Our work in NW7 covers lost channels, patchy HD, new televisions that will not tune properly and Freeview Play setup. You will get honest advice about whether the problem is the aerial, the cable, the set or something simpler.
Start with the readings, not the postcode
A friend's perfect picture two roads away tells us little. Land levels, extensions, trees and the angle of your own roof change what arrives at the aerial. We take signal level and quality at the socket and, if needed, at the aerial output.
We also ask when the fault occurs and whether every television behaves alike. A single poor outlet calls for a different investigation from a whole house losing the same programme group. Those numbers tell us whether to adjust, repair or replace. If everything above the loft is healthy, we do not recommend roof work at all.
Strong on the ridge, harder in the hollows
Many Mill Hill homes enjoy a clean line towards Crystal Palace thanks to the ridge. Strong signal can still cause trouble, though: an old amplifier driven too hard may distort the feed and produce breakup that looks like weakness.
Houses in wooded valleys or low roads need a different approach. A high-gain aerial, a taller mast or a better position on the roof might be the answer, and we test before recommending anything.
Millbrook Park and other new-builds
Newer homes around Millbrook Park often have aerial points built in during construction. If the wall plates are fine but channels are missing, the fault could be the distribution box, a loose connector behind the plate or an unsuitable lead from socket to TV.
Keep any handover information supplied with the property available, particularly instructions for the distribution equipment. We can compare that intended arrangement with the connections actually in use. Where flats share a system, the managing agent controls the equipment. We check your outlet and tell you what to report, rather than altering something that serves other residents.
Missing HD channels
Standard-definition channels working while HD versions are absent suggests either a tuner limitation or a weak multiplex. We check whether your television or recorder has a DVB-T2 tuner, then measure the HD groups.
If the set cannot receive HD terrestrially, a compatible receiver may cost less than replacing the television. If the multiplex is weak, we trace the cause along the feed.
Garden-side cable runs and extensions
Detached and larger semis often have long cable routes, with extensions and conservatories added since the original aerial. A cable that was fine at ten metres may have been stretched, spliced or crushed during building work.
We trace the route, check joints and replace damaged sections with screened cable, agreeing the path with you so it does not run across a patio door or a decorated wall.
Retuning properly
We retune once the signal is steady. That includes picking the right region, removing duplicates where the television permits it and checking that the guide numbers match what you expect. If your set offers manual tuning and a multiplex is missing, we use it.
A reminder that scans on a faulty signal usually make things worse. If channels disappear overnight, ask neighbours if they have the same issue; it could be transmitter work, in which case a retune later may be all that is needed.
Smart TV and Freeview Play
Live channels use your aerial. Catch-up uses your broadband. We keep that distinction clear while setting up, connecting the set to your network, running updates and testing a supported app.
In larger houses the router can be far from the television. We tell you if a wired connection or repositioned router would help. We also distinguish unsupported apps from connection failures: reconnecting Wi-Fi cannot bring back a service withdrawn for that television. Please keep the original remote handy, since its menu buttons may be needed to complete setup.
How to book in Mill Hill
Phone 0800 206 2385 free, or WhatsApp 07595 292534 with your postcode, television model and a list of missing channels. Please mention conservatories, steep garden levels or extensions that restrict ladder placement. We agree a safe access plan rather than promising to reach every roof from a photograph. We are available Mon-Sat 8am-7pm and work outdoors until sunset.
We are Finchley Aerials and Satellites on Britannia Road, Finchley N12 9RU, with 25 years' experience. Advice is free, same-day visits are offered where possible and you receive a clear price before work starts.