The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this defaulIf you're managing a shared building like an apartment block, hotel, student residence, or office space, you’ll likely face one common challenge: how to deliver reliable, consistent TV access to multiple units without individual satellite dishes or tangled cabling. This is where shared TV distribution systems come in. Despite the rise of streaming and IPTV, MATV remains one of the most cost-effective and efficient ways to distribute television signals across multiple dwellings. Here's what you need to know. Practical Challenges MATV Solves in Shared Buildings When you’re managing a shared building, TV distribution presents a logistical challenge that directly impacts tenant satisfaction and property upkeep. We’ve seen older buildings in West Yorkshire with tenants installing mismatched dishes on every corner, causing both an eyesore and signal issues. A centralised communal aerial setup eliminates that hassle. In many HMOs, we've seen unlabelled coax patched together by tenants over time often leading to picture dropouts and weekly callouts. Instead of dealing with multiple providers, rogue installs, and tenant disputes, everything routes through a single, properly balanced aerial system. It also ensures consistent signal strength. In properties with poor internal cabling or aged infrastructure, we’ve reworked signal paths using properly balanced distribution amps and quad-shield coax to make sure every unit receives clear, reliable picture quality in every room. We navigate local planning rules. In parts of Harrogate or Hebden Bridge, conservation regulations mean mounting dishes is a non-starter. This setup keeps your roofline tidy and ensures compliance with local regulations while delivering full Freeview access. For landlords, the payoff is simple: fewer callouts, no messy retrofits, and a clean, managed system that scales with building upgrades or tenant demands. Why Do Shared Buildings Still Use MATV in 2025? For landlords, housing associations, and block managers, these systems deliver reliable, low-maintenance service to multiple tenants in shared buildings. Here’s why it continues to be the go-to in shared buildings: Even with the popularity of streaming, shared aerial systems still offer clear advantages for certain types of properties: 1. No Need for Multiple Dishes or Aerials In dense urban areas or multi-storey buildings, planning rules or practical constraints often prohibit individual satellite dishes. A communal signal system ensures a clean external appearance with minimal rooftop clutter. 2. Lower Setup and Maintenance Costs For landlords or developers, one centralised system is cheaper and easier to maintain than servicing individual units. 3. Reliable Access to Free-to-Air Channels A shared aerial network provides consistent Freeview and satellite access without relying on internet connectivity. This matters in areas with poor broadband or among tenants who prefer straightforward TV services. 4. Improved Tenant Experience A professionally installed shared TV system is plug-and-play. There’s no need for individual installs, complex troubleshooting, or dealing with third-party providers. MATV vs IPTV: What’s the Difference? While IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) delivers content over broadband, MATV uses traditional RF (radio frequency) signals. Here’s how they compare: Delivery Method : MATV sends signals via coaxial or RF cable, whereas IPTV relies on internet or Ethernet connections. Infrastructure : MATV uses a shared aerial and signal distribution system. IPTV requires a structured data network and routers. Internet Requirement : This type of system works without internet, which makes it ideal in buildings where broadband is unreliable or unavailable. IPTV, on the other hand, depends entirely on stable, high-speed internet. Best Use Cases : This system excels at delivering free-to-air channels with minimal setup. IPTV is better for on-demand content, smart features, and premium subscriptions. In buildings where tenants want streaming, but the internet is patchy, we’ve installed both systems. The shared system handles the essentials, while IPTV supports the extras like app-based, on-demand content. What Types of Properties Benefit Most from MATV? We’ve installed and maintained multi-dwelling TV systems across West Yorkshire in tower blocks, care homes, and student lets each with its own layout and technical demands. These are the types of properties that benefit most: Apartment blocks : Especially where dish clutter needs to be avoided HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation) : Where tenants need simple, shared access Hotels & hospitality : Where centralised TV control is essential Student accommodation : Where tenants expect plug-and-play setups