Missing HD channels, an empty guide or a new television that keeps finding the wrong region? We check the aerial feed, tuner and channel list together. Repeated retunes will not repair a damaged cable. Buying a new aerial will not add an HD tuner to an older television. We establish what your equipment receives before recommending work.
We set up Freeview and Freeview Play across Finchley and North London, drawing on 25 years' experience. Call us free on 0800 206 2385, Mon–Sat 8am–7pm. We offer same-day service where possible, explain the work and give you a clear price before work starts. Have your postcode and television model ready when you call.
Freeview through the aerial, catch-up through broadband
Conventional live Freeview uses your aerial and the television's terrestrial tuner. Freeview HD needs a DVB-T2-compatible receiver. An HD-ready screen does not guarantee that tuner is inside it. We check the model and its specifications before blaming the aerial for missing HD programmes. A separate compatible receiver is another option to discuss.
Freeview Play adds supported catch-up and on-demand services on compatible equipment. Those features use broadband. We check the aerial reception and the network connection separately, then show you how to reach each service. App accounts, broadcaster availability and software support depend on the device. You enter your own passwords during setup.
Lost several channels? We check the multiplex
Freeview channels travel in groups called multiplexes. Losing one broadcast group removes several services at once. Tell us the channel names you have lost, including any HD versions. We compare that list with the expected transmitter services and measure the relevant frequencies. That quickly narrows down the investigation.
Here is a typical N2 setup problem: the standard-definition channels work, while the expected HD services are missing. We check the receiver's DVB-T2 support and measure the HD multiplex at the socket. Those two checks separate a receiver limitation from a reception fault before you spend money on roof equipment.
Crystal Palace or the Alexandra Palace relay?
Crystal Palace supplies much of our patch, including Finchley, Golders Green and surrounding streets. Reception changes around the slopes of Highgate and Hampstead. We test the available signal at your property. We check level, MER and BER across the multiplexes so we know the quality reaching the receiver.
The Alexandra Palace relay offers another reception route at suitable addresses, with a smaller multiplex selection. We explain its channel limits before recommending an alignment change. We cannot add missing transmitter services with a booster. Our Crystal Palace guide explains why the chosen transmitter matters as much as the television's tuning menu.
Transmitter work and the right time to retune
When reception suddenly changes across an area, we check Freeview's planned engineering works page for work affecting the serving transmitter. We also check the reported service status. Tell us if neighbours have the same problem. Transmitter maintenance calls for a different next step from a failed amplifier inside your home.
We retune after confirmed transmitter or channel changes once a usable signal is present. We select the correct region and use manual tuning where the receiver supports it and the reception calls for it. Retuning during a complete outage wipes the stored list. Get the feed working first, then scan for channels.
A clean signal from roof to remote control
We test the aerial feed, amplifier, splitter and room socket. We inspect loose plugs, tired flyleads and hidden splitters left by earlier alterations. Victorian terraces in Muswell Hill often have several generations of TV wiring. We identify the active route before removing or replacing a component.
Where cable renewal is needed, we use WF100 screened cable and agree the route with you. We inspect chimney lashings and mounting condition if roof work is involved. We test for 4G/5G interference and compare reception with suitable filtering when the readings call for it. Excessive amplifier gain gets checked too.
Repairs to aerials and cabling →4G/5G interference explained →
Freeview Play connected and ready to use
When live channels work and catch-up fails, we start with the television's network settings. We check Wi-Fi reception at the set, the Ethernet connection where fitted, software updates and supported apps. A broadband outage needs resolving through the broadband service. A disconnected network lead is something we can put right during setup.
A typical Highgate setup scenario is a new router followed by working live television and an empty catch-up screen. We reconnect the compatible TV to the current network, check the supported apps and demonstrate playback. We leave you knowing which functions use the aerial and which need the internet.
Recorders, extra rooms and shared aerials
We tune compatible recorders and show you the guide, recording schedules and playback controls. We explain how the model's tuners affect simultaneous recordings. For extra rooms, we measure cable losses and outlet levels before planning distribution. Each television needs its own compatible tuner or receiver to choose its own Freeview channel.
Across N12, N2, N6 and NW11, we work in houses, converted flats and mansion blocks. In Hendon and Colindale, a shared aerial fault needs building-level checks. Ask neighbours whether the same channels are missing. We arrange managing-agent permission and access before changing communal equipment.
We show you the finished setup
We check representative channels across the available multiplexes and demonstrate the controls you need. We explain any receiver limitations and the agreed work carried out. You get a fixed written quote before repairs start. Call 0800 206 2385 and tell us whether the problem affects live television, recordings, catch-up or all three.