Whether you're setting up Freeview, Freesat, or Sky, or fixing poor reception, aerial and satellite installation is one of those jobs best left to a professional — working at height and routing cables safely requires the right equipment and experience.
Common Aerial & Satellite Jobs
| Job | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| New TV aerial installation (incl. aerial) | £120–£250 |
| Aerial repair / realignment | £70–£150 |
| Aerial replacement only | £80–£180 |
| Satellite dish installation (Sky/Freesat) | £100–£200 |
| Satellite dish realignment | £60–£120 |
| Extra TV point / socket | £60–£120 |
| Loft aerial installation | £100–£200 |
What Affects the Cost?
- Height and access — chimney-mounted aerials or installations on three-storey properties cost more due to the need for taller ladders or scaffolding
- Existing cabling — if good-quality coaxial cable is already in place, the job is cheaper; running new cables through walls and ceilings adds time
- Aerial type — a high-gain aerial for weak signal areas costs more than a standard one
- Number of points — each additional TV socket adds £60–£120
- Amplifier / booster — needed in some areas to split the signal to multiple TVs
Freeview vs Freesat vs Sky
- Freeview — uses a TV aerial; free-to-air channels; the standard option for most homes
- Freesat — uses a satellite dish; free-to-air channels; better in areas with poor aerial reception
- Sky — uses a satellite dish; subscription channels; dish installation is usually handled by Sky but you may need an independent installer for a non-standard install
Signs You Need an Aerial Repair
- Pixelated or freezing picture
- 'No signal' messages
- Missing channels
- Reception that gets worse in bad weather (often a water ingress issue in the cable or aerial)
- Intermittent reception (could be a loose connection or corroded cable)
Always Use a Qualified Installer
A good aerial installer will:
- Check signal strength in your area before quoting
- Use quality cable (RG6 or WF100, not cheap coax)
- Weather-seal all outdoor connections
- Test signal strength and picture quality before leaving
- Be insured and ideally registered with CAI (Confederation of Aerial Industries)