yourself forget it it's not worth it working on a ladder not knowing what your doing best bet would be to get another quote around the typical £150 mark
Jubaer
Saturday 11 August 2012 6:26PM Barking
Stephen p my postcode is IG11 9JD, I'm not sure whether or not an indoor one would be ok or if I should definatly get an outdoor one. I received two more quotes £70-£100 to fit an outdoor aerial but I don't think they're approved installers.- does that matter?
Ian, when I meant fitting it myself I meant getting the builders to do it but he said he doesn't know how to + it's quite difficult to get to the roof of my house especially since I'm afraid of heights.
jb38
Saturday 11 August 2012 8:31PM
Jubaer: Well although you are indicated as being able to have excellent reception from the Crystal Palace transmitter at just over 11 miles away and on a bearing of 222 degrees it "appears" as though any loft mounted aerial is liable NOT to be facing the roof tiles but through the separation walls of adjacent properties, this not being a particularly desirable situation.

This being the case then I would advise you either taking up one of the quotes which to my reckoning are rather cheap, sometimes unfortunately this being followed by nasty! or alternatively making some local enquiries should you see anyone in the area getting an aerial fitted.

If you had been confident at heights then I would have recommended that you carry out the work yourself, or even try some tests using a gutter level (soffit or facia mount) but as you have expressed reservations regarding heights its best to play safe.
Jubaer
Sunday 12 August 2012 2:34PM
I think I will see if my builders can do anything about it, he keeps talking about an aerial wire which I have no idea what is- but he did say that he'll could get someone to install but I'd have to buy the aerial. I found on philex brand at Argos for £25 but the reviews say that it's a bit flimsy and most people fitted it inside their loft. Any advice on aerials guys? Somewhere I can go and collect it this week.

If he doesn't fit the aerial I'll just go for the £70 quote and hopefully although not approved they'll fit it properly and it'll work. But does this approved thing actually matter?
jb38
Sunday 12 August 2012 3:57PM
Jubaer: Have a look at the aerials shown on the link and in particular the Log 40 or the DM Log, as either of these aerials are perfectly adequate for your requirements as well as being able to withstand the severest of weather conditions, not of course that you are likely to experience that sort of thing!

ATV`s Choice Of Aerials for digital TV
Mazbar
Sunday 12 August 2012 4:12PM
Jubaer: Here is a little note i carnt build a wall but i can put up a aerial because i have been doing it for over 25 years the price of an aerial is subject to where you live in the mersyside area i get £69 for an rx12 and £85 for an rx20 or an lp45 and i am on the expensive side for up here. Your best bet is go to some one local not just a mobile number hopefully with an address you know. The cheapest isnt allways the best. If your aerial isnt put up right it can go lose very quickley leading to brick damage. So use you builder to build you do your job and get the right man fir the job
Dave Lindsay
Sunday 12 August 2012 4:48PM
Jubaer: ATV also have a wealth of information on their website. Here is a page on poles and brackets:

TV Aerial and Satellite Poles, Masts & Brackets
jb38
Sunday 12 August 2012 4:49PM
Mazbar: Fully agree as far as that side of things are concerned as you make a very valid point, but I was just giving a pointer as to the type of aerials that would be suffice for his requirements "should" he find anyone competent enough to carry out the task properly as every man to his own job, and of course installing an aerial is most certainly NOT in the remit of the average builder.
Stephen P
Sunday 12 August 2012 7:00PM
jubaer

UK digital TV reception predictor

This place thinks a set-top will do - and they are conservative. 74 dB is a strong signal - but you may be in a hollow or behind an obstacle.

What do you do for TV now?

Try a bit of wire into the central coax connector - or a wire hanger (the famous "Sketchley loop antenna").
Jubaer
Monday 13 August 2012 12:07AM
Stephen P, I currently have Sky installed in my living and dining rooms. The reason for an aerial was because I wanted to buy a new tv for my bedroom. I will try the hanger trick and see if it works.

I didn't understand that wolfbane website when I entered my postcode. I'm going to buy an indoor aerial and see what happens.
Dave Lindsay
Monday 13 August 2012 12:54AM
Jubaer: I have one of these Labgear aerials:

www.ebay.co.uk link icon Set Top Aerial Labgear | eBay

Obviously whether a set-top aerial will work depends on the location.

