The Roof Was Fixed, the Dish Was Removed and the Big Screen Went Dark: A Foxtel Story

A new manager, a freshly painted roof and one very reasonable assumption about how Foxtel works. Here’s how we got the footy back on the big screen in just a week.

Picture it. You’re the new manager at a busy local pub. The roof has been repaired and painted, the place is looking sharp, and you’re ticking jobs off the list. Someone mentions that Foxtel is “all streamed over the internet these days”, so the old satellite dishes come down along with the rest of the roof clutter.

That was a Thursday evening. By the weekend, the big screen in the beer garden had a problem.

It’s an easy mistake to make, and it’s one we see more often than you’d think. Here’s what happened next.

So, is Foxtel streamed or satellite?

The honest answer is: it depends on the service. Foxtel offers both satellite and internet-delivered options, and plenty of venues (especially those showing live sport to a crowd) still rely on a satellite dish to receive their signal.

Streaming services are set up differently, and they’re not always the right fit for a commercial venue. If your venue’s Foxtel comes in through a dish on the roof, taking that dish away takes the channels with it.

What we did

The Jim’s Antennas Nowra was called in a few days later. We assessed the roof, and the site was a good one for satellite reception. We supplied and installed a brand new 90cm satellite dish, aligned it, and got the signal locked in.

Roughly a week after the dishes came down, Foxtel was back on the big screen and the punters were back in the beer garden watching the NRL finals.

Doing roof work or renovations? Don’t lose your signal

Before anyone touches your roof, painting, repairing or “tidying up”, run through this quick checklist:

• Find out how your TV is delivered. Check your set up to determine whether you’re on satellite for Foxtel or VAST, TV antenna for Free-To-Air or internet for streaming. Don’t assume.
• Tell your tradies what’s up there. Point out any dishes, antennas and cabling so they’re protected, not removed.
• Ask before anything comes down. If a dish or antenna needs to be moved for roof work, have a technician on hand to remove and refit it properly.
• Take a photo first. A quick “before” shot of the roof setup makes it much easier to restore later.
• Use a licensed installer. Correct alignment, secure mounting and weatherproofing all matter, especially on a roof that’s just been painted.

Need a hand with your TV, antenna or satellite setup?

Whether it’s a pub, club, café or your own living room, Jim’s Antennas & Security can help with satellite dish installs, digital antennas, commercial AV and outdoor screens. If something’s gone missing from your roof, or you’re planning work and want to protect your signal, get in touch.

Book a technician today at jimsantennas.com.au or call your local Jim’s Antennas & Security team.

Related reading: Foxtel installation | Satellite dish installation | Commercial AV & outdoor screens