Terrestrial TV remains one of the simplest and most reliable ways to watch live television, especially for homes that want free-to-view channels without relying on broadband or monthly subscriptions.
At AB Aerials, we have been installing TV aerials across Sheffield and the surrounding areas for nearly 40 years. While many households now use streaming platforms and subscription services, traditional terrestrial TV still offers several important advantages.
For many homes, a professionally installed TV aerial provides dependable access to Freeview channels, live news, entertainment and everyday television without the need for a fast internet connection.
What Is Terrestrial TV?
Terrestrial TV is an over-the-air broadcasting method. TV signals are transmitted from local towers and received through a rooftop or indoor aerial.
In and around Sheffield, the main transmitters include Emley Moor in West Yorkshire and Belmont in Lincolnshire. There are also smaller relay transmitters serving areas such as Crosspool, Chesterfield, Stocksbridge and Oughtibridge.
1. No Monthly Subscription Fees
One of the main benefits of terrestrial TV is that there are no ongoing monthly subscription costs.
Aside from a valid TV licence, platforms such as Freeview allow you to watch a wide range of live channels without paying for a monthly TV package.
This makes terrestrial TV a cost-effective option for households that want access to everyday television without adding another subscription.
2. No Reliance On Broadband
Streaming services depend on a stable internet connection. If your Wi-Fi drops out, your router has issues or your broadband speed is slow, streaming can become unreliable.
Terrestrial TV works differently. Because the signal is received through your aerial, it does not rely on your home broadband.
This is particularly useful for homes in areas with patchy internet coverage or for customers who want a backup to streaming services.
3. Reliable Access To Live TV
Terrestrial TV is a dependable way to access live television, including news, weather updates and major live events.
During periods of high internet usage or broadband disruption, an aerial-based TV service can continue to work as normal, provided your aerial system is correctly installed and maintained.
4. Simple And Easy To Use
Another advantage of terrestrial TV is its simplicity.
There are no passwords, apps or complicated menus to manage. Once your aerial is installed and your TV is tuned, you can simply use your remote to browse the electronic programme guide and watch live channels.
This makes terrestrial TV a practical choice for older customers, second rooms, rental properties and households that prefer a straightforward setup.
5. No Data Usage
Streaming television can use a significant amount of broadband data, especially when watching in HD or 4K.
Terrestrial TV does not use your internet allowance, which means you can watch live TV without affecting your broadband usage or speed for other devices in the home.
TV Aerial Installation Across Sheffield And Surrounding Areas
AB Aerials provides professional TV aerial installation and repair services across Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Penistone and the surrounding areas.
Whether you need a new aerial, help with poor signal, extra TV points or advice on the best setup for your home, our experienced team can help.
Find out more about our TV aerial installation services.
Need Help With Your TV Aerial?
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with AB Aerials, please contact us today.
Call 0114 2341189 or get in touch through our website to speak with our friendly team.
PTZ CCTV cameras offer advanced security features, giving homeowners and businesses greater control, wider coverage and the ability to monitor large areas with fewer cameras.
At AB Aerials, we have seen a growing demand for intelligent CCTV systems across Sheffield and the surrounding areas. With nearly 40 years of experience installing aerial, satellite and security systems, our team has helped customers choose the right technology for their homes and businesses.
In previous guides, we have looked at different CCTV options including wired systems, wireless cameras and IP CCTV systems. In this article, we are focusing on PTZ cameras and why they are becoming a popular choice for modern security installations.
What Is A PTZ CCTV Camera?
PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt and Zoom. Unlike a standard fixed CCTV camera that records one specific area, a PTZ camera can move horizontally, tilt vertically and zoom in on specific details.
This makes PTZ cameras ideal for monitoring larger spaces, including:
- Commercial buildings.
- Warehouses and industrial units.
- Car parks.
- Large gardens and driveways.
- Farms and rural properties.
1. Greater Coverage From A Single Camera
One of the biggest advantages of PTZ cameras is their flexibility.
A PTZ camera can rotate to cover a much larger viewing area than a traditional fixed camera. Many models can pan up to 360 degrees and tilt across a wide range, allowing one camera to monitor areas that may otherwise require several standard CCTV cameras.
