Freeview is the free to air and watch (apart from requiring a TV licence), via a standard TV Aerial for digital television. It is transmitted from a terrestrial TV mast located various regions throughout the UK & Ireland. To be able to watch Freeview you will require a working and properly installed TV Aerial. With that being said, there are other ways to be able to watch many of the same channels broadcast on the Freeview platform. In this article I will explain for you other options and ways to watch TV without having to pay for a TV aerial installation. 

​In short, the answer is yes. You can watch Freeview play using either a smart TV, a set top box or by using an app from off a mobile device. There are over 100 channels available for on demand viewing, and these can be viewed. All that is required for viewing is one of the devices mentioned and a half decent internet connection for streaming. 
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​As of writing this article, it is not possible to watch live TV (Freeview) legally over an internet connection. For this option a good TV aerial set up is necessary.
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There are a few different ways in which to be able to watch the same channels broadcast on the Freeview platform. In this article I will only be covering UK based platforms and not any foreign systems.

For the UK there are 2 different satellite platforms from which to watch live TV. These are Sky & Freesat. Sky is probably more well known than Freesat, but all of the free to air channels can be watched on these. Sky is the subscription-based satellite TV provider. With it there is all of the free to air TV channels, plus a large range of other channels, for movies, sports etc.

Freesat has no subscription or paid channels and the platform only provides the free to air TV channels. This is a great option if living in a region where the TV signal from off the local TV transmitter is compromised.

​Virgin is the only option for the UK at this present time, and it is a subscription-based service. With this service you are able to watch both Free to air and the TV channels that have been subscribed to.

Using the internet to watch television is probably one of most revolutionary aspects of peoples TV habits coming into the 2020’s. 

​Most new televisions come with the ability to be able to connect to the internet and stream certain TV channels. These TVs’ are called a ‘Smart TV’. The type of channels available are the catch up channels such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, All 4 & My5. 

​If using an older television, there is still the option to watch these free catch up channels by purchasing a Smart TV stick. As well as having the catch up channels, these USB sticks will have a range of other channels to view. Some of these USB TV Sticks are the Kodi Stick, Amazon firestick, Chromecast by Google to name a few. Along with the free channels, with these there is the option to sign up to their subscription-based channels too.

​Set Top Boxes offer a little bit more than the USB Sticks. They can often offer a recording option. Plus, with games consoles like the X-box and PlayStation you can play video games on these as well.

​By using an ipad or other mobile phone you can mirror the program being streamed onto the television. If you have Amazon or apple TV, there is that option as long as the TV is new enough and has that you can set up the mirroring from off your device.

​To watch any live TV from within the UK, it is at time of writing this the law to pay for a TV licence. Although more and more households are ditching the licence, it isn’t yet legal to watch live TV without the licence.

When it comes to using any tradesman, many people prefer to use someone who is local. Why is that? Well, not that I’m privy to everyone’s reasons, I can only surmise that it is because of a few logical factors. One, being that if you use an aerial company such as Digitec Aerials, who are local, the money paid to the tradesman stays local, and he or she will spend that money locally putting the money back into the local economy.
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Second, I think is that if there was to be a need for the fitter to return for whatever reason, they are more likely if they’re local over someone that is from a national firm.

Not all national Aerial companies have their own accredited engineers, and rely on outsourcing the work to subcontractors. The subcontractor is expected to go to the house quote and get the job done. Quite often because of the overheads of these companies, with so many taking a cut of the profits, the prices of any repair or installation work is high. Along with that there is the inevitable VAT to be added on.
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Also, as opposed to using a local firm, if there is the need to have the national company call back due to a problem, this may be difficult to tie them down to do. A local firm is much more likely to call back and fix any fault as they are reliant on keeping their reputation in high standing in the local area.

