ATV Aerial Blog

Moving House Advice

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 18:28:06 GMT

House Move Reminder

As summer approaches, more houses go on the market and people start moving to their new dream home.

There's lists of things to do, which can be stressful (we know as we have just moved ourselves!). But the one thing that people forget about and then panic when they move in, is ensuring they will able to watch TV.

It is pretty much guaranteed you won't have WiFi or a subscription TV provider for at least the first week, so knowing you have the right cables and a working aerial is essential.

Many people also don't think about their TV, it's current position, where it will need to be in their new home and how they are going to actually move it safely. We offer a fully insured service to come and take down your TV from its exiting position and to reposition it on a wall in your new home, using the right bracket for the type of wall (which may be different in your new home) and the weight of the TV.

So do get these things on your moving list, get in touch with us with your anticipated moving day (don't worry we appreciate these can be a moving feast) and let us take some of the strain out of moving.

Trust us, if you have children you want to park in front of the TV in the first night whilst you unpack the essentials, we will literally be your heroes! Give Jayne a call on 0191 252 4308.

The Areas We Cover

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:25:34 GMT

Your North East Based Aerial and Satellite Experts

Whilst we are family business based in Whitley Bay, that covers North Tyneside, Northumberland and the coast, we also cover other areas for particular work. For our local areas appointments are usually available with just a few working days. And most of you will have seen our distinctive van on the roads around Whitley Bay, North Shields, Tynemouth and Blyth to name a few.

For residential work such as aerials, satellite dishes, CCTV, and broadband services we also cover Newcastle and Sunderland. We do try to tie a few jobs into together in the same area so the journey makes sense, so you may need to wait just a little longer for an appointment. But trust us, the quality service and work we deliver is worth a short wait! We have even been known to fix a long standing customer's aerial and cabling who moved to the Lake District from Newbiggin, but of course, we tied a short break into that one!

For commercial work we cover the entire North East, and for jobs big enough we will travel if the fit between us and the customer is right. By commercial work we mean offices, care homes, schools, apartment buildings, hotels and leisure complexes. It also covers new small estates by private builders and renovations of large buildings.

Much of this work we pick up via recommendation so don't forget to mention our name if anyone you know is looking for our services in the immediate area or further afield.

Do give Jayne a ring in our office on 0191 252 4308 to discuss your needs!

Spring is Coming

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 16:17:06 GMT

What Spring Means for Your Roof

Spring is well and truly on the way - brighter skies, longer days and more birds!

Whilst this is all good for the soul, our roofs, chimneys and solar panels will be under risk from birds looking to find places to nest, and rear their latest young. Once a bird has nested and there are eggs or babies in it you will have to wait until they vacate it to put any preventative measures in place. Which is why now is the time to book us in to fit our protective caging.

The benefits to keeping birds away from your roof are plenty - they damage the integrity of your roof tiles and chimneys, can damage your aerial or satellite dish and also tend to make a mess on drives and patios which nobody needs! We also fit these to commercial properties as well as residential homes.

Over the coming weeks we will get busier with requests to fit the cages, so do get in touch with Jayne in our office on 0191 2524308 to secure your time slot.

Factor in Cables in Your Renovations

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 17:37:17 GMT

Planning Renovations and DIY? Don't Forget To Book Us In!

As Spring and Easter fast approach us, so does the time of DIY, home decor updates and renovations. Extra days off, better weather, lighter nights and that tradition of a good old spring clean means that the coming part of the year are the most popular to make changes to your home.

But imagine the scene.... your beautifully finished and decorated room is just missing the TV, or the WiFi is ready to be installed, and guess what? You didn't think about any of the cabling.

If you want a TV on the wall, or you want to hide cables for your TV, WiFi or CCTV so they don't look unsightly then give us a call to pre-position the cables, then you can plaster, paint or wallpaper over anything making it look perfect! It really is all down to good timing and thinking ahead.

Call Jayne in the office on 0191 2524308 to arrange a quote and book us in!

Book Us In For Your Move

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 16:53:11 GMT

Make Sure Your New Home In North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland Is Connected From Day One

As you will be aware when you see our van out and about, we are always driving around the region, and this week we've noticed something - more and more for sale signs everyday.

As we head towards spring, the most popular time of the year to put your house on the market, we know that we will get phone calls from people needing help on the day as they move into their new home and realise a whole host of things!

New build houses don't have aerials or broadband - its impossible to watch any TV with out one or the other, so ensure if you are moving to a new build home that you have us booked in for your moving day! We can also hang your TV on your wall, fit CCTV, bird caging to protect your chimney and satellite dishes for specific needs.

If you are moving to a pre-owned property, then more often than not, you have no idea what you are inheriting - a failing aerial, damaged or worn cabling, wifi that doesn't reach every room and much more. You may want to position your TV in a different place to where the previous owners had theirs, or you may need more points for more TVs in different rooms.

Food for thought? Then why not take a look at our full menu of services and think through the property you are moving to. We will be able to give you a pre-move quote, and if you book us in for moving day, we will be in and out as quickly as possible, making sure you are all set for your first night!

Call Jayne on 0191 2524308.

Wet Cables = Disaster

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 17:15:50 GMT

Don't Ignore Signs of Wet Cabling

If you look at every house closely, you will see a network of pinned cables following the brick work to service the equipment inside for TV's, broadband, CCTV and more. These cables are exposed and can be incredibly vulnerable. And as this ice of the last few days melts and we face a wet few days on the way, we bet our bottom dollar that at least a few of you will experience TV, Satellite, CCTV and broadband problems that will right themselves when the weather dries up.

The things is, although the cabling may have dried out and things are working okay now, the damage is already done. Wet spots in cabling will inevitably dry out, but next time they get wet, the damage will travel further into the cabling system and in some cases we have even seen it having come so far down the cabling that it has damaged the equipment it is connected to.

And, it is not just the water getting inside the cables that are outside that is a problem! That damage can travel as far as inside your home, so you should always check regularly for damp or damaged cables or brickwork on your inside wall around the cable entry point. This is especially important for cables connected to electrical equipment such as routers and TVs situated near the wall.

These checks should be done even more so in the winter or during wet spells; and even if it dries up, you should contact us immediately, to minimise damage and avert disaster. Replacing cabling and making entry points water tight at early stage damage is a quick, straight forward and simple job for us, that isn't expensive but is essential. The worse the damage, the bigger the cost! So to avert disaster, please do contact us at the first signs of wet spots or poor performance.

Jayne is in the office waiting for your call on 0191 2524308.

Will Santa Get Stuck In Your Chimney?

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 14:27:13 GMT

Caps, Cowels and Bird Caging

As well as this time of year being all about the big fella in the red suit visiting, for us it is all about chimney protection.

Whilst Santa won't actually damage your chimney, not looking after it and protecting it will do. And at this time of year when open chimneys, real fires and log burners are at optimum use, it is even more important that your 'roof furniture' is in tip top condition.

By ensuring you have healthy, robust caps and cowels on your chimney you are protecting both the integrity of your log burner from wildlife and the elements as well as keeping more heat in. Birds seeking warmth, rain, snow and debris can end up in your chimney without the right protection, not only becoming a fire hazard but also potentially damaging your beautiful log burner or open fire.

So, why not get us out to check everything is ticketyboo and quote you for any repair and replacement if not.

And whilst you've got us up there, why not beat the Spring rush and have us fit bird caging to protect both the wildlife and your roof/chimney from breeding seagulls and pigeons?

Get in touch with Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308.

Hanging Your New TV

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 12:28:11 GMT

New TV Set Up and Hanging

Did you know the most popular time of year to buy a new TV in the UK is December and January?

There are a number of reasons for this, including Black Friday, Cyber Monday and the January sales. Prices of TV's naturally drop at this time of year too as new models are launched in the Spring. And, as people tend to be off work over the festive period, they also want to watch the Christmas specials and blockbusters so there is no better time to enjoy a new TV. Many people also buy or receive TV's as Christmas presents.

So you buy your lovely new TV and it gets delivered. The first thing you are most likely to notice is the size of the box. That TV that looked a reasonable size on screen or in the shop, will suddenly seem enormous in the hallway of your own home. They are also heavier and more cumbersome than you will have anticipated.

The solution is to have experts like ourselves to unpack it, hang it on your wall (or set it on your TV stand), connect it to your internet and tune it in. We have all the right equipment, brackets and cabling to ensure your TV is hung right, for both its size and weight, and we know how to best conceal the wires to make the setting aesthetically pleasing too.

We can also work out the best way to connect it to your aerial, dish and WiFi, and leave you with a fuss free set up, where everything works and is easily used.

And if you have bought it as a present, we can do the full set up, get the bracket ready on the wall and repackage it in the box for wrapping. That means on Christmas day, the gift can be simply unpacked, plugged in and played! We have done a few of these already, but don't worry, we are good at keeping secrets and won't spoil Santa's surprise!

So if we can help you with your TV before Christmas or in January, do get us booked in soon - give Jayne a ring in our office on 0191 2524308 and she will arrange a convenient time and date!

How is Your Dark Nights Security?

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 16:24:06 GMT

CCTV For North East Homes and Businesses

Remember, remember the 5th of November... the day of gun powder, treason and plot - a crime that went down in history. The fireworks going off around our neighbourhoods are also evidence that the dark nights are once again with us. And with that, the increase for the potential of crime on our own streets.

According to Plum Pilot the overall crime rate in North East region is 128.7 crimes per 1,000 people. Most crimes are attributed as violence in public and shoplifting is the fastest growing crime in the region over the last twelve months when compared year-over-year in the period of October 2023 - September 2024. Burglary, criminal damage and arson also rank in the poll as a problem in some of our residential and retail areas.

Although we aren't suggesting that any of us should be scared to sleep in our own homes, we do think we live in a time when deterrents are necessary - especially as they can be so cost effective. Whether you want to protect your home, possessions, garden or business premises, we have CCTV solutions that will give you peace of mind and may help your case in any insurance claim you have to make.

All of our CCTV systems come with 4k quality recording and apps for your devices so even if you are away from the property you can check in that all is well. We can position cameras inside as well as externally, which is great for keeping an eye on vulnerable people, pets and even staff!

The use of CCTV is endless and we are often impressed at how creative our customers are. We also supply signage to ensure that all GDPR regulations are adhered to.

So don't come a cropper this winter - protect your business, your property and your loved ones by giving us a call for a CCTV quote! Ring Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308 to get the ball rolling.

Wet, Dark and Gloomy

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 18:01:24 GMT

How's Your Aerial In This Weather?

As we head into another wet, windy night which is going darker even earlier than the night before, we at ATV only have one question for you. How is your aerial holding up?

This kind of weather gives our aerials and the cables coming into your home a real battering. Sometimes it can be gradual and other times the damage can be immediate.

If the wind isn't dislodging it or causing damage to the receiver, then the water can erode both your aerial and those cables. Aerials can be knocked off their direction by strong winds, which can impact signal quality. Even the smallest of a twist to its position can effect its effectiveness, and if it bends, this has the same impact but also becomes dangerous as if it comes loose and falls it could damage property, cars or hurt people or even worse, pets! (You know how much we love animals).

This kind of weather can also make your aerial or the cables become brittle, and if it loosens the cables they are likely to crack and split, causing reception issues.

This windy and stormy weather can also damage satellite dishes, external WiFi cabling and roof furniture such as cowels, caps and bird caging.

Because of this and the calls already coming in, we anticipate we will be busy in the coming days and weeks with jobs in Blyth, Whitley Bay, Tynemouth, North Shields, Cramlington, Bedlington, Newcastle, Gosforth and Jesmond as we get to repairing all the damage.

Do book us quickly on 0191 252 4308 if you think or know you have been affected. Our thoughts go out to everyone in the region affected by flooding, and we will do all we can to get you back in front of your TVs with good reception as quickly as possible.

UK TV Stastics

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 14:17:01 GMT

Incredible UK TV Statistics

Statista has released some statistics on the TV market that we thought were so astounding we wanted to share them with you.

Now, whilst we have connected a lot of TVs this year and hung many of them on the wall, even we were blown away by the fact that the TV market is projected to generate a revenue of £4.6billion in the UK in 2024. ($6billion)

They also estimate that by 2029 the volume of TVs bought in the UK is expected to hit 7.7 million annual sales. Not surprisingly there is a surge in the majority of these being smart TVs, as consumers are looking for TVs that offer more than just viewing. Advanced features and connectivity is listed as key now, with the most popular TV's being Samsungs. In fact in 2023, 16.3 million selected Samsung as their manufacturer of choice.

The smallest TVs in the UK currently are made by Ferguson, starting at just 14 inches whereas LG makes the largest easily available TV for households measuring in at 88 inches. LG also hold the title of making the world's biggest flatscreen, a huge 325 inches, knocking Samsung off the top spot by increasing the size by over 50 inches!

Our team is well adapted to hanging large TVs and do much work in the commercial sector, including pubs, care homes, restaurants and offices. We also work in private homes, hanging TVs as part of media walls. Please refer to our earlier blog for hints and tips on how to best do this. In all jobs we supply the cabling and the best bracket, all included in our quoted price.

If you have a new TV that you'd like putting on the wall or that you need tuning in, then do give Jayne a call in our office on 0191 2524308. We do work covering North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Newcastle and Northumberland.

As Schools Go Back - Get Those Jobs Sorted

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:36:30 GMT

September School Return

Hands up - who here has put off jobs over the school summer holidays as it is just too hard to juggle everything with the kids or grandchildren in the house? Holidays away also get in the way, and before we know it we have put off some important jobs, limping through and making do for a peaceful life.

Therefore, September is always a busy time, and a great time in the run up to the festive period, to make sure all those little jobs get done. Which is where we often come in.

One of those jobs is having your aerial and cabling checked, repaired and or replaced.

The wet and windy summer we have had, followed by short bouts of heat, will have played havoc with aerials and cables not in tip top condition. No doubt you've noticed a poorer reception but have put up with it, as turning the TV off for the kids on a rainy day off school is what no parent wants to do!

You may have also noticed that your caps and cowels on your chimney have been dislodged, or you have gritted your teeth through birds nesting on your roof throughout the summer. Autumn is a fabulous time to make changes and update your roof furniture before the bad weather, well in time for next spring before the next round of nesting begins!

Many people also get CCTV fitted in the Autumn as the darker nights set in. Maybe following the theft of a bike left on the drive, or to protect cars and property as the time of year that crime increases approaches. We have some fabulous deals on at the moment, all on top end equipment that will protect you and yours.

It isn't just at home that the jobs suddenly become easier or more timely to do - shops, bars and restaurants all quieten down a little which allows for work on CCTV, cabling, new TVs fitted to the wall and much more. And many landlords find as new tenants move in, especially students, that the infrastructure they had for say the WiFi, just isn't good enough. And guess what? We can help with that as well.

Covering residential and commercial work from the coast at North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Sunderland, Newcastle and Northumberland, our team would love to hear from you and help you get everything post-school holiday shipshape!

If you would like a quote or a chat about a job, just ring our Jayne in the office on 0191 2524308.

Avoid Indoor Aerials

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 10:36:42 GMT

Why Indoor Aerials Don't Work!

So this is something we have bitten our lip on for a long time, but just recently the spate of calls we have received following mis-selling by certain retailers, we feel it is time to share the truth.

Indoor aerials are NOT a good, cheap, reliable alternative to a traditional, outdoor aerial. There, we said it.

Our question is: why spend a lot of money on that shiny new TV, with great definition and lots of choices to watch it via Freeview, Sky, Streaming, Apps and more to then basically power it with a piece of plastic plugged into the back?

You certainly will not get the most out of your new investment, the picture will never do it justice and you will also have an indoor aerial as an ornament with unsightly wires on show, as it will need to be positioned in a way where it can get some signal. And trust us when we say they aren't pretty to look at.

Then there is the overriding fact that Indoor aerials only really work well in good signal areas. Basically unless the signal from the transmitter is strong where you are, an indoor aerial is not likely to give good results. That doesn't include North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland or less so, Durham.

They are actually hampered by a number of factors such as that the signal is broken up by all the walls it has to pass through to get to the aerial, and any reinforced steel joists will make it almost impossible to rely on a good signal. An indoor aerial also services only one TV so you may need to invest in more than one, which will be even more frustrating when none of them work well.

It truly makes much more sense to ensure you have an up to date aerial on your roof, with good quality cabling that can be fed to any room, ensuring multiple TVs will be working to their best ability. And if you already have a suitable aerial it doesn't have to be an expensive or messy job to extend your existing system into new rooms. At the end of the day, a good TV isn't cheap and deserves to be treated with respect!

If you want to make the most out of your TV's resolution and give it some love, then call Jayne in the office on 0191 2524308.

Starlink WiFi

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 12:49:31 GMT

Best Broadband for Northumberland and Rural Areas

We have recently been fitting Starlink for residential homes to ensure those who live in rural areas or those who need fast speeds of broadband can benefit!

Wherever you live in North Tyneside, Northumberland, Sunderland, South Tyneside, Newcastle and County Durham, you can get the fastest speeds possible when we instal Starlink for you.

The only prerequisite to Starlink being amazing is that it needs to have an unobstructed view of the sky. This often means it means installing it on the roof or on a pole along the side of your chimney. As experts in high and awkward places to reach, we have the right equipment and can place the Starlink in the optimum position (we do not advise that you try this yourself).

This will allow anyone to engage in activities that have historically not been possible with satellite internet from streaming, gaming, working, video calling and much more! And it is all made possible via the world’s largest constellation of highly advanced satellites operating in a low orbit around the Earth. The subscription plan includes unlimited high speed data with no long term commitment or contract.

Designed to endure the elements, Starlink is ideal for the North East of England, where our wind and rain may have otherwise been a problem! Not only can it melt snow, it can also withstand sleet, heavy rain and harsh winds.

Starlink is also ideal for those who need WiFi to work in outreaching areas, such as the garden, grounds, summer houses, garden offices, outlying buildings, stables and more!

Give us a call to discuss your requirements and we will advise where it is best to fit your new equipment along with a quote! Jayne is in the office on 0191 2524308.

Are You A Frustrated Gamer?

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 11:00:38 GMT

You Need Better Ethernet Cables

Gaming has become a major past time in many of the region's homes and we get a lot of calls to sort out frustrations with broadband poor signals.