This can help reduce the amount of equipment required while still providing excellent security coverage.
2. Powerful Zoom For Capturing Important Details
Modern PTZ cameras include advanced optical zoom technology, allowing you to focus on objects further away without losing image quality.
This can be useful for:
- Identifying visitors.
- Monitoring entrances and exits.
- Viewing vehicle details.
- Checking activity around your property.
For homes and businesses requiring more detailed surveillance, PTZ cameras provide an effective solution.
3. Remote Viewing And Real-Time Control
Many modern CCTV systems allow PTZ cameras to be controlled remotely through secure apps and software.
This means users can adjust the camera position, zoom into specific areas and check their property even when they are away.
Some advanced PTZ cameras also include intelligent tracking features, allowing the camera to automatically follow movement from people or vehicles.
4. Automatic Patrols And Preset Positions
PTZ cameras can also be programmed to monitor specific areas automatically.
For example, a camera could regularly move between:
- A front entrance.
- A driveway.
- A garden area.
- A business loading bay.
This helps provide ongoing protection without needing someone to manually control the camera at all times.
CCTV Installation Across Sheffield And Surrounding Areas
At AB Aerials, we install CCTV systems throughout Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley, Chesterfield, Penistone, Doncaster and the surrounding areas.
Our customers often choose PTZ cameras because they provide additional control, improved monitoring and greater peace of mind.
Whether you want to protect your home, monitor your business premises or upgrade an existing CCTV system, we can help you find the right solution.
Find out more about our CCTV installation services.
Need Advice On A New CCTV System?
If you have any questions about PTZ cameras or would like to arrange an installation, contact AB Aerials today.
Call 0114 2341189 or get in touch through our website to speak with our friendly team.
Recently there has been a flurry of enquiries for GPS antennae installations. Don’t ask why but it must have something to do with the weather (possibly?). I don’t really get involved in the nitty gritty of such systems, more the “fitting” as this is my field of expertise. I think you’d really have to be in to bitcoin “mining”, aircraft tracking and fleet vehicle location siting to get positively thrilled.
The three GPS antennae I have most experience in terms of installation are:
1. Helium antennae used for facilitating hotspots to maximise HNT, the cryptocurrency in the Helium network, enabling payments and data transfer
The GPS antenna are generally linear in nature and the most popular model is the SIRIO SCO-868
2. Wingbits antennae are used to track aircraft transmissions in terms of their location, elevation and speed. The aircraft is basically saying “I’m here, watch out don’t hit me”. This information can be used commercially by “hobbyists” to capture aircraft information and use it commercially.
3. GPS timing antennae are used in conjunction with synchronised network clock systems providing accurate timing for libraries, gyms, schools, broadcast studios, manufacturing facilities, healthcare facilities, police and public safety offices, government and military agencies, and any corporate office. Also, for tracking of vehicles, employees working alone on site or in the office.
What AB Aerials can do is the heavy lifting in terms of GPS antennae installation. The prime site must have a clear view with no obstructions and so higher is better in this situation thus mounted on the chimney or high on the gable end is ideal. Much like TV aerials this requires a bracket, lashing kit and a mast to secure the antennae to the building which is meat and drink for us.
If you are one of those creatures that inhabit the world of GPS tracking and haven’t got ladders or the inclination to go a roof to install your asset then we at AB Aerials are here to do that for you.
Please contact us by phone on 07773870943, email info@ab-aerials.co.uk or via the website www.ab-aerials.co.uk
Installing a television aerial may seem like a simple task, but without technical knowledge and the correct equipment, the process can prove tricky.
A DIY approach might appear to be a cost-effective option, but it comes with wide variety of risks ranging from personal injuries to property damage. Here, we outline some major advantages of selecting AB Aerials (a professional television aerial installation service) to fit your aerial.
Expertise and equipment
At AB Aerials we have experienced aerial installers that have hands-on knowledge of installing a wide range of equipment. We also have access to the latest tools and solutions to ensure the work is performed efficiently.
Speedy installations
Installing and fine tuning a TV aerial can be a time-consuming task for a novice, but we offer rapid services without ever compromising on quality. To avoid extensive research, complex instruction manuals and sitting through online tutorials, hiring a AB Aerials is ideal.
