Price differences in Freeview Installers

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Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#70321 21-Oct-2010 20:57

So, I've decided to get Freeview and go with the UHF option instead of getting Telstra or Sky. Using the http://www.freeviewnz.tv/ site to find an installer in Wellington, I called 9 or so different places to see what they charge.

Very interesting with a big variance in install costs:

$200 - $250

$270 - $340 x2

$280 - $330

$250 - $300

$320 - $390 (+ GST)

$350

and the kicker of $520 - $600!!! Ouch!

Only one of the places expressly stated that GST was on top, but can assume that is the case for the others.

A few of the places I called had a disconnected line which wasn't a good sign. Looks like the Freeview site are going to do an audit of the numbers to check that the various companies are still in business.

Anyone had good or bad experiences with any particular installers?

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#394527 21-Oct-2010 21:01

Foo: So, I've decided to get Freeview and go with the UHF option instead of getting Telstra or Sky. Using the http://www.freeviewnz.tv/ site to find an installer in Wellington, I called 9 or so different places to see what they charge.

Very interesting with a big variance in install costs:

$200 - $250

$270 - $340 x2

$280 - $330

$250 - $300

$320 - $390 (+ GST)

$350

and the kicker of $520 - $600!!! Ouch!

Only one of the places expressly stated that GST was on top, but can assume that is the case for the others.

A few of the places I called had a disconnected line which wasn't a good sign. Looks like the Freeview site are going to do an audit of the numbers to check that the various companies are still in business.

Anyone had good or bad experiences with any particular installers?

Installing UHF is a lot cheaper than satellite. I assume those prices were including the aerial. The aerial itself costs from $50 for a low gain one, upto $100-$150 for a high gain one. There will be some variances, as some quaotes may include getting the wire from the aerial to the tv, while others may assume you already have the house wired etc. Target did a story on uhf installers a few weeks ago.

There is pretty good money in it, as you don't need any qualifications, and if you can get the parts cheap, you could make a killing.

Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#394535 21-Oct-2010 21:08

Yep, all those prices included an aerial - full install and everything necessary such as wiring and brackets. Hmmm, wish I had seen the Target story - wonder if it is still on 3 on demand, might take a look.

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#394540 21-Oct-2010 21:14

Foo: Yep, all those prices included an aerial - full install and everything necessary such as wiring and brackets. Hmmm, wish I had seen the Target story - wonder if it is still on 3 on demand, might take a look.

If you have already got a VHF aerial on the roof, you shouldn't need the wiring doing, and your exisiting wiring should be already in the wall, so that will save you money. Some of the cheaper installers may just run the wire off the roof, down the side of the house, where it is subject to the elements and visually ugly, while other installers may run the wire through the wall cavity and install a proper aerial hotpoint (which takes longer and can be more expensive), so you don't see any wires.

The target story is good, the best one was around $300 and they got a 9.5/10

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

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#394550 21-Oct-2010 21:31

I now understand why I am going broke.

Did any of the quoters have any idea about what was involved in your installation, ie what cabling was needed, how difficult was the roof etc, or was it just a number out of the blue

Cheers
Cyril

xarqi

727 posts

Ultimate Geek

#394556 21-Oct-2010 21:38

In fact, you can assume that GST is included unless specifically stated otherwise. That's the law.

Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#394577 21-Oct-2010 22:15

Thanks for that Xarqi, will bear that in mind.

I have kept away from listing the names of the companies as thought that safest.

Three of the installers did ask a number of questions, but the rest did not. The quote of $320 to $400 asked the most questions and if they would need a long ladder or just a short one. I assume a long ladder would add more to the cost? ;-)

injuised

256 posts

Ultimate Geek

#394963 23-Oct-2010 09:19

Foo: Thanks for that Xarqi, will bear that in mind.

I have kept away from listing the names of the companies as thought that safest.

Three of the installers did ask a number of questions, but the rest did not. The quote of $320 to $400 asked the most questions and if they would need a long ladder or just a short one. I assume a long ladder would add more to the cost? ;-)

I doubt very much they would charge extra for a long ladder
as a tech myself i never carry a long ladder simply because they very seldom get used

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Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#394967 23-Oct-2010 09:41

Well, I had the install done yesterday by a guy from Command Communications. Excellent service and great guy to talk to as well - he really knows his stuff and not just about Freeview.

I can highly recommend him if anyone else in the greater Wellington area is thinking of taking the plunge.

geek4me

843 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#395266 24-Oct-2010 16:47

From your original list of install costs, what price range did they fall into?

robbyp

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#395286 24-Oct-2010 17:51

Foo: Well, I had the install done yesterday by a guy from Command Communications. Excellent service and great guy to talk to as well - he really knows his stuff and not just about Freeview.

I can highly recommend him if anyone else in the greater Wellington area is thinking of taking the plunge.

How much did it end up costing you? UHF installs are pretty simple, I just installed one last week after buying a high gain aerial off trademe. The only issue is installing splitters and diplexers if you still have older VHF tvs on the same line.

Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#395558 25-Oct-2010 20:20

Well, I'm still waiting for the invoice to be sent through, but I went with the quote of $200 - $250 - i.e. the cheapest one on the list.

Yep, if UHF installs are pretty simple, then there are some guys out there making a killing! :-)

Foo

522 posts

Ultimate Geek

#398957 2-Nov-2010 08:16

I've just received the quote and total cost is $237 which seems very reasonable to me. Really enjoying the Freeview experience and the fact that there is a one off cost versus the ongoing cost of Sky/Telstra.