Aerial query

[Monetsgarden13]

Hi, 

I have purchased a smart tv for a second room. My house does not have an TV aerial. To receive a picture I’m just wondering what my options are? 

1. Is it possible for virgin to run another cable to that room that supplies a standard aerial service? I don’t necessarily require virgin tv in there (I have that in our front room) just standard terrestrial television channels. Or would I need to get a second box (mini box) for that room and pay extra each month? 
2. or should I just pay for an aerial to be fitted?

3. or go for streaming route with something like a fire stick but for that I don’t think you can watch ‘live’ tv on the terrestrial channels - only via bbc I player etc. 

grateful for any one’s thoughts? If the first option re cable would work would this just cost an engineer visit? 
thanks. 

[japitts]

The "standard aerial service" that you refer to is Freeview, which is DTV via terrestrial broadcast and totally different to Virgin Media's cable service.

If you already have VM's TV service, then you have a few options

1: A multiroom additional V6, which would fully replicate your existing TV package on that extra box, fed by an additional co-ax cable and provide the same recording and streaming facilities you already have.

2: Use VM's TV Control & TV Go app to stream programmes & recordings within your home

3: Install a TV aerial to use Freeview broadcast services, or use a streaming stick of your choice.

[ozsat]

The main BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 services are all streaming on my Amazon Firestick using the channels apps.

My suspicions are thart it would cost more for a tv aerial to be installed than it would to pay VM for a second box installation.  Some packages will give you the second box at no extra monthly cost.

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@Monetsgarden13 wrote:

Hi, 

I have purchased a smart tv for a second room. My house does not have an TV aerial. To receive a picture I’m just wondering what my options are? 

1. Is it possible for virgin to run another cable to that room that supplies a standard aerial service? I don’t necessarily require virgin tv in there (I have that in our front room) just standard terrestrial television channels. Or would I need to get a second box (mini box) for that room and pay extra each month? 
2. or should I just pay for an aerial to be fitted?

3. or go for streaming route with something like a fire stick but for that I don’t think you can watch ‘live’ tv on the terrestrial channels - only via bbc I player etc. 

grateful for any one’s thoughts? If the first option re cable would work would this just cost an engineer visit? 
thanks. 

---

[newapollo]

You could also try an indoor TV aerial which will be dependant on how good the Freeview signal is in your area.

If you purchase one from Amazon then you should be able to return it if it doesn't work.

If you have a smart TV as the second TV then you should also be able to use the TV's streaming apps for ITV, BBC, ITV, CH5 etc.

[Adri_G]

Hi Monetsgarden13, thanks for the post on our help forums and welcome back to the community.

Sorry to see you have no coax cable to link to your second TV in the house and get the freeview channels as you wish there, this can be done by adding a coaxial cable connection to the back of your TV however we as VM after your initial install and set up are not able to provide any additional coaxial cable in general.

As advised by our insightful community members above, you may either purchase a coax cable to connect and get the free-view channels on this TV or you can request us to add a second TV box near this TV so you have access to all programmes including the VM TV services.

If you select a second TV box, you'll pay an additional amount for this per month which will be added on your bills and contract as well as an activation fee upon install (one off charge of £35).

If you're not interested in this, a firestick could help getting the channels or you could see if you can use our Tv Go App on the TV instead to stream from there.

In case you wish to proceed to adding a second TV box and make the most of your TV with us, let us know here and we can gladly assist.

[nodrogd]

Unless you are on the top Volt packs now, there is an additional charge of £7 to £10 a month for an extra TV box with the same channels. Getting in an aerial rigger with a standard TV aerial setup  for Freeview would normally cost around £100, but then you have no further costs after that. So if Freeview will provide all the channels you want it will work out cheaper in the long run.

[Monetsgarden13]

Hi Adri, 

if I was to purchase a coaxial cable to just get terrestrial channels how do I do this? Do you have a link? Does the cable run externally from the external service box to the second room and then a new hole drilled through the wall to connect internally to the back of the tv? And how much would this cost? 
grateful for your earliest advices. 
many thanks, 

jon

[Beth_G]

Hi Jon,

Thanks for getting back to us.

Sometimes we may need to drill in the property in order to feed the cable through, however the engineer would always check this with you first before going ahead. We wouldn't recommend sourcing your own coaxial cable, as you may have issues with it or if you need an engineer to come out for a fault in the future, our team may have issues resolving the problem. Our engineers would provide you with coaxial cable during the installation.

Our prices do vary depending on what offers we have on installations at the time. I'm afraid that we cannot assist with package changes here from the forums, but if you have any other questions at all, we'd recommend speaking with our team directly on 0345 454 1111 / 150.

I hope this answered your queries!

[nodrogd]

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@Monetsgarden13 wrote:

Hi Adri, 

if I was to purchase a coaxial cable to just get terrestrial channels how do I do this? Do you have a link? Does the cable run externally from the external service box to the second room and then a new hole drilled through the wall to connect internally to the back of the tv? And how much would this cost? 
grateful for your earliest advices. 
many thanks, 

jon

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You cannot get any free channels from Virgins cable. All the channels are encrypted & can only be received by renting further TV boxes from Virgin at £7 to £10 a month as mentioned above. Do not connect your own cabling to Virgins installations. Virgin uses specialised cabling which is designed to keep the terrestrial broadcast & mobile phone signals out, as these could cause interference to the network