Care homes & retirement communities : Where ease of use is critical A professional-grade MATV system gives every occupant easy access to high-quality channels. It cuts down on complaints and service calls that waste time and frustrate tenants. What’s Involved in a Professional MATV Installation? Every shared aerial installation we handle starts with a walk-through of the property. We assess signal access, cabling runs, and the best place to mount the aerial, typically on a chimney or gable end. Then we install a high-gain TV aerial, and if needed, a satellite dish as well. From there, we use signal amplifiers and splitters designed for the property size. In larger buildings, we often use multi-tap splitters with slope control to balance signal loss between floors. All coaxial cabling is run in risers or containment to protect both signal quality and the look of the building. We test every outlet with a signal meter to confirm strong, consistent signal. At Cube Communications, we tailor each system to your building’s layout and future-proof it for expansion or upgrades.  Upgrade Your Shared Building with a shared aerial system! Whether you're refurbishing a block of flats in Leeds, managing an HMO in Huddersfield, or dealing with signal issues in an older building in Bingley, a well-planned MATV system can make a measurable difference. Learn more about our commercial services or get in touch with Cube Communications to speak with our shared system installation experts. We’ll carry out a full assessment and design a system tailored to your property.t text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

You pay for fast broadband, but every evening it crawls to a halt. Video calls falter, streaming stalls, and smart devices fall behind. If you’ve already complained to your provider and nothing can be done, it might be time to consider alternative networks. For more and more UK homes, Starlink internet is becoming a viable alternative, especially where fibre falls short. Why Is Your Broadband Slow at Night? Even with decent download speeds on paper, many providers oversubscribe their networks. That means when your neighbours all go online after work, you’re stuck sharing limited bandwidth. Congestion like this is common with copper or hybrid fibre lines, and some providers throttle connections during peak times to manage loads. Providers rarely mention this upfront. A midday speed test might show full strength, but by evening your connection can drop to single digits. When your broadband only performs during off-hours, it's likely due to structural limitations in the local network often beyond repair by your current provider. That’s when alternative technologies like Starlink internet start making sense. What Is Starlink and How Does It Work? We’ve worked with a range of homes rural farms, converted barns, and even townhouses at the edge of the network where no fixed-line provider could deliver a consistent connection. That’s where Starlink internet makes a real difference. Starlink is a satellite-based broadband service powered by a network of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Unlike traditional satellite broadband, which suffers from high latency and slow speeds, Starlink offers fast, responsive connections that rival many fixed-line networks. The kit doesn’t need cabling from the road or a line activation. You just need a clear view of the sky, a secure location to mount the dish like a gable end, chimney, or pole and a power supply. We’ve found the most reliable results come when the dish is mounted above gutter level, well away from trees or chimney stacks that might obstruct line of sight. For rural homes, hard-to-wire properties, or places where Openreach connections are unreliable, Starlink internet provides a completely independent way online without relying on local infrastructure. When Should You Switch to Starlink? If your broadband struggles with any of the following, it may be worth considering a switch: Regular dropouts during video calls or streaming Latency spikes when gaming or using cloud services Slow evening speeds despite paying for “superfast” plans No fibre rollout planned in your area Endless back-and-forth with your provider but no resolution In these cases, the issue isn’t always fixable with an engineer visit. If the infrastructure is old, oversubscribed, or poorly maintained, you may be better off switching to Starlink internet or another technology that doesn’t rely on the same cables. Is Starlink Fast Enough for Modern Homes? Yes. Most UK users report download speeds between 70–250 Mbps and upload speeds of 10–40 Mbps, depending on location and weather. That’s more than enough for: 4K streaming, smooth video calls, responsive gaming, and uninterrupted cloud backups We’ve installed Starlink at dozens of properties across West