Advice Technology digiTal?
ready for
are you
Don’t risk losing your TV reception next year, warns
JASoNWeLLeR. Have a survey done now
You get to the ‘doof, doof’cliffhangeron ‘Eastenders’ andthentheTVgoes off –the switchover to digital has happened and your systemdoesn’twork! Canyou imagine the phone calls you, as a propertymanager or RMCdirector, will start receiving – a lot more than the number of channels a fullyworking communal aerial systemwill receivethat’s for sure! Theswitchoverofthe transmittersinthe
south of England and homecounties takes placeon12March 2012,withLondon beingleft to last, from4 April 2012 onwards. As someoneresponsible formanaginga
blockofflats, hopefully youwillhavealready completed, or at leastbegun theprocessto ensure your property or theblocksyoumanage that have communal TV aerial systems are set up to receive digital TV. If your building is not yet prepared for the
switchover,itisnot toolate, butyou do need to
getgoing.The decisionmaking process required onmulti-tenanted blocks can easily delaythingssimplydue to thenumber of interested parties and their different requirements or expectationsofaTVsystem and the need for a bit of juggling to ensure all the respective needs aremet in themost cost- effective and simplest way. First youwillneed tohave a survey
undertakenontheexistingsystemtoensure it canreceiveanddistributeadigitalTVsignal. The surveywill involvecheckingthehead-end distributionboxandoneoftheflats in theblock. Itwill alsocheckthat the cables are earth- bonded –importantbutoftenoverlooked.Ifall isOKwith thesurveythenacertificatewillbe issuedconfirmingthesystemiscompliant to theUKdigital suggested parameters after 2012
switchover.Theinitialsurveyshouldtypically cost between£150-£200+VATper block.
20 Where a survey report shows the need
foranupgrade or replacementthiswill requireconsent fromallinterested parties to anewly agreed communal aerial system, andthensomeorganisationtoget the installation completed. Accesswillbe required to the head-end box and rope access forcabling andaccesstoeachindividual flat will be
needed.There will be severaloptions available for upgrading an old systemor installing a newone and undoubtedly tenantsand leaseholders will have differing views as to the choice of digital TV options
involvechecking thehead-end distribution box
andservices they
deemnecessary.Bear this in mind, as well as thelongterm maintenancecostsofany systemswhen obtainingquotations. Costswillvaryfrom systemto systemdependingonthe property size, type, location, landlord agreement andthe actual worksrequired. Youalso need to checkoverany existing contracts forthe aerial systemsand theirfuture maintenance. For both the survey work and any further
installation works, please always usea member of theConfederation of Aerial Industries (CAI)–the recognisedbodyfor the aerial and satellite industry (
www.cai.org.uk). Although abit of ageneralisation,any
aerial systemprovided by aregisteredCAI installerwithinthe lastfive yearsshouldbe
Thesurveywill
absolutelyfine andany building with asystem dating priorto1997willdefinitely need to be upgraded. Throughout thewhole consultation
processwiththe lessees, it is importantthey understandthatwhilethe aerial system may need to have somemoney spent on it, the digital switchover does notmean the occupantshavetobuy newtelevisionsets–an analogue setWILL continue to work as long as it is connectedtoadigital receiver anddigital aerial system. Theimportanceoftelevisionshouldnot be
underestimated. It is still considered to be our most effectivemeans of communicationand, forsome, it is theironlylifelinetothe outside world.●
JasonWeller Director, Aerial Systems tel 01248 653805
Websitewww.aerialsystems.co.uk
March2012 is theDigital deadline for homesinthe South East
Established in 1969,AerialSystems supply, install, connectand commission digital television, radio and satellite systemsfor bothdomestic and commercialclients acrossLondon and the South
East.AerialSystems also hasconsiderable experienceand expertiseinthe design andinstallation of commercialsystems. Thecompany is fullyregisteredand afounder member of the ConfederationofAerial Industries (CAI).
Autumn2011 Flat Living
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