Unit 7, Collis Business Park, Queens Drive, Burntwood, Lichfield. WS7 4QF.

Registered Installer. EFSR03004728

Local Businesses

Tel: 01543 307072

Active Aerials & Systems are highly experienced in satellite installations and offer a wide range of products and viewing solutions. It is vital to have the correct advice when choosing equipment and arranging installation. Active Aerials pride themselves in achieving the best solution for the customer and not just taking the easiest installation route. We also specialize in hidden dish installations for listed properties and for the more concerning customer who wether it be for envirenmental issues or just esthetics, you will find Active Aerials helpful and informative to the issue.

The popularity of satellite television in Lichfield has risen dramatically over the last few years. Consequently there has been a proliferation of satellite dishes in many old and new residential areas. we install to make the least impact on the environment. We will discuss with you, options for installation and offer our expertise on installation. Benefiting you and the environment and of course there is always the concerned neighbour

The dimensions, design and colour of most satellite antennae make it difficult for them to be located satisfactorily on building frontages, without harming the appearance of the building or the landscape. Central Government guidance only requires you to apply for planning permission to install a satellite dish in certain circumstances. So here are just a few pictures to show you that as long as you have line of site of the satellite in space, then the dish can be installed just about anywhere.

Satellite Dishes don’t have to be installed on your house with cables tacked across walls and doorways.

 Active Aerials will also relocated an offending install done by a ‘Ladder Monkey’ a term we use in the trade more frequently now I am sad to say.

The BBC/ITV Freesat -Spring 2008 The BBC's service, will provide a "guaranteed non-subscription" digital satellite service. The boxes will provide a HDTV satellite version of the popular Freeview service, with a number of BBC, ITV channels in high definition plus all the existing services that the current Freesat service provides. The BBC and ITV Freesat service will also provide an alternate (but compatible) electronic programme guide (EPG), and will provide interactive services. Currently both Channel 4 and five have agreements with Sky which require their channels (with the exception of Film4) to require the use of a "Freesat card from Sky. (Not to be confused with the new BBC Freesat). Confused? This means that you currently need to purchase a card from Sky Subscriber Services Ltd for £20 to watch Channel 4, five, Five US, Five Life and Sky Three. Whilst this card is included as part of the £150 cost of Freesat From Sky, Sky have in the past invalidated the existing cards and demanded payment for a new one from Freesat users. Last time Sky did this the telephone number that was provided told customers that they must subscribe and mislead callers telling them no replacement cards were available! The BBC/ITV service will have several potential uses: a box-swap replacement to upgrade an existing Freesat from Sky or Sky subscription box for a box with HDTV services; a box-swap replacement for a Sky+ box for a HDTV satellite personal video recorder; a multi-room installation with an existing dish fitted with a quad-LNB; connection to a Windows Vista Media Centre or Windows Home Server; “This i like” Mark Thompson (BBC Director-General) said "The BBC's objective in launching Freesat is to support Digital Switchover by providing another way for licence payers to receive digital television channels and radio services, subscription free from the BBC and ITV. "Its primary purpose is to drive digital take-up in analogue homes, particularly in those areas which are out of digital terrestrial coverage. BBC Freesat also offers a trusted free-to-view digital upgrade path that gives licence payers all the benefits of digital television (notably high definition capability) guaranteed free of subscription." Michael Grade (ITV Executive Chairman) said "Freesat will build on the success of Freeview by offering viewers a simple and cost effective way of upgrading to digital TV. By filling in the current gaps in Freeview coverage, Freesat will ensure that a free-to-air, no strings attached option for accessing digital TV is available to the whole of the UK ahead of digital switchover. By offering HD capability we will future proof Freesat if, as expected, high definition television continues to capture the imagination of UK viewers." What channels will be provided? The current single-channel HDTV service for the BBC is only a test service. It seems reasonable that the BBC will provide the main channels in HD resolution. This will probably not extend to the BBC regional news services, and may not initially include the national variations in HD. ITV1 is the only network of theirs with regional variations, so again a "Network" version of the channel will be provided in HD, with SDTV potentially regional adverts inserted. It seems reasonable that ITV2, ITV3, ITV4 and CITV will also broadcast in HD. It seems that the other public service broadcasters, Channel 4, five and S4C will want to get on board. This will require E4, C4, More4, five, five Life and five US to change their broadcasts, or for the new BBC Freesat to simulcast these channels as HD.   As for the other non-public service Freeview channels: Ftn, The Hits, TMF, UKTV Bright Ideas, UKTV History are locked into Sky subscription agreements, but obviously it would be to the benefit of Freesat if these channels could be made available to the extra 2.5 million homes. Sky Sports News is a subscription service on satellite and Sky Three would have to go free-to-air, which may happen to show Sky's benevolence. Sky News is broadcast free-to-air.

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