A little windy for an old aerial.

Got called out to a house in Appledore, Kent today where the aerial was swinging in the wind above a shared access driveway.
Where the aerial had been installed over 30 years ago, oxidation had taken it's toll on the aerials structure and the wind finished it off.
Upon my arrival, my immediate concern was to make the area safe so nobody was in danger walking under it.
I removed the aerial that was beyond repair and installed a new one on the existing bracketry and mast as this was still good to go.

www.ashfordvision.co.uk
TV aerial and satellite dish installation & repair throughout south east Kent.

Council approved heating guys disconnect elderly man's TV.

I was called out to a bungalow in Aldington, Kent. The customer had a no signal message displaying on his TV when trying to view.
When I went up in to the loft space I could see that the heating guys had pulled the cable out of a connector and wrapped the cable around a piece of metal so tightly, that the stinger (centre core) had snapped internally.

I replaced the connectors and some cabling, and he is up and running once again.

He also had a satellite dish that he wanted installed, so I carried out the installation at the same time whilst being supplied with lovely cups of tea. Just as well, as the snow was falling and my hands were very cold!

www.ashfordvision.co.uk

Freesat 'on demand' update.

Freesat has promised a select family of TV-focussed on-demand services as YouTube joins its Free Time from Freesat platform ahead of 4oD and Demand Five.

YouTube has launched the latest version of its HTML-based app for the big screen, supporting YouTube Leanback smartphone remote control feature, personal logins and adaptive streaming.

It’s part of Free Time from Freesat, the second-generation of Freesat, launched last year, which combines satellite TV with on-demand and catch-up TV over your broadband connection.

Dan Chronnell, Freesat’s director of product development, said the quick launch of YouTube’s app has validated their choice to use the familiar web technology of HTML instead of others like Flash or MHEG.

“This is the first deployment of YouTube’s latest HTML app in Western Europe on a TV service,” Chronell added. “We were able to get it up and running in weeks, rather than months, with very little disruption to the platform.

“HTML is becoming the platform of choice for broadcasters and other partners to do stuff across multiple territories and markets.”

Freesat is now tackling the final technical hurdles of adding 4oD and Demand Five alongside BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, and the new arrival.

“We see those as a really big value adds that will strengthen our service, and they are not far away,” said Dan. “There’s a combination of technical factors that we are going through.”

www.ashfordvision.co.uk

Film4+1 Returns to Freeview

Film4+1 will return to the Freeview platform in the summer of 2013, it has been confirmed.
Revealing the news of the channel's upcoming return, Film4's official twitter page posted: "We're exited to announce that Film4+1 is returning to freeview in the summer! Watch this space for exact dates..."

Film4 HD will arrive on the sky platform in September.

www.ashfordvision.co.uk

Virgin Media - Services Disruption in TN23 Ashford

Some customers in the TN23 area of Ashford may experience some disruption of broadband and TV services today. There is currently a part of the network that is being temporarily powered by a generator.

www.ashfordvision.co.uk

BBC 2 HD

From Tuesday 26th of March, the BBC HD channel will be replaced by a new channel, BBC 2 HD.

Not the usual type of week

It has been a little different this week than the normal aerial & satellite stuff.

The week started with mounting a 50" plasma tv wall and the installation of an av receiver in a youth centre located in Paddock Wood.

Mid-week saw the expansion of a local Ashford broadband provider's WISP network.
The fast growing broadband internet provider that goes by the name of 'Impossible Internet Ltd', looks to be the up and coming solution for consumers and businesses who are failing to get what they need from their current providers by being offered a broadband only option.

The week was rounded off with an aerial install which utilised the existing Virgin Media cabling that was already installed within the property.
This may be the way forward for some people who are leaving Virgin Media to avoid the installation of further cabling. This keeps cables running around the home to a minimum and keeps the installation cost down.