Ideally, it needs to be on the side of the building that faces the transmitter. Your chances of good reception are reduced the more the signal has to go through bricks and mortar and other objects.
Jubaer
Monday 13 August 2012 4:22AM
Dave Lindsay, since my room is a loft bedroom I guess it has to pass to less layers of bricks right? I hope it does work though, I used to use a set top aerial a couple of years before the switch over and it was quite good with hardly any noise.
Dave Lindsay
Monday 13 August 2012 9:56AM
Jubaer: It does, but if the aerial has to be pointed through others' roof-spaces, then that isn't good.
Jubaer
Monday 13 August 2012 4:07PM
I've tried using the hanger in the coaxial port but nothing happened
Stephen P
Monday 13 August 2012 7:48PM
Jubaer - just read the Crystal palace line

Field dBµV/m - strength of signal 74 is high
Distance miles
(Compass) Bearing degrees, N=0, S=180 W=270 so 222 is SW.

So you need to point SW. Ideally through a window. Tiles better than bricks UNLESS you have an aluminium foil in the lining.

Do you have a SW facing window? With sight to C Pal?
Ron Lake
Monday 13 August 2012 11:07PM
Jubaer, Do you have an old hifi tuner aerial laying about anywhere, the type that has a coil of wire wrapped round a plastic former. If so, fix a coax plug to the two tails coming off it and try this in your TV. I use two of them in different rooms and they work really well when you consider that I live in a bungalow and the adjacent buildings between me and Emley Moor are all two storey houses.
Jubaer
Tuesday 14 August 2012 1:44AM
stephen p, i don't have any SW windows, that's where the neighbours house is- my windows face NW and SE.


Ron Lake, no unfortunately not.
Ian
Tuesday 14 August 2012 8:09AM
Jubaer, get yourself a 'benchmarked' aerial.

Where you live you will only require a 10 element aerial but since Blake's make the only 10 element which is benchmarked, and I personally don't like it, I'd opt for a 'Triax SG18W'.

If you are going to fit to your central 8 pot stack you may need an additional lashing wire as the standard one supplied with the lashing kit may not be long enough, especially as you probably don't know the correct way of making off the 'J' bolts.

Joining 2 lashing wires is an art in itself as I am sure every rigger visiting here will tell you, you'll need to get all the slack out before you even think of tightening the 'J' bolts otherwise you'll end up with a sloppy lashing and a leaning aerial.

If you are fitting it to the smaller side stack the extra lashing wire will not be required.

My shopping list would be, SG18w, 9” Lashing kit, (a 9” covers 3 bricks, better than the 6” which only covers 2 bricks), 6’ x 1.25” alloy mast plus benchmarked cable. I’d also purchase an attenuator.

Difficult to know what the value of the attenuator should be being as the levels can only be measured once the aerial is installed, although without measuring equipment you will not be able to do that.

I’d guess and say that a 12dB attenuator might suffice, although you may need an 18dB one.

If you are going to get a company to install it, research their details first.

Be careful of 0800 numbers, look up their details at Companies House to see they are where they say they are, lots pretend to be ‘local’ and are not.

Be careful of those who do not advertise complete addresses, like ‘North Circular Road, Barking’ with no number or house name, these really are not there; they do it to make themselves look ‘local’.

Use the Royal Mail website to check an address, see if it realty exists and who trades from it.

Be careful of the ones which claim ‘we have installers in your area daily’ these tend to be sitting in a van waiting for each call to come in and pounce when you are most vulnerable.

Be careful of the ones which claim that an aerial only cost £69 fitted because with some that is correct, it is just the aerial, the mast, lashing and cable is an extra. They assume that they will be fitting to existing equipment.
Stephen P
Tuesday 14 August 2012 10:07AM
Still worth trying an inside aerial - especially if you can return it if no use!
Lucie Cocker
Friday 17 August 2012 2:49PM
Hi,

We have just moved into a property in the LS6 postcode and are having trouble with our television...

On the outside of the building is a line from a satelite dish and a line jointly from external aerial and a virgin line coming in. I don't have Sky or Virgin and just want to be able to get enough signal to be able to make the freeview work. None of the sockets coming into the house work when plugged in and an internal aerial is barely strong enough and often unwatchable.

What would you recommend that i do and do you have an idea of the price bracket in which i should aim for quotes?

