wixy1503559655 Posted April 14, 2007 Posted April 14, 2007 Just wondering what sort of prices I would pay for an antenna plus antenna install for dtv? Can anyone recommend someone in Melbourne?
mtv Posted April 15, 2007 Posted April 15, 2007 A proverbial "how long is a piece of string" question. Cost would depend on what was required and that would depend on the type of antenna/s (for signals in your area), mounting method, type of building etc etc Melbournes a big place, can you be more specific?
wixy1503559655 Posted April 15, 2007 Author Posted April 15, 2007 I'm in Clayton, single story house, clean sight lines from the roof to the Mt Dandenong transmitter.
OakenShield1 Posted April 15, 2007 Posted April 15, 2007 I paid around $170 can't think name of company I used, I'll come back when I think of it. Seemed very good and did 2 points for me. This was during our renovations however, so not sure if it would be the same for an established house - I would assume it would be close.
beeblebrox Posted April 18, 2007 Posted April 18, 2007 As MTV says, how long is a piece of string? ie are you just replacing an existing antenna with a new antenna, does the cabling need to be replaced? If so how long is the cable run from antenna to wall point, there's too many variables... not that we go as far south as clayton but an average install would be $200-500 depending on what's required... number of points, signal available, signal required etc...etc.
V205 Posted May 6, 2007 Posted May 6, 2007 Does anyone still do the saddle connections? It's a bit of a pointless $ saving given the cost of labor?
beeblebrox Posted May 7, 2007 Posted May 7, 2007 Does anyone still do the saddle connections? It's a bit of a pointless $ saving given the cost of labor? Plenty of sparkies still do... I don't know anyone in the antenna industry that does given a choice (ie some antennas are still not f connect terminations...)
ozgal Posted May 7, 2007 Posted May 7, 2007 Hi, Talking about "how long is a piece of string".... I'm in Prahran, Melbourne, and also after new DTV antenna installation with one TV point currently in lounge room, and looking to have 1 extra TV point intalled in front bedroom. House is small - about 10sq. Double brick, single story, detached. Have two Foxtel STBs. TV point in lounge is connected to full HD Sony STB that came with our new SONY sxrd 70" HD T.V. and Foxtel IQ. No TV point in front bedroom - only has Foxtel Digital PACE DC240NF connected to a Sony Trinitron SD Widescreen TV. Also have two cheapie TV sets (not digital) - one in 2nd bedroom, one in kitchen. Antenna guy has had a look. Advised current antenna is old and needs upgrade. Said we have two antennas on roof (something about UHF and VHF). Apparently using Como signal. Said amplifier/booster betweeen two antennas but connections have been chopped (we have no idea how this happened). Also said amplifier/booster looks "cooked". Have Kingray PSK08 plugged into the lounge TV point but he said this is probably not connected to anything and is doing nothing. Would like to upgrade the antenna so we can get reliable digital signal. Would like one extra TV point in front bedroom to use SD digital ability of Sony Trinitron Widescreen. Would like to hook Foxtel Digital PACE DC240NF from bedroom to kitchen (via RG6 quadshield coax). Would like to hook up Foxtel IQ from lounge to 2nd bedroom (via RG6 quadshield coax). Can I get away with just having one extra point installed in front bedroom, or do I need points in 2nd bedroom and kitchen? What sort of price for this job to be done (while undertsanding it's still a "how long is a piece of string" situation). I plan to get IQ multiroom kit from Dick Smith to use the remote control in sons' bedroom via Foxtel IQ in lounge, and regular remote control extender from Jaycar for 1st bedroom to kitchen via the Foxtel standard STB once coax cables are in place and TVs tuned to receive the Foxtel feed. Hope I've explained things clearly enough. I'd love some help to know the best options from this point onwards. Cheers and thanks in advance, ozgal
beeblebrox Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 Hi,Talking about "how long is a piece of string".... I'm in Prahran, Melbourne, and also after new DTV antenna installation with one TV point currently in lounge room, and looking to have 1 extra TV point intalled in front bedroom. .... Hope I've explained things clearly enough. I'd love some help to know the best options from this point onwards. Cheers and thanks in advance, ozgal Ozgal, Yes it's a how long is a piece of string.. Without a site test to look at what the signal is like, I could quote you $300 to a few thousand $$... Prahran is often not a simple place for TV reception without knowing what the signal is like on your roof it's hard to guesstimate a price for your antenna work. Putting the foxtel to the other Tv's shouldn't present a major problem. So if your antenna guy didn't do a site test to look at what signal is available then he was obviously doing a guestimate too.