Yorkshire, including Keighley, Ilkley, and Hebden Bridge, and found it consistently outperforms copper-based services especially in the evenings. That makes it particularly useful in places where fibre has stalled, or coverage is patchy. What Makes Starlink Ideal for Rural and Remote UK Homes? A lot of rural homes still rely on copper lines or unstable 4G routers that struggle to handle modern usage. Fibre might not be planned for years or not at all. In areas like South Craven or the Colne Valley, even basic online tasks like streaming or attending video calls can become a headache due to legacy copper lines or signal blackspots. Starlink internet solves this by avoiding reliance on ground infrastructure or mobile masts altogether. With power and a clear sky view, your dish can deliver speeds that rival suburban fibre. For homeowners in remote locations, this opens a completely new level of online access, making everything from home working to HD streaming possible without relying on a future fibre upgrade. Will Starlink Keep Getting Better? Yes, and fast. The Starlink network is expanding monthly, with more satellites launched regularly and software updates rolled out to improve performance. Since launch, we’ve seen real progress lower latency, faster speeds, and fewer dropouts across installs. For UK homes left behind by traditional broadband, Starlink internet is one of the few options that’s available now, easy to install, and keeps improving with every update.  People Also Ask: Common Questions About Starlink Internet Is Starlink better than BT broadband? It depends on where you live. If your BT Openreach connection delivers poor speeds, Starlink internet typically performs better especially in rural or edge-of-network locations. How long does Starlink installation take? We typically complete most installations in one visit. In fact, we’re often on-site within 48 hours for customers who already have their kit. A straightforward job: say, chimney-mounted with internal cabling takes around 2 to 3 hours. More complex installs involving Wi-Fi extension or custom routing take a little longer, but we always leave you with a fully functional system on the day. Do weather conditions affect Starlink internet in the UK? Extreme weather may slightly reduce performance, but the system is designed to work reliably through typical UK rain and cloud cover. How Does Starlink Internet Installation Work? Starlink comes with its own kit, but setup isn’t always straightforward. You need a clear view of the sky, secure mounting for the dish (roof, chimney, or pole), and clean routing of the power and data cables. At Cube, we assess each property and recommend the best mounting spot, route cables for performance and discretion, and make sure the Wi-Fi coverage works for your layout. We’ve carried out dozens of professional Starlink installations across West and North Yorkshire from Calderdale and Bingley to rural Skipton often in places Openreach can’t or won’t reach. We align the dish for a clean signal, route the cabling neatly, and walk through the property with you to confirm full Wi-Fi coverage. If a mesh extender’s needed, we set that up too right then and there. We finish cleanly, test thoroughly, and make sure it’s all working before we leave. Starlink Internet in Action: Real-World Results from Cube Clients We recently installed Starlink internet for a farmhouse in rural Craven, a common broadband blackspot area in North Yorkshire. The owner had been dealing with an unreliable 6 Mbps ADSL line for years. They’d tried 4G routers and Wi-Fi extenders, but none solved the issue. They couldn’t stream on more than one screen, and their Teams calls dropped out regularly in the evenings. After switching to Starlink, they now enjoy speeds of over 120 Mbps, smooth HD video calls, and fast cloud backups all without relying on fibre rollout timelines. We’ve also supported clients in edge-of-network properties around Calderdale who struggled with poor Virgin or BT coverage. Starlink gave them reliable broadband for everyday use, including schoolwork, streaming, and managing smart heating setups—without relying on ageing infrastructure. We mounted the dish on a chimney, routed the cables discreetly, and extended the Wi-Fi to cover the entire house. Leave Slow Broadband Behind If your current provider can’t (or won’t) deliver consistent speed, there’s another option. Starlink offers a modern, resilient alternative and with Cube’s help, installation is quick, tidy, and built to last. Visit our Starlink Services page to learn more, or get in touch and let us know your location whether you're in the Dales, Calder Valley or further afield, we’ll check if Starlink is the right fit for your property. We’ll let you know if Starlink’s a strong fit or if a satellite, 4G, or fixed wireless solution might suit better.