So, this all depends on the turnover of the aerial company being used. If the business turns over less than £85,000 p.a then they are not obliged to charge VAT on top of their service charges. This then is another reason for someone to use a small local firm, in order to save 20% off their bill.
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Using a larger firm will almost always lead to a larger bill for the same service and equipment being fitted. This can seem a little unfair but it is what it is, and is often why National firms do charge more money for their services.

​With any service provided, there ought to be some form of warranty or guarantee. Along with this there should be a guarantee provided with any equipment installed at the property. This is because each piece of equipment will have a manufacturers’ warranty that can and should be passed onto the customer. For aerial installations, a minimum of 12 months should be given, and each piece of equipment, they will have their own separate warranty.

Good question! But, the question should be ‘how long SHOULD a TV aerial last?’ In all honesty a decent quality aerial should last well over 10 years and upwards of 20 years plus. However, there is a lot of different types and quality of Television antenna out there, and it really does depend on the quality of both the aerial and the installation.
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​There are plenty of aerial fitters still using the cheapest aerials on the market. Some of these aerials are lucky if they last out the year. Although they can survive and work well if set up properly in a loft, but they fair very badly if installed outside. Eventually the British weather causes them to fail.
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​However, if a decent quality antenna is fitted correctly by a qualified engineer, then you should really expect it to last a god 15 to 25 years. This also does depend on where about the property is that it is being fitted onto. Those near the seaside tend to weather worse due to the salt within the weather. But, even though it would still last over a decade.

​So, this can change a bit depending on what kind of aerial company being asked for a quote. National and larger firms will tend to charge more because they have larger overheads and charge VAT. Smaller firms and one man bands will usually not be charging Vat and have fewer overheads, hence the prices will be less. On average the cost of an aerial installation to one room in the home costs approximately £165.00. However, it does depend on where on the property it is going, and other factors. So in reality prices will range from £130 - £200 for an aerial to be installed on the property.

All TV Aerials in the UK get their signals from a land-based Transmitter, and because of this depending where the transmitter is in relation to the aerial will relate to how much of a signal can be received. Other factors to take into consideration is the local geography such as hills, trees and valleys which will impact on the signal. Due to this most TV antennas are situated outside, but not all.

​The make up of a roof can negatively impact on the signal getting through to a loft aerial. That being said, it is possible in many homes to have adequate signal strength from an aerial fitted in a loft. The signal strength can be reduced by over 50% in a loft, but factors such as the type of loft lining, externally fitted solar panels should be taken into consideration.

Many if not all new build properties come with a stipulation in the contract that any TV aerial required is to be fitted internally. This is for aesthetics and not because it is a better way of doing it. Plus, in many installations an additional amplifier is required because of the reduced signal being received from within the loft.

​As previously mentioned, one of the major benefits to having it fitted in the loft or attic, is that it is out of sight and looks better than having it fitted externally either on the chimney or wall. Another benefit is that if fitted correctly, the aerial should last for decades and will always outlast an externally fitted TV aerial. This is because it's not being exposed to the weather year after year.

​It is generally when the signal strength being received is low or poor. When in a poor signal area, it is always better to maximise the amount of signal being received by fitting the aerial externally. This also gives the aerial fitter the option of using a tall mast in order to pick up more of the signal. Something that cannot be done within a loft.

This is often the case in the more rural areas where hills and the lay of the land tend to get in the way and also, generally because the transmitter is a long way away. In these kind of scenarios it can sometimes be impossible to pick up a good enough signal from within a loft, even if it was to be boosted, it wouldn’t be enough.

​To maximise a signal, for those living in a poor or weak signal area as previously mentioned, it is best to use an externally fitted aerial. But there are more ways in which to increase a weak signal, such as;

1. Use a high gain aerial
2. Increase the height of the aerial by using a tall mast
3. Use only high-quality copper cable
4. Make sure all connections are fitted correctly
5. Use some sort of powered amplifier such as a masthead amp, with a 25db variable gain.

