Oct 18
12
This case study features a non-standard Freesat satellite dish installation carried out on a very steep street in Colne, Lancashire. The customer had poor Freeview reception and required a reliable alternative, making Freesat the best solution. Because of the property layout and the street gradient, this job required careful planning and specialist installation techniques.
The property was positioned on a sharp incline, and the required satellite line of sight did not match the most accessible parts of the building, which made the installation far from straightforward.
Assessing the Job
On arrival, the engineer assessed the location and quickly realised that the satellite dish could not be installed in the usual way. The Astra 28.2°E satellite was only visible from the rear of the property, but the rooms needing Freesat— the lounge and the bedroom—were at the front of the house.
Accessing the roof from the rear was not possible due to the steep street layout, which made ladder positioning extremely difficult and unsafe. A non-standard mounting method was clearly required.
Carrying Out the Installation
After reviewing all possible locations, the engineer decided that the most practical option was to mount the satellite dish on the front wall of the property, facing over the roof. To achieve the correct line of sight, the dish was installed on a mast high enough to clear the roof ridge.
The engineer explained the plan to the customer and gained approval before proceeding. The dish was then securely mounted, aligned precisely to Astra 28.2°E, and tested for peak signal strength.
Two twin satellite cables (four cores total) were run neatly from the dish to the lounge and the bedroom, ensuring both rooms had fully independent Freesat capability.
Freesat Setup and Testing
Once the dish and cabling were installed, the engineer connected and set up the Freesat receiver boxes in both rooms. As with all installations—whether Freesat, Freeview, Sky, BT TV or TalkTalk—every function was tested thoroughly.
The channels were scanned, the EPG was checked, and all interactive and recording features were confirmed to be working correctly. Both rooms received strong, stable signal with no drop-outs.
Result
The completed installation delivered:
- A secure mast-mounted Freesat dish with clear line of sight
- Two rooms connected via twin satellite feeds
- Full Freesat setup and testing carried out by the engineer
- Strong, reliable satellite reception replacing the poor Freeview signal
The customer was delighted to finally have a dependable TV signal throughout the home.
Our Final Say
Every job begins with a full assessment and a clear price agreed before any work starts. Once the installation was complete, the engineer produced the invoice, and the customer paid securely using a debit card. A written receipt and full guarantee were provided.
This job is a great example of how our engineers overcome tricky access, steep streets, and awkward property layouts. With the right equipment and expertise, even difficult installations can be completed safely and professionally. Another satisfied customer—onto the next job.
