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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think it isn't usual for houses to share TV aerials

120 replies

PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 12:14

I've lived in my house for a year now and I don't have TV (I'm one of those hippies that doesn't even watch catch up!).

Yesterday I was rooting around in my cellar doing some tidying when I noticed a switch I'd never seen before. Looked a bit like a normal electric switch and it was on. Assuming that I could turn it back on if I noticed anything without power I turned it off in case it was using electricty and continued tidying.
About 10 minutes later I had a knock on the door and found my next door neighbour there. He politely asked whether I'd done something to the TV aerial as about 10 minutes previously his TV had stopped working. I told him about the switch in the cellar and he said "that'll be it then, could you pop it back on?"

To keep the peace while I thought about it I went and switched the switch back on but it seems awfully bizarre to me. I'm a rural lass at heart - is this a normal thing in cities? Is it costing me? I'm struggling to find much about it on the interwebs.

OP posts:
Original poster
PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 13:07

Right.

Watched the electric meter to see how long it took to increase. Turned the switch off (as he's out anyway he won't mind), legged it back upstairs to see how long the meter took. Doesn't seem to be a whole load of difference to be perfectly honest.

Turned the switch back on because I'm a coward and I want DH home before any confrontation :p

OP posts:
Frouby · 06/01/2017 13:08

We used to live in a house that had a booster for the aerial up in the attack bedroom.

I am still bitter that after watching a 3 part drama on ITV my sister and her bf came home and for some reason turned the booster off and I never found out what happened in the end.

This was about 10 years ago when tv aerials were all analogue. I thought they had been turned off now, the stations that broadcast via the old aerial on the roof?

YelloDraw · 06/01/2017 13:10

PoisonedPriestess if he is out then he won't be using much anyway tho!

Original poster
PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 13:11

We have electric radiators and gas fake-flame fires. Cooking is electric, shower is electric, hot water is through an immersion heater.

OP posts:
Original poster
PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 13:12

Hmm you make a good point Yellow.

I'd assume there'd still be fridges/freezers but I don't know how much they use.

OP posts:
EvansOvalPies · 06/01/2017 13:13

Sent msgs to DS, who replied in summary (F/Book messaging, and he‘s working, so make of it what you will, these are his replies to my questions):

TV aerial uses no electricity
No sky boxes can't be hard-wired in, but satellite feeds can be run to other properties from one source
You (OP) turned off the power supply, which uses 3 volts, and would affect everyone connected to that. It can go anywhere, but costs nothing to power

Moob · 06/01/2017 13:13

If it's a fused spur it probably has a 3 amp fuse in so there would be NO WAY he would be pulling any significant load through it , and certainly not running his whole house as some nutjobs have suggested.

It is probably a booster or amplifier for the aerial. Turn it off and see if your freeview picture goes off. If it does it is shared, if it doesn't you have a switch for his booster in your property which probably costs about 75p a year to run

HollyMay84 · 06/01/2017 13:15

Sky aerials/satellites don't run on mains power. How old is the switch? Presumably if he's lived there for 20 years and the switch is on your property then someone on your side would've had to have let someone in to install it?

ExplodedCloud · 06/01/2017 13:15

Is it worth posting a picture to see if it actually looks like an electric switch?

Original poster
PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 13:16

Ooh thanks Evans and Moob.

I don't have a TV or any way of getting Freeview so I can't test it as you suggest.

Sounds like in that case I might as well leave it on.

OP posts:
AQuietMind · 06/01/2017 13:18

Is there any chance you can post a pic of the switch?

JorahsMissus · 06/01/2017 13:20

I would just switch whatever the hell is off and tell him when he comes round that whatever agreement you had with previous tenants isn't happening now and he can get his own aerial sorted. God knows what else you'll find he's using your house for.

TheMaddHugger · 06/01/2017 13:22

Why did he come straight around to your {Op's} home ?? when the tv went off.
That alone sounds suss.Really Suss.

brasty · 06/01/2017 13:23

I would just wait for your partner to come home so you can both figure out what is going on, and then decide what to do.

WankersHacksandThieves · 06/01/2017 13:24

We have some kind of booster in the attic that powers the aerial though it was installed by previous owners so we don't know much about it- the only reason we know it exists is because when the light bulb in the upstairs hall goes and trips the switch on the fuse box, the tv signal goes off. That took us by surprise.

ClopySow · 06/01/2017 13:25

After previous responses, i'm less inclined to think it's dodgy. Go and ask him what the deal is and twll him he needs to sort it in his own house, especially if you don't use a tv.

TheMaddHugger · 06/01/2017 13:25

and what insurance issues will come up if something happens because of this switch? What if It shorts out and causes a fire ? After all. It sounds like a very old switch. [20+]

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 06/01/2017 13:27

Could well be a powered booster, we have one to split the freeview signal from the aerial to DDs bedroom and our kitchen. It needs power, but runs off a 5A plug with round pins up in my loft. Definitely uses electricity to run! Post up what it looks like and have a root about to see where any cables might go to or from it.

brasty · 06/01/2017 13:29

Old switches are not an issue if your electrics are fine. I have original light switches that are 60 years old. It is not an issue.

brasty · 06/01/2017 13:30

I assume it is a booster. Would probably cost very little to run. A £5 a year? You could always ask him for some money for it if you want.

WankersHacksandThieves · 06/01/2017 13:37

Also meant to add, sharing aerials isn't something I've come across and except in scenario given earlier (new build communial property) it's not something I would expect.

I think it does give rise to some insurance questions particularly as you are not using the aerial. For example, if it was damaged in a storm, who is liable to replace it? If it fell and damaged roof tiles, who is responsible for those being repaired.

Whose part of the roof/ whose chimney is the aerial attached to? and is there definitely only one between the two houses?

Original poster
PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 13:41

The lighting is absolutely appalling - however essentially it is one of these on the front wall of the cellar with wires going upwards. I can't really see where they are going.

Honestly given the answers I've now had I reckon that he had some kind of agreement with the previous inhabitants and that's why he knew to come over so quickly. Shall wait for DH to come home and have a look and see whether it's worth kicking up a fuss and telling NDN to get his own or whether we can just live with it.

OP posts:
Original poster
PoisonedPriestess · 06/01/2017 13:43

The aerial is attached to his part of the roof, but not by much and we don't have one on our side.

OP posts:
Rubyslippers7780 · 06/01/2017 13:47

Very suspicious. I would want to investigate what else he might be using of yours...

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 06/01/2017 13:50

I would ask the neighbour what the deal is - if he's open about it and it is just a booster or something then maybe suggest he gets it moved to his house otherwise if something goes wrong it will need to be fixed at your convenience not his.

If he doesn't seem amenable to that maybe just sabotage the switch yourself, or get an electrician in to disconnect it and possible trace what it is connected to.