By employing these methods, a decent aerial installer will be able to get a good enough signal in most locations in the country. And for the aeras' which it really is impossible, there is always the option of installing a satellite dish or either Freesat or Sky.

Recently got s call to a property in St.Annes to do an aerial installation on a chimney to supply Freeview to 2 rooms in the house. It was a fairly straightforward job. No need to remove any old coax cable or remove an old antenna from off the building as there was none there. 

The best way to ensure a quality fit is to bolt a galvanised bracket to the chimney stack. Then, to bolt a galvanised steel mast to the bracket using 'V' bolts, with the antenna firmly attached to the top of that mast. By using a digital aerial meter it can be aligned to the best position for picking up all of the transmitted signals from the winter hill transmitter.

Finally coax cable is connected from the aerial to a passive splitter within a waterproof housing for the coax cables going to the individual rooms to securely connect to.

Since there is very little to get in the way from the transmitted signal from off the transmitter at winter hill, the signal strength is very good. Also, the quality of the signal is good with very little in the way of interference.

With that being said, when the TV Aerial is installed in the Lytham St.Annes area it is very simple to fit it and feed cable to upto 4 rooms from a passive splitter. No need to use an amplified splitter or booster, so long as the aerial is set up correctly.

Located next to the Irish Sea, Southport is a town in north-west England and the 11th most populous city in this region. It is also a very popular seaside resort in the UK, the beautiful shorelines attracting thousands of visitors to the city every year. The city is also famous for the numerous events hosted throughout the year.

If you come here during the right time of the year, you can experience the largest independent flower show in the country, an air show at the beach, and even golf championships. Southport is very charming, having a laid-back atmosphere and gorgeous building facades.
 
The history of Southport appears to have begun a long time ago. The parts of the city that have names of Viking origins stand as proof that this part of England was indeed inhabited long before the country emerged. The Domesday Book also mentions settlements in the area. In fact, the earliest record that attests the presence of man in the area comes from the Middle Stone Age.

The hunters of those days liked the area for its woodlands, fish, shellfish, and large populations of elk and deer. Also, Roman coins were found in the area of the city as well, more precisely at Crossens and Halsall Moss. The Romans did not settle in the area, but the coins indicated that they traveled here or had settlements in the proximity of the city.
 
The Domesday Book mentions the existence of “Otergimele” as the name of the first settlement where Southport was going to develop much later on. In the book, there’s a mention that Otergimele had 200 inhabitants in a number of 50 huts. A primitive church was also built, the parish receiving the name North Meols. Due to the abundant fish in the surrounding waters, the fishing industry thrived here and led to the appearance of the first hamlets around the parish.
 
Toward the end of the 18th century, spa towns emerged across the inland and people visited the seashores to bathe in the salty waters of the sea, for improving their health and well-being. Bathing houses appeared, partially due to the recommendations of doctors to use saltwater for bathing, as a remedy for better health. During the 19th century, Southport developed even more and exceeded Blackpool’s popularity with its finer resort reputation.

This was also due to the fact that the resort enjoyed a canal system as a convenient access way. Other resorts of the kind were accessed with difficulty until a proper railways system was put in place. It is worth mentioning that Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte lived in exile on the Lord Street in Southport before he returned to France to be elected president and end up the Emperor of France.
 
In 1912, Ainsdale and Birkdale, two adjoining villages, contributed to the expansion of Southport, by becoming part of the county borough.  In 1925, the town was left without a lifeboat and, after a set of tragedies that struck its inhabitants in the 1980s, the families in Southport began raising money to get their much-needed lifeboat. The lifeboat operates entirely on the donations made by the public. Up to this date, the city developed beautifully and it truly deserves its name of a fine seaside resort. 

​Brought to you by Digitec Aerials Southport 
https://www.digitec-aerials.co.uk/southport.html

Wigan is a town that lies in the Greater Manchester region in England. It lies on the River Douglas and is 16 km (10 miles) south-west of Bolton, 19 km (17 miles) north of Warrington and 27.4km (17 miles) west-northwest of Manchester.