A sign of a poor signal is the red sign on the right hand corner of most screens and 'rubberbanding' which lags you behind in the game, giving slow responses. It doesn't always have to be the spinning wheel of death or an inability to get on, so you might not even realise at first that your broadband isn't performing. But if you want to improve your performance and rise up the ranks of those games, then it is the first place to start.

Serious gamers will be wanting a real multiplayer experience, and whilst it will look like you are on your WiFi connection, trust us... you aren't really playing to your full potential until your control is connected by an ethernet cable. Whether it's FIFA, fighting games, shooting games, or construction games, you won't be benefiting from a "ping diff" unless you have that high speed, and a totally stable connection.

We provide and fit some of the best Cat Ethernet Cables and have made many gamers happy in their pursuit of the leader board. It is important to know that every ethernet cable comes under a category (Cat) - this is what indicates how fast data will be transferred via the cable. A Cat 8 ethernet cable is capable of 40Gbps data transfer speed which is incredibly fast and will enable you to run an entire football team online.

However, most people see comfortably high speeds from a Cat 4 up to a Cat 7 cable, which are much more affordable and readily available for us to supply and fit.

By having a conversation with us about your needs, we can recommend the best cabling, to get the best speeds and bandwidth. Give us a call on 0191 2524308 and Jayne will an appointment for us to discuss in detail and quote for our suggested solution!

Just imagine the joy of reaching the dizzy heights of your chosen leaderboard - what are you waiting for?!!

Protect Your Solar Panels

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 15:20:37 GMT

Protect Your Solar Panels and Birds

Solar panels are growing in popularity in the region. If you look up, more and more properties are using them to generate power to run the household.

In fact 1.28 million homes in the UK have them fitted now, meaning 4.5% of the UK's 28.2 million households have gone solar. Those numbers increase in the summer with over 17,000 homes per month about to be installed, as people realise they could be cashing on the longer days and better weather (if it ever arrives!)

But did you know that solar panels can put wildlife at risk and be damaged by birds, if they are not protected?

We are currently working across the North East region including North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gosforth, Jesmond, Gateshead, Northumberland (and if we have a day of bookings in the same area Sunderland and Durham too) to make sure solar panelling is protected and we keep birds safe.

Our caging system attaches over the panelling, to both protect it and to make sure it does not interfere with the way it works. It looks clean and professionally fitted on your roof and is reasonably priced.

So if you love birds and want to make the most out of making your own energy, give us a bell on 0191 252 4308 for a free quote!

Cord Cutting

Fri, 31 May 2024 17:38:14 GMT

Don't Be Afraid to Cut the Cord on TV Packages

Cord cutting is the buzz word of our industry for 2024. But what does it mean?

After years of having to pay a lot of money a year to companies such as Sky and Virgin Media, people are now watching great programmes on for free or at a lower cost.

But how do you cut the cord and what do you need? Get your scissors out and we will take you through it.

Whilst it is still important to have an aerial to access many channels, things changed once fast broadband became the norm. Many now watch TV via their internet connection. Channels are becoming a thing of the past, although as you'll know we still love a good telly guide especially at Christmas.

Now, by subscribing to a legal and cost effective streaming service such as Netflix or Disney+ , you can get programmes streamed directly to your TV, phone, laptop or tablet.

To Cut The Cord effectively you need:

Fast broadband to the whole of your house. We can make sure you are getting maximum speeds throughout your entire home with no blank spots
An aerial to access your options for BBC, ITV and 4 to their full. Although these can also be watched through the internet, to enjoy 'live' an aerial is often needed. Even Sky Glass prefers to have an aerial connection. It's important your cabling is also in good health.
A streaming device, a smart TV or a TV you can cast your content to.
A decision on what streaming services you will use. Netflix, Disney+, Amazon, Apple TV, Discovery +, Paramount, and Now are some of the best known. An Amazon firestick also comes with a number of streaming services worth checking out!
A big pair of scissors when you make that call to Sky or Virgin.

With good planning and a lot of exploring there is no need to miss out on your usual viewing and who knows you may even find programmes you would have previously missed!

If you are keen to cut the cord and want to make sure you are good to go, then get in touch with Jayne in our office on 0191 2524308.

TV and Wifi For Your Garden Room

Wed, 01 May 2024 15:14:06 GMT

North East Move Into Their Gardens to Work and Watch TV

As we've started to see a glimpse of sunshine this last few days, enquiries have increased for people wanting Wifi and TV aerials fitted for their garden rooms.

Having waited as long as we have for weather good enough to start to enjoy outdoors, it seems the North East region is determined to have a summer enjoyed in their garden.

During lockdown, garden rooms grew in popularity in North Tyneside, Newcastle, Gateshead and Northumberland. Now wanting to utilise them as chill out space or for an office, many of our enquiries ae about that can be achieved.

We can run suitable cabling for TV viewing in appropriately positioned places so that a TV can be positioned in a shed or garden room. Ideal for football enthusiasts who want to enjoy the Euros in peace throughout June and July.

We can also ensure that your broadband signal covers the garden area with a choice of boosters meaning you can work, game or download music until your heart's content.

Why not give Jayne in the office a call on 091 2524308 and discuss your thoughts with her> Get us booked in quick though so you can make the most of any good weather coming our way....

The Damage Rain Can Do

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:31:45 GMT

Aerials, Dishes, Cabling and Cowls Need Checking

Well this rain is just about washing all of us out! It must be one of the wettest March and Aprils we can remember, and to anyone caught in the North East flooding this week in their cars, our thoughts are with you!

This weather plays havoc with so many things, many of which we can help you with.

Aerials are being battered and water can seep into the system, causing rust and bad receiving of signal. The water can also get into the cabling, which results in them cracking or splitting, and again interfering with reception. The driving rain and wind can loosen the bolts and brackets that support the aerial, which may put it out of line with where it should face, or indeed make it dangerous to the safety of people below it should it come loose and fall.

Rain can also affect satellite systems, getting into the dish, the receiver box or cabling. Again rusting, dislodging or water damage can affect your enjoyment of viewing but all these issues can be easily remedied by our team.

Any outdoor cabling can be affected, as can any kind of furniture on your roof such as cowls and caps on chimneys and caging to protect from birds. A health check when the rain clears is the best thing you can do, as from the ground damage can be hard to see, and we certainly don't want you scaling the heights we do!

Not to be the bearer of bad news but we have just checked the ten day forecast and it doesn't look like it is going to get better any time soon. We are timing our jobs to perfection to avoid the worst of it though and we are out and about ensuring the region's TV viewing isn't too badly affected, however we can.

If your picture is letting you down, or you think something needs sorting on your chimney, dish or aerial, then do give Jayne a call in the office on 0191 2524308. We will get you booked in as soon as possible. After all with Euro 2024 and the Paris Olympic Games pending this summer, you really need to make sure your picture is tip top!

Reviews for Best Coastal Aerial Company

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 14:54:02 GMT

Celebrating Recognition of Great Service with Checkatrade Customers

What a great way to end the week, with the exciting news that we have hit a milestone of reviews on our Checkatrade listing.

Many thanks to all of our customers who have left a review, and if you haven't yet, please remember to do so.

If you didn't book us on Checkatrade then you can leave us a review on google, where there are many more 5 Star reviews from satisfied customers. Some examples include:

"Fast quality service, very friendly and professional and a good price. Highly recommend"

" I have no hesitation in highly recommending this family firm."

"Professional and friendly family-run company, will definitely use again!"

We are off to celebrate following a busy week fixing and replacing aerials, and dishes, fitting CCTV, helping people strengthen their broadband service and fitting caps, cowls and bird safety caging. Have a great weekend everyone.

Spring Birds

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 12:25:18 GMT

Protect the Birds and Your Property

A nip and a punch for the first of the month.... can you believe it is the 1st March already?

And with that comes more day light, hopefully warmer weather, gardens budding and growing, and of course, the annual increase of birds as we enter Spring.

That means that now is the ideal time to think about protecting your roof, chimney and roof furniture (aerials, dishes, wiring, cowls, caps and anything else up there), as well as keeping your driveway and patio free of poop and droppings.

By doing so you'll also be protecting the birds who can get caught, injured or set up nests in inappropriate nooks and crannies, where their young are vulnerable or will struggle to thrive from.

This is our busiest time of the year for fitting bird protection cages, so if you want to do the right thing, give our Jayne a ring in the office on 0191 252 4308. She will get your booked in for a survey and we will do a realistic quote for free.

Weather Ravaged

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 17:48:24 GMT

Is Your TV Feeling Fuzzy With This Extreme Weather?

As many of us put up our Christmas trees this weekend and started getting festive, snow arrived. At first exciting and seasonal, the snow, ice and cold however, starts to become damaging and dangerous. And when followed by winds and driving rain like today, down right destructive.

All over the North East right now there is soggy cabling, rusting dishes and compromised aerials. Having been frozen, battered by the winds and waterlogged, the damage may be unseen, but your TV picture quality will certainly be suffering.

So what to do? To be honest whilst this weather continues not a lot. The two Mrs Smith's are very clear that there is to be no climbing and clambering up walls and on roofs or chimneys by their men folk whilst there is any risk to them!

The main thing you can do is ring Jayne in the office and get yourself on our list for us to come and see you as soon as possible. Especially with Christmas approaching, as we get busy at this time of year tuning in new TVs and hanging them on walls!

The other thing you can do is book in a health check - even if your TV hasn't lost its high quality picture, after this weekend, there is more snow forecast before Christmas which could be the final straw for any equipment just about holding on. After all, we are sure the only snow you want to see is outside and not a on fuzzy white screen on the telly!!

Get in touch on 0191 2524308

Save Money with an Aerial

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 18:20:50 GMT

As Christmas Approaches Save Money with an Aerial

Christmas is well and truly on its way - come on, we aren't the first to say it, you've all seen the festive adverts on TV already!!

And whilst that is an exciting prospect, it is also a time where we can feel extra pressures on us financially. That turkey, vino and gifts don't come cheap. And then there is the New Year stretching out ahead of us trying to recover.

So think about where you can save money now. The first place we start is with subscriptions. Sky, Virgin and even lower cost ones like Netflix can all drain the bank. Many of these channels, including Apple TV and Disney are expensive and if you have more than one, your viewing will be costing a small fortune each month.

So as well as saving over Christmas, why not make it a New Year's resolution too, to keep on saving... with a good aerial and a Freeview package you can watch live TV, pause, record and catch up. With Freeview Play there is a choice of an impressive 60,000+ hours of TV and over 1,500 boxsets, across your favourite on demand players.

All for free.

Tips from Freeview include:

"If you already have an aerial, make sure the cables are undamaged and connected to the aerial point in your home. The aerial needs to be securely plugged into the socket in the back of your Freeview TV or recorder.

It also needs to be in the right position, and not damaged by the weather. It's worth going outside to check it's pointing in the same direction as others nearby."

"To get the best results, we recommend that you use use a wideband aerial. Also known as Type T (for 'total') or Type W (for 'wideband'), these cover the entire range of signals used to transmit digital TV and continue to work even if there are changes to your TV signals."

Give us a call to sort out your cabling and aerial, get those subscriptions cancelled, the sit back and enjoy TV while save money immediately and for the future!

Don't worry, there's so much still to watch you are still guaranteed a very Merry TV Christmas!

Moving? Take Your CCTV

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 16:39:01 GMT

Don't Leave Your CCTV Behind in Your House Move

Are you putting off installing CCTV as you are considering moving and don't want to leave it behind on / in your property in North Tyneside, Northumberland or Newcastle? Or are you moving and already have CCTV?

Did you know you can take it with you to your new home?

That's right.

As long as you are clear when you sell it and in the legal conveyancing exchange and completion documents, you don't include it as part of the sale, then you can get a company like us to uninstall it and refit it to your new property. How great is that?

We can remove the cameras and hard drive, then when you are ready, we will refit it all to the new home, with fresh cabling, ensuring it is all up and running, with you able to access it on the app once again.

The best bit is that we don't take your eyes out, as it is much cheaper than installing a brand new system. You also get to see the fabulous Grant and Blaine twice, and for such a small fee!!

So don't leave behind your CCTV investment. Give Jayne a shout in our office and we will do a site visit and quote, all to fit with your house move timings. 0191 252 4308.

Oh and the most important thing - don't forget to give the new owners our details so we can fit them their very own CCTV system in your old home!!

Stopping The Poop on Your Patio

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 20:27:36 GMT

Poop Everywhere? Move Your Aerial!

Guano, poop, birdsh**, droppings - whatever you call it, it certainly gets everywhere when birds are around.

Folklore used to say it was good luck if a bird pooped on you. It’s believed by some that bird droppings ward off bad influences, bring wealth and bring luck in the lottery. In some parts of India bird poop is seen as a blessing from the gods – it’s said bird droppings can bring success and fortune.

Other culture's don't think it's quite so lucky but one thing for sure is that in North Tyneside, it is damn messy. And boy does that stuff stain stone work and tarnish painted surfaces!

More and more people have been contacting us about birds sitting on their aerial, meaning that the inevitable mess is on their car, their patio or their freshly hung out washing.

And do you know what, sometimes it is just as simple as repositioning their aerial, so that whilst full reception is still achieved, the direct line of fire is adjusted.

If you've got a bit of a poop problem, give us a shout and we will send Blaine and Grant your way to see if it can be sorted!

Cowls, Caps and Cages

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 16:33:18 GMT

How are your cowls, caps and cages?

Whilst that might seem a bit of a personal question it is actually an important one.... have you checked your cowls, caps or cages recently? The ones on your roof we mean!

The region, especially those at the coast, have been a bit battered by unseasonal weather these last few weeks, none of which does those safety additions to our roofs any good. Rain and wind perish things and can make something healthy not fit for purpose very quickly.

Caps and cowls rust, the joints can tire and wind can weaken the support attachments loosening nuts and bolts. As well as being a danger for coming away and falling to the ground, the good they do protecting your chimney and breast is heavily compromised if they are not secure. They can damage the brick work on your chimney, weakening its integrity or even take off tiles if anything falls.

They can be tricky to see from the ground, so if you have a good relationship with your neighbour across the road, why not ask them to check for you. Or call us out for a health check. Just don't risk life and limb on a ladder yourself please!

Our team, who are used to scaling great heights, will do a free assessment and recommend any next steps needed. To replace your roof hardware isn't expensive, but to not do so could be!

Give Jayne a bell in the office on 0191 2524308 if you have any doubts, can see damage or want us to check for you!

Do You Know Who We Are?

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 10:03:41 GMT

Worried About Strangers In Your / A Relatives Home? Use us....

Lots of our customers have been telling us lately that apart from our great service and top quality products, one of the reasons we are popular is because people know who we are.

Our rugged good looks are all over social media and our website, meaning that people recognise us (and our van) out on the streets or in the pub. They often say hello, and stop for a chat.

And whilst that is all lovely, and we are very sociable so always up for a chat, it does serve a more serious purpose. Your safety, or the safety of your loved one, particularly the more older people in our community. What you see of us online, is what you get. Grant and Blaine. And sometimes Nelson the mascot puppy. Wife and Mum, Jayne on the phone. Neighbour and family friend Antonia, looking after the marketing.

This means you know who is turning up in advance and that you can have confidence that we are from a lovely, local family, with no chance of being vagabonds, rogues, thieves or of us doing a bad job!

If you have booked us for a job at an elderly relatives property, make sure to share our photo with them so they can identify us at their front door and know we are the right guys. If they have special needs, such as dementia, poor mobility or another condition, do let us know so we can be as helpful as possible. We will look after your loved one as well as we want someone to look after one of ours.

And, as we are so local, you'll never find us doing a shoddy job - apart from pride in what we do and actually caring, who wants to be pulled over in the local to answer to an angry relative? Not us!!

Call Jayne on 0191 252 4308 and she will organise our family to look after your family's TV, aerial, satellite, CCTV, broadband and roof caging/cowl needs.

BIG TVs

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 17:31:37 GMT

How Big Is Your TV?

Not only are TV's getting bigger and bigger, the quality of picture is improving and the cost is coming down. This is making them ever increasingly popular. At ATV we are here to advise on the right cabling, aerial and bracket to get the most out of your TV, as well having the brawn to help you get your TV onto the wall safely.

The minimum for an 85" TV for a quality picture is 4K. Newer to the market is 8K which doubles the quality of the resolution again. 8K TVs are becoming easier to get and as they become more affordable, they may well become the new standard. But, if you do choose an 8K model, you will need exceptionally good cabling and HDMI 2.1.

ATV specialise in understanding the needs of the ever growing TV, and are happy to do a free quote on making sure your new baby performs to its best ability by having the right support structure.

To get the full cinematic experience at home, people are choosing to wall hang their TV's but of course, the bigger the TV the heavier it is, and the thinner the depth of the TV, the harder they are to handle safely.

It is also important to use the right size bracket which is positioned correctly to take the weight of the TV screen. Trust us, recently we have heard lots of disaster stories of people thinking they can do it themselves and coming a cropper!! Our favourite is the man who tried to use a baton of wood and a 5 inch nail.....the outcome really was inevitable.

With some coming in at over 100lbs in weight, you need strength, skill and technique to manoeuvre the awkward shape of a large TV at head height. Our team, Blaine and Grant are a pair of strapping lads who also have the knowhow, the equipment and the experience to hang your TV without incident, hiding all wires and ensuring it is straight!

So if you are fancying a new big boy (TV) on your lounge or kitchen wall, then get in touch with Jayne in the office and she will book you in for a quote! Call 0191 252 4308.

Roof Furniture Take Down Service Offer

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 14:17:15 GMT

ATV Team Ready To Scale Heights To Take Down Roof Furniture

The rest of the team can't believe how much Blaine and Grant love to wear their bright yellow harnesses and scramble across the region's roofs. So much so, that they have launched a special offer available only until the end of June, to remove defunct roof furniture.

That rusty dish, loose aerial, wobbly cowl, unclipped cap or unstable bird caging doesn't only look terrible, it is also a risk to your property and to other people or cars on the ground. It truly makes zero sense to leave it up there, apart from you not wanting to risk life and limb to climb up to get it.

That's where we come in.