Many Thanks

Lucie Cocker
Peter Silvestro
Thursday 23 August 2012 3:49AM
Hello,
I have just been charged £201 for an inside arial.Tomorrow he is coming with a box which he said was needed to install the arial and all points to each T.V. in my home, this is another charge of £50. I feel I am being stung, I am an 80 year old man. Is this not very expencive for an arial?
Ian
Thursday 23 August 2012 10:10AM
Peter, it does seem a lot to me but what has he actually done for the money?

Although I would avoid putting an aerial in the loft, I know others don't. They have their standards and I have mine.

Is the aerial properly mounted on a Mast and Bracket? Has he had to run all the cables to the other rooms?

How long was he at your property working?

How was the 'contract' between you and him formed?

A 'contract' being more than likely a verbal telephone call.

Did he quote you any prices over the telephone or did he just turn up and say;

(a) You need xyz and it will cost you £201
(b) he fitted the kit and then said,'that's £201'?
(b) have you given him any money already?

There are regulations which cover the consumer in this type of case, and if he didn't comply, he could be in trouble with Trading Standards.

Before you pay him any money, ask for a written detailed receipt of exactly what has been fitted.
Shelley
Wednesday 29 August 2012 3:14PM
I live in the SG4 area which is Chilterns area and already run my tv off sky. My aerial is broken apparently and i need a new one. Got quoted £240 for a new one and to run a cable into my front bedroom directly below the aerial. Anyone know anyone in my area or an advice please.
Stephen P
Wednesday 29 August 2012 6:40PM
Shelley are you using SATELLITE tv with a dish, or TERRESTIAL tv with a pointy aerial?

If the latter, does it point north or south?

Either way, £240 seems steep. Where did you get the quote from?

Stephen P
Wednesday 29 August 2012 6:41PM
Peter Silvestro - anything happening?
KB Aerials
Wednesday 5 September 2012 11:11PM
seems a bit steep to me too
I charge £120 in Sheffield -

so that other £120 is sheeer profit not bad for an hours work (ok hour and half if its tricky )


Keith

KB Aerials

Sheffield

07946481125
AB Satellite and Aerial Installation
Tuesday 25 September 2012 11:35PM
Just a few words of advice from someone who has only been in this game 6 years but has managed to build a successful business within a small community (The Royal Forest of Dean)
Aerial installs all differ and so the price will differ,if you are unsure get more than quote and compare. Ask your neighbors, family and friends what they paid.
Some installers are honest others are not, you need to find someone who is recommended.
They don't always have to be accredited as I have found there to be just as many rogues and rip off merchants who are accredited!
Careful when buying anything from Argos, B&Q etc they are likely to be "bacofoil" (flimsy) aerials with a J (loft) bracket that says it can be put outside. (It can it just won't last very long)
Also be careful when purchasing benchmarked aerials, just because they are benchmarked does not make them any more rugged or well built than the "bacofoil" aerials it just means that a manufacturer has paid for the aerial to be tested and they have passed a performance test. (Some of the larger Triax aerials are testament to this, excellent aerial in terms of performance, crap in terms of build quality)
If you can use a log periodic aerial use a log periodic.
Loft aerials are perfectly acceptable as long as they are installed correctly, I have installed hundreds with no complaints.
Benchmarked cable is the only way to go, WF100 CT100 etc anything else and your just wasting your time.
Don't use J(loft) brackets on the fascia boards! especially with a 52 element Triax aerial attached to it! Affix a C bracket or even better some T&K brackets with at least a 1.25in mast.
Like I said this is (more than just a few now!) words of advice that you can choose to use or ignore it's up to you!

Forest of Dean and Surrounding areas
07919022679

AB Satellite and Aerial Installation
Tuesday 25 September 2012 11:42PM
Oh and one more thing just in case anyone else was wondering and I am sure anyone visiting this site will already know....................
There is NO such thing as a "DIGITAL" Aerial!
There are better quality aerials yes but new aerials are just aerials!

