Find a local network specialist

CCTV / Satellites / Alarms - what you need to know

Aerial and network specialists’ work is all about making sure your home is set up with the right connections to receive digital signals. They can make sure your home network is set up so you can access the internet and have a home telephone line. A lot of the work they do involves fitting aerial or satellite dishes, and resolving problems with existing ones, so you can watch your favourite TV shows of an evening. Often, a reception issue isn’t caused by an aerial but by cabling which will show up when they perform a signal test. A network specialist can also install new TV points in different rooms so that the whole household doesn’t have to watch the same TV channel.

As well as making sure you have access to all the home entertainment you need, a network specialist can also help you protect your home by installing a variety of burglar and fire alarms

What an aerial installer and network specialist can help with

• Fitting an aerial or satellite dish.
• Solving signal problems.
• Adding extra TV points in different rooms.
• Installing alarms – burglar alarms and fire alarm systems.
• Installing CCTV.
• Installing data and telephone points.
• Setting up internet access.
• Repairing or installing data cabling.
• Setting up or resolving issues with your home network.

The qualifications your aerial installer and network specialist needs

In general, an aerial installer and network specialist won’t need a particular qualification but they may need a Part P qualification if any of their work requires them to touch the wiring in your house. To fit data and telephone cabling, a network specialist would also need to have an affiliation with a service provider.

Why do I have no satellite signal?

If you have no satellite signal and you see an error message on your TV screen from your service provider, the problem’s usually down to your satellite dish, cables outside your home or the connections to a TV box (for instance a Sky box). If you have a TV box switched on and you see “no signal” or “no input” on the screen, this is normally down to the connection between the box and the TV. If the picture on the screen looks distorted, the main cause is usually bad weather conditions or a loose connection. In each case, you’ll want to head to your service provider’s website as a first port of call to troubleshoot the problem. If you can’t fix the issue, it’s worth calling out an aerial and network specialist to take a look.

Planning permission for aerial installation and network specialist jobs

Planning permission may be required for fitting satellite, TV and radio antennae. It’s your responsibility to fit an antenna in the correct position and there are different rules according to the height of your house and whether it’s in a designated area. Check out the Planning Portal for more information. There may also be specific rules in a rental or leaseholder agreement and you should check your property’s details before having anything installed.

Building regulations for aerial installation and network specialist jobs

Building regulations don’t normally apply for installing an antenna but you need to make sure that it’s fixed securely.

Insurance for aerial installation and network specialist work

There’s no legal requirement for network specialists to have insurance but it’s a good idea for them to buy public liability insurance to cover themselves against any property damage and personal injury claims.

Questions you should ask an aerial installer and network specialist

• Do they have public liability insurance and what does this cover?
• How long have they been trading?
• Will any of their work require them to touch the electrics and if so, do they have a Part P qualification?
• Will it be themselves that carry out the work? If not, what experience does the person have and are they covered by insurance?
• Will they give a guarantee for the work and how long does that last?
• Do they offer phone support for the alarm?

See the latest questions that homeowners have been asking network specialists.  

Aerial installation and network ideas

With the latest trend for the hi-tech, delve into the world of smart home improvements that can save you money, including automated washing machines and ovens. If you’re less of a new technology fan and a sound system doesn’t appeal, why not check out the latest radios instead.