Blaine and Grant can scale incredible heights, with or without scaffolding (Jayne prefers it when there is scaffolding in place, for obvious reasons!!). They also have the right equipment to take things down quickly and easily, and while they are up there they can survey your property and let you know if any of their other services can be of any use to you.

So keen are this pair to be up high, that prices start from just £30, for this limited time only.

Personally we think they are nuts, as Antonia put it "no way would you get me up there for 2 minutes, even for a month's wages!"

To book the intrepid climbers, simply ring Jayne on 0191 252 4308.

Sun's Out, Is Your Garden TV and WiFi Ready?

Mon, 15 May 2023 16:51:23 GMT

Plan Ahead for TV and WiFi Garden Life

Okay, okay... so our image might be a little unrealistic, as not many people in the North East have gardens and garden rooms like this one sadly .... but as lovely as this may be, what is it missing?

We've got a little bit excited as it is has been warming up and the sun has been out for the last few days. It's got us hoping for a long, warm summer. But as much as we love summer, and the garden, a TV and good WiFi reception out doors is still required. Or we'd be sat indoors!

There are lots of TV's good for the outdoor or for garden rooms, man sheds, pagodas and out houses ow. You can protect them with good watertight covers, and our expertise means we can bring your cabling, from your dish and your aerial, to any point in your garden.

WiFi wise, we have a whole range of boosters, including loft based ones that radiate their signal down the longest of gardens. Ideal for playing music whilst BBQ'ing, being on your phone or working in the sun on your laptop.

You've heard the expression make your outdoors come indoors. We prefer to take our indoors outside when the weather allows. With full digital capability you won't miss a film, a soap opera, or an email!

Like with all of our services, we do need to do a quick site survey to be able to give you an honest quote, so why not beat the rush, get in touch with Jayne to book us in, and boost up that back yard or garden so you can enjoy our full summer outdoors? Here's hoping the sun keeps its hat on.

Jayne can be called on 0191 2524308.

New House, No Aerial

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 15:10:29 GMT

New House, But Why No TV Aerial?

All around the region, new housing estates have been (and still are) springing up. Responding to the national house shortage, construction companies and new home builders are buying land, and providing houses in a range of sizes. There are new ones popping up in Killingworth, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, North Shields, Gosforth, Cramlington, Gateshead and Sunderland to name a few we have recently worked on.

But what do all these new build properties have in common?

No Aerial!

Developers generally include the relevant cabling for S ky or Freeview options but no aerial or dish. We can supply and fit any satellite or aerial equipment you require, providing discrete installations, including in the loft if at all possible.

Developers will also often include electric and TV points for wall hung TV's on brackets, which of course we can supply and fit, and hand your TV up for you!

If you are moving into your new home, we are more than happy to do a survey when you move in. We will check out what you do have, and give you a realistic quote based on getting you up and running as soon as possible. If you have a date for completion, you can book us in for moving day, or the day after, meaning you aren't without full services for very long. Everyone in the household should be pleased with that!!

We can also help with making sure broadband is suitable for use as soon as you have your WiFi provider sorted, with satellite dishes and with CCTV to protect your beautiful new property, especially if the building and construction is ongoing on your new development.

Just simply give Jayne a call in the office, 0191 2524308, and she will talk you through the process and get you booked in.

Birds Birds Everywhere...

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 08:36:19 GMT

Increase in Birds As Spring Arrives

Since the arrival of Spring, when the clocks went forward and the nights now stay lighter later, we have been noticing a few changes in the air.

Namely that there are birds, birds everywhere. On the roofs, on the chimneys and on aerials. And whilst they are very cute, and birdsong means summer is on the way, these little tufts of feather are actually a menace if not protected.

By fitting chimney cowls and bird caging to your roof, you are not only protecting your property but also the wildlife who sometime put themselves in jeopardy.

They get caught in wirework and cables, on solar panels, on aerial spokes, and inside chimneys. They can cause damage to all parts of your property and even fire, if stuck inside an open fire or wood burning chimney.

So, if you want to protect your property and look after these little critters, then give us a call. We'll check out your current roof furniture, and make suggestions on how to improve your chimney cowls and bird caging, along with a competitive quote.

Bird friends can contact Jayne in our office on 0191 2524308.... tweet, tweet.....

Quitting Streaming Services With a Great Aerial

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 14:02:47 GMT

If You Had an Amazing Aerial, Could You Quit Streaming and Save Money?

We recently read a great article on quitting Netflix and whether the journalist Drew Millard, could quit streaming services like NetFlix, save money and still find good TV to watch. We aren't going to recite the entire article but if you would like to read it, simply click the image above.

The man summarises each day's viewing and its low points and high lights. He concluded by saying:

...if you’re thinking about quitting your streaming services, you probably should and see what happens. Even after my experiment ended, I’ve found myself spending more time watching free TV than I do watching paid streaming services. Maybe I’ll cut them off for good. After all, consumer freedom might be an illusion, but consuming things for free is very real."

This got us to thinking about whether we could do it ourselves as a family and how we can help our customers save money and still watch great TV. Here is what we came up with:

Step one - get us out to check your aerial, see if it is good quality and working well.

Step two - our reasonable, cost effective quote if anything needs upgrading

Step three - while we work, or if you need no work doing, you go ahead and cancel all your streaming services

Step four - get connected to Freeview, Freevee, Pluto, Tubi, Roku and more all for free - we can help you with this

Step five - start surfing for free and find new, exciting things to watch on brand new channels, feeling reassured you still have all your BBC, ITV and Channels 4 and 5 channels

Step six - buy us a beer from the money you have saved, next time you see us in the pub

At a time when every penny counts and everyone needs to save and stop saving where they can, this is such a simple move that you can make. Give Jayne a call on 0191 2524308 and tell her you are ready to sack off paid for channels :-)

What Local Really Means...

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 17:17:20 GMT

The Benefits To Using a Local Company For All Your Aerial, Satellite and Broadband Needs

Everyone knows the old mantra of supporting local business but in our industry, where you are letting people into your own or your loved ones homes, it is even more important that you stay with booking local companies. Why?

We offer a 12 months guarantee on all of our work and will honour that with our lives (Jayne in the office will nag at us constantly if something needs fixing)
We always turn up - we are reliable and actually care about your time unlike bigger national chains who will happily keep you waiting
We offer good old fashioned customer care - we are a family and treat you like we want all of our loved ones to be treated by a supplier
Automated booking may initially seem convenient but the draw backs to non shows, questions and good old communication are shoddy. You are our Jayne's priority from the minute she talks to you
We are a safe pair of trusted hands, everyone in the area knows us, you will see us in shops and pubs. We look after your home and your granny like they are our own
We spend the time to liaise with you, find the best solutions with no pushy sales tactics
We invest in keeping ahead of the technology, so always offer the best solutions, not just what we have in the van
We have a very cute and hungry dog to feed, so you can feel good knowing you are helping Nelson out!

So remember, if you need your TV, aerial, satellite, broadband or roof furniture looking at give our Jayne a call on 0191 252 4308. And as we are based in North Tyneside, if you are at the coast, Northumberland, Newcastle, Sunderland or Durham you will get a quick appointment and big smiles from Grant and Blaine as they arrive to help you. They do both residential and commercial work, and are competitively priced, as well as being quite nice fellas! Oh, and if you want them to bring Nelson for a visit, just let Jayne know.

Weather Ravaged Aerials and Dishes

Thu, 02 Feb 2023 18:06:28 GMT

Has Your Aerial and Dish Shifted?

Can you believe how windy the start of this year has been?It's been cold and wet, but more than anything we have been aware of the constant wind. And there is more to come we are told.

The effect this has on our homes is negative, of course, no more so than on your aerials and satellite dishes. Have you noticed your reception on your TV is not quite as clear or does it keep glitching? Then there is a good chance that this weather attack has shifted your equipment.

The thing is, from the ground you may not be able to tell, so we are taking the opportunity to remind everyone about our free health check. We can whizz up onto your roof in a jiffy and let you know if everything is safe and sound.

Often an aerial or dish just needs re-positioning, or a new clamp or bracket fitted to secure it. Other times the damage can be bad enough that we will recommend replacement. One thing for sure is that we will always be honest.

It really is best to get your equipment checked before the real damage starts to show on your screen - so to avoid missing your favourite programme or the kids kicking off as they can't view their films, just call Jayne and ask us to bring our ladders!!

Be Canny About Your Cowls and Caps

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 18:32:58 GMT

Cowls and Caps

For More Than To Just Keep The Heat In

Cowls and Caps are those cute little hats you will see on chimneys if you look up to most houses.

However, their use is much more than many people think. They are not just to keep the heat in, they have many more uses. And actually, a badly maintained cowl can be a bit of a menace.

Chimney cowls are one of the most safety led chimney accessories, and though not essential (although we think they should be), they are necessary for protecting your home and making the most of open fires and wood burners. From a cost perspective, they make your open fire or wood burner more efficient, and help maintain the heat inside the house.

They also maintain your chimney and chimney pot, and protect the chimney flu from air-born matter or birds coming down , which can then be a fire hazard when you light the flame!

Basically, cowls are metal ventilators on the top of the outside of a chimney pot - there are different cowls to choose from, and you can get creative with this depending upon your chimney, what you want to achieve and your own personal taste.

The right type can reduce downdraft that the heat has to fight again, stop drafts in your room, make it warmer and more comfortable. The downdrafts can also create smoke, which is billowed into the room, and cowls reduce the risk of this too. They can help reduce the odour of burning, keep the rain out of an otherwise wide open hole into your home, and of course, stop birds nesting on top of your chimney when they are seeking warmth.

It is important that cowls and caps are fitted by an expert who will make sure it is safe, not likely to be taken off in high winds and be a risk to people and property, and that it is positioned for maximum ventilation. A stainless steel spinning cowl is one of the most common kinds of cowls being fitted at the moment and will be fine for most chimneys. However, there is a widening choice and depending on the size of your chimney, you may prefer a directional wind cowl, updraft cowl, a capping cowl or a clamping chimney cowl.

You should also keep a close eye on your current cowl if you have one. Recently we have heard a few nightmare near miss stories when old and worn cowls have been picked up off the chimney by the weather and nearly resulted in damaged conservatories, patios, cars and the worst, one near miss of a lady in her garden! Our customer, who we fitted anew one to replace the very old lost one, is still getting over that one!!

We are happy to do a free survey of your chimney, tell you if you actually have a cowl and if so, it's condition and recommend a type that we can fit for you, if you need one. Just give Jayne a ring to book us in on 0191 252 4308.

Scaffolding - Perfect Time for TLC for Roof Furniture

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 17:07:25 GMT

Take Advantage of Scaffolding

As we drive around the region carrying out our business, we can't help but notice the vast amount of scaffolding on properties having work done.

Now as you all know, we are proud to be able to do many high and difficult jobs without the aid of scaffolding, but boy, in some cases would it help!

We aren't just talking about personal residences as, of course, we do commercial work too. We are talking apartment blocks, student accommodation, hotels, care homes, office blocks, libraries, schools, leisure centres ... literally any building that has TV's.

Now if you look after a building like that, or indeed, are a home owner, and you have scaffolding up or planned, have a think about when you last had your roof furniture checked. Okay okay, by roof furniture we are referring to satellite dishes, aerials, chimney cowls and caps, bird caging and the like. All the things that could erode and not work well, or could come loose and be a menace or even a danger.

Doesn't it make sense, and make life easier for us all, to give us a call and build in a health check whilst that lovely set of pipes and platforms is there for us to safely and easily climb?

If this has been a light bulb moment for you, as it was for us when we thought of it, then please do call Jayne in our office and she will book in your health check. 0191 252 4308. See you soon!

Best Winter Films

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:47:18 GMT

Eleven Days to go - what will you be watching?

Our favourite time of year is here for TV viewing (Not withstanding sport like the World Cup) so we thought we would review this festive seasons offerings.

Of course, there are the usual, good old favourites such as It's a Wonderful Life which is on All4 and Prime for free, and well worn comedies like Scrooged on NOW TV with subscription.

As always Die Hard is doing the rounds, along with Home Alone, The Holiday and Nativity. Love Actually is also a premium watch at this time of year.

But there is lots of new goodies as well, such as the innovative Spirited, a new take on Charles Dicken's Christmas Carol with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell, which can found on Apple TV.

Last Christmas is a new great warming tearjerker well worth a watch too, starring Amelia Clarke. BBC I-player is showing this for free at the moment, so make sure not to miss it.

Disney is showing one of its latest films, Noelle, a fantasy Christmas film with Anna Kendrick playing Kris Kringle's daughter. And if your little ones are younger, Mickey Mouses Once Upon A Christmas can be found on Disney too.

Netflix is showing a film new for last year, Father Christmas is Back - it's on our list for tonight so we will let you know our thoughts later. It's a British comedy so Grant's expectations are high!

Whatever your taste, we have only scraped the surface here and there is lots of choice this Christmas for some really good films. Whether you use Freeview, a paid for service or streaming, there is plenty for everyone - just make sure all of your equipment, aerials and wiring is up to scratch so it doesn't spoil your viewing pleasure! If it isn't, you know where we are!

Protect Your Vulnerable This Winter

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 16:47:59 GMT

Protect Your Loved Ones with Affordable CCTV

Can you believe how dark it is at 4.30pm already? Mid November and on our way towards Christmas, many of us are starting to get into the winter mood, wrapping up warm and looking forward to festivities.

But for many vulnerable, lonely and often older people living on their own, this can be a bleak and scary time of year. The bad weather can make it harder to get out, and numbers of visitors can drop off as everyone is so busy.

They may worry about answering the door or leaving the house empty when they do manage to pop out. The rise in crime will also be playing on their mind, along with the fact that poor health always seems to get worse in the winter which can add to feelings of isolation.

So what can we do to help?

CCTV can go a long way to making people living on their own feel more secure. External, which watches their gardens and front door, allows the home owner to check who is at the door, and makes sure they feel secure knowing the property is being monitored. Internal cameras as an extra, can add to that feeling of safety, and as loved ones can have access to the app to check on mum or dad, it gives the whole family a better feeling. No more falls, slips or accidents where people are discovered hours later!

For a quote, just ring Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308 and ask for a CCTV survey. We will fit you in within the week and give you a quote based on our hi-tech 4K CCTV. We also give discount for older people living alone, so don't forget to ask when booking your survey!

Stay Local - Check Your Google Results

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 17:08:48 GMT

Don't be fooled by national companies' adverts

Having spoken with a number of regular customers lately we are growing ever more concerned by people thinking they are booking a local company online, that turns out to be a national network.

There are a number of reasons to keep your business with local companies, as Nelson our mascot confirms:

you get a better service as we actually care
an ongoing relationship that builds trust
less overheads therefore we often charge less
you are supporting your local economy which in turn will come back to you
we are dead canny, honestly. Your safety is our paramount concern

Those who have used national companies know the pitfalls, so we aren't going to stoop to listing them here, but we have come up with pointers so you can spot the clangers on the internet and stay clear.

Generally their google ranking will be high on the page, if not at the top. but it will have AD next to it, showing they have paid for the privilege to appear in your search.

A national company should not show in the geographical search - if you look to the map, there should be pins for the real local companies. The same for a phone number - it should be local or a mobile. Steer clear of any starting with 0800 or 0845 etc.

National companies also often have a contact us form, and it will ask you for your postcode or your area. Local companies don't do that as we know we can service you as you are local too!

Don't get us wrong, we are not saying all national companies are bad, as many local people thrive from being part of them with franchises or contracts and do give good service. They should also be doing their own marketing though so you know who they are.

It is so important in times like we are experiencing to stay local and support each other. If you would like quotes on anything from aerials, to satellite dishes, broadband or 5g boosting, CCTV and roof top caging or cowls, then do get in touch with our Jayne on 0191 252 4308 and she will pop you in our diary.

Roof Additions Health Check As Weather Changes

Thu, 06 Oct 2022 14:07:45 GMT

Is the Equipment on Your Roof Safe As Winter Arrives?

We've all noticed the change in weather in these last few weeks, we are sure. It is colder, wetter, windier and darker earlier. Autumn is well and truly moving into Winter, and with it comes the responsibility of making sure that everything on your roof is safe and sound.

This isn't just to make sure that your signal and reception will be good throughout the most popular TV viewing months, but also to ensure that there is no danger to people on the ground or risk of damage of your property.

Following the big storm last year roofs and property were all battered with the high winds, and many people presumed as nothing came away then, that all was well. However, on many roofs we work on, we are still finding historical damage that isn't visible from the ground, but that certainly wouldn't withstand another storm or high wind!

At ATV we do roof checks, ensuring your aerial is secure and in good condition, that satellite dishes are healthy, well attached and not corroded; and that any bird protection caging or chimney cowls are well attached and not loose in any way.

For peace of mind, get in touch with Jayne in the office to book your appointment on 0191

Car Theft Increase - Do You Have CCTV?

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 11:20:25 GMT

Car Theft On The Rise In North Tyneside

Sadly, it would seem that the UK is seeing a huge increase in car theft and that North Tyneside is not escaping the trend.

Over the last few weeks we have seen a huge spike in vehicle crime, from Ford Fiesta's to Campervans being targeted. Everyday on social media there is a least two or three posts of people whose vehicle has been broken into, or even worse, taken overnight. It is not know if those responsible are the same on each occasion, if it is a gang coming into the area, or if it is a spate of young people following a trend. One thing we can be sure of, is that the crime rate is expected to grow as the current cost of living crisis gets worse.

One of our customers, who has external CCTV installed by us, had a visit from the police asking to access the footage to get an insight into when the car from their street was taken, and by who. And this is great!

Whilst CCTV might just been seen by some as an ineffectual deterrent, we are seeing more and more how good quality footage can help bring perpetrators to the right justice. And get cars or personal belongings returned to the rightful owner.

It is worth speaking to neighbours and between you seeing how you might best cover your street and split the cost. The more we can work together to stamp out crime on our doorsteps the better.

Our CCTV systems are reliable, with quality footage captured via 4k technology. The can be fitted internally or externally and you have an app on your mobile device so you can check in whether you want to.

For an initial survey and quote, please contact Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308.

