Hi,

I have a place in Algorfa which has a communal TV system one for Spanish TV and one which I now understand is a microwave system. The system is all wired up into the apartment, but I am having difficulty in getting a reasonably priced installation, each one I have spoken with all want to quote for the whole system and then provide the decoder at 495 euro and then 19 euro per month. If they did all the job, then fine, but to charge the same for just a plug in, then I feel it is a little over the top.

Anyone any idea’s
Dave

Hi dave,

Some communal TV systems use a proprietary system, so only a certain type of decoder (set-top box) will work - and even though your apartment is ‘wired’ at your end, it may not be connected to anything at the other end until you pay the fee.  The ?495 is probably based on the cost of the decoder, plus a share of the cost of the original installation - which wouldn’t have been cheap to start with, but was probably calculated on the basis of 50% of the apartments sharing the initial cost, and would cover the cost of labour, cabling, amplifiers and distribution switches etc.

Try checking with your neighbours to see what decoders they have, and if you can borrow one, check to see if the wiring in your apartment is live.  If you can buy a similar decoder locally, then maybe it will work, otherwise you might be able to install your own system.

Stores like Carrefour and MediaMarkt sell Terrestrial Freeview Boxes (TDT) that you should be able to use for Spanish TV with a set-top aerial, but they also sell DIY Satellite TV kits that can pickup English and Spanish Freeview channels from the Astra and Eurobird Satellites at 28.2 degrees East.  An 80cm Dish will get many of the Free To Air channels, but you will need a much larger dish to get everything.

This will obviously need for you to be able to point the dish in the right direction, and probably check the restrictions on your tennancy regarding Satellite Dishes.

Alan.

Hi,

Thanks for that. I have a standard aerial which works fine with Spanish TV.

As most of the places in our complex are holiday homes, it is difficult to find anyone in. I understand from the builder that they did install a normal Sky system when the place was built, but it did not work, so they changed it to the micro mesh system.

I assume that I am going have to accept the cost or do without it, but I do think it is a bit of a rip off. I did question it but they did not even answer, so take from that what you will.

Dave

Trogg - 17 May 2007 03:11 PM

Hi dave,

Some communal TV systems use a proprietary system, so only a certain type of decoder (set-top box) will work - and even though your apartment is ‘wired’ at your end, it may not be connected to anything at the other end until you pay the fee.  The ?495 is probably based on the cost of the decoder, plus a share of the cost of the original installation - which wouldn’t have been cheap to start with, but was probably calculated on the basis of 50% of the apartments sharing the initial cost, and would cover the cost of labour, cabling, amplifiers and distribution switches etc.

Try checking with your neighbours to see what decoders they have, and if you can borrow one, check to see if the wiring in your apartment is live.  If you can buy a similar decoder locally, then maybe it will work, otherwise you might be able to install your own system.

Stores like Carrefour and MediaMarkt sell Terrestrial Freeview Boxes (TDT) that you should be able to use for Spanish TV with a set-top aerial, but they also sell DIY Satellite TV kits that can pickup English and Spanish Freeview channels from the Astra and Eurobird Satellites at 28.2 degrees East.  An 80cm Dish will get many of the Free To Air channels, but you will need a much larger dish to get everything.

This will obviously need for you to be able to point the dish in the right direction, and probably check the restrictions on your tennancy regarding Satellite Dishes.

Alan.

I’ve done some kitchen installation work on a number of new appartments for British clients. Whilst there I was asked about getting someone to install Sky tv for them. The problem was that the “Community” needed to be informed as individual dishes would not be allowed. My clients are now going through a lengthy process of trying to contact all the other residents, 70% of whom are Brits, to see about having a communal system installed.

Given most of the properties have been bought for investment or as holiday homes, it’s going to take them a while. They are probably one of very few permenant, non-Spanish residents. This is probably something that people need to consider when they are buying properties, especially if British telly is a prerequisite!