Antenna installation

**gr81** · 08-07-09, 03:51 PM

Hi guys,

My old man's tv antenna has had it and is due for an upgrade. With everything going digital, he needs a digital ready antenna...So he needs one installed...the cheapest quote I've received so far is $250 which includes antenna, quad shield cabling, max signal and 2 points. Can anyone beat this price? I live in Sydney.

Cheers
gr81

**gordon_s1942** · 08-07-09, 05:34 PM

A quality good antenna can run you a $100, cable between $2 and $4 a metre, Type F connectors run $2 each plus,outlets ? plus labour?
If this installer is using a proper Dig Sig Meter to alingh the antenna and gives a copy of test plus receipt, I would think thats a fair price.
Is this quote over the phone, site unseen or a 'Depending on location/structure etc' ?

**mtv** · 08-07-09, 08:54 PM

Yes....... there are some installers who will beat $250, but beware what you are getting for the price.

Even at $250 I'd be a bit concerned about what exactly he's getting.

There's a lot of crappy Chinese antennas around that some 'cheap' antenna installers are using.

Is the installer going to perform a site test with a digital signal strength meter or spectrum analyser to find the best spot to mount the antenna?

What type of mount will be used..... a cheap fascia mount, or a solid/rigid mast with stay-bars or guy wires?

Type of coax used... RG6 Quadshield, with F connectors, including fully-shielded outlet plate?

Is there an RG6 Quadshield flylead included in the price?

Sydney differs greatly with reception, as there are some very good areas, in which a very basic antenna will work, then there's other areas where tall masts, separate antennas, amplifiers and filters are required..... let's hope he's in one of the 'better' areas.

Every job is different, so without specifics of what you've been quoted on and exactly where you are in Sydney, it's impossible to 'guesstimate' what's a good price.

Often if you go for only low-price installations, you may be getting something that may not provide reliable reception for the long-term.

**mate** · 08-07-09, 09:23 PM

cable @ $2 - $4 a meter? criminal.

**gordon_s1942** · 12-07-09, 01:21 AM

sorry Mate, After looking in a Jaycar catalog my cable price was way out but I was sure I saw over $2.50 a metre in a local store, thats buying by the metre.
As MTV says the reception around Sydney varies considerably, just take a drive and play 'Spot the Mast'.
I had a Great Aunt who lived on the Ocean beachfront at Manly and her TV reception was worse than mine was at Katoomba. That was pre translator days.
Wish Aunt Annie was still alive and had the flat today, be great for a freebie holiday.

**maxi** · 14-07-09, 03:01 AM

RG 6 cable 100 metre rolls retail for about $60 at most electrical suppliers

**mate** · 14-07-09, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by gordon_s1942

sorry Mate, After looking in a Jaycar catalog my cable price was way out but I was sure I saw over $2.50 a metre in a local store, thats buying by the metre.

Show me an installer that buys cable by the meter @ jaycar and i'll go heed.

**Fernbay** · 14-07-09, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by maxi

RG 6 cable 100 metre rolls retail for about $60 at most electrical suppliers

I pay about $70 for 305m (1000ft)

Still, you don't buy stock just to sell it at cost price

I charge it out at $2.50/m

Thats about the same price Uncle Arthur has to pay if he wants to have a crack at it himself & grabs some from tricky dickies

**mate** · 14-07-09, 12:40 PM

so at 22c per meter cost you think 1000% mark up is justifiable? How would you like it if everything you bought or someone else who provided a service to you charged like that?
When the shoe is on the other foot it hurts.
15% mark up is my rule of thumb, i charge a good rate for my time because i have skills that the consumer wants off me.
I suppose people who charge markup like that Fernaby, charge more if there is a nice car in the driveway as well.

Some small businesses need to get realistic on pricing, and then they will be in business longer than a few years.

**Fernbay** · 14-07-09, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by mate

so at 22c per meter cost you think 1000% mark up is justifiable?

Yes.

The secret in business is to charge whatever the market will bare.

If you want to prostitute yourself, thats your problem.