Use Your Aerial and Save Money

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 13:51:02 GMT

Use Your Aerial and Save Money

With the price of many methods of watching your TV going up in price, many people are asking us how they can watch their favourite TV without it costing the earth.

And our simple solution is to go back to the good old days. Forget dishes, streaming, subscriptions.

Invest in good quality aerial, make sure your TV is a Smart TV with Freeview, and from then on, everything is free.

You can get up to 160 channels including radio stations, with a choice of series, films, documentaries and many of the UK's most favourite channels, including those you can "catch up" on your chosen programmes on.

In fact, according to FreeView, the nation’s most popular TV platform offers an impressive 40,000+ hours of TV and over 700 boxsets, across your favourite on demand players. All for free.

Freeview Play gives you 95% of the nation’s favourite TV. And if you want even more, you can top up with extra on-demand TV, movies and sport from the likes of Netflix , NOW and Prime Video whenever you like, leaving you with the choice of what to spend, and when.

And the better your aerial, the better the quality of the reception, so why not get in touch today - we will take a look at what you have, recommending an upgrade if necessary.

Get in touch with Jayne to book your appointment on 0191 252 4308.

Media Walls Continue To Grow In Popularity

Wed, 13 Jul 2022 14:19:28 GMT

Fancy a Media Wall?

Follow these simple tips for Stress Free TV Positioning.

At ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Ltd we have had another run of enquiries and jobs to fit TV's to media walls. They are so popular these days, for obvious reasons.

The benefits of a media wall is that the TV is out of the way of sticky fingers and pet noses, is unlikely to get knocked over and is positioned so that more people in the room can see the screen clearly. All sounds great doesn't it? And the end result looks stylish and chic, in any room from lounge to kitchen to bedroom.

But there are certain steps you can take when creating your media wall that will make the fitting of your TV less stressful.

Firstly, have the TV before you build the wall. Every TV has a different back, needs a different bracket and is of different sizes, depending on the surround and casing. With exact measurements your builder can ensure that the TV will fit and look aesthetically right.

Secondly, work out how high you want it. Take a seat and move a piece of cardboard around so you can work out where is high enough but isn't so high you get a crick in your neck when watching it. Again, you plan this out with your builder and they will build out the wall accordingly.

Next give us a call.

We will call round and meet your builder, before he starts construction, so we can discuss where the electrics and aerial wires will be, to ensure a neat and clean installation. We will also discuss what they will fit for us to anchor the bracket to, depending on the weight and size of the TV - it is so important that this point is a co-ordinated effort so that we aren't working blind or having to punch holes in your newly plastered media wall.

Now it's time to think about the fire you are installing. Is it going to be recessed, will there be a mantel and is it suitable to use under a TV? We are happy to advise on heat protection methods.

Once your fire is fitted, the media wall is decorated and your TV is ready to hang, let us know and we will come and perfect the finishing touches!

For advice or a quote to ensure the perfect TV wall, please give Jayne in our office a ring in the first instance on 0191 252 4308. Thank you!

Air BnB Demand

Fri, 20 May 2022 16:01:45 GMT

A New Trend is Growing Demand

The team at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Limited is experiencing growth in a new market area - Air BnB's in the North East.

Throughout the last year, the number of jobs we have been called out to have steadily risen for people investing in rental properties.

From ensuring the WiFi is up to scratch, to new aerials for newly installed free-view, setting up and wall hanging TV's and installing external CCTV to keep the properties safe when empty, the team have enjoyed assisting more and more landlords who have bought to rent on Air BnB.

Obviously many of the properties are clustered at the coast and i Northumberland, but they are spread into the city centres and more urban areas too. Investors are a mix of both local people and people who currently live away but intend to return or retire here in the future.

Blaine said: "There has been a noticeable rise in people who own Air BnB' in the area and it is great to see that they are insistent on providing high quality TV and digital access for their visiting guests and tenants. We have also experienced growth in people coming back to the region and working remotely, so obviously reliable broadband for work and streaming is incredibly important."

If you have a rental property in the region and need a health check, repair or installation for one of our services please give Jayne in our office a call on 0191 2524308.... we look forward to hearing from you soon!

Our Team's Favourite Films...

Thu, 19 May 2022 17:30:49 GMT

Film recommendations from our Team

We all love a good film and at the moment there are so many ways to stream and watch your favourites, or so many channels showing good films on Free View, that we thought we would share some of our recommendations.

Grant's favourite film is Green Book. Inspired by a true friendship, two men are confronted with racism, danger—as well as unexpected humanity and humor—and they are forced to set aside differences to survive and thrive on the journey of a lifetime.

Jayne's outstanding favourite is Dumplin'. Jayne loves a feel good family comedy and this ticks all of her boxes. Starring Danielle McDonald as Willowdean, an overweight teenager of a yesteryear beauty queen, she decides to participate in her mother's Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant to prove a point.

Blaine couldn't pin point one, so we allowed him two - firstly The Greatest Showman. He loves both the music and spirit in the movie. And his other one is Lion - a true story about a boy who gets lost on train and is separated from his family. The two couldn't be more different but both well worth a watch.

Antonia is a total fan of slapstick and real belly laughter humour. She almost chose Home Alone but felt it was too seasonal. So without doubt her favourite movie is the iconic Step Brothers. Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly join forces in a comedy about 40 year old men who become related via their parents marriage in this classic comedy.

We'd really love to know your favourite movies so please do comment below or share on social with us!

The Non Essentials are Out

atvaerialco@gmail.com (Blaine Smith) — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 18:19:02 GMT

New Aerials Provide 100+ Freeview Channels

The cost of living is going up!

We are all feeling the pinch, and at times like this certain luxuries and non-essential items/bills are the first to get the chop. We at ATV have an idea for you to assist with this. We are now often going into jobs to find people getting rid of Sky and Virgin TV and replacing with the Freeview channels which you can receive for no monthly subscription via an aerial.

Fitting an aerial to your property is a one-off cost and can provide you with 100+ Freeview channels. They include high-definition channels, children’s channels, some movie channels and many more but to name a few. And if you want to supplement this with additional TV then a Netflix or Prime subscription can do just that.

Even if you decide at a later date to go back to subscription TV you can sign up for options like BT Vision and Talk Talk TV which all use aerial inputs for their boxes so it will not be a wasted expense.

Many people think you have to subscribe for certain TV packages and this is not the case. It is most cost effective to find yourself a Broadband Provider and sorting the Television side yourself. You can also get Freeview recording boxes that work in the same format as Sky and Virgin so you never have to miss a programme when you are out. Also with the amount channels that are available on Freeview you cannot have access to them all via the internet.

Save yourself the rising monthly costs of Sky and Virgin today and give us a call!

Protecting Our Area: CCTV for Whitley Bay and The Coast

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:34:54 GMT

Let's Work Together To Protect The Coast

The coast, as anyone who is on social media will be reading, is experiencing strange times at the moment with visitors and young people travelling the metro from town to town.

Many people are questioning what is happening where they are living, but all you have to do to remember what a beautiful place we live in, is step outside your door or look at images like the two we have shared on this blog. We have a stunning coastline, great bars and restaurants, lots of things for families to do, a choice of retail areas and wonderful homes, that have increased in value in recent years.

So yes, whilst social media and media reports are sharing certain behaviours happening that most disagree with, with youths misbehaving and wilful damage or abuse happening around metro stations, instead of complaining about it we at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Ltd have a suggestion to protect us all.

Instead of vigilante behaviour or relying on the very far stretched police service, let's pull together and make sure the coast is covered with CCTV as a suitable and reliable deterrent.

It is a proven fact that CCTV reduces criminal activity, and most that take part in activities that disrupt a neighbourhood or hurt others, are wise to keeping an eye out for anything that is recording them! They move on quickly, creating little trouble in the line of a camera.

Therefore, we are offering special prices for those who reside or have businesses at the coast at the minute, as we are keen to do our bit as part of this naturally friendly community who won't accept violence, destruction and rampaging on our streets.

Simply get in touch with Jayne on 0191 2524308 saying you have seen this blog and our Blaine and Grant will pop along to do a survey and give you a quote for both external and internal CCTV services. Our systems are top 4k quality, you have an app on your phone so you can check in from anywhere and they come with signage so people clearly see you are protected.

So let's get positive, and protect our area with CCTV so we can all enjoy a peaceful summer in our gorgeous location!

Alternatives to traditional channels

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 13:55:24 GMT

Fed Up of Paying Huge Bills to Watch TV?

Along with many other things at the moment, the cost of viewing pleasure is climbing with the likes of Sky and Virgin media costing well over a hundred pounds a month in some cases. But what can we do it about?

We can be brave and ask for that cancellations department.

In many scenarios the company will be back offering you a special deal to rejoin in a matter of weeks, but some people are fed up of that cycle, so have successfully looked for other ways to be able watch their favourite programmes. You can get your live TV through your aerial, if you have a new smart TV that has Freeview and then for you films, series and catch ups.....

....streaming is the 2022 answer. Yes the option has been around for a good few years, but the options to add apps to smart TV's get better and more plentiful with every month that passes! Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon Prime, Now, Apple TV, YouTube, CinemaNow... the list goes on.... BritBox, Discovery + ... see what we mean?

So what equipment do you need to make to make the leap and never look back?

You need fast broadband, so if yours is struggling or doesn't reach all of the house, do get in touch with us and we will look at how a broadband booster will help you! Without this your streaming could break up and buffer so it could be the most important factor to get right. We can also create you a wired connection from your router to ensure the best possible picture too.

You also need a device to stream on, be that a smart TV as mentioned, or computer. You can also get a Google Chromecast or Amazon Prime Firestick, if your TV is a little older and you don't want to upgrade. If you struggle with any of this, or want a new TV wall hanging, then do get in touch.

And finally you need to choose your perfect streaming service or services to subscribe to. However, priced at between £4.99 and £7.99 a month, you could have multiple ones and still be saving lots of money every month!

So happy streaming, and if you see us in the pub, you can buy us a pint to say thank you for the advice!!

Get Your Caging Before The Breeding Starts

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 11:54:42 GMT

It's the Time of Year to Cage your Roof

As we enter April, we are just four to six weeks away from our bird community starting to nest again.

It is coming into breeding season for them, and they are looking for new, high up places to set their homes to bring up their new brood. Chimneys and roof shelves are becoming more and more popular places for these nests, especially for seagulls.

However, did you know that your roof is full of danger for the wildlife, and the mess they create with droppings is, of course, something none of us want on our patio or driveway.

The best way to protect the birds from harm and look after your property is to fit cowls and caging, both of which we specialise in. We do get busy for this service at this time of year though, so if you are interested, please do call Jayne on 0191 2524308 to book us in for an initial advice and quote visit.

The Answer To Our Where Are We....

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 16:51:22 GMT

We had you stumped....

We recently posted this image on our social media asking you what you could see in the distance .... never before have we had you all stumped.

Many of you said the old Wills Building. Wrong. Similar style building but we were elsewhere in the area and we wanted you to look further beyond the buildings in the background! In fact only one answer was vaguely right, when it mentioned the town moor.

The answer is that beyond the town moor you can see our beloved home to NUFC, St James's Park!! Easy when you know the answer? Of course.

We are now going out and about with the aim of finding more locational images that will stump you all!

Thanks for trying and joining in our bit of fun.

Blaine and Grant....

Highest Grade Cabling

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 19:34:48 GMT

Nothing But The Best from ATV

As people's viewing needs gets more sophisticated, and speed is required for clarity of picture, many people's cabling just isn't up to the job.

That's why at ATV Satellite and Aerial Company the team has made the pledge to only use the very top grade CAT6A cabling. And if a plate is required, then we fit RJ45 plates.

For those that aren't technically minded, CAT6A cable allows for the transmission of up to 10Gbps and is fast becoming the cabling infrastructure of choice for high quality TV, VoIP, CCTV and data networks. CAT6A cable allows for extremely high data rate transmission of up 10Gbps and at a frequency of 500Mhz. It is different from its cousin Cat6 cabling by being made and terminated to tighter tolerances bascially meaning that the copper conductors are twisted tighter inside. Accordingly, this requires higher specification patch panels, wall jacks, and RJ45 connectors.

The benefits include covering future upgrades of technical and TV equipment, range of use, support for twice the amount of bandwidth, faster speed, flexibility and better overall performance.

If you are ready for your cabling replaced do get in touch with Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308 and she will book you in a slot for a quote.

Don't put up with shoddy cabling, get in touch without delay!

25 Years Young And The Cards Prove It!

atvaerialco@gmail.com (Blaine Smith) — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 18:19:59 GMT

Celebrating 25 Years In Business With a Card!

You may remember a few weeks ago we shared an old business card? Well just as we celebrate our 25 years anniversary in business, guess what? An older one turns up!!

We think this one is from the really early days but we do think there may be one more slightly older than this. If you keep business cards and have used our service please check and post a picture on our social of any you may find - we would love to celebrate our 25 years by collecting all our business cards from throughout the years!

Of course, over that time the company has developed. Blaine joined and is now Mr Boss Man. Jayne took over as office manager and runs a tight ship. And we, of course, expanded our service beyond the above statement of "watch digital TV in every room".

We now do aerials, dishes, roof caging and cowels, CCTV, TV wall hanging, broadband boosting and high spec digital cabling on both a residential and commercial scale.

So please help us mark the changes by sending a card - a photo of our business card!

You can link up to post on our facebook by clicking here: FaceBook

Blaine’s The Boss

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 18:27:49 GMT

There's a New Boss in Town...

We have had a change around in recent weeks, with the son of our father and son team taking on the reins to grow the business further and bring more digital offerings to clients.

Blaine Smith has been appointed to the role of company director and secretary of ATV Aerial and Satellite Company, whilst Dad Grant will work alongside him on day to day delivery of the outstanding service the team are so well known for.

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Limited was set up 25 years ago by Grant Smith, a retired fire fighter. In more recent years, his son Blaine joined the company, while Grant’s wife Jayne runs the office and bookings.

The move to put Blaine ‘in charge’ will allow for the customer care and expert service to continue from the existing team offering their core products of aerials, satellite dishes, TV wall hanging and set up, wifi boosters, CCTV and roof caging and cowls, whilst Blaine expands the company further to keep up with digital innovation. He said:

“My Dad is still a company director, as is my Mum, and it is very much a family business but by me becoming a main decision maker, it allows them to relax a little more and for me to drive an exciting future for the business as digital technology becomes more and more clever.

“I am so excited at the opportunity, but equally delighted that my parents are staying by my side on the day-to-day jobs!”

ATV Aerial and Satellite Limited are based in Whitley Bay but offer their services to residential and commercial customers across the region. As well as looking after the needs of families in their homes, they can ensure cabling, aerials, satellite, and connectivity work in a host of properties including flats, offices, hotels and care homes.

Grant, who is well known for his ability to do high jobs safely without scaffolding, said:

“There comes a time when the new generation have great ideas and a focus on the future. I love what we do and working together so although I shall be stepping back a little I will still be in the business every day. It is Blaine’s turn to drive the company to its next era and I shall enjoy very much being part of that, as shall his mum Jayne.”

More information on the service offered are available at www.atvaerialandsatellitecompany.co.uk

Why Chimney Cowls Are Important in Northumberland and on the North East Coast

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 16:35:23 GMT

The Importance of Chimney Cowls

One of our services, fitting chimney cowls, plays an important role in the protection of wildlife especially in geographical areas such as Northumberland and the North East coast.

Originally cowls played a different purpose, particularly with open real fires. Made of galvanised iron, the cowl would stop the wind blowing smoke back into the house down the chimney. It also stands to reason for the same purpose, that cowls make the room automatically warmer and more draft free. The choice of a right cowl will make the heat from a fire more efficient, and so are a critical part of a chimney not only from health and safety point of view but also from ensuring a fire does its job properly.

A further benefit is that a cowl stops any rain or snow travelling into the chimney, which can be responsible for causing all sorts of problems including damp in the brickwork, problems with electrics within the chimney breast or causing your log burner or fire basket to rust.

And of course, as already mentioned, a cowl will prevent birds and other wildlife entering your chimney or even worse nesting in them. Many birds do view cowls as a safe place to land, or to balance on enjoying the warmth from your home - we can also prevent this with our bird caging service that protects the wildlife and any equipment on your roof too, including solar panels.

Cowls should also be checked regularly, as they can work loose in storms and high winds. If one where to travel off a roof to ground level, it could become a dangerous missile!

To check if you have a cowl already, if you need one or if yours needs replacing, please contact Jayne in our office on 0191 252 4308, and we do an initial survey visit to discuss your options.

New Year, New TV

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 16:26:41 GMT

New Year, New TV, Get ATV to Wall Hang

We've seen a sneak peak of the new TV's out this new year for the 2022 range and all we can say is wow, we can't wait to wall hang them!

In a range of sizes, our favourite has to be the model we have featured in the photos, the Samsung’s state-of-the-art display, MICRO LED TV. Wow!

Samsung Electronics Unveils Its 2022 MICRO LED, Neo QLED and Lifestyle TVs, With Next-Generation Picture Quality and Range of Cutting-Edge Personalisation Options. Samsung say:

"With advancements in picture and sound quality, more screen size options, customisable accessories and an upgraded interface, the 2022 screens bring the vision of ‘Screens Everywhere, Screens for All’ closer to reality with life-like images, immersive sound and personalised experiences."

It just looks and sounds amazing to us, and the photos get us so excited thinking about the chance to wall hang one of these babies soon! In the meantime, if you are interested in buying one, you can read more about it by clicking here....

However, if your budget is a little more restricted, Hisense has just announced what could be the best mid-range TV of the new year. Again this model will look awesome on the wall and is a great match for the PS and X Box gamers. More information on the whole range is available here...

This year is certainly going to be a great year for new choices of TVs and whichever you choose, they will all look great on the wall. Just remember to call us out to do it properly for you, and to check out your cabling and aerial to make sure you are making the most of your exciting new technology!!

Call Jayne in the office on 0191 2524308....

CCTV Legislation For Pubs

Thu, 09 Dec 2021 12:53:14 GMT

Public Houses Should Review Their License To check CCTV Requirements

If you are a pub owner, landlord or manager, you may find this blog interesting when it comes to considering your CCTV requirements.