Andy
john
Monday 5 November 2012 7:54PM
ADVANCED AERIAL SERVICES FREEPHONE 0800 977 4130.
Hi all we are based in leeds but we cover north yorkshire tadcaster york selby scarborough we go as far as skipton kieghley otley bradford we install aerials and satellites systems. i have been trading now for 31 years. a new aerial complete fitted start from £79-00 the dearest with a masthead amp is £150. repairs are £35-00 to do job plus any parts we may need to use. we dont rip customers off we offer value for money. you can reach us on freephone number above. thank you john
fin tang
Wednesday 7 November 2012 3:58AM Coulsdon
My local installer is charging £330, £160 of that is for a "...high gain digital aerial...". They must think customers are stupid in trying to get away with that markup. Trouble is, there are not that many installers that know the local terrain and conditions.
NICK ADSL UK
Tuesday 20 November 2012 11:59AM
i had a top installer charge me £650 when i moved into a brand new property and even thou i know what I'm doing i paid up

three years later the owner of the business said sorry and a cheque for £100 and i had been using the services of this business for 35 years which just goes to show you can get ripped off even by those that have known you for years

sad but true
mazbar
Tuesday 20 November 2012 4:14PM
NICK ADSL UK: just giving a price can be hard work. Today i gave a price to a customer( free ) there aerial was ok but the bracket and mast and coax needed changing, they also wanted there sky going too 4 extra rooms with a magic eye and remote in one. This involved a 4 way compact amp, 6 coax leads, mast, bracket, lashings, magic eye and sky + remote not a small job i quoted £228 and what i got was more or less how much! a simple question to all rigers out there am i under charging overcharging or just right ps i am in the mersyside north wesr region
steve h
Wednesday 21 November 2012 8:16PM
mazbar,always enjoy reading your posts mate. from what you have said in your previous posts merseyside does seem very competitive on prices for aerial work which drives prices down.however most installers would say thats a bit on the cheap side.some customers dont realise the amount of work required, with any luck they will be ringing you back when they have some dearer quotes.
DoXe
Sunday 16 December 2012 9:25PM
@NICK ADSL UK...... Under charging IMHO. Who is to say what is or is not a fair price?? Why do barristers get paid £350+ VAT per hour and no one pipes up.
I would not get out of bed for less than £220 + VAT for a XG10 on a 8-10ft 2 inch mast on a 13 inch cradle/T&K going to 1 point. If people think that's expensive then go elsewhere. What I hate are the firms that advertise £99 installed but when they turn up there will be complications that inflate the cost to £350 (we have seen it all on watchdog).
If you are happy doing all that work for £228 at a guess £130 profit, the good luck to you, however, ask yourself this. What is the main reason MOST people will not climb ladders?? I would guess that it is fear of falling no with all the best H&S in place, accidents can still happen. So when someone says to me 'it's just an aerial on the roof' I respond with 'you can borrow my ladders and crack on yourself if you like'....... Never bee taken up on the offer.
Also I do not believe in ripping people off and have quoted jobs on the phone and when I have got there turned out to be a bit more than I thought, on them few occasions I just have to swallow it as I never asked the correct questions in the 1st place.
DoXe
Sunday 16 December 2012 9:32PM
Sorry my post was meant to be directed at Mazbar.... Apologies NICK
Mazbar
Monday 17 December 2012 6:23AM
DoXe: It gets harder i have a local rigger charging £65 for rx12 on 9ft mast i did get the other job but in the north west when someone gets made unemployed tgey think what can i do i know i have a set of ladders i either clean windows or gutters repair roofs or aerials most up here plump for aerials. since the switchover there is not the work for more riggers. I see cables that i know have water pouring in and befor the switchover it would have broken up but now fine still letting in water damaging there tv or stb. Thats the problem with some of the advice given on this site the people giving the advice dont know the job so dont know all the things that can go wrong, the best advice to give most of the people here should be get a good local rigger who someone you know has used and recomends, not go out and buy a aerial from a company on the net that has a big mark up and still risk your own life trying to do the aerial sorry for the rant have a great christmas to all the riggers out there
paul marriott
Thursday 10 January 2013 12:34PM
Were a small Aerial & satellite installation company based in the south East, I have been involved in the industry for 30 years and my biggest bug bear id these nation companies that spend 1000's of pounds advertising there local firms,turning up and ripping customers off with over inflated prices. There all affiliated to the various bodies but there just glorified salesmen.

www.essexaerials.biz
Janine
Saturday 19 January 2013 10:29PM
Hi there, wanting to know if my mum has been over charged for her aerial installation. The guy has fitted a vision 40 element digital aerial on a 6ft poll. He's put aerial sockets in 2 bedrooms and the living room. He says he's had to put a master head splitter (apologies if I get names wrong) in the living room as it is a new build and there was no socket in the loft. He says he worked from 11:30am - 4pm. He charged her £250 this includes 12month guarantee parts and labour. Is this about right. We live near Sheffield.
Andrew Brown
Sunday 20 January 2013 6:59PM
Hi Janine, I would say that that was at the top end of the scale but still within a reasonable price (for my area anyway) did the guy run all new cables to the rooms or were they already there?

