what would you do?
26 January 2009, 06:31 PM
#1
what would you do?
long story short.....a bloke knocked on my front door today and asked if i wanted my tv ariel putting up properly. its pretty new and is laying on my roof. i use cable for the main tv but the kitchen etc run off an ariel in the attic, not brilliant but it works.
he has offered to put up a new mast and a lashing bracket(i think thats what he said). he said i will be able to connect all my tv,s to it and wants £40.
i think he was trying to make a bit of cash in the hand. i have no problem with this especially as so many people are out of work etc. he said he worked for a company bla bla bla
i called an ariel person and was told that their guys wont go on a roof for less than £80 and thats without any work being done!
should i or shouldnt i?
his accent was local so i dont think he is a caravan dweller but he could still be a con man
he had a small white van with ladders on it and his dog in the front seat.
i have thought of all the pro's and cons........but need some advise please
he has offered to put up a new mast and a lashing bracket(i think thats what he said). he said i will be able to connect all my tv,s to it and wants £40.
i think he was trying to make a bit of cash in the hand. i have no problem with this especially as so many people are out of work etc. he said he worked for a company bla bla bla
i called an ariel person and was told that their guys wont go on a roof for less than £80 and thats without any work being done!
should i or shouldnt i?
his accent was local so i dont think he is a caravan dweller but he could still be a con man
he had a small white van with ladders on it and his dog in the front seat.
i have thought of all the pro's and cons........but need some advise please
26 January 2009, 06:38 PM
#4
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If you're going to do it then do it right. Ask hime what sort of aerial is best for reception in your area - but go check UK digital TV reception predictor first so you know exactly.
Ask him how he';ll arrive at the best direction to point the aerial in, and what transmitter you'll be seeing. If he looks stumped or tries to say he'll be asking you to yell when you get a good picture when he's on the roof tell him to go forth ...
Dave
Ask him how he';ll arrive at the best direction to point the aerial in, and what transmitter you'll be seeing. If he looks stumped or tries to say he'll be asking you to yell when you get a good picture when he's on the roof tell him to go forth ...
Dave
26 January 2009, 06:39 PM
#6
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in another life, i used to work for sky (when the installation side was called TAS) and we used to knock doors for a bit of extra, but i always remembered to put it on my tax return at the end of the financial year though.
26 January 2009, 06:39 PM
#7
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Sarah, your call chicka, but I personally wouldnt let the bloke anywhere near my house. tbh.. I know a few aerial riggers (due to the job i do ) and they wouldnt go up on a roof for that kinda money alone supply you with a mast and lashing kit too!
all sounds VERY dodgy to me, tbh.
all sounds VERY dodgy to me, tbh.
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26 January 2009, 06:40 PM
#8
if he hasn't any insurance isn't it his fault if he has asked to go on my roof and falls off?
i wish i looked at his van properly now. it was a small white van and he had his dog in the van. i saw ladders but cant be sure if he has roof ladders.
i checked the company name he gave me but it didnt lead anywhere.
wouldnt i have to let him into my house? i thought he would have to go into my attic
he said he didnt have any of his cards left lol.
i wish i looked at his van properly now. it was a small white van and he had his dog in the van. i saw ladders but cant be sure if he has roof ladders.
i checked the company name he gave me but it didnt lead anywhere.
wouldnt i have to let him into my house? i thought he would have to go into my attic
he said he didnt have any of his cards left lol.
26 January 2009, 06:42 PM
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If you're going to do it then do it right. Ask hime what sort of aerial is best for reception in your area - but go check UK digital TV reception predictor first so you know exactly.
Ask him how he';ll arrive at the best direction to point the aerial in, and what transmitter you'll be seeing. If he looks stumped or tries to say he'll be asking you to yell when you get a good picture when he's on the roof tell him to go forth ...
Dave
Ask him how he';ll arrive at the best direction to point the aerial in, and what transmitter you'll be seeing. If he looks stumped or tries to say he'll be asking you to yell when you get a good picture when he's on the roof tell him to go forth ...
Dave
26 January 2009, 06:47 PM
#10
i was going to say that as they all point in the same direction
i didnt know what to ask him as i know foof all about anything that has buttons.
womens intuition.................he seemed decent enough and was about 50ish.
i had to be careful when i called a couple of places to try and check him out as i didn't want to get him in trouble if he was genuine and just making a few quid.
he is due to turn up in the morning.....