Many pubs are now required, as part of their premises licence, to have a Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) system installed both internally and externally with the images recorded for up to 30 days for use by the police. All new licensing applications for pubs and restaurants now come with CCTV conditions.

These licensing conditions expect systems to protect vulnerable areas of the business – over tills, store rooms, delivery points as well as protecting staff and visitors.

Sounds reassuring all round, if you don't fall into the camp that thinks CCTV is just another big brother.

But it is important to know that there are legislations that come with that CCTV installation that keep everyone and everything safer.

Due to GDPR all installed CCTV must be accompanied with a sign telling people that they are being recorded. There should also be a signposting somewhere in your building for individuals to speak to one specific person in your team about the CCTV and any recordings taken.

It must be installed by a quality professional and be of good standard to do the job. Our systems are the latest 4k standard with clear picturing and an app that you can access all the recordings from.

You should also have any existing CCTV regularly checked and serviced to make sure it is meeting your needs. Often with older models they can become disconnected or the wifi connection can be unstable, which will hamper any recordings you may need.

Trouble Shooting Satellite Problems

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 18:41:53 GMT

It's Not Always the Satellite Dish!

We have been kept really busy with enquiries of late for customers experiencing poor satellite quality.

Following hours on the phone by the customer to the satellite provider, be it Sky or in one case a Portuguese provider, we get the call to check the dish as generally we are quicker and cheaper than an engineer from the provider.

However, nine out of ten times, guess what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with the dish.

We do trouble shoot all problems to do with satellite TV though, including external cabling which can be damaged in high winds, internal cabling and points which can get water in them, reception boxes which can slip or be badly tuned, and of course, everyone's best friend....connectivity.

We are a patient couple of fellows and spend as much time as need getting to the root cause of your problem - we are certainly not a team who likes to be beaten! And so far, we don't think we have been.

So if your satellite is letting you down, has gone a bit wonky, isn't doing it's job and is driving you crazy, give us a call. We love a challenge!!

In the first instance please call Jayne in our office on 0191 252 4308 to book an appointment.

Aerials To Avoid

Thu, 04 Nov 2021 17:21:43 GMT

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Give Free Advice on Aerials To Avoid

Recently we, as aerial experts, have been astounded at how many homes we have been called out to that are using internal, Set Top TV Aerials. And that the users, of course, are unhappy at the reception they are receiving.

We are happy to give you a free tip.

Unless you are very, very near to the main TV antenna for your area, this type of aerial simply doesn't work.

More and more TV retailers seem to think it appropriate to recommend these aerials to people buying TV's from them as a cheaper and quicker alternative. This however, is a fallacy and a waste of money.

For very little more, we will fit a reliable and future proof external aerial, with no mess, tidy cables and great reception suitable for all levels of TV. We will also do the work as soon as possible, often same or next day. Grant, who has fitting aerials and working with TV's for many years, said:

"Please don't fall for sales patter and buy a box to pop on top of or near your TV from a retailer. You are wasting £60 or more doing so. Call an expert - what is the point of treating yourself to a new modern TV if you aren't getting the best from it's picture???"

To get your aerial fitted and enjoy your new TV please call Jayne in the office and make a super speedy appointment - you can call on 0191 252 4308.

National Face of CheckaTrade

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 12:11:58 GMT

ATV Aerial and Satellite's Grant and Blaine to be National Face of CheckaTrade

Our family run aerial and satellite company has been chosen as the national face of Checkatrade, as the online endorsement and booking company comes furthest north ever for a photoshoot.

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Ltd is based in Whitley Bay and our father and son duo Grant and Blaine Smith, donned Checkatrade T-shirts whilst they went about their business with a camera man in tow.

Nominated for the opportunity last year by colleague Antonia, we were delighted to get the call inviting us to take part. Even more impressive was the fact that Checkatrade had not chosen a member from as far North as Whitley Bay before this year.

Blaine, who leads on the digital, Broadband and CCTV services at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company, said:

“It was a great experience and my dad and I are very flattered. Checkatrade is a brilliant company to be involved in and membership with them has paid dividends.

“Using companies from all over the UK is genius and with our own local traders being involved, it really helps put the North East on the Checkatrade map. On their trip from Portsmouth, we believe that the Checkatrade team met with three other companies from the area too, so we can’t wait to see the new campaign go live!”

If you would like your aerial or satellite dish repairing or replacing, new CCTV, broadband solutions, TV’s wall hanging or bird caging fitting on your roof by the nation’s Checkatrade faces, then get in touch via www.atvaerialandsatellitecompany.co.uk or call 0191 252 4308.

Removal and Tidy Up of Broken Aerial and Satellite Dishes

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 12:27:04 GMT

Removal of Broken Aerials and Dishes By ATV

Back in May we did a blog on it being your responsibility to make sure old and damaged aerials and dishes are removed..... many of you responded.

But as tomorrow we are due high winds and next week we are forecast driving rain, we wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of the importance of making sure you do this and of course, to let you know that we offer this service, usually on a same or next day basis.

Leaving old and damaged equipment can not only pose a risk to your own and other people's safety, it can also seriously damage your property and interrupt quality viewing pleasure. We have seen a number of chimney stacks seriously damaged, which compromises your roof and costs a lot to fix. We have seen wildlife injured by hanging wires and damaged dishes, and have heard many neighbours complain at the danger and how untidy it makes the property and street look.

Did you also know that you are liable if something falls from your property injuring someone, or someone else's property like a car or outhouse? Apart from the responsibility and guilt, this could also cost you a lot of money!

And as the new Sky system starts to move into using Wifi instead of a dish, there will be more and more redundant dishes that should taken down so they don't just corrode, rot and become an eyesore. It is also best to remove all unnecessary cabling on the exterior of your property as all it is doing is getting in the way of new cabling for your latest system, CCTV or broadband boosters.

That goes for internally too. Is your loft a myriad of confusing cables? Does behind your TV look like spaghetti junction? Do you have points where you no longer need them with old dated socket covers? If so, then we do a great tidy up service, that will allow easy access to the cables you need to look after and remove what could be out dated dangers to babies and pets.

We are happy to do a free survey and quote, so just give us a call in the office and book a time with Jayne on 0191 252 4308! We look forward to cleaning up for you!

CCTV Is Children's Choice

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 15:33:29 GMT

CCTV is Children's Choice

We all know the importance of keeping our babies and children safe from a number of perils, so it has been refreshing for the team at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company to have been approached by a number of schools and nurseries in the region for CCTV.

Places where we entrust our younger generations to for care are taking extra steps to protect their building, their property, their staff and of course, the children, at all times.

The CCTV is fitted externally, very visible and comes with signs to let everyone know they are being recorded, as per legal requirements. It is high quality 4k, constant record and attached to an app, so there is easy access to check footage at any time.

Blaine Smith, lead on CCTV at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company, said:

"It is so important in this day and age to have CCTV. It is so useful for so many things, exceptionally reassuring and doesn't have to be expensive to work well. We have a special CCTV package for schools and nurseries so do get in touch to discuss your requirements. We will do a survey and installation across most of the North East."

To book a survey and get the ball rolling please call Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308.

85 days until Christmas

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 16:09:38 GMT

Is A New TV on your Christmas List?

Yes, we said it. 85 days until Christmas.

And based on what happened last year, if you want a new TV for the festive season, you'd best get thinking about it now, before they all sell out again!

If you are buying a TV as a gift, make sure to book us in nice and sharp... we will come and set it all up for you, then put it back in the box for you to neatly wrap. And on Christmas morning, when the big reveal has taken place, all you need to do is plug it in and watch!

We also have a few slots left between now and the big day to hang your TV on your wall, making sure it is safe from any little visiting sticky hands of the children of friends and family.

As Christmas falls on a Saturday this year, there will be a whole week before it, and after it, of the best TV of the year. As well as all of our favourite re-runs, there will be new movies, cliff hanger soap operas, festive game shows and chat shows, and of course, the Queen's speech.

You know you don't want to watch any of that on a small or tired screen, so get yourself organised, get your dream TV delivered, and make sure to book us in to tune, position and set it up for you.

We can also add new points if you wish to move your viewing to a new room or different part of the room, upgrade your aerial for the best picture and if the current wiring isn't good enough quality for your new TV, we will upgrade that too. We will also make sure it is connected to the WiFi and any smart resources are up and running too.

85 days and counting.... call Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308 and we will make sure you have a cracking Christmas!!

It's Windy Up Here!

Thu, 23 Sep 2021 11:22:42 GMT

How To Best Contact Us....

Boy is it windy today! Lovely blue skies and warm, but trust us the higher you go, the windier it gets!!

So this has promoted a discussion amongst our team about safety. Mostly about us answering phones when on ladders and roofs. Jayne (Wife, Mum and office manager) is worried about our welfare, especially as she is in the office and able to answer the phone at any time safely!

So from now on, unless it is an engineer emergency, we are asking you all to make first contact with us via Jayne please on the landline 0191 252 4308. If she feels you need to speak to Grant or Blaine direct, she will take your details and one of us will call you when we get down to terra firma.

There's a couple of other benefits to this system too. If we are on a roof multi tasking we tend to forget conversations! Jayne has a much better memory than us. She also has access to the diary so can book you in there and then. And actually, she is just much nicer all round to talk to than we are, especially when we are balancing an aerial or satellite dish with the phone propped under our neck....

There are other ways to contact us too if the phone isn't your thing.... ping us a message on facebook, or email us on atvaerialco@gmail.com. You can also contact us through our website!

Thank you for your understanding and wish us luck if the winds get stronger or faster today!!

CCTV - The Essential Neighbourhood Watch

Sat, 18 Sep 2021 14:01:20 GMT

Look After Your Neighbourhood With CCTV

CCTV used to be seen as a thing that alienated you from your neighbourhood. You were seen as untrusting, shut off, suspicious of others and over protective. Times have changed. CCTV now is seen to protect an entire neighbourhood, with us often helping each other out.

Lost dogs, missing cats, bumped cars, deliveries that haven't arrived when the company claims they have, break ins, theft, anti social behaviour, children playing out, absent people.... all picked up on CCTV. If you have it, it's likely neighbours will ask you to check your footage. It's a great way to help and many mysteries are being solved by those little white cameras. We hear some great stories from our customers, which we really shouldn't share but would love to.

It also used to be an expensive addition to your home. But now, following a one-off set up cost (which is very reasonable) there are often absolutely no running costs. You simply get an app on your phone and monitor it yourself.

The system we currently use has an excellent 4K camera, so the images are so clear, it's like watching TV. It is high quality, attaches to your current WiFi and is quick and easy for us to fit. It's a great way to protect older vulnerable people, younger people living / being left at home alone, and to protect pets from theft.

Why not do your whole neighbourhood a favour, give us a call and we will come to do a survey of your property to give you a quote? We promise you won't regret it!

Favourite Back To School TV Programmes

Thu, 09 Sep 2021 17:39:59 GMT

How To Make Going Back to School Less Painful With Tips On The Best TV Shows

With the kids going finally back to school this week, the team at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company had an amusing conversation that led to this latest blog.

We all remembered rushing home from school to watch the likes of Pipkins and Hartley Hare. Just look at this picture!

Kids today don't realise how lucky they are. Not only do they have a variety of mediums and channels to find good viewing on, with a huge choice of programs, they also aren't set to times or have the risk of missing it if they are late! Detention in our household meant missing an episode of our favourite TV program, never to be seen again! There was no such thing as catch-up TV!

With all that in mind, we thought it a good opportunity to remind you to make sure your cabling, aerials, dishes, and Wifi is all shipshape - those going wrong is the only thing that could stand between your young 'uns and their after school viewing!

Ranging across the entire spectrum of ages, our top 10 recommendations for after school TV viewing are:

Full House - a hilarious series featuring teenagers struggling with challenges.
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide - find it on YouTube, you won't regret it.
Pretty In Pink - a classic that shows how the good will always over come anything.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off - if we can't bunk off, we can laugh at someone else getting it wrong.
Pepper Pig - let's face it, who can get enough of Daddy Pig?
Dora The Explorer - a life lesson in every episode!
The Vampire Diaries - for older teens, who will realise their class mates aren't all that weird after all.
Boy Meets World - the first day of high school episode is worth watching again and again.
Ben 10 - he's just such a good boy!
Junior Masterchef - they may get inspiration and cook the family tea!

All joking aside, good TV is important for all ages in moderation, to relax in front of, after a hard day. So, if your viewing equipment is letting you down, then do get in touch and we will sort it out! Call Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308.

Health Check Your Office TV and CCTV

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 17:12:30 GMT

ATV's Health Check for Reopening Offices in the North East

Lots of offices this week are seeing the return of staff, as the pandemic moves behind us and children go back to school.

Many of these offices have stood empty or been barely used for the best part of 18 months. Therefore, the guys at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company have put together a health check to make sure everything is working as it should be.

The health check includes making sure all the cabling is working and sound, that TV's are tuned in and working, that all important WiFi is reaching the entire space needed and that CCTV is up to date, recording and fit for purpose still.

Blaine Smith, who leads on all things digital in the father and son team, said:

"When buildings haven't been used many things can corrode, fail, disconnect or become old technology. As a team is moving back into an office they may find that things that were fit for purpose are no longer. A local antenna, for example, stopped working so they may not have reception on their TV. Cabling may have become water damaged. Or the CCTV may be out of date and need maintaining, fixing or replacing.

"As everyone already has enough to think about, we are offering a simple health check to ensure all the services we offer are shipshape and functional. Anything we find that needs replacing or fixing, we can generally do quickly and easily.

"One of the main faults we have been finding is that WiFi that has been switched off or that is being reconnected might not have the same reach it used to. We have some fabulous kit that expands that reach reliably for very little extra cost and means that there is no need to up your service with your provider for an added monthly fee."

The ATV Aerial and Satellite Company team cover most of the North East. The quickest appointments are available at the Coast, in Newcastle, Sunderland, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear. Give Jayne a call in the office on 0191 252 4308 to book in your health check or report a fault you need looking at quickly!

How to Prepare A TV Wall

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 13:07:49 GMT

Preparing Your New TV Wall

TV Walls are all the rage right now - you wouldn't believe how many calls from across the entire North East that we are getting to add the finishing touches of putting the TV on the wall and connecting it up.

However, many of these jobs are turning into a bit of a challenge, as by the time we are actually booked, the walls are up, prepped, plastered, decorated, and usually with little or no idea where all of the wiring is!

A great tip we can give you, which means we won't have to take educated guesses at where everything is behind your lovely new wall, is to take a photo like the one above whilst having your renovations done. Even better, take us some measurements too.

It is also better to actually have your TV at the building stage, so your electrician can look at the back and put the plug socket in a place that isn't going to obstruct the bracket, stop the TV sitting flush or stick out of the side of the TV on your lovely new clean finish wall.

If you want advice at the building stage on the best place, height or where wiring should go to optimise you wifi connection and cabling to the TV, then just give us a call. We are happy to be onboard early to make sure you get what you want as the finished product.

Some simple steps early on in the project can really make a huge difference to how quick it is to hang your TV and to what the finished look of your TV wall turns out as.

As many people say, foresight is better than hindsight and when wall hanging TV's, this is very true!

Expanding Home WiFi with ATV's Newest Trick

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 17:16:17 GMT

Poor Wifi - Solution from ATV Aerial and Satellite Company

Does your home WiFi glitch constantly? Does the hub not reach parts of the house you need it to? Is your signal weak or when there's more than a couple of devices on it, simply just not work?

Our marketing expert Antonia was finding exactly that, and with working from home, the situation was not ideal. The family struggled with gaming, working and watching TV at the same. And with more and more devices being added to the network, which simply refused to reach upstairs with any consistency, we offered to sort it out.

Following fitting a TP-Link in her kitchen extension, we added a four portal dock to her Virgin hub. This enabled us to then hard wire a wireless networking device into her loft, which created a new channel and expanded the network throughout the entire house. Here is what happened in her words:

"Our WiFi has been poor since we built an extension - we upgraded the Virgin package to a higher download contract and had a new hub installed. However, it would cut off for no reason, and even stood next to the hub you would sometimes only get one or two bars. Despite having engineers out from the provider on numerous occasions it was just so unreliable. There was only certain places in the house that the x-box could be played and we could forget using anything but 5g at the back of the house, upstairs.

"Thanks to Grant and Blaine fitting a new bridge extender that reduces interference and also boosts the original signal, that's all a thing of the past. Our WiFi has never been so strong. The channel being transmitted from the loft reaches throughout our entire property, including the garden. And the original channel is now up to three bars in most places. For a very reasonable price all our WiFi frustration has been removed. Thank you!"

Blaine, who is the WiFi, Broadband, CCTV and Satellite expert in the family run business, is delighted to be using the new product which gives off the strongest wireless network he has found so far. He said:

"This little, unobtrusive device is a game changer. It sorts out issues with processing power, transmission power and bandwidth. We hide the wires which run from your hub to the loft, usually taking them outside, and then situate the wireless network device in the loft, which ensures a more even distribution of the network throughout your property. It is cost effective, secure and makes for a much better user experience. What's not to love?"

If you are having a problem with your WiFi strength or reach, give Jayne a call in the office to make an initial appointment. Grant and Blaine will survey your problem and make a follow up appointment to come back with the solution!

Problems With Sky? Give Us A Call...

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 11:49:24 GMT

Give Us A Call If You Are Having Problems with Sky

We all know that feeling when the Sky channels start glitching. Poor reception, intermittent signal or sometimes no connection. The worst part, knowing you've got that 2 hour call on the phone ahead of you trying to get an engineer.

We get told by so many people how frustrating it is sitting on the phone as they talk you through an hours worth of steps, to be told, yes you do need an engineer. Something you knew at the start of the call! Even then, it can take weeks before they can book you an appointment.... and meanwhile, you are left with either no TV or very few channels to watch!

Those valuable hours of your time waiting on the phone, and waiting for a Sky engineer, is time you will never get back. Think of other things you could have done to enrich your life... watch a film, visit a pub, get some work done!

One thing many people don't know is that if the problem isn't actually your Sky box or Sky Q box, then you don't need an 'official' Sky Engineer. We at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company can fix it. If it's the dish, connections, cabling or aerial related, then we are your guys.