Origin

Wigan started as a village. It wasn’t until the 13th Century that it became a town. It was granted a charter by the king in 1246 which allowed the people to hold weekly markets. The town grew slowly so that as the Middle Ages neared their end, it had a population of about 3000.

Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, coal mining started around Wigan. However, the main economic activity in the town was making wool. The first process involved weaving the wool. Before it was dyed, it was made clean and thick by getting pounded in a mixture of clay and water. This was known as fulling. Wooden hammers that were driven by watermills pounded the wool.

Civil War

In 1642, civil war began between parliament and the king. The occupants of Wigan were mostly behind the king. However, in April 1643, Wigan was invaded by parliamentary forces. A year later, it got captured by the Royalists. However, their hold was not for long. In July 1644, following the battle of Marston Moor, the Royalists gave up the entire north of England.

In 1651, in an attempt to regain power, Charles II led a campaign with the Scots. He was joined by many of the Englishmen. However, the Royalist force suffered defeat in the hands of Parliamentarians during the battle on Wigan Lane.

Industrial Growth

In the 18th Century, Wigan continued to grow rapidly as it was an important market town. Furthermore, clock makers set up shop and made clocks in the town while whitesmiths crafted pewter goods. 1779 saw the completion of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal up to Wigan. In 1764, a waterworks was set up in Wigan while 1798 marked the opening up of a dispensary where the poor got free medicine.

At the close of the 18th century, coal mining drastically increased in Wigan. Also, in 1790, Wigan got its first iron works. Additionally, the late 18th century saw the cotton weaving business boom in Wigan.

Social Amenities

In the 19th century, there was a considerable improvement in amenities. From 1823, there was gas light in Wigan. In 1848, Wigan was linked to Liverpool and Manchester by railway. In 1856, a cemetery was established while in 1873, the Wigan Infirmary was started.

Written by Digitec Aerials Wigan
https://www.digitec-aerials.co.uk/wigan.html

On the banks of River Mersey lies Warrington, a large town that is strategically positioned in that it is 20 miles (32km) to the west of Manchester and 20 miles (32km) to the east of Liverpool. It has an estimated population of 209,700 and is the largest town in the whole of Cheshire County. In addition to this, it is wonderful business hub for entrepreneurs looking to pitch tent in the town and this is why:

• Good transport

It is crucial for every business to be able to reach the rest of the country regardless of its location. You want to get to your suppliers, clients and other contacts in record time. As a young company in Warrington, this is made possible by the very good transport links that will be vital in getting to your clients. While in Warrington, you are only minutes away from the M6, M56 and the M62 which will link you to the rest of the country. Additionally, it boasts of two train stations. It’s proximity to Manchester and Liverpool means that you have access to airports should you have to travel internationally.

• Business environment

Every entrepreneur is concerned with whether there are potential clients and Warrington will have you at ease. It is the home of multiple businesses that include Rolls-Royce, BT and TalkTalk. It is also home to other industries. For instance, Arcadis, a worldwide leader in design and consultancy for built and natural assets, calls Warrington home as well as Nuvia, the nuclear specialist. Regardless of your business niche, you won’t be short of clients, contacts or if need be, a business partner.

• Talent pool

When a business starts growing, there is the need for employees and this calls for recruitment. Warrington is anything but short of talent as it is home to a labour pool full of enterprising and skilled people. Additionally, being near to both Liverpool and Manchester means that it has access to the talented graduates from the respective universities. Warrington also plays host to a University of Chester campus which gives you a talent pool to recruit from.

