Does anyone have any recommendations for antenna installations in Melbourne?
I'd be looking for the cost of the antenna plus installation on the roof of a 3 storey block of apartments. The current antenna is pretty old and kaput.
I had one quote which was insane at $900 and the recommendations in these forums have the cost at about $300 but are typically for single storey houses.
I have sent off some quote requests but thought i'd canvass the collective knowledge here in the meantime.
Thanks for your help in advance!
Antenna Installation in Melbourne (Abbotsford)
halfnhalf71 on 08/04/2015 - 10:27
Comments
It's for me and one other unit. There is no internal access but you can gain access from the balcony of the top floor unit or if you had a ladder that could get up 3 storeys.
My expectation and reality may be different because all i have to go off is a crap signal and not even being able to pick up some stations anymore (yes, i've re-tuned the tv in light of the recent changes). The people downstairs ended up just replacing their antenna and went halves with their neighbor but that was a couple of years back. So i'm assuming ((without even seeing the antenna) I guess it could be just loose wiring even?) to just replace the antenna with a new one and wired to the old wire?
If I were an antenna installer, this is probably not a job that I'd want to do. Therefore, I'd quote high for the following reasons:
- I'd need to hire a huge ladder or lift to get on the roof.
- Roof access will be dangerous (many installers will only do single story).
- The antenna base or mount might (or might not) need replacing.
- Even if I did replace the antenna, the problem might be in the cabling, that the cabling would probably be hell to replace in a three story building.
- That's not to mention all the other things that could go wrong and therefore cost me money.
Perhaps the $300 guy isn't thinking hard enough about the job. Maybe the antenna will be all that's wrong, but what if it isn't? Will he accept the job on a "no results no pay" basis?
Other questions now spring to mind. Where is this building located? Do you have a clear view of the TV towers from as high up on the building as you can get?
What floor are you and the other unit on? Are your TV antenna outlets on external walls or internal walls?
How many units are there in total? Won't there be a body corporate? Are you even allowed to get this work done without their approval? What are other owners/tenants doing for their TV signal? Perhaps everyone could get together and have the job done properly?
Appreciate the advice!
So there seems to be quite a lot for them to consider. I'm on the Owners Corp so have approval so that's one less worry. There are 6 units but 2 on the same antenna. For some reason, each floor (of 2 units) has their own antenna. We're both on the 3rd floor. I asked the owner downstairs who had it done 2 years ago if I could connect to their antenna and she wasn't keen on the idea.
It's actually for my tenant and when i bought the place, the signal was fine. The building is getting old so i'm assuming it's the antenna (could be wrong). So it sounds like the $300 could be a good deal?If you can get anyone to do it for a fixed price and on the basis that you don't pay if they can't get results, then go for it.
Being on the top floor should make for a lower price if the cable needs to be replaced. Is it a tiled roof or a tin roof? Is there a manhole anywhere in your unit to get into the roof space?
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Is the antenna just for you, or for the whole block? Is there access to the roof?
And what are you expecting for your money? Just an antenna, connected to your existing cabling? New antenna mounts? New cabling? New amplifiers and/or splitters?