We answer the phone in seconds, book your appointment in minutes and can be with you within a day or two! We also do a really robust check over everything, and our work is guaranteed. We are also a respectful family run business, so at a time when you may still be nervous about restrictions, we will do whatever makes you comfortable.

Add our number to your address book on your phone, you never know when you might need it! 0191 252 4308.

Don't Forget To Leave ATV Aerial And Satellite Company A Review!

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 11:14:08 GMT

Leave ATV Aerial and Satellite Company A Review

Have you ever stopped to think how important a review is to a small business like ATV Aerial and Satellite Company? Many people don't, so we thought we'd share our thoughts in this week's blog.

Good reviews make a company. People recommending services online is now the go-to check list for anyone looking to buy products or hire services. Google, Facebook, CheckaTrade, Feefo, Rated People.... you name it, you can leave a positive review.

Positive reviews for us not only let others know we have done a good job, but are a boost to us during long working hours. To see someone think you are great at your job, keeps you being great! So please, if we have done some good work for you recently and you haven't left a review yet, then pop online and do one now!

Google is a great place to review us. All you need to do is sign into your google account, search for ATV Aerial and Satellite Company, click on reviews and there is a button at the top that says "write a review". See the above image. If you haven't got a google account, don't worry, it just takes two seconds to set one up with an email address and password.

Facebook is also a brilliant place for you to review. You can do this on your own page and tag us at @ATVAerialandSatelliteCoLtd or you can visit our page and leave a review/comment there. Both are effective for us and show you care!

You can also leave us a review on CheckaTrade's website, if that's how you found us, by following this link :

https://www.checkatrade.com/trades/AtvAerialAndSatelliteCompany

We would really appreciate it and thank you in advance for your review. We also want to take the opportunity to thank the many customers who have left us a positive review already. Your feedback is priceless to us!

We just want to close by saying please do remember that a bad and scathing review for a small, family run business can be devastating. It can ruin personal lives, earnings, business reputation and relationships for good, hard working people.

We all work so hard and strive for the best service, but at the end of the day we are all human. Have you never made a mistake? Have you never made an error? One thing for certain is, that if we were ever to do poorly, we will always rectify it direct with our customer, following an open conversation. To leave a negative review without giving a small company the chance to do that is not helpful in finding a resolution and certainly isn't being kind.

On behalf of all local, small businesses we therefore ask you to be kind and if you aren't happy, please let us put it right before you become a keyboard warrior!

Thank you, as always, for your custom and for your support everyone.

It's Coming Home to A Pub TV Near You Thanks To ATV Aerial and Satellite Company!

Wed, 07 Jul 2021 15:17:08 GMT

PUB TVs Prove A Hit Through Euro's

Chances are you will be watching a TV in a pub tonight to cheer on England, and it's likely if its local, that our ATV Aerial and Satellite Company team had a hand in it!

We have been busy supporting pubs in the region, ensuring their TVs aren't going to let their punters down during the all important #Euros2020.

From new aerials and cabling, to wall hanging, troubleshooting, satellite dish repair and installation of new TVs (some outside) we've supported so many pubs, we aren't sure which one to go and watch it at ourselves!

We love helping out these business owners, as well as doing work for people in their homes. And will be even better if England pull it out of the bag tonight and make the final on Sunday.

Come on England... bring it home!! Either way, we hope you enjoy the match and make sure to buy a pint or two, if you frequent one of our customer's pubs!!

Make Sure To Find the Right ATV Aerial and Satellite Company!

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 10:24:22 GMT

Make Sure It Is Us You Are Booking Online - Find The Right ATV Aerial and Satellite Company!

It has recently come to our attention that there are a few ATV Aerial and Satellite Company imposters online at the moment.... how very dare they, we hear you cry!! Well that's what we thought too. So we thought we would just bring it our loyal customer's attention and to the attention of those who are maybe looking to use us for the first time.

We are easily identifiable by our van on the road, we have included photos of it here. And Grant and Blaine are the only engineers that work for us. Again they are quite easily identifiable as a father and son team.

Our family run business is kept ship shape by Jayne in the office. We also have Antonia who does our marketing. And that is it. That's the extent of our small but extremely professional team.

Our logo is quite distinguishable in its blue, red and grey tones, and all of our social media and website has a photo of us as the header at the Spanish City dome in Whitley Bay, with our van.

Our full company name is ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Ltd, and we are based in Whitley bay but we do cover the whole of the region with our services. We deliver services including repairing and installing aerials and cabling/points, repairing and installing a variety of satellite dishes and cabling including Sky and foreign channels, we provide and install CCTV systems, broadband boosters and wifi solutions, and we also fit caging to protect your roof and chimneys from birds. We are able to reach most high and difficult places without the use of scaffolding.

We do commercial work with house builders, property owners, apartments, assisted living, care homes, offices, leisure facilities, hotels and bars etc. And we also pride ourselves in fabulous work done on residential properties and homes for families, neighbours and our entire North East community.

With all that taken into consideration, we think we are pretty unique.

And yet, recently a number of people have informed that other companies are using their online presence to pretend to be us and gain bookings.

So if it is us you really want, please be careful. If you call on the phone, ask for Jayne, Grant or Blaine to be sure and always use 0191 252 4308 or 07946 348855. Check out it is our website with the facts we've just shared, and if you are contacting us on social media, make sure it is from our page. On facebook we are @ATVAerialandSatelliteCoLtd, on Twitter we are @ATVAerialCo and on instagram @ATVAerial. You really can't miss our photo of the team in front of the dome! And we only have one email address - that is atvaerialco@gmail.com

So to close off on this blog, we have decided to take this imposter action as flattery and trust that those who really want to book our services from our team will find us!

Have a great weekend everyone and come on, England!!

New Build Aerial, Satellite, Broadband and CCTV Solutions

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:34:01 GMT

New Build Home - No Worries With ATV

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Boosting Your Broadband Is Easier than You Think!

Fri, 14 May 2021 16:55:20 GMT

ATV Can Make Your Wi-Fi Broadband Better

If we had a pound for every time we hear someone complaining about their home WiFi, then we would be able to help a lot of charities!

So at ATV Aerial and Satellite, we have come up with a solution which we currently have some great offers on, in perfect timing for just when you want your broadband to reach out that little bit further.

We have been successfully solving people's broadband problems for a number of years now and most recently have been fitting TP-Links, hard wired into routers, around properties to boost the signal to where it needs to be.

This is great for those with larger extensions or with rooms in lofts/three storey properties. The nifty little box simply plugs into your router, we conceal the wires via the best route internally or externally, and it plugs in at the point where you are missing decent reception. Job done!

With so many of us working from home and school lessons having being remote, we have fitted many of these little life savers in the last 12 months and know how well they work... and now with summer upon us and the garden calling, we are fitting them to boost the signal to outdoor space too. This is perfect for those with garden houses, with outdoor smart TV's or those who would like to work in the sun as the weather warms up.

They are also ideal for flat sharing, to distribute the signal evenly, for homes with multiple smart TV's and for houses with CCTV or broadband base alarm systems where you may need it to reach a little further.

The appointment with us usually takes no more than an hour, the costs are exceptionally reasonable, and when we leave, Wi-Fi frustrations are generally eased! To book a no obligation quote and survey, give Jayne a call on 0191 2524308 - you and your family won't regret it!

Removal of Old Aerials

atvaerialco@gmail.com (Blaine Smith) — Thu, 06 May 2021 17:57:49 GMT

Removal of Old Aerials

Did you know that it is your legal responsibility to remove old and / or damaged aerials from your roof? If something happened and someone on the ground was injured, you would be liable if they wanted to make a claim. There is also the risk of it falling and damaging your property too.

When the team at ATV aerials drive around they are always surprised at the amount of out of date or broken aerials they spot. Grant Smith said:

"When we fit a new aerial we always remove old or redundant aerials. No-one wants too much metal up on their roof and if it isn't being used then it is just a waste of space, which could become dangerous. High winds, rain and old age can weaken the structure of an older aerial very easily. And you'd be surprised how heavy they actually are!

"Aerials and aerial upgrades are extremely popular at the moment. Due to high costs, people are moving away from Sky and Virgin, and we are busier than ever with aerial work - thanks to Freeview and smart TV's everyone has everything they need to view.

"If you have an old aerial or one you don't use, you should never attempt to remove it yourself, as there is a chance of injury to yourself or to others. As roof and height specialists, however awkward or high your aerial is, you should give us a call. It is what we are trained to do and have the equipment for."

So next time you are in the garden or driving down your street where you can see your roof, check out what is on it. If you aren't sure, give ATV Aerial and Satellite a call on 0191 252 4308, and they will come and check it out for you! The team also remove old satellite dishes too.

Protect Your Till Whilst Doing Outdoor Service

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 12:12:59 GMT

Tills at Risk Whilst Staff Serve Outdoors

Isn't it fabulous to see people back out and about, enjoying the fact that cafes, restaurants and pubs can serve us once again?

This photo, borrowed from the Evening Chronicle, shows the North East is really buzzing already - but as an owner of an establishment, how are you making sure that your till and property is protected whilst all your staff are outside?

With customers allowed to come in to use the toilet whilst your team may be engaged outside, is your property, the alcohol or your till left open to risk?

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company is keen to help hospitality business owners get off to the best start of re-opening and they have a special offer for anyone who has concerns.

Specialist in CCTV, the offer includes a 4K discreet camera system, that comes with the ability to watch your till or inside bar from your mobile device. The system records footage, which is all important evidence for the police and insurance companies should theft or damage ever occur. Most importantly, they are a great deterrent for any delinquent behaviour as no-one wants to be caught on camera!

Just give the team a shout on 0191 252 4308, and they will pop out to do a survey, advise on the best positions for the camera or cameras, give you a quote and include your special offer.

We want your business to thrive and for us all to be able to relax and enjoy being back to some normality! And w ho knows, the guys will probably stop for a coffee or a bite to eat anyway as they don't seem able to resist, so what have you got to lose in getting a quote?

North East Garden TV's Set To Surge

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 17:08:00 GMT

North East Garden TV's Set To Surge

There's a new trend in town and if you want it for yourself then look no further than ATV Aerial and Satellite Company to sort it out!

Garden TV's.... !! Yes, you read that right.....

With the clamp down still on foreign travel and many UK holidays either fully booked or really expensive, many people will be staycationing this summer. And with the Euro's, hopefully lots of other sport and many lazy evenings in the garden, you'll be the envy of all your neighbours with your Garden TV.

The TV can, of course, be in a summer house or under shelter. Or you could invest in the one in our pictures, courtesy of Samsung, which is waterproof and comes with a waterproof sound bar!

ATV can fit your TV and the cabling/point where ever you want it, making sure it is safe, secure and working. If you plump for a non-waterproof TV, there's a number of ways to protect it, including a hangover shelter roof or a special surround which are ready available online - if you struggle, we could supply this too. And the team can wall or fence hang in a prime position for you!

Perfect for balconies, patio's, pergola areas and outhouses too! And with people now being able to visit your garden, you can have friends and family over to enjoy, or send the kids in the garden with their friends to watch a movie!

We really don't know why this hasn't taken off before... and our team are ready and waiting to make your dream a reality! Call Jayne on 0191 252 4308 to make an appointment for a no-obligation quote!

Dogs and Freedom Equal A Rise In CCTV Sales

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 20:31:18 GMT

Puppy Boom Increases CCTV Demand

Has anyone else noticed the amount of puppies around at the moment? We have, as it has lead to an increase in demand for domestic CCTV.

New puppy parents are keen to keep their new baby safe, especially as lockdown eases and we all start to go about our normal routines. Poor puppy will be left home alone, and the best way to know that he is safe is by having internal CCTV.

Not only does CCTV deter thieves, and we have all been reading about the rise of dog theft lately, but CCTV fitted in the right place means you can keep an eye on your furry loved one whilst out.

Our CCTV systems are all top drawer and come with 4K cameras and an app, so you can access it from your mobile device.

We have been so touched by all our customers worry of puppy safety and welfare that we are looking to start to raise money for the DogHorn charity, and will soon be launching a special package - if you don't want to wait until then, give us a shout and we will make sure we still count your job when we make our donation. Just say to us Puppy CCTV!

You'll also be protecting your whole property, which means when the pubs reopen, you don't have to worry!

Is Your Satellite Dish Doing Its Job?

atvaerialco@gmail.com (Blaine Smith) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 18:18:41 GMT

Update Your Satellite Dish For The Best Viewing

So you've upgraded your satellite TV package and the picture still isn't great? It isn't surprising.

There is no point upgrading to the best HD channels and 4K TV's if your aerial, satellite dish and cabling isn't upgraded and up to scratch too!

We specialise in making sure that your equipment will make the best of your viewing pleasure for you, and we also specialise in foreign satellite packages so you can keep in touch with what is happening abroad - it's great timing to install one as the Euro's approaches this summer!

New sky boxes need great connections to perform to their best and your cabling needs to be water tight and not pecked by birds or weather damaged. Junction boxes should be healthy and well positioned, and aerials need to be firm, steady and facing in the right direction.

So if you are planning on spending more on your TV contracts, are upgrading equipment or just want a bigger and better dish than the Jones's, then get in touch for us to come and do a site survey. We will tell you what is good, what needs updating and give you a realistic quote that will be worth every penny!

Give Jayne a ring on 0191 252 4308 and she will book in the team to call around!

Protect Your Roof, Chimney and Aerial this Spring!

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 17:38:43 GMT

Roof Caging To Protect Your Property and Wildlife as Spring is Upon us

As the snow has melted and Boris made an announcement last night that warmed all our hearts, our thoughts have now turned to Spring and Summer and especially to be able to host friends and family in the garden.

But, with this time of year comes a new problem that can interfere with your property, your aerial and leave patios covered in a mess you'd rather not have to deal with.

Birds.

Lovely as they are, they can be pests. They can cause damage, bend aerials leaving you with poor reception, damage chimneys, and of course they have a habit of pooping from the edge of the roof, marking outdoor chairs, tables, patios and decking.

Even worse, they hurt themselves in the process getting caught on solar panels, wiring and TV equipment.

At ATV Aerial and Satellite Company we have the solution in the form of nature friendly caging. We can fit it in a variety of bespoke sizes, from single chimneys to the largest one we recently did spanning over 2 metres. Grant and Blaine can also fit them in hard to reach places without the use of scaffolding, meaning we are cost effective and quick!

Get prepared for all those summer BBQs and help keep your property poop free by acting now. You can also feel good knowing you've done your bit to protect the region's wildlife.

Give Jayne in the office a call so we can come do a survey, giving you your on the spot quote.

0191 2524308.

#Birdprotection #birdprotectionnorthumberland #birdprotectionnorthtyneside #birdprotectionnewcastle

North East Aerial Experts Combating Snow, Wind and Ice Damage

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 17:25:21 GMT

ATV Heroes Keeping Your TV Viewing Possible

Isn't this snow fabulous? It's so much fun to play out in it, go sledging, walk the dog, make a snowman. We've all needed some light relief, so this week has really ticked the box.

On the flip side, are you aware of the damage that snow, ice, wet and wind actually do to your aerial?

Has your TV reception been a bit off? That can be normal whilst it is snowing as the weather can weaken the transmission signal. But if it is still poor whilst the snow has stopped falling, it is likely that it has damaged, dislodged or bent your aerial, meaning that it is hindered in receiving a clear signal.

Many times the aerial can be repaired but sometimes it needs replacing. We always stock up with extra aerials in our van at this time of year, so we are always ready to quickly replace your kit, with no fuss.

We also aren't afraid of getting up on a snowy roof, when many other companies cancel their appointments until the weather is better. Years in the fire brigade and doing this job makes our guys the best climbers in the region!

Adverse winter weather can also affect satellite dishes too so if you are having problems, let us know and we will come check your dish, cabling and connectors.

Leave the tricky stuff to us, and you just enjoy the snow and cuddling up in the warm watching TV!

Call Jayne on 0191 252 4308 if you are having issues!

Why Choose ATV?

atvaerialco@gmail.com (Blaine Smith) — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 15:23:57 GMT

Why Grant and Blaine Should Be Your First Choice...

What do we all think of the weather at the moment then? It's pretty awful isn't it but it got us to thinking about how we differ to other companies? And why you should choose us to do the work in your home or business....

In this kind of weather, many workmen just cancel their jobs. They don't want to be out in the wind and the rain and the cold. At ATV we continue working through all weather, as long as its safe, so it is quite rare for us to put off a job due to the weather. We put our customer's needs first as we can always dry off and warm up, but it'd be pretty miserable for you to live without good reception on your TV for days on end.

Grant and Blaine agree they would prefer a cold, wet job to just sitting in the house as they both totally love working together and love what they do. The father and son team enjoy being out and about, seeing happy customers and believe it or not, taking on challenges to get the highest points possible without having to use scaffolding! Jayne back in the office isn't so keen on that, but recognises it is one of the talents of the duo!

Despite being busy with bookings, the ATV work longer hours to ensure that they can give same day service locally, where ever possible. They understand that TV, broadband and WiFI are important to us all. Grant said:

"We always prioritise older people and those who have children, who really need their connectivity and TV. Making sure our community is looked after and happy is well worth earlier starts or later finishes!"

If you have a job, no matter what the weather, get in touch with Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308. We suspect that some aerials may not survive today's current weather, so we look forward to your call!

Keeping North East Businesses Safe During Extended Lockdown

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 18:28:33 GMT

CCTV Keeping North East Business Safe During Extended Lockdown

Following Boris Johnson's announcement tonight about an extension to this third lockdown, many business owners in the North East region are no doubt feeling lost and down.

We are becoming all too accustomed to seeing closed signs on bars, restaurants and 'non-essential' shops in Sunderland, Newcastle, Durham, Northumberland and North Tyneside. Many of these businesses have managed to trade online or as takeaways and as a community we must pull together and support them, but an extended lockdown means many more weeks of worry as buildings stand empty.

At ATV we have pulled together a special offer for these businesses. We will do a safe PPE site visit, health check your existing CCTV system and make recommendations on how to improve your security. If you don't currently have CCTV, or need a new system, we have a great starting price from under £500.

Our systems are top of the range 4k with access to your cameras from smart devices, meaning you know your premises, your stock and your future re-opening plans are safe.