Work guaranteed
As professional installers we will offer you a two-year warranty for the work we complete, offering premier levels of peace of mind. This guarantee ensures that if there is an issue with your installation, it will be fixed free of charge within the warranty period.
Lower risks
From handling electrical connections to working at height, there are multiple risk involved in aerial installation, but a certified professional carrying insurance with an understanding of the safest practices can handle the work correctly. At AB Aerials we are experts in a variety of digital installations and we can also service your devices to ensure they operate effectively. We are registered digital installers so you can assured of the highest quality service visit by checking the business directory at Getmedigital. and by visiting our website site to find more information – https://ab-aerials.co.uk
Home technology installation is a growing market here in the UK, with many households adopting the latest smart solutions for lighting, security and entertainment. At AB Aerials we are focused on fitting new equipment thus giving a fresh flow of new business while retaining our existing customer base if we wish to keep competitive.
In this blog, we’ll look at how AB Aerials can tick both these boxes by ensuring customers feel confident in the services on offer.
Becoming an approved installer
At AB Aerial we are constantly interacting with customer’s property, often working in an environment inhabited by their loved ones and filled with their personal possessions and valuables. As a result, they must feel comfortable that they can trust you. As we are an approved installer we can show our customers that we have been background checked and can be counted upon to perform our trade professionally. If customers have a choice between hiring a pre-checked installer or an unknown quantity, which option do you think they will pick?
Acquiring the Digital Tick
AB Aerials has an abundance of experience and qualifications that allow us to handle specific equipment installations. However, most customers are looking for a simple sign that you are a professional and reliable installer. As an approved installer, we have the right to add the “Digital Tick” to our ID, vehicle, website and printed marketing materials. The Tick is a symbol of high-quality workmanship and dependability and can help customers see instantly that you are capable and trustworthy. At AB Aerials we are experts in a variety of digital installations and we can also service your devices to ensure they operate effectively. We are registered digital installers so you can assured of the highest quality service visit by checking the business directory at Getmedigital. and by visiting our website site to find more information – https://ab-aerials.co.uk
AB Aerials completed a job last week for a quite well do to family in a quite well to do area of Sheffield (the S11 postcode if you’re asking). It was a fairly big job involving installing a TV (UHF) aerial and a digital radio (DAB) aerial serving 5 locations around the property.
As the customer was very amenable we started chatting over a kindly offered cup of tea and he began to tell me the reasons for having the extensive digital aerial work carried out. To my surprise he was particularly bothered about the ever increasing cost of the subscription he was paying for a well known cable TV formerly owned by Richard Branson (I’m not at liberty to tell you the name of said company but you do the maths!
I say surprised as, previously mentioned, he appeared to be fairly well off living in a fairly well to do suburb and for all intents and purposes, I assumed, a few quid spent on cable TV was within the families household budget.
The cost benefit of subscriptions in the home
Being a forward thinking fellow my customer had done a cost analysis and the benefit of having Richard Branson’s the cable TV service replaced by a digital TV aerial and additional SMART Freeview receivers (e.g. HUMAX boxes, other brands are available) would be realised within 3 months. His main argument was that he and his wife generally watched the free channels such as BBC, ITV and other such as Yesterday, Pick and Dave. The kids, who largely resided in their darkened bedrooms, streamed unwatchable stuff off YouTube and NETFLIX, all of which could be found on their phones, tablets and SMART TV’s. So essentially, he was saying he was fed up of paying for stuff nobody watched. Good point well made.
The reasoning for AB Aerials presence was to replace the 30 year old incumbent installation on the chimney, resembling an old bedstead, with something that would serve all the main rooms and subsequently future proof their FREE TV viewing safely up until retirement and beyond (including digital radio listening – Radio 4 Extra is such a wonderful companion dontcha know!). By my calculations, given ay a 20 year life cycle, the cost per year of the installation would be £16.75.
What a fantastic investment plus they get a two year guarantee anyway.
I expect Richard Branson and Rupert Murdoch have set their sights on the Sheffield’s highly competitive upstart business AB Aerials!! I can feel a penetrating gaze on the nape of my neck already.
So just what did AB Aerials provide for this customer?