ozgal Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 Ozgal,Yes it's a how long is a piece of string.. Without a site test to look at what the signal is like, I could quote you $300 to a few thousand $$... Prahran is often not a simple place for TV reception without knowing what the signal is like on your roof it's hard to guesstimate a price for your antenna work. Putting the foxtel to the other Tv's shouldn't present a major problem. So if your antenna guy didn't do a site test to look at what signal is available then he was obviously doing a guestimate too. Hi beeblebrox, Thanks for your reply. Second antenna guy came out today. Advised me to use a digital only antenna (Poltech), said we would not be able to get ABC analogue as the antenna would only be for 6 and up. (Not a major issue as two of the T.V.s are digital, sxrd HD & Sony Trinitron SD will pick it up. Plus we get FTA via Foxtel). Also said he would fix new mounting bracket to roof (he did not get up onto the roof, and did not test any digital signals). At first he said he would just connect up the antenna and the 2nd TV point and that doing the coax cables would be time consuming and it might be better to get someone else to do that part. Later said he could do it after all. I'm not sure if he's well known on this forum (Greg from Gregory's Antennas Pty Ltd). I think I saw mention of him in one of the antenna threads - as "GB" who was recommending Poltech and saying it was comparable with Fracarro. Quoted $250 for antenna (Poltech, but not sure which model - he said it was a triangle shape, if that helps) $90 for the mounting bracket and $150 for Foxtel coax set up - 2 boxes (Foxtel hooked up directly to cheapie CRT TVs via coax only - not the antenna cable). I can add extra points and splitter later down the track if needed. All up $490.00, so let's call it $500.00. Any comments or suggestions (also opinions on whether Poltech is the way to go?). I agree Prahran has not got a good reputation for signal quality (our analogue fta has always been crappy and the reason we got Foxtel in first place). BTW, I'm located off Williams Road, in between Malvern Rd and High St. Two streets away from BMW/McDonald's corner. As our current antenna is at least 9 years old and we are not getting a top signal, yet we are managing to get all the HD channels (analogue still as fuzzy and crappy as ever), I'm hoping the upgrade will end our problems and allow us to enjoy the new sxrd HD 70 incher and also the Sony SD widescreen when watching FTA digital. Cheers and thanks again. ozgal
mtv Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 ozgal, I agree with beeblebrox that Prahran is a reception 'lucky dip'. The Poltech appears to be very similar the Fracarro LP34HV, but they do not support their claim of performance figures, as does the Fracarro. Without accurate site signal measurements, it's impossible to know how any particular antenna will perform at a given location. Having said that, the majority of my installations in metro areas (Melb, Syd, Adl) are Fracarro "Log Periodic" antennas as you described. Just wondering what the $250 Poltech price includes, as the Fracarro (antenna only) retails for around $70
ozgal Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 ozgal,I agree with beeblebrox that Prahran is a reception 'lucky dip'. The Poltech appears to be very similar the Fracarro LP34HV, but they do not support their claim of performance figures, as does the Fracarro. Without accurate site signal measurements, it's impossible to know how any particular antenna will perform at a given location. Having said that, the majority of my installations in metro areas (Melb, Syd, Adl) are Fracarro "Log Periodic" antennas as you described. Just wondering what the $250 Poltech price includes, as the Fracarro (antenna only) retails for around $70 Hi Col, Thanks so much. It would seem to me that the Fracarro has a better name around the traps. I did ring Lacey's in Frankston today and talked about the Fracarro model you mention and the person I spoke to had not heard of the Poltech. As I'm a total novice regards antennas and such it really helps to bounce ideas around in this forum, hence - putting out the feelers about how the Poltech compares with the Fracarro and whether the information I have supplied sounds like I should go ahead or perhaps have someone who posts here come take a look. The price of $250.00 as far as I know is just for the cost of the Poltech antenna and having it installed (with $90.00 added for a bracket mount). So, I suppose the cost on top of the price of the antenna itself is for installer's time/labour. I'd also be interested to know whether beeblebrox installs around my way. Beeblebrox???? Cheers, ozgal
beeblebrox Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 Yes I do work in Prahran, and the other inner suburbs (not the CBD) and also all the Northern, Eastern and inner western suburbs.. In terms of Antennas for digital I normally use JTC Log Periodics, these are also Italian made and in my opinion are as good as Fracarro and far superior to most of the other log periodic antennas out there. I also use Hills SMX range antennas, and JTC UHF Phased arrays and yagis where needed. I normally carry 7 different types of antennas, each with a different use in different circumstances. In an area like Prahran the only way to know what's going to be required is do a site test, get up on the roof and measure the signals and then make recommendations from there. ie sometimes the signal from Mt Dandenong is better, sometime the signal from the translator at Como is better. Give us a call during business hours if you want to discuss. 9457-6655 Cheers Jason
V205 Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 Beeblerox, what is your hourly rate for diagnosing and fixing problems (in case I need it) excluding cost of parts? Please PM me if you prefer.. I still can't PM yet.
mtv Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 I still can't PM yet. You should be able to now... you've graduated to ten posts
ozgal Posted May 8, 2007 Posted May 8, 2007 Hi Jason, Thanks so much for the information you have supplied. Happy to hear you do work in Prahran. I will definitely give you a ring during bus hours. Speak to you then. ozgal Yes I do work in Prahran, and the other inner suburbs (not the CBD) and also all the Northern, Eastern and inner western suburbs..In terms of Antennas for digital I normally use JTC Log Periodics, these are also Italian made and in my opinion are as good as Fracarro and far superior to most of the other log periodic antennas out there. I also use Hills SMX range antennas, and JTC UHF Phased arrays and yagis where needed. I normally carry 7 different types of antennas, each with a different use in different circumstances. In an area like Prahran the only way to know what's going to be required is do a site test, get up on the roof and measure the signals and then make recommendations from there. ie sometimes the signal from Mt Dandenong is better, sometime the signal from the translator at Como is better. Give us a call during business hours if you want to discuss. 9457-6655 Cheers Jason
Steak Sandwich Posted May 18, 2007 Posted May 18, 2007 On a related note I was in at A & J antennas in Heidelberg the other day and they're having a moving sale, got a cheap but good quality Hills UHF antenna for our beach house. There was a few bargains to be had there if people are interested.
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