At a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet, and crime is on the rise, it makes sense to invest in the safety of your property. We'd be delighted to help you!

Give Jayne a call in the office on 0191 252 4308 to book your site survey!

Support Local During Lockdown

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 19:50:49 GMT

ATV Puts Out Stay Local Call

As you will know by now ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Ltd is a family run business, and as a family we have now made a pledge to shop at and use only local companies for the foreseeable future.

We are asking all of our clients, customers, suppliers and friends to do the same where ever possible.

There are a number of reasons for this.

1. In North Tyneside and the surrounding areas in which we work our corona virus numbers are relatively low. By keeping local and only using local tradesmen and shops we are limiting the spread, keeping ourselves and our community as safe as possible.

2. In hard times your local community and local business community needs the financial support from its neighbours. Please don't pick up the phone to a national company however appealing the offer looks online - families in our area are working hard to survive / serve their community and deserve your support!

3. We believe that by supporting other local tradesman and shops it builds a goodwill feeling in the community. We are looking after our own and making sure as an area that as much as possible of what we love survives these current challenges.

4. It's a great way to keep in touch with each other and support each other, keeping the circle of life going in our neighbourhood. Prices are more reasonable, as none of us are greedy, we all just want to work together to come through in one piece! You are also guaranteed better quality and ongoing service.

5. Together we can get through this. If we all swim in the same direction, and support what we believe is right, then only good can come of it. Families will maintain some financial security, and businesses will weather the storm.

Obviously there are times when local can't provide, but please, think about every penny you spend and whether you can put it into our own regional economy!

If you need help with your aerials, satellite dishes, CCTV, TV tuning or hanging or WiFi then give us a bell. We will make sure to fit you in as soon as possible, as we are just around the corner!

Stay Safe everyone,

Grant, Jayne and Blaine!

Lockdown Guidelines From ATV

Thu, 07 Jan 2021 18:02:34 GMT

ATV's Guide To Their Lockdown Service

Having had a team meeting we have decided at ATV that our service is currently essential to the community we service, so we will be working throughout Lockdown 3. After all, we know how important TV service, broadband and CCTV are during these times! We couldn't risk leaving our customers with no viewing pleasure!

We do, however, need to keep Grant and Blaine safe, as well as our customers, so we have some strict guidelines we will be following and ask you to respect.

Masks

We will be wearing masks at all times and when we are in your home, we ask you to do the same if we are in your vicinity.

Space

We will be keeping our 2 metre distance from you and would require you to do the same. A lot of our work is outside but if we are in your house it would be even better if you could be in another room whilst we work please.

Hands

We will sanitise our hands at the start and end of every job and will carry our own sanitiser. We will endeavour to touch as little as possible in your property and would appreciate it if you could have all doors open so we do not need to touch handles. Having a pack of flash wipes handy would be very appreciated too and we recommend a quick clean down after we leave!

Grant and Blaine will only be working as long as they are well and symptom free. And as long as we all follow these safety rules we are very happy to ensure that you have all the services we bring, so you can enjoy your TV viewing, benefit from good broadband and feel safe!

To book a job or quote please ring Jayne in office on 0191 252 4308.

Christmas Hours Fixing Aerials

Wed, 23 Dec 2020 18:11:47 GMT

Christmas Hours Fixing Aerials

We just wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers of 2020. It's been a hard year for many, a strange year for us all and a busy year for us here at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company.

The work doesn't stop for long for us over the Christmas period, so we thought it best to reassure you and share our opening hours.

Grant and Blaine are out and about until close tomorrow night (Christmas Eve). The phone lines are then open over all of the holidays - we understand that aerials, dishes and cabling can fail, especially if we get bad weather.

The team will also be working between Christmas and New Year, and then straight back on Monday 4th January after the New Year weekend (there's a saying that goes something like no rest for the wicked.....?).

If you need urgent work doing we will do our best to help; or if you want to book a job in for the New Year then please do give the office a call and we can make your appointment. It's looking busy already so don't wait around too long to book our time!

Have a very Merry Christmas whatever you are doing, and remember to spread some love and cheer - it's something we all need a good dose of right now!

Stay safe

Grant, Blaine, Jane and Antonia

Nothing Stops Santa

atvaerialco@gmail.com (Blaine Smith) — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 15:12:11 GMT

Nothing Stops Santa - ATV Reassures Client's Children!

This blog has been inspired by a client's son, who at about age 7, this week expressed his fear that by putting cages on their chimney to protect them from birds would mean that Santa couldn't visit!

Grant and Blaine explained to the lad that of course Santa wouldn't be held back by the work, and that he had special powers that allowed him access via the chimney. Reassured, the quote went ahead and the team have another happy client.

Realising that this might be a fear for many children, ATV decided to write this blog to make sure you all know that bird and roof protection cages won't stop Santa on his travels but will protect wildlife and your property! All aerials are fitted to ensure that he has access. These aerials can withstand most weather conditions and dishes are placed in a safe place to make sure that his sleigh landing won't knock it off and stop you enjoying TV viewing during the festive season!

To get well and truly in the spirit, the team will now be wearing their Santa hats with pride... Merry Christmas to everyone from us!

Christmas TV is here! Get Your Essential Viewing Sorted!

Thu, 10 Dec 2020 16:39:47 GMT

Plan your viewing, Sort your Aerial, Tune in Your New TV.... ATV here to help!

They are here!!! And we couldn't be more excited.... anyone who knows us knows how much we love TV, it goes with the job I guess. And the sound of the Radio Times and the TV Times hitting our doormat means Christmas is really nearly upon us!

This year the line up looks awesome. And as we started flicking through our favourite mags of the year we took a guess at the favoured choices of viewing for the areas we cover - it's just a bit of fun but here is what we think:

Northumberland South East and Coast - you guys will be watching A Baby Reindeer's First Christmas on Channel 4 on Christmas Eve. All together now, ahhhhhhhhh......

North Tyneside - Bridgerton will grace many screens here. On Netflix, the series launches on Christmas Day and is all about a very British Scandal. We think it sounds great!

Newcastle - Spiderman Homecoming - its on BBC1 on 22nd December. Why would anyone miss this epic premiere?

Gosforth - The Man who Invented Christmas will kick off your seasonal viewing on Sunday 20th - on Channel 4 this comedy drama looks too good to miss.

Hexham and West Northumberland - We couldn't decide between the Christmas Day special of Call The Midwife, or Mrs Brown's Boys. Luckily they aren't on at the same time with one at 7.40om and the other at 10pm so you can watch them both.

Durham - GHOSTS of Christmas Past - Wednesday December 23rd at 8.30 - this look like a hilarious comedy and is firmly on our viewing list.

Sunderland - The Repair Shop At Christmas - Boxing Day Night on BBC1. Stories to make your heart melt... get the tissues ready.

And ........ we reckon 80% of us will be watching the season finale of Strictly on Saturday 19th!

Hopefully this has whet your Christmas viewing excitement, but now are you confident your TV cables, dishes, aerials etc are up to par, guaranteed to not to let you down? Or are you worried the new TV you bought for a gift that is in the box might not be able to be set up... or maybe you'd love it on the wall?

We are fast running out of time to help you, but give us a call and as always we will see what we can do!

North East Aerials Taking a Battering

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 19:58:42 GMT

As Winter Arrives in the North East, Aerials and Dishes Take a Battering

As we are sat here tonight hearing the wind and rain dash off our windows, we know that aerials across the North East are taking a battering.

As we are based at the coast, we often expect that we will get hit the worst, but looking at the weather reports it looks like Newcastle city centre, Gosforth, Jesmond and the surrounding areas are actually suffering a little more. It's wet, windy and cold. All bad news for aerial and satellite dish performance.

The good news is that we cover these areas, repairing and installing aerials in Gosforth, aerials in Newcastle, aerials in Jesmond.... we also fix, repair and install satellite dishes, cabling, CCTV and broadband boosters in these areas too.

So if your roof has taken a hit tonight, and your reception is affected, then please do give us a call to book us in.

TV Entertainment Becomes Ever More Important During Tier 3 Lockdown

Fri, 27 Nov 2020 18:26:50 GMT

No Pubs, No Restaurants... We Need TV's!

So yesterday we were told that the North East will move into Tier 3 follow the release of national lockdown.

Other than gyms and a few more shops opening, life is pretty much social life free still... no pubs, no restaurants, no cinemas or theatres, no friends houses to visit...... it's rubbish right?

And guess what.... today we have experienced a big boom in people wanting their new TV's set up and tuned, hung on the wall and aerials sorted so optimum viewing can be enjoyed.

Lots of TV's are going out of stock at a fast rate on knots online, as people fill the time between now and the 16th December when we may move to tier 2... or indeed until Christmas when we can finally be with loved ones, if that is the option you choose.

Tier 3 doesn't have to be depressing. With the right wifi and right TV you can stream amazing entertainment into your home, including friends and family on a large screen - it almost makes you feel like you are with them.

Netflix, Sky and other forms of movie streaming are stepping up their game in the run up to Christmas too so there's no better time of year to be stuck indoors. One of our team has taken on the challenge to watch a Christmas movie a day, to ensure the Christmas spirit stays strong!

If you need helping with any of our services, do give Jayne a ring on 0191 252 4308 as soon as possible and we will do our very best to fit you in!

Blaine does Movember

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 17:49:13 GMT

ATV's Blaine Does Charity Effort with Movember

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company's very own Blaine Smith is mid way through a gruelling challenge to raise money via Movember.

Blaine has committed to run 7km every day in November sporting a moustache. Blaine said:

"I am fortunate enough at this present time to be happy and have my health. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to raise awareness and hopefully some money, for other men who aren't so fortunate.

"I don't often do fundraising requests so I do hope that everyone can donate a little. To all the gents, even the biggest and toughest can get prostrate or testicular cancer, or struggle with mental health, it doesnt make you any less of a warrior!"

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men's health. Focusing on mental health and suicide prevention, testicular cancer and prostrate cancer, the charity aims by 2030 to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25%.

If you would like to donate, then go to the Movember website and search for Blaine Smith, or cut and paste this link: https://uk.movember.com/search/?q=Blaine%20Smith

Blaine concluded:

"Your donation funds medical research, groundbreaking tests and trials, life-changing men’s health programs and innovative treatments. You’re doing a whole lot of good for a whole lot of men – thank you."

Dark Nights Boost North Tyneside CCTV Enquiries

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 18:56:58 GMT

Businesses and Residents in North Tyneside Invest in CCTV for Dark Nights

We love where we live in North Tyneside, but dark nights increase the need for CCTV as even fabulous places like here fall foul to acts of vandalism or theft, at this time of year.

We are all members of platforms like Next Door and community pages on Facebook, where lots of us now turn to warn neighbours and report in on break ins, damage done, burglaries and anti-social behaviour. Because we have that knowledge, there seems to be a spike in people wanting to rightfully protect what is theirs. Especially as houses start to fill with Christmas presents waiting to be given.

Our CCTV systems are suitable for both homes and commercial buildings and are fitted both indoors and outdoors. Many people in the area now have them fitted to watch the outside of their home, protecting their car, its contents and their front doors.

The cost of such a system is relative cheap - probably not much more than the excess on your insurance should something happen to your vehicle. The cost goes up as you add in more sophisticated systems and multi camera's, but we can tailor to budget and make you as safe as houses!

For a free quote, why not get in touch with Jayne on 0191 252 4308 and make an appointment for Grant and Blaine to call by to take a look for you. Imagine how well you will sleep at night, or how much easier you will feel leaving your home, with one of our systems fitted!

Fixing Aerials As Normal

Thu, 05 Nov 2020 19:19:21 GMT

Back Into Lockdown But We Are Working As Normal Fixing Aerials....

Remember, remember the 5th of November - it may be fireworks and bonfire night, but its also Day 1 of the 2nd UK Lockdown.

We just wanted to let you all know we are working as normal in full PPE, following all safe social distancing guidelines.

It's important to us that you all have access to TV, CCTV and good Wifi signals, so we are determined to be there for customers old and new.

Give us a call if you want to book in any of our services including preparing tuning in your new TV's and wall hanging them! You'll also want to make sure your cabling, aerial and dishes are in tip top condition before the awesome Christmas viewing starts!

Get Christmas TV All Wrapped Up

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 14:58:20 GMT

Get Your TV All Set Up For Christmas

There is less than two months to go to Christmas ... and we are starting to take bookings to get new TV's set up and running in time, and to pre-tune TV's that are Christmas presents, so they can be wrapped for the big day, then once opened they can be plugged in, switched on, all good to go!

TV viewing options are set to be the hi-light of our Christmas unless restrictions are lifted, so many people are investing in bigger, better technology TV sets in time for the festive season... and with Black Friday just weeks away there are deals galore available.

We have already started taking bookings to hang TV's on the wall, to tune them in, bring in new cabling and to get new aerial points and wifi set up to ensure optimum viewing pleasure.

Many people are also buying new TV's as gifts - for parents, for grandma and for kids.... a brilliant way to increase the excitement is to have the TV ready just to plug in and play, so enjoyment can start straight away on Christmas Day. We are experts at unpacking TV's, getting them all set up, getting aerials in place unnoticed and then repacking the whole kit, so it can be gift wrapped for Christmas morning!

Either way, make your appointment with us, so you can enjoy movies and Christmas specials on your box with top notch reception....

Invest in A Teenagers Garden Room TV

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 17:31:02 GMT

Kids Driving You Mad During Local Lockdown?

Are your teenagers driving you mad during local lockdown? Then here is a great idea - give them some space and safe independence by turning your garden building into a teenage den...

Sheds, out buildings, summer houses and if you have some spare cash, a purpose pre-built garden room could be the solution. We can extend your current wifi to reach it, and fit your TV on the wall making sure it is all tuned in with all their necessary apps connected, so they are all good to go... leaving you with some peace and quiet. Sound good?

Make it their project to design it and they'll love the space even more. Set up their computer or gaming console and they'll probably want to live in it!

We had a scout on the internet for people doing this and we found this great photo on https://blog.cabinmaster.co.uk/3-great-reasons-to-invest-in-a-quality-wooden-garden-room-for-your-older-children...

Have a read of their blog, get some inspiration and then give us a call to get your garden den online with a wall hung, tuned in, ready to watch TV!

What a great idea.

Prepare Your Aerial For The Winter

Thu, 24 Sep 2020 17:54:22 GMT

Is Your Aerial Winter Ready?

The nights are drawing in and the weather is getting worse - the rain this last few days has been awful!

Snow will soon be here, and the high winds associated with living on the North East coast in winter.... so ask yourself this, is your aerial and your cabling good enough to survive the winter and give you good reception to ensure uninterrupted TV viewing?

If not, then you need to get us in soon to sort it out!

Adverse weather can knock out aerials and cabling that isn't in tip top condition very easily. And if the weather isn't great we can't always get straight on the roof - we guess what we are saying is that prevention is better than cure.

With less things to do, due to pubs closing early and parties being on hold, your TV is going to be more important to you than ever, so don't risk being without it. Ring us today and we will happily do a health check!

The office to make your appointment can be reached by calling 0191 252 4308.

Northumberland WiFi Issue Sorted in Grade II Listed Building

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 14:38:01 GMT

Wifi Issues Sorted in Northumberland

Our team has been out and about in Ovingham, Northumberland, where the owner of a stunning listed property was having a nightmare with their wifi reception.

Because of the thickness of the walls, the WiFi was struggling to get around the house, which in turn was affecting the Sky Q mini-boxes.

Using specialist network cabling internally, which had to be hidden discretely as it can be seen externally, Grant and Blaine addressed the issues. This included running cabling through loft spaces, and behind cavities, walls and skirting boards.

The result is a perfect WiFi signal throughout the entire house and functioning Sky Q mini-boxes. One happy customer!!

If you need help with your WiFi, give Jayne in the office a call and get booked in for a chat and a quote. 0191 2524308.

High And Awkward Access Experts

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 15:11:34 GMT

No Job Too High for ATV

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company are the region's experts in high and awkward aerial and dish repair or installation jobs.

The team recently took this photo from their brilliant view point at The Fold in Monkseaton. It's a stunning panoramic image of what they could see from the roof of the three storey building.

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company is one of the few companies to have ladders that reach such great heights for access. Any height, however awkward, Grant and Blaine can meet customers needs.

They also fit caps, cowls and cages to protect chimneys, roofs and solar panels. We offer free quotes and are happy to chat about your specific job with a no obligation initial meeting. We can work out a plan of action and survey the height/scale and position of the job.

If you have an awkward or high challenge, you know where to come! Ring Jayne on 0191 2524308 to book us in!

Smart TV's and a Broadband Booster Are Replacing Sky

Fri, 21 Aug 2020 17:42:43 GMT

Trend Shows People Are Saving Their Sky Costs

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company has been noticing a shift in customers moving away from Sky and similar packages.

Grant and Blaine have been busy setting up smart TV's with apps and installing boosters from broadband to ensure that people can watch TV through a variety of ways including Freeview, apps and additional equipment such as fire sticks. Grant said:

"As people are looking to be more financially savvy in the North East they are looking for ways to reduce monthly outgoings. Some customers have saved over £100 a month by moving away from TV subscriptions such as Sky and setting up more affordable apps and technology links. This has brought us a wave of jobs as people want their smart TV setting up properly and their broadband boosting to ensure they get the best connection and picture. The future of viewing is definitely changing!"

For a quote on setting up your sky free smart TV and broadband booster, please do get in touch!

We Now Take Credit Card!

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 13:04:58 GMT

You Can Now Pay Us By Credit Card!

Have you heard the latest news.... you can now pay us by credit card!

We've taken everything into consideration and you, our customers, come first. The world is a changing place and it is so important to be able to access every service you need and pop it on a card, so we are delighted to announce that you now don't have to wait until pay day or make an effort to go to the bank, to use our services!

On booking, please let us know that you will be paying by credit card if possible, so we remember to bring the machine!!

Stop Bird Poop Spoiling Your Home and Garden with ATV's Bird Caging

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 17:27:32 GMT

ATV's Bird Caging Protects Your Home

ATV have a fantastic new bird cage system that protects your aerial, your roof, your garden and the birds.

Sick of your decking being covered in poop? Fed up of washing from the line needing redoing? Worried about your aerial? Is the noise of a nest driving you mad?

