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

[PoisonedPriestess]

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.

From what you've said about the positioning I imagine it is likely due to an agreement between NDN and old home owner. NDN had the aerial on his roof, they had the switch.

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.

I really doubt that there is a legally drawn up contract outlining that the neighbour has the right to use it at all. So if it goes wrong, then obviously it's the OP's responsibility if it's her Arial, but if she doesn't want to use it then there is no need to mend it. In terms of it falling and damaging a roof - even if you weren't intending to use it would you actually bother to get it removed anyway, most people just leave it there.

I think that there will be an issue when it goes wrong/ gets blown into the wrong direction or whatever because obviously you don't want to pay and he can't just decide to manage something on your property.

So even if you decide to live and let live in the short term, I'd still have a conversation with him. He may well be assuming that you use it also and as a result the previous agreement will continue. In the long term he needs to sort his own Arial requirements out on his own property.

Yes I guess that's also possible Helena I hadn't thought of that.

I was going to say same as Helena. I think the original plan was that he had the aerial and he allowed your house to use it but as that required a booster, your house owner agreed to have that to even it up. Its the fact that you don't have a tv that makes it unequal so you aren't getting the benefit of using his aerial. He could probably run his own aerial without the booster, the booster is probably there for your benefit not his.

In that case I'd probably leave well alone. Unless you plan to live there forever and never have a tv, someone in your house will probably want access to an aerial at some point and if you give up this arrangement then you'll need to install one of your own.

That switch does not look like any 'booster' switch ive had

A switch is a switch - it's the wiring behind it that counts! A switch is simply a means of switching something on and off.

It looks like it's been there a while then. Those sort of switches haven't been fitted for 50 years. Even it's a DIY reuse of it is probably years old.
A chat with NDN would be best.

Not necessarily. Maybe the previous owner specifically asked for her/his old switch to be preserved. And if it is in good working order and not likely to be messed with (it would appear to have been permanently in the 'on' position for some considerable time) - then it would make perfect sense.

IF DP or DS can cut costs for their customers by not replacing unnecessary equipment that is still in perfect working order, they do so. We've still got some of those old Bakelite switches in our shed - obviously have stood the test of time, in fact have lasted longer than our household switches, which have had to be replaced several times over the years.

But the OP said that neighbour had only mentioned his TV going off, not his entire electricity supply. I really think some people are making a mountain out of a molehill.

I'm sure that if Poisoned speaks to her neighbour, all will be amicably explained and resolved.

If that is the main switch for all his electric he really doesn't use a lot and I wouldn't worry about it. :-)

Seriously what sort of load do people think he would be pulling through a >50 year old light switch?

He, or even the previous owner had some sort of informal arrangement with a previous owner at some point due to some reason that made it easier to stick the switch for a booster or something similar where it is now. As other have said if OP just talks to him it will all be resolved (that's if it deemed there is anything to resolve) personally I would just put a sticker on the switch exposing what it does and leave it

Plus, maybe NDN only had the TV on, not lights etc, so that was the only thing that went off

What - so no fridge or freezer even? And he might not have thought to switch on a light to check, or pop the kettle on? Too funny to even imagine.

Oh, thanks for the biscuit BTW - I've just put the kettle on for a cuppa, it will go nicely. Hang on - kettle not working? Grrrr - those pesky neighbours

Does seem very strange. I agree do a test when ndn is back in.

Did anyone else look at the photo of the switch and think that it looks like one of these

Yes!! I love those little switches. They really look like cartoon faces.

It did seem to have quite a face on it rude but I saw it as an owl.

Just talk to your neighbour and ask him to explain. I am glad I don't live next door to some people on this thread.

Coaxial cables arnt compatible with light switches ! Whatever it is isn't a TV Aerial.
What sort of cable / wire goes into the switch ?
Circular ? Flatish? What colour? How thick?

Oh and it's not a booster as an old booster ( analogue) would interfere with, not boost, a digital signal.
And you don't run aerials into cellars then up again.

Have you RTT, 665 ? I think it's safe to say that we have all already established, long ago, that it won't be the TV aerial that is connected to that switch, as TV aerials do not run from electricity.