Is Freeview the only option?

Big Chris · 27 Jul 2011 at 19:42

Moving into a new place next month, landlord won't have a Sky dish on the building and Virgin don't service the area. BT Vision is way overpriced and requires a 18 month contract for phone & broadband, plus having dealt with them in another property I vowed never to give them another penny of my money.

So, what other options do I have? Is is just Freeview or am I overlooking something else?

kiel367 · 27 Jul 2011 at 19:42

you are overlooking the fact your landlord cant say no to sky from my experience

Big Chris · 27 Jul 2011 at 19:47

He doesn't want a dish on his house, I'm not going to stick one up there the week I move in when he's specifically asked me not to. As far as I know it's not just his stipulation, it's a building of a certain style in a regency town and I don't think the Council are too enthused about it either.

smit101 · 27 Jul 2011 at 21:32

If you have a garden with the property then you can buy one of the free standing tripods for sky satellite dishes.

smit101 · 27 Jul 2011 at 21:37

something like this would do the trick.

http://www.maxview.co.uk/products/SATELLITE_DISH_TRIPODS.html

Big Chris · 27 Jul 2011 at 23:07

Interesting, I didn't know this was an option...

Do you get the same coverage/signal as if it were on the side of the building then?

smit101 · 27 Jul 2011 at 23:16

No reason why not, you just align the dish as normal until you get the correct signal. Caravaners use similar setups with great results. This site gives good advice on how to setup and align the dish.

http://www.satelliteforcaravans.co.uk/

eg8076 · 28 Jul 2011 at 00:00

+1 for the tripod option, so long as you can put it where you can get line of sight to satellite. I guess it depends which way your garden is pointing, as the dish needs to point south.

Fr0dders · 28 Jul 2011 at 00:05

thats the only drawback, you need line of sight.

No use if your back garden is covered in trees.

Big Chris · 28 Jul 2011 at 09:32

The garden belongs to the lady downstairs, and is pretty much all covered by trees. It's also surrounded by pretty high buildings so I guess this means it's a no go

So, Freeview it is then?

Martynt74 · 28 Jul 2011 at 10:12

With SkyGo allowing you to watch sky using a computer or through an xbox etc, could you sign up to Sky and watch it via that rather than via a satellite dish?

Wossi · 28 Jul 2011 at 10:17

Similar, but no quite, to us. I bought a new build and we are supposed to ask the developers about putting Sky dishes up if they are on the front of the house. Completely retarded since we bought the house and are not renting it. Not that I want Sky anyway.

Bry · 28 Jul 2011 at 10:20

Marvt74 said:
With SkyGo allowing you to watch sky using a computer or through an xbox etc, could you sign up to Sky and watch it via that rather than via a satellite dish?

That would be the best way, can either use an xbox or build a cheap i3 HTPC.

Alternatively, do your parents have sky and not use skygo? if so create an account using their details as you can get sky for free....

Big Chris · 28 Jul 2011 at 12:20

The plot thickens... I spoke to the landlord again this morning and he said he infact doesn't have a problem with the dish on the house, it's just the council as it's a listed building.

There are however standard TV aerials on the chimney stack on the roof, so does this mean the Council should infact allow a dish up there instead of on the side of the house? And if so, will Sky put one up there instead of the side of the building? I'm going to drop by their office next week and see what's what, do you think my chances are good though?

insane200 · 28 Jul 2011 at 13:12

Big Chris said:
The plot thickens... I spoke to the landlord again this morning and he said he infact doesn't have a problem with the dish on the house, it's just the council as it's a listed building.

There are however standard TV aerials on the chimney stack on the roof, so does this mean the Council should infact allow a dish up there instead of on the side of the house? And if so, will Sky put one up there instead of the side of the building? I'm going to drop by their office next week and see what's what, do you think my chances are good though?

Sky will probably put it out to there contracters or specialist team as they normally only do wall mounting.

Big Chris · 28 Jul 2011 at 13:27

I assume that means it's gonna be costly then?

insane200 · 28 Jul 2011 at 13:52

Big Chris said:
I assume that means it's gonna be costly then?

That i dont know, probably best giving them a call and explaning what you need.

Paul. W · 28 Jul 2011 at 14:06

Sky will probably put it on the chimney providing you have permission. Its going to require one of their 'specialist' teams to install it though which may mean a longer wait.

Big Chris · 29 Jul 2011 at 15:06

I'm not moving in for a month so hopefully they can fit me in, just hope it doesn't cost too much!

kiel367 · 29 Jul 2011 at 15:42

if its just down to the council, claim ignorance, say the landlord said you could, problem solved

just blame the landlord, if its with his permission, his house, i didnt think the council had a say, since if the landlord owns the building its private land/property, and they dont have much of a say in it