• Support for business

Having a support system for new businesses is one way to ensure success and Warrington is full of diverse organizations that are bent on leading your company to growth. For example, there’s the Warrington Business Exchange which is a valuable networking organization that will link you to the contacts you need for the success of your business. Other organizations include the Cheshire and Warrington Business Growth Hub and for internet access, the Connecting Cheshire Superfast Business.
You might be wary about setting up business in a town that is not often on the media headlines but this doesn’t mean that the town is bad for business. In fact, there are so many opportunities to take advantage that you can’t afford to miss out on.

• ​Small Businesses 

As asmall business Digitec Aerials operates in and around the area as TV Aerial Installers. Using the excellent transport links and roads it is fairly easy to get from job to job. for more info click here

​Blackpool is a famous town and resort located on the seashores of the Irish Sea. It became important, as a settlement, after the middle of the 18th century, when English people discover the health benefits of visiting coastal areas. Since then, it attracted more and more people with its beautiful scenery, long strands of beach, landmarks, and all the benefits provided by a modern town. You should definitely consider visiting Blackpool, as it can offer a wide range of activities besides lounging on the beach. Below you will find a list with the best things you can do in Blackpool, Lancashire.

• Blackpool Pleasure Beach

 
Because we are talking about a resort on the coast of a sea, it is impossible not to start with a beach as the main attraction. After all, the seaside and beaches are the main attractions of Blackpool. But, it is worth knowing that Blackpool Pleasure Beach is actually an amusement park, not just a mere beach. Believe it or not, this park has been attracting visitors for a very long time already and it still manages to enjoy the same success nowadays as well. Due to the high and diverse number of rides and attractions, it is the ideal place for families with children of all ages.

• Winter Gardens

 
This is the place in Blackpool that hosts a wide range of events and shows. Here you can see anything from gracious ballroom dances to loud punk concerts, and everything in between. So, if you want to be part of an even while visiting Blackpool, you should check out the events taking place at the Winter Gardens. There are high chances to find a great deal of entertainment there.

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• The Blackpool Tower Dungeon

 
If you think you are brave, you should definitely take a trip to the Blackpool Tower Dungeon. These are real dungeons that were built a long time ago and they can be spooky just to walk through them. While the experience is made to be fun, with the help of various rides and interactive performances, it will also give you an insight of a darker part of Blackpool’s history, like the dark magic performed by witches.

• Madame Tussauds

 
It is easy to meet all your favourite celebrities in Blackpool. You just need to visit Madame Tussauds and see loyal copies, made out of wax, of the most beloved celebrities, from movie stars and singers to superheroes.

• Sea Life

 
Sea Life Blackpool is a must-see location, especially if you are looking to enjoy a pleasant activity with the entire family. The kids will be simply mesmerised by the multitude of colourful fish and impressive water tanks. Besides discovering a wide array of sea creatures, there is also the chance to get engaged in fun activities at the interactive rock pools. And those that truly adventurous and courageous can opt to snorkel in a tank with sharks.

• Big One

 
For those seeking thrilling adventures, Blackpool offers an impressive roller-coaster, called the Big One. Just how high this roller-coaster gets? You will have to face heights of up to 235 feet and speeds of 87 mph. Are you up to it? You will even get your picture taken as the ride approaches the end of the track, so you may want to control your screaming. 

Conclusion

Digitec carry out TV Aerial Installations in Blackpool and have been serving the people of Blackpool for many years. We are happy and proud to work with the people of Blackpool and hope to do so for many years to come. For more info go here ​https://www.digitec-aerials.co.uk/tv-aerial-installers-blackpool.html

Bolton is a town that lies in Greater Manchester which is in North West England. It started off as a small village. In the middle age, it mushroomed and became bigger and also gained importance. As such, it was made into a town in 1251. This was after it was granted a charter, which is a document that granted its occupants certain rights. For instance, they were permitted to hold a market.