Regards

Andy

AB Satellite and Aerial Installation
Gloucestershire
01594821006
07919022679
Stephen P
Sunday 20 January 2013 7:57PM
Janine - this very informative website is Sheffield based. Bit late now!

www.aerialsandtv.com link icon A.T.V (Aerials And Television) TV Aerial, DAB Aerial, FM Aerial.
Janine
Monday 21 January 2013 12:33AM
@andrew brown
I think he did run new cables. My mum is 75 and gets panicked easily and agreed to the installation without consulting me, she was only suppose to be getting a quote. Spoke to the guy who fitted it and asked to break down what he'd done. Just didn't like the thought of her being took advantage of. But if it's a reasonable price then it sort of puts my mind at ease. Just wish she would've waited for me or at least got a few more quotes.
Andrew Brown
Thursday 24 January 2013 11:13PM
It's always good to get a few quotes unless the person has been recommended to you by friends or family. Do you remember what he said when you asked him to break it down? It all depends on the type and quality of the products that he has supplied/installed

Andy
Dave
Friday 25 January 2013 7:57PM
Good comment Andrew
Problem is most customers dont know the difference between good coaxial cable and the inferior type.
And aerial wise just because something is bench marked, doesn't mean its the best
All it means is the manufacture paid CIA to have there stamp put on it which in turn the customers paying for.
Brackets, I use all fully galvanized, but the average customer wouldnt know the difference between brushed galvanized, or even bog standard painted until it started to rust out.
What I would advise to any public here is make sure the dealer is local, IE you know for sure where his premises are because these days you cannot go by just a phone code, make sure they are well established.
Recommendation is excellent as long as the person who is giving it is well known to you.
Lastly but certainly not the least make sure you get at least a 2 year guarantee parts and labour in writing.
If they cant give you 2 years then alarm bells should be ringing because a good quality outside aerial system should last 35-40 years.

Regards
NICK ADSL UK
Friday 25 January 2013 9:53PM
good advice Dave
Andrew Brown
Sunday 27 January 2013 8:00PM
Dave: I completely agree, a lot of the benchmarked aerials that I see are absolutely rubbish! Poor build quality and poor strength but as you said the manufacturer has paid to get it benchmarked. Now it's completely different when it comes to cable benchmarked cable is all that should be used.
Also a little research goes a long way forearmed is forewarned!
Mazbar
Sunday 10 February 2013 1:18PM
God give me strength I gave a price to a customer last week it was for a mrz 20 aerial going into a 4 way splitter, ( we are in a very good reception area) , rx12 aerial, 9" bracket and lashing, 32mm mast and 5 coax leads total cost £196 not a bad price for him. What I should have asked him was does he a rubbish job, I went passed today and saw what he had up 2 rx12 aerials must be going to 5 points 1" mast but worst of all a SSB ( self supporting bracket). What makes this even worse is that here in bickerstaffe we are very exposed and high up from my front bedroom window I can see mount snowden in Wales so wind load is always very high. I try to do a good job for a fair price and get undercut by a cowboy.
Andrew Brown
Sunday 10 February 2013 5:30PM
Mazbar: This happens to me all the time. I give fair prices to everyone but then someone else comes along and undercuts and does shoddy work. (Aerials on plastic fascia boards with loft brackets anyone?)
What people don't realise is how dangerous our job can be. "you've only got to run up on the roof" I frequently hear! If it was that easy then you would be up there I feel like saying!

Anyway mate the cowboys always get found out with the good installers lasting for years!
jb38
Sunday 10 February 2013 5:35PM
Mazbar: Well if this persons aerial is installed as you have described in an area noted for high wind, then its maybe on the cards that come the next storm you may well receive call out of desperation with this person willing to pay anything to have the problem sorted out, the cowboy installer not being contactable.



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