26 January 2009, 06:58 PM
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to be on the safe side though, have somebody there with you, don't be on your own, if you can't have someone there with you, and feel embarassed about not letting him in after you've arranged it, go out, or pretend to go out and leave a note on your door asking him to call back.
26 January 2009, 07:13 PM
#15
The only thing I'll say is: Watch out for unexpected "add ons"
Like: oh dear, a poor signal, you need a booster, or a better aerial etc. At extra cost of course, because they allegedly cost more (but in reality its nothing special).
Lots of cowboy installers running around these days since the "go digital" campaign started. I've seen these utterly huge high gain aerials put up in aim to get all the channels (to no avail as well) when the original one, if aimed correctly with a booster would do the job just as well, as the signal/lack of channels issue is the transmitter not the aerial installation.
House behind me had one last month...it fell off last weekend in the winds.
And there is no need for it either: I can get most of the freeview channels on my 17" LG TV in the kitchen using a "tuned" coat hanger (seriously, it works so well I've not bothered sorting it properly ) - which makes a mockery of the neighbour's short lived "super aerial". 
Like: oh dear, a poor signal, you need a booster, or a better aerial etc. At extra cost of course, because they allegedly cost more (but in reality its nothing special).
Lots of cowboy installers running around these days since the "go digital" campaign started. I've seen these utterly huge high gain aerials put up in aim to get all the channels (to no avail as well) when the original one, if aimed correctly with a booster would do the job just as well, as the signal/lack of channels issue is the transmitter not the aerial installation.
House behind me had one last month...it fell off last weekend in the winds.
And there is no need for it either: I can get most of the freeview channels on my 17" LG TV in the kitchen using a "tuned" coat hanger (seriously, it works so well I've not bothered sorting it properly ) - which makes a mockery of the neighbour's short lived "super aerial".
26 January 2009, 08:31 PM
#16
The only thing I'll say is: Watch out for unexpected "add ons"
Like: oh dear, a poor signal, you need a booster, or a better aerial etc. At extra cost of course, because they allegedly cost more (but in reality its nothing special).
Lots of cowboy installers running around these days since the "go digital" campaign started. I've seen these utterly huge high gain aerials put up in aim to get all the channels (to no avail as well) when the original one, if aimed correctly with a booster would do the job just as well, as the signal/lack of channels issue is the transmitter not the aerial installation.
House behind me had one last month...it fell off last weekend in the winds. And there is no need for it either: I can get most of the freeview channels on my 17" LG TV in the kitchen using a "tuned" coat hanger (seriously, it works so well I've not bothered sorting it properly ) - which makes a mockery of the neighbour's short lived "super aerial".
Like: oh dear, a poor signal, you need a booster, or a better aerial etc. At extra cost of course, because they allegedly cost more (but in reality its nothing special).
Lots of cowboy installers running around these days since the "go digital" campaign started. I've seen these utterly huge high gain aerials put up in aim to get all the channels (to no avail as well) when the original one, if aimed correctly with a booster would do the job just as well, as the signal/lack of channels issue is the transmitter not the aerial installation.
House behind me had one last month...it fell off last weekend in the winds.
And there is no need for it either: I can get most of the freeview channels on my 17" LG TV in the kitchen using a "tuned" coat hanger (seriously, it works so well I've not bothered sorting it properly ) - which makes a mockery of the neighbour's short lived "super aerial". 
i cant see any difference in picture quality between my cable tv and my old ariel in the attic that the kitchen tv uses.
anyway, if i cant see the tv i just put my glasses on
26 January 2009, 08:49 PM
#17
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It sounds like a good deal, but this usually means trouble.
If its too good to be true, then it usually is.
Maybe the bill to the roofing contractor when it rains will outweigh the saving.
Stick to the coathanger in the kitchen.
If its too good to be true, then it usually is.
Maybe the bill to the roofing contractor when it rains will outweigh the saving.
Stick to the coathanger in the kitchen.
26 January 2009, 09:02 PM
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26 January 2009, 09:15 PM
#25
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Is the guy just an areial engineer,or is he an aerial engineer/builder handyman.Was their anything wrote on the guys van,like company name or what trade he actually speacialized in,or was it just a plain looking van with a dog in it.Asking because before you know he will be saying you need to replace a few imaginary loose tiles or some imaginary dodgy guttering.Could be genuine,but it's things you have to think about.It's not unusual for them to offer you a cheap deal,but will have a plan already worked out to try and get more work from you.
Last edited by DYK; 26 January 2009 at 09:19 PM.
26 January 2009, 09:15 PM
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