Markets were important in these times because during the Middle Ages, there were seldom any shops and in order for one to sell or buy anything, they had to visit a market. For this reason, merchants and craftsmen moved in to Bolton in order to sell their wares in the market. Another right was that Bolton could have a fair. These were the equivalent of markets but were annual and only for a few days. During a fair, people would flock from the entire Lancashire to take part in the Bolton fair.
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Bolton continued to blossom in the 16th and 17th centuries. In 1516, the Bolton Grammar School was started and by the turn of the 17th century, a cotton weaving industry had been established in Bolton. By mid-17th century, Bolton was estimated to have a population of around 2,000 and it was growing in importance.
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Civil War
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Civil war sprung in 1642 between parliament and the king. The people of Bolton all supported parliament, a dissent from the rest of the population in Lancashire who supported the king. During this war period, the people in Bolton made earthwork defences all around the town and laid wait for the royalists to make an attack. The royalists made their attack in February 1643 but were defeated.

In a bid to protect the town, parliament sent out 3,000 men to fortify Bolton in January 1644. The royalists made another attack on Bolton in March 1644 but lost again. However, they succeeded in May 1644 when they attempted to capture the town. After a small siege, they overpowered the defences. When they gained entrance into the town, the royalists killed most of the parliamentary soldiers. As many as 1000 soldiers are thought to have died with around 700 taken as captives.

In 1649, Charles I got executed. In 1651, his son attempted to regain his throne by leading an uprising. This failed and as a result a man dubbed the Earl of Derby was captured and beheaded.

Cotton Industry
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In 1779, Samuel Crompton, came up with the spinning mule. He went on to open a cotton mill in the following year. The cotton industry grew at a huge rate and dominated Bolton. It continued to flourish into the 19th century. Other industries in Bolton include paper making and bleaching. Coal mining also started in the Middle Ages but grew in the 19th Century. 

​Written by Digitec Aerials of Bolton https://www.digitec-aerials.co.uk/bolton.html

Kendal is a town synonymously referred to as the “Gateway to the Lake District”. It is a vibrant town that boasts of a population of about 30,000 people and is located in South Lakeland. Additionally, it is 8 miles to the south-east of Windermere. It is also the gateway to a UNESCO world heritage site, the Lake District National Park.
Why the ‘Gateway to the Lakes’?

Kendal is christened the ‘Gateway to the Lakes’ because most times, it is the first destination that people encounter when they get into the Lake District. It has also been featured multiple times on The Sunday Times’ Best Places to live list. This makes it the more reason for tourists to have a stopover while on a Lake District tourist trail.

As a an engineer that travels fitting TV Aerials in Kendal, I get to see a lot of thios beautiful countryside on my journey

The residents of Kendal love that the town gives them a blend of town and country life. It is a tourist magnet as there’s always plenty to see all year round. It also boasts of breathtaking Lakeland scenery.

​History
Kendal got on the map when the Romans arrived in the first century AD. They however left and were succeeded by the Normans. During the Norman Conquest, there had been a motte and bailey castle established at Castle Howe, which is to the west of the current town centre. The castle has been dubbed Kendal Castle and was built on Castle Hill around 1183 though the actual date is unknown. 

It was when Kendal was granted the Market Charter in 1189 that it began to grow. Richard I, granted the Baron of Kendal, Gilbert Fitz-Renfried, a license to hold a Saturday Market. In exchange, he got money to support his Crusades overseas. The Baron on the other hand levied extra charges on the traders.

In the 14th century, the wool business in Kendal began to blossom. The town was at a geographical center to the Westmorland wool industry. It was also at the center of the monastic wool trade. As the industry flourished, the town also grew in number and prosperity.

Tourist sites

The main tourist attraction is the Kendal Castle that is on top of the Castle Hill. It may be in ruins, but it provides for a fun time as people explore and the site also provides for spectacular views over the town below and the River Kent. Kendal is also a darling to hikers as it boasts popular hiking trails such as Hawkshead to Lake Windermere and The Langdale Pikes. The town is also famous for Kendal mint cake.

Read about the History of the Romans in Kendal