In conclusion, what AB Aerials has done for the customer is provide a guaranteed Free TV entertainment for our customer serving 5 rooms which means all family members can watch what they want, where they want, to the exclusion all others, be that in a darkened, sullied teenage bedroom or the comfort of a House of Fraser furnished living room!! I’ll take the latter any day.
Further reading and services from AB Aerials.
A weak WiFi signal that doesn’t reach every part of the house is not what we sign up for when we take put a Broadband contract. Yet many of us put up with sub-par coverage. You know how it is. Either the Wi-Fi signal reaches every room but to the one, you really want it in or the kids and their mates are at home all connected and the signal on your phone disappears in to the abyss. Fear not. There is no need to suffer as there are ways of boosting your signal using the latest technology which will make a significant difference in your home.
Firstly, it’s always best to make sure you’re getting the most from your existing setup.
- Where is your router?
Location is important. Keep it away from water (e.g. fish tanks), microwaves, cordless phones, windows, thick walls etc. as these can interfere with the signal. The best place is usually a central location in your home. If you have a dead spot try moving it to the area of poor signal. - Set a good password!
Avoid obvious passwords as you don’t want neighbours or passers-by leeching off your network. - Turn it off and on again!
Turning the router off and leaving it for a minute before turning it back on can reset the router, the channel selection and signal which can fix slow connection issues like being stuck on a busy WiFi channel. Don’t do this too frequently as it can cause issues with your provider. - Is your Broadband fast enough?
‘Standard ‘ Broadband might not be suitable for large households. Consider fibre, if available, as its cost is just a little extra. Some providers (Virgin and BT) provide app downloads so you can test signal strength room to room and detect ‘dead’ spots
If you’ve tried all the above and still have issues then have a look at the options shown below.
Your options for improving WiFi signal around the house.
AB Aerials have recently introduced a range of Access Points (AP) that creates a wireless local area network (WLAN) either to a “dead spot” or around the house and even in to the garden and beyond!! For example, if you want to enable Wi-Fi access in your recently converted cellar but don’t have a router within range, you can install an access point in the cellar and run an Ethernet cable back to the router. A bespoke WLAN can be set up to be run independently from your existing Wi-Fi or in conjunction with it.
What’s the difference between a Wi-Fi extender and an AP?
What’s the difference between a Wi-Fi extender and an AP I hear you ask? As its name implies, a range extender lengthens the reach of an existing Wi-Fi network. Since range extenders connect wirelessly to Wi-Fi routers, they must be placed where the Wi-Fi router’s signal is already strong, not in the location of the actual dead spot.
There are significant advantages of installing an AP. When you have swarms of family and friends all visiting at once connecting with tablets and mobile phones. Twenty devices on a wireless network adds up quickly. At 60 simultaneous connections each, access points give you the freedom to scale the number of devices supported on your network. But that’s only one of the advantages of using these network enhancers—consider these points:
- Business-grade access points can be installed anywhere you can run an Ethernet cable. Models that AB Aerials employ are also compatible with Power over Ethernet Plus, or PoE+ (a combination Ethernet and power cord), so there is no need to run a separate power line or install an outlet near the access point.
- Additional standard features include Captive Portal and Access Control List (ACL) support, so you can limit guest access without compromising network security, as well as easily manage users within your Wi-Fi network.
- Select access points include a Clustering feature—a single point from which the IT administrator can view, deploy, configure, and secure a Wi-Fi network as a single entity rather than a series of separate access point configurations.
Which products are best for solving my WiFi issues?
There are a range of products and functionalities that can be tailored to suit customer requirements. AP’s can be categorised in to three main products
- In wall access points – which provide a separate WLAN or combined WLAN and data access point
- Ceiling access points – which provide Wi-Fi (flooding) throughout the property
- Bridges – which can provide Wi-Fi from building to building both point to point and point to multi point
WiFi CAN reach every room in your house!
Technology is reaching a point where decent Wi-fi signals can be had in every room of the house as long as the ethernet cable run from the router to the AP is do-able. Multiple devices can be added to the network without loss of signal/drop out to individual rooms or the whole property or even the man shed at the bottom of the garden.