With more ways than ever to watch TV, it’s no wonder people get stuck choosing between digital TV aerials and streaming. We’ve worked in homes all over West Yorkshire, and time and again, we find that the right setup comes down to how you live, how you watch, and what kind of frustrations you're hoping to stop, whether that's weak signal, rising bills, or tech that just won't cooperate. What problems are people trying to solve with TV setups today? We often hear the same few complaints: buffering during big football matches, the kids getting frustrated when Netflix freezes upstairs, monthly bills creeping up, or rooms where the telly just doesn’t work. That’s usually the point where people start looking for something that just works every time, in every room. In many cases, digital TV aerials end up being the answer. Why do people still install digital TV aerials in 2025? Streaming grabs the headlines, but digital TV aerials are still the go-to choice when you want a reliable live signal particularly in older homes where thick stone walls make Wi-Fi unpredictable. We regularly meet homeowners who assumed streaming would cover everything, only to realise their router can’t handle it across the whole house. Others are just fed up with juggling logins and remote controls. A proper digital TV aerials setup gives you instant access to 70+ Freeview channels — no buffering, no subscriptions, no waiting. In listed buildings, we often use loft-mounted aerials to keep things discreet. For properties in Otley, Ilkley, or the surrounding hills where signal can dip, we fit high-gain aerials with filters to cut through the noise. We’ve set up digital TV aerials that power four or five rooms from one spot — no lag, no fiddling. Once it's in, it just works. Check out our Domestic Services or Commercial Services to see what we offer. What are the downsides of relying on streaming services? Streaming can look great when it works but it leans entirely on your internet. We’ve been out to homes where people built beautiful media walls, only to find out their router was tucked away downstairs in a cupboard. The result? Lag, dropouts, or frozen screens just when you sit down to relax. Even in well-connected areas like Headingley, we see interference from neighbouring networks and overworked bandwidth. Add in someone on a Zoom call and a teen gaming upstairs, and your stream stalls. People also tell us they’re spending far more than they expected. Subscribing to three or four services can easily top £60 a month. A digital TV aerial cuts all that out and keeps live channels available on demand. And for those who prefer things simple, a remote, a screen, and a picture that works, an aerial setup is still unbeatable. Not sure what’s right for your setup? Start with these questions Before you decide, think about what happens in your house. Do you get dead zones? Are you setting up new TVs in different rooms? Want a solution that works even when the Wi-Fi doesn’t? If your router’s nowhere near the TV or your walls block the signal, an aerial is a solid fix. Coax points are easy to run to wherever you need them from bedrooms, garden offices, even garages. A lot of people use Freeview for the day-to-day stuff, then stream when they want a boxset or film. When we install media walls or full-room setups, we usually pair aerial feeds with internet connections. If you’re unsure what type of aerial would suit your property, our team can advise during a quick site check with no obligation. Can you have both a digital aerial and streaming setup? Absolutely and we can help with both. We also install and align Sky dishes for homes that need access to premium channels alongside Freeview. If you want everything wired up cleanly, without signal issues or messy cables, this is where we come in. See our Sky services . Definitely. In fact, that’s what most people go for. You can stream through the apps on your smart TV, and your digital TV aerials keep the live channels steady no matter what the internet’s doing. We run all the cables neatly out of sight, and we often add extra coax points while we're there so you're future-ready. We’ve lost count of the times a customer thanked us when everything worked without a second thought. In homes with tricky layouts, thick stone, or long cable runs, we’ll often add signal boosters or plan alternate routes to protect quality. That’s the sort of detail we think through before we even pick up the drill. Many of our customers ask the same things once we get talking so here are a few answers up front. Why trust Cube Communications for your aerial installation? We’ve been climbing ladders and cabling homes across West Yorkshire for more than 35 years. From storm-damaged chimney installs to neat loft jobs in listed buildings, we’ve seen and sorted every variation. We don’t guess. We measure the signal, talk through the options, and build systems that last. Whether you own your home, rent it, or manage a property portfolio including HMOs or short-lets, we’ll get you a setup that’s solid and future-proof. Read our reviews to see what others say. Talk to Us About Your Setup! Stop putting up with weak signal and over-complicated systems. Whether you’re sorting out the lounge, upgrading the rental property, or wiring up new rooms, we’ll give you practical, honest advice that fits your home and timeline. We can often book installs within just a few days. Still not sure whether you need streaming, digital TV aerials, or both? Let’s figure it out together. Contact Cube Communications and speak with someone who knows how to get it done right.  Common Questions About Digital TV Aerials Can I still get Freeview with an aerial? Absolutely. We install digital TV aerials every week in new builds and 100-year-old terraces — all feeding Freeview, no subscription needed. Is it worth installing an aerial if I already stream? Most of the time, yes. It gives you a backup when Wi-Fi lets you down and lets you catch live events without delay. Will I need a new aerial for a smart TV? Maybe. If your picture breaks up or the cable looks ancient, it’s worth upgrading. We’ll always check your current setup first. What if my aerial signal is poor? It’s usually down to the aerial being too low, the cable being damaged, or the connectors rusted out. We test the lot and fix what’s needed, simple as that.

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