The new system stops the birds settling in a place that they then become pests and it is guaranteed to stop any birds nesting on your roof. They may well be flying the nest now, which makes it the perfect opportunity to make sure they don't come back next year!

Get in touch and we will give you a no obligation quote!

North East Retailers CCTV Demand

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:01:39 GMT

CCTV In Demand From North East Retailers

A surge in retailers wanting CCTV in the North East is keeping our team busy at the moment!

It seems that people are craving a need to feel safe, and with our system, which includes access to your cameras from a digital device, property and people can be observed at all times. You can have them on the street scene, or on your own property. (The photo of the well know shop above is just an example of a street scene we took whilst on the roof of another building).

You do, of course, need a sign displayed that informs people they are being filmed due to GDPR requirements, so we sort all of that out too!

Prices start from around £395 and we can fit internal or external cameras.

To book a no obligation quote for your premises, please contact Jayne on 0191 252 4308.

Our Favourite Rooftops from Aerial Repairs in North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:41:59 GMT

Favourite Rooftops Photos from Aerial Repairs across Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside

Without doubt one of the perks of aerial repairs in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland, is the stunning views that Grant and Blaine get to see.

If you follow our social media, you will see lots of photos and we often play a game asking people to guess where we have been.

We were recently asked which our favourite views from the region are. Its a hard one to answer, so Grant and Blaine have compiled some of the favourite photos they have taken, to share here.

They are keen to grow their photo album of views, so please do recommend us to your friends and family - we will take a photo wherever we go and share it, so you can all see the beautiful place we live from up high too!

Call Jayne on 0191 252 4308 to book your roof top job - from aerial repairs and installations to bird caging, we are the guys to have on your roof!

The Need for Bird Cages in North Tyneside, Newcastle and Northumberland

Fri, 03 Jul 2020 12:24:20 GMT

Why You Need Roof Bird Cages if you live in Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland....

Look at what we found on a roof this week - a baby seagull. Its' parents were not happy, and circled us the whole time we were working on the aerial, often landing on the roof next to us and squawking.

More and more the wildlife on the North East Coast is settling on our roof tops and making themselves at home. Not only is this an annoyance for the home owner, but it really isn't safe for the birds either. They can become caught in solar panels, aerials, chimney's .... but with our roof bird caging you can protect your equipment and building, as well as keeping the birds safe too.

To book your free quote, get in touch with Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308.

North Tyneside CCTV Services

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 13:56:33 GMT

North Tyneside CCTV Services in Demand

As the world returns to normal, retailers in North Tyneside are becoming fans of our CCTV Services.

People are more likely to behave when a camera is on them, making social distancing easier to manage. It also protects you against claims of contracting covid-19 on your premises, as you have proof for your insurance you took all the right steps.

Great for any retailer, hairdressers, shops, cafe's, pubs, in fact anywhere that you get a footfall of the public.

North East Broadband Booster Demand

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 14:12:37 GMT

ATV Experiencing Boom for North East Broadband Booster Requests

ATV has experienced a boom in its Broadband Booster service across the North East.

With more people working from home, kids in the house all day, movies and box sets being downloaded for entertainment and people taking to the internet to buy things they would normally go to the shops for, the internet has taken a bit of a hefty weight recently.

Many people have discovered that their current internet doesn't reach all important parts of the house, or is diluted when too many in the home are using it at once.

ATV has a great little gadget that will solve a lot of these problems, is quick and easy to instal and cost effective compared to replacing your internet router or provider. Get in touch to see how we can make your life a little quicker when it comes to internet access at home!

Sunderland Aerial Services

Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:04:38 GMT

Delivering Sunderland Aerial Services

Since returning to work following lockdown, the ATV Aerial team has found itself popping through the tunnel more to Sunderland, to deliver a range of aerial services.

As well as aerial installation and repair, Grant and Blaine have also installed multi points in apartments, wall hung TV's for customers and fitted CCTV in retail and office space too.

Grant said: "We love the views in Sunderland across the river, so we are glad to be able to expand our area of work to bring in customers from here, as well as South Shields, Durham, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland!"

Outdoor TV Wall Hanging Sunderland

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 17:39:16 GMT

Sunderland resident's love for wall hanging his TV outdoors
(TV Wall Hanging Sunderland Case Study)

Grant and Blaine have been the other side of the river in recent days - TV Wall Hanging Sunderland way.

The owner of this apartment with beautiful views over the cricket ground has a love for the outdoors but also enjoys watching his TV on the balcony. We think it's a great idea!

If you would like a TV hanging on a wall, indoors or outdoors, and live in Sunderland, North Tyneside, Newcastle, Durham or Northumberland, just give us a call!

North East CCTV Fitters Battling COVID-19 Challenges

Thu, 28 May 2020 09:43:51 GMT

Popularity In North East CCTV Fitters Grows As Businesses Protect Premises

As North East CCTV Fitters Grant and Blaine, your friendly ATV Aerial and Satellite father and son team, have experienced a boom in enquiries for the service.

Many businesses, which have been standing empty, have sensibly been wanting to fit new or replace existing CCTV systems for peace of mind. The systems fitted by the ATV team come with viewing ability from your digital device to check that all is as should be, meaning even if the property is empty, owners can relax.

Pubs, restaurants, bars, showrooms, shops and cafes have all been making sure that their digital security is up to speed, which makes the insurance companies happy too.

For many of these businesses, it will be equally important to have CCTV when they can re-open to ensure that social distancing rules are observed. People tend to behave better if they think they are on camera. And with recordings of activity on the premises, you as the property owner and employer, have evidence should legal action occur if someone is put at risk in your building.

Grant and Blaine are happy to visit your premises in a safe, socially distanced way to ascertain your needs, give advice and provide a quote. They will also give advice on monitoring, recording and wifi requirements, so you get the best out of your system.

Many families have also been fitting CCTV in the homes of loved ones who are more isolated due to the pandemic, to ensure that they are safe and well, when visits can't be made. Going forward, with over 70's being vulnerable for a good time to come, this is a real peace of mind for both the elderly person and the family members.

To discuss your CCTV needs please give Jayne in the office a call on 0191 252 4308.

TV Aerial Services Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland and Durham

Sun, 17 May 2020 12:46:16 GMT

Proud to deliver TV Aerial Services Newcastle and further afield

Here at ATV Aerial and Satellite Services, we don't just service North Tyneside home owners with our services. TV Aerial Services Newcastle, Northumberland, Durham and Sunderland are often our daily norm. We offer a whole host of services to commercial customers too, including CCTV, broadband boosters and making sure that TV's in office, rental accommodation, care homes, and hotels have good pictures, all the channels and are hung properly. On our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter we share lots of photos out and about in the region, so please do follow us! Give us a call on 0191 252 4308 to discuss your job and location.

COVID-19 Man Caves On The Up - North East TV Aerial and North East TV Wall hanging service proving popular

Wed, 13 May 2020 16:58:47 GMT

Building a man cave or bar in the garden? Get us to help - North East TV Aerial and North East TV Wall hanging service booms.

During lockdown there has been a boom in man caves and garden bars being built - they just wouldn't be the same without a TV, so ATV Aerial and Satellite Company are making sure that their North East TV Aerial and North East TV Wall hanging service is available.

Now Grant and Blaine are back at work, the requests for the service have increased, probably as Grant keeps telling everyone what a grand job he has done on his own garden shed/bar (shown in picture)!

Grant said:

"With COVID-19 meaning there are no bars open for the foreseeable future, there needs to be alternative or it will be a very long summer. So in my time off, I enjoyed sorting myself out a bar in the garden and of course, I fitted a TV in there! It now seems to be a trend, with lots of people posting their new garden facility on social media. But why have a garden escape room without a TV? Great for streaming music, watching sport reruns and chilling with a beer watching a movie. If the weather continues the way it has started, my "man cave" as Jayne calls it, will become my favourite room at home!"

The service includes extending your aerial points to the designated area, fitting points, hanging the TV and the brilliant duo will even tune it for you! The perfect way to make your garden addition ideal for somewhere for an individual to escape to, or for the whole family to hang out in for a change of scene.

To get a quote to pimp up your garden shed with a TV, please call Jayne on 0191 2524308.

North East Aerial Repair and Installation Experts Back At Work

Thu, 07 May 2020 12:40:18 GMT

North East Aerial Repair and Installation Experts Back At Work

Your favourite North East Aerial Repair and Installation Experts, Grant and Blaine Smith of ATV Aerial and Satellite Company, are back on the roofs of the region this week. And they are loving it.

Following strict guidelines, the pair have been fixing and repairing aerials and dishes, fitting CCTV, boosting broadband signals and fitting bird protection cages across the region. All necessary PPE is being worn, and social distancing observed from customers at all times.

The photo above was taken from one of the first jobs undertaken since being back. Blaine said:

"The response to us being back has been incredible. During these times we all need our TV, broadband and CCTV to be working. Our first job was for two local doctors, and they were delighted we could help them. They thanked us for our professionalism and we have reviews stating how well we are following guidelines."

Grant concluded:

"We were getting too many enquiries from people who are reliant on their TV, to not get back to work. We took time out as required and used that time to make a list of customers which are we now following up with. We also took that time out to stock up on PPE and plan the safest way for us to work for our customers and ourselves. We are glad to be back, helping people of all ages stay in touch with the news and their TV viewing."

To book your work please contact Jayne in the office on 0191 252 4308, to discuss the job and social distancing requirements.

Corona Virus Update - Back At Work Doing North East Aerial Installation and Repair and much more

Fri, 01 May 2020 11:28:51 GMT

Our Business Is Re-opening to Safely Deliver North East Aerial Installation and Repair, plus CCTV and more!

For the last few weeks, ATV Aerial and Satellite Company has not been out and about across the region doing North East aerial installation and repair, CCTV, broadband boosts, bird protection cages or any of our services to ensure that we were keeping everyone safe.

We have constantly been evaluating the situation and believe that from Monday, with the guidelines we are putting strictly into place, we are now in a position (as our PPE equipment has arrived) to start working again, responding to the needs of our customers.

As long as Grant and Blaine stay fit and healthy, then we will be doing business as usual, offering aerial repair, dish repair and CCTV, as well as all of our other services. Obviously a lot of our work will be done outside and on roofs, which is pretty isolated anyway.

There is clearly no risk for either us or our clients on these jobs, so from now on please do book us as normal.

We are however, taking some extra steps to reassure people whose homes we may need to enter to sort out fitting TV points or TV tuning, or to fit CCTV.

We are happy to enter people’s houses and commercial buildings such as flats, shops, offices and care homes, but ask that we all maintain a good distance from each other. In fact, if possible we will be asking you to wait in another room while we do our work, to minimise any human contact! We will wipe all surfaces we touch.

We are also happy to let ourselves in, if you leave the door unlocked for us and will lock back up for you when we leave, if you wish so, wiping the door handles. We will be in and out as quickly as possible and as we are a family run, local company your security, you and your home will be safe with Grant and Blaine. We are well known in the area and come highly recommended.

Please be reassured that we will also be using extra hand sanitiser and will carry our own soap, so we can wash our hands at the start and the end of every job. We are also happy to cover our mouths and noses, wear gloves, remove our shoes and comply with all government recommendations. Please just mention your specific wishes when booking our services. We will take payment by bank transfer, or if you must pay by cash, please place in an envelope for us to safely collect from a distance as we finish your job.

We appreciate in times of lockdown, how important it is to all of our sanity to have contact with the outside world and entertainment through TV. If your broadband is suffering with the extra pressure, we can fit a booster to help! It is also important that we are all feeling safe with CCTV and we hope now to be able to work for as long as possible throughout this pandemic.

Our first priority is the health and safety of everyone. We also really want to make sure you all have your TV to watch, that you feel safe and that your broadband works in the part of the house you need it!

Thank you to all our current customers and we look forward to helping people through these unprecedented times. If your name is on our list, we will be calling you to book in the job. It's great to be back!!

Bird Protection Northumberland - Where are all the Seagulls?

Wed, 29 Apr 2020 15:22:28 GMT

Bird Protection Northumberland, Newcastle and Whitley Bay

One of the services we offer at ATV Aerial and Satellite Company is bird protection for roofs, solar panels and aerials - we fit roof cages for bird protection in Northumberland, at the coast and across the rest of the North East region.

During the recent outbreak and subsequent stay at home rules, we have been trying to help other local businesses and so have been ordering our milk and bread from a local delivery company. It gets left on our doorstep for safety reasons ... so imagine our surprise one morning when we opened our front door and realised that the local seagulls and birds had snacked upon it.

It got us thinking, these birds must be hungry and wondering where we have all gone!

They have lost a constant supply of chips, picnics and discarded snacks from takeaways and fast food restaurants. On the plus side, they probably feel less threatened by crowds, but on the downside, they can be quite sociable and are possibly feeling the changes as much as many of us are. There are certainly less of them than usual, so they must be off somewhere having to be much more inventive on where they manage to feed themselves!

Going forward we must make an effort to look after our people, our planet and all the creatures on it. Which is why we are going to be making sure that anyone who needs to protect wildlife from things on their roof can access our service. If you know anyone with solar panels, or who gets a lot of birds on their roof, please let them know about our service. We are currently making a list and jobs will be done in order of enquiry, once we are allowed to work again properly.

We are confident that the birds will flock back again once there is a food supply at the coast and across Northumberland, so we must take steps to protect them and our properties. Give us a call on 0191 2524308 to discuss our great offer prices and get on our waiting list!

Multi Point Record Broken

Sat, 29 Feb 2020 14:56:11 GMT

An All Time Best for the ATV Team

The ATV team Grant and Blaine are delighted this month to have smashed their previous total of multi points fitted in one day, in one building. Between them, the team fitted a new aerial and 20 points in a care home in the North East. The job was done with minimal fuss and minimal mess, and with the team being in and out of the building in one day, the residents were not disturbed. They now all have excellent picture quality on the TVs in their own rooms as well as in the communal lounge and staff room! This service can be adapted for apartment blocks, flats, offices, multi room homes and care homes. Contact the office on 0191 252 4308 for a quote. The boys are keen to beat their total of 20 points with a new challenge!

ATV Claims New Clients

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:17:49 GMT

ATV Aerial and Satellite Company Ltd ended 2019 on a high, with a number of new corporate clients under the company’s belt.

Traditionally a company that delivered residential work, in this last year the team at the leading aerial, satellite and CCTV company has branched out into the corporate world too delivering communal schemes in apartments, hotels, multi use buildings, new residential developments, offices and care homes.

The impressive portfolio of 2019 includes well known names, and the most recent win is with an exciting organisation Student Cribs, who provide accommodation for university students across Newcastle.

The father and son team, Grant and Blaine Smith, have also scooped up work for various housebuilders, property developers across the region and a number of projects from the Hotel 52 group in Whitley Bay and Stanley, County Durham.

Grant said: “2019 was an amazing year. We have worked with lots of corporates and on more communal projects, really placing us as the experts of bespoke aerial, cabling, dish and CCTV experts.

“We have linked with a well known charity to make sure older people are safe in their own homes, via Age UK Northumberland. We have also serviced many of our regular residential customers too and welcomed new ones with needs such as TV set ups, TV wall hanging or issues with reception.”

Based in Whitley Bay, ATV Aerial and Satellite Company also invested in a new website, www.atvaerialandsatellitecompany.co.uk and have launched two new services.

As well as CCTV the company also specialises in bird protection now with cages for roof equipment such as aerials, chimneys and solar panels.

Blaine concluded: “We’d like to end 2019 by thanking all of our clients and customers. We are moving in 2020 with big growth plans, and look forward to building new relationships and cementing existing ones even further!”

More information is available on the company’s website or you can call Jayne in the office on 0191 2524308.

Protect The Birds Whilst Enjoy Your Viewing

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:17:49 GMT

Whilst the RSPB support the use of solar energy, as climate change is one of the greatest threats to birds worldwide, there have been numerous occasions where the ATV Aerial team have had to actually rescue birds.

The RSPB, who earlier this year fitted solar paneling to a number of its nature reserves, states on its papers: “While solar energy technologies can impact upon birds and other wildlife, the RSPB considers that if deployed in suitable locations and appropriate mitigation measures are taken, solar energy technologies can be deployed in harmony with nature. Installation should take place outside the breeding season, and avoid blocking access points.”

The protective covers that ATV Satellite and Aerials have started to fit ensure that birds can not get too close to the equipment, whilst not being too visible or creating a eye sore.

Grant Smith, owner of ATVAerial and Satellite Company, has a team that works across the whole of the North east region on both domestic and corporate/communal jobs.

He said: “Many homeowners and also corporate and communal building like flats are having solar panelling fitted at the moment. There is a huge movement coming from the government next year with grants to encourage more.

“ Whilst this is really encouraging and good for the environment, which is good for wildlife, we are becoming more and more aware that birds can be at risk. Our netting system and cowls eliminate that risk and will appeal to anyone fitting solar panelling for the right reasons!”

The RSPB recently named the top birds to be found in gardens in the North East which included the magpie of course, and the wood pigeon, house sparrow, goldfinch, blue tits, robins, crows and gulls.

Many of these species are in decline so ATV Aerials are determined to help wherever they can with their protective guards.

Benefits of CCTV Camera installation for your home or communal building

Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:17:48 GMT

Having a CCTV camera or two has a multitude of benefits for home owners or those owning communal buildings such as offices, apartments or care homes. And nowadays with their discreet design, the cameras fit in many rooms, bringing comfort, safety and security. Modern apps allow you to check into your property when on the move from your phone or tablet, meaning there is never a time when your property or the people in it are vulnerable.

Pets

CCTV at home is a great tool for keeping an eye on pets whilst you are out. Reassuring if pup is young or they aren't regularly left alone.

Teenagers

Worried about leaving your teenager at home - instal a camera so their safety is looked after and you aren't worrying unnecessarily when not at home with them.

Older relatives

Older people feel safer opening the door if they have the right security. You can also keep an eye on their wellbeing, ensuring they are healthy, not in any distress and that the house is safe and secure for them whether in our out.

Communal Peace

You can have peace of mind that your office, public building, rented properties or care home is safe and secure, on the inside and out, when you are there or away. If anything ever does happen, you also have footage for the police and insurance claim.