Further Reading and AB-Aerials Services
The best aerial, CCTV and satellite installer in the Sheffield region | Our customers’ views!
What’s that you say? TV for free? Seems an incredulous statement, but in a way its true so read on.
Here at AB Aerials we fit a lot of aerials, satellite dishes and additional TV points around properties (amongst many other products and services) and at the last count, for the year 2018-2019, 338 lucky customers have benefitted from having a quality installation along with a great customer experience. You don’t have to take my word for it as there are a ton of written and video testimonials and reviews to view on the website too.
How much does an aerial installation cost and what is the price compared to satellite TV?
One of the overriding reasons why people are choosing TV aerial and satellite installations over subscription TV is cost. Plain and simple. Well, how cheap is cheap? Firstly, customers, being a fickle lot, don’t want just cheap thrown in to the equation, they want quality too, that is why we here at AB Aerials only use industry approved materials and all installations are carried out by experienced City & Guilds qualified technicians. Secondly, we offer a great after sales service e.g. for those who struggle with technology and need a walk through the maze of buttons and drop down menus. And finally, the bottom line which is money!! The cost is dependent upon where you live, i.e. signal strength, and whether you need an amplifier (booster) or something more than a standard installation. We can give you a quote on a pre-survey or on the day also taking into account additional room provision if required. There may be the need to install a satellite dish if the terrestrial is not available. No matter what the scenario we can assist in providing the service best for you.
Not quite sure how to put this but previously the demographic for customers watching traditional methods of TV, i.e. through an aerial or dish, were, let’s say, more life experienced and their viewing habits were less demanding. But what I’m finding now is that younger people too are now opting for and aerial or dish in favour of subscription TV and in addition are going for the less expensive options of SMART TV’s and devices where apps provide additional variation and choice.
So how can you get TV for free?
It seems that the cross customers have to bear with subscription TV is that monthly prices mysteriously increase with little or no explanation. When I subscribed to a well known cable TV company I had notification stating my bill was going up by £5 a month because they added an additional cooking channel. Well I couldn’t have been happier (not) so I promptly withdrew my patronage. Having a TV aerial or satellite dish to watch Freeview and Freesat respectively means that after the initial payment of the installation no more money is taken from your account, hence the “Free” element to Freeview and Freesat.
AB Aerials recommendations.
What AB Aerials recommend is to install a TV aerial or satellite dish to compliment a decent (SMART) TV coupled with a recording device. By doing this a customer has all the functionally offered by subscription TV i.e. recording, pausing, fast forwarding and reversing etc, but no ongoing monthly payments to satellite and cable TV providers. The whole investment pays for itself in three or four months and from there on in its free!!!
Technology is constantly changing which means the way we watch TV changes too. But we are living in the moment and have to make decisions which best suit us, satisfying our need for entertainment and education balanced with that of the cost to provide us with these needs and wants. On line streaming and subscription TV can be expensive so it may be prudent to have a look at the more traditional methods of watching TV thus saving those all important pennies.
Further reading and links.
The importance of customer service for our installation service.
Has a tradesman, shop or on line outlet ever left you seething? Chances are bad customer service was the cause. A rage-inducing experience can make us swear to never spend money with that third party again whilst excellence examples can secure customers for life!!
Customer’s have changing expectations and are more discerning about where customer service can add value. We may not be terribly focused on casual conversation and interaction but we are looking for customer service that helps fulfil our needs. For example last week a potential customer enquired in to the reasons for the poor quality of picture on his recently purchased behemoth 65” OLED TV. He suggested that a new aerial might help. I told him it wasn’t the signal that was the issue just that standard definition on a big screen is rubbish – something that John Lewis or Currys don’t generally mention.
Although there was no real resolution to his initial enquiry (excuse the pun) he was joyous to the point of giving me a 5* review on Google as I’d been open and honest and hadn’t ripped him off by installing some expensive piece of apparatus that wouldn’t have corrected the problem.
A certain Dr. Bray (who he??) of Bournemouth University has carried out a study in customer behaviour and stated that “only 45% of customers are willing to pay more for a better customer service” and this is because there is an expectation that all businesses should meet a basic level of service(WHICH ? consumer magazine September 2019).