**Fernbay** · 14-07-09, 12:56 PM

Originally Posted by mate

How would you like it if everything you bought or someone else who provided a service to you charged like that?

Of course they do. You must live a very sheltered life. Wake up & smell the coffee!

Originally Posted by mate

When the shoe is on the other foot it hurts.

Whenever I need a mechanic or emergency plumber etc, I have to pay the going rate. Just how it is.

Originally Posted by mate

15% mark up is my rule of thumb

That's not enough to cover the costs of opening you door.
What about advertising, phone lines, insurances,etc? 15%? your nuts

Originally Posted by mate

i charge a good rate for my time because i have skills that the consumer wants off me.

Ditto.

Originally Posted by mate

I suppose people who charge markup like that Fernaby, charge more if there is a nice car in the driveway as well.

Na mate. I work for the bank. Maybe in 20 years time I'm might be able to keep some of the hard earned folding stuff.

Originally Posted by mate

Some small businesses need to get realistic on pricing, and then they will be in business longer than a few years.

You must have mistaken me for the Salvation Army

**Fernbay** · 14-07-09, 01:03 PM

As far as exploting the market goes, you can't beat JB Hifi & tricky dicky for their markup on surge boards and 'monster' cables

**mate** · 14-07-09, 01:23 PM

Maybe in the village (Newcastle) you can get away with ripping people off.
But come to the big city where competition is real, and the customer can shop around and get a good idea of what a reasonable price is and then you will start to see that 1000% mark up on cable will not get you too far.
People are awake to price these days, the internet is a big part of that.
Pity the fools in the computer business, with 3% margin to play with.

**Fernbay** · 14-07-09, 01:30 PM

It's not 'ripping people off'

It charging what the market will bare. Simple.

It goes along with living in a capitalist market.

**porkop** · 14-07-09, 05:21 PM

If people pay, then companies will charge. They do pay and they do charge!! end of story

Just go and see what the $/m rate is in various shops, not for the shit stuff, the good stuff!

I am with fernbay on this

**vk6xlr** · 14-07-09, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by porkop

I am with fernbay on this

Same here.

Company I work for here in outback WA charges $3 per metre.
We do quite a few TV antenna and satellite installs a week.
No complaints from the customers.

**OSIRUS** · 14-07-09, 09:31 PM

I agree with Fernbay Also,

Good Tradesman & Store Owners,

will close their doors & move on to more well paid opportunities,

if they are not making a reasonable dollar doing it,

& the old saying goes, "If you pay peanuts you get monkeys",

I think it is better to have a good quality service in the end.

**roguefan99** · 14-07-09, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Fernbay

As far as exploting the market goes, you can't beat JB Hifi & tricky dicky for their markup on surge boards and 'monster' cables

Add Harvey Norman to that. Had a good one yesterday where the guy said he could "supply" me with a 1080p HDMI cable cheaply for $199 (for a TV box that only does 1080i!). I thought he said $19.99 initially. That was the cheap one, the good ones go for $329.

I nearly asked what the supplier cost was because I figured I could supply them with cables at that price!

**softel** · 22-07-09, 06:03 PM

JB yes,but Tricky Dicky's price for HDMI cables is not too bad.

**ozisat** · 28-07-09, 02:40 AM

I get people that ring me up and say..
I just bought a new antenna and would like a price to have it installed.
My reply is ..Sorry I don’t install customers antenna’s.
They ask why..

I did it a few times and had problems getting paid.
What’s actually happened here is they have gone to dickies or bunnings and purchased a $99 antenna which was not only under powered but more built for analogue.
I install it and the picture on there new $2000 TV is crap,then they want to blame me for poor workmanship.
After explaining in some cases the antenna is struggling to pull in signal strength plus what about your cables and splitter or wall plates.
So how much is that going to cost me..??
In the end it’s better not to take these jobs on as I have always got 10 days of installs already booked ahead.
Just not worth it.

As only 50% of Australia is digital ready as the expression goes and as time goes on and we near the 2013 cut off for analogue wait and see how the prices will start increasing as there won’t be enough installers to cover the work.