Additionally, the erudite Dr. Bray highlighted that customers are likely to warn others about their experiences – 75% would share a positive experience and 83% a negative one.
Modern technology and customer service.
There’s no denying that technology has caused a shift in the way we think about customer service. Social media means that negative sentiments can be made public and spread rapidly which I have found out to my cost when a woman on Facebook gave me 1* star review for not getting back to her as quick as I said I would. No offer of discounts or apologies could make her remove her comments!! Lesson learnt the hard way I suppose and if service drops below a certain level customers will start looking elsewhere and make sure everybody else knows about it too!!
When I’m shopping around for products and services I’m looking for value for money, which is in cake terms “worth the calories”.
Money well spent is the whole package including what you’re actually offering as a product as well the services.
This includes the initial contact experience of a web page landing or a personal phone call, to turning up on time, clearing up after yourself and making sure everything works prior to leaving. The standard of the service should not change for any customer. The only variable should be the different price of products.
The whole process must be seen in terms of the customer. Lack of knowledge is vulnerability which is often exploited by the unscrupulous. A friendly tone and helpful guiding hand on how to tune a television or how to playback recordings on a CCTV recorder cost nothing but are priceless to a customer lacking in confidence.
At AB Aerials we gain customers attention and confidence by offering no charge incentives such as:
- No vat charge
- 2 year guarantees
- Free call outs for surveys and diagnostics
- After sales service
- Phone lines open until 10pm and answered straight away
Customer’s trust needs to be gained and the ability not to be disingenuous is upmost which is why I’d always advise to check out the business in question, e.g. look at all the reviews, testimonials, experiences, qualifications etc, which help to cut through the host of questionable special offers and suspicious discounts. The focus is on helping the customer through the process with the end goal being a satisfactory outcome which includes something that works, looks good and is on budget!!!
AB Aerials Services.
Bird spike installation in Sheffield.
There is a very true idiom stating that nothing is to be gained from “dumping” on your own doorstep both metaphorically and literally (err…!!). In terms of our avian friends, the latter can cause issues particularly relating to their quite natural “biological business” causing an unsightly mess, damage to property and vehicles as well as slippery surfaces that the Health & Safety Executive would have a field day in examining the relevant risk assessment.
Here at AB Aerials we love birds. We wonder at their beautiful plumage. We are entranced by the harmonies of bird song and are besotted by the eeriness of murmurations (a swooping mass of thousands of birds whirling in the sky above).
One thing we don’t pay homage to our bird’s uncanny ability to perch on TV aerials and release their recently digested meal on our cars, patios and if you’re really unlucky (or lucky depending on your disposition) our heads.
The effects of the of bird poo related assaults even shut down Rome for a while. It can be said that Rome wasn’t cleaned in a day!
It’s a dirty job, but…
Another great idiom of our time (not) is “it’s a dirty job but somebody has got to do it” and at AB Aerials we have robustly taken on that responsibility of deterring the perching and pooping of our feathered friends. The deterrent is the operative word here too. We don’t want to harm birds at all we just want to prevent them from landing, nesting and leaving droppings on your nearest and dearest object d’art or Grandparent.
What we do here at the animal-loving world of AB Aerials is install spikes that are made from high quality UV stabilised polycarbonate plastic which are both Eco Friendly and has no effect on the performance of the aerial or satellite dish so you’re free to ponder the profundity of Eastenders whilst secure in the knowledge you’re not going heads up next time you walk across the patio to hang the washing out.
The added benefits of bird spikes.
Bird spikes can be a revelation in reducing regular car and window washes. The bonus is that they are relatively cheap to install too.
The cost is around £85 to dismantle the aerial/satellite dish, install the spikes and subsequent reassembly and alignment. Not bad is it?
There may be Bluebirds flying over the White Cliffs of Dover but if you have AB Aerial installed bird spikes they are not going to land anywhere near you!!
Further reading and keeping in touch!
Find more about troubleshooting regarding poor television signal, issues with your satellite or about choosing the right provider for your installation over on the blog.
You can contact us today for a no pressure chat about improving your home AV needs and check out our reviews to see what others say about our 5-star service! We are specialists in CCTV, aerial and satellite installation and can’t wait to hear from you!