Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The quick explanation is: Digital tv always is clear. When the antenna signal is weak (or weaker than it should be) digital tv channels will ‘pixelate’. We want you to have good tv reception! Like the reception we have at our own homes! You should be aware that there is no reason, for ALL your tv channels to not be working ALL of the time! It doesn’t matter what the weather is like or where you live! So if you are putting up with pixelation – the truth is – eventually it will get worse.

The quick explanation is: Digital tv always is clear. When the antenna signal is weak (or weaker than it should be) digital tv channels will ‘pixelate’. We want you to have good tv reception! Like the reception we have at our own homes! You should be aware that there is no reason, for ALL your tv channels to not be working ALL of the time! It doesn’t matter what the weather is like or where you live! So if you are putting up with pixelation – the truth is – eventually it will get worse.

On all workmanship and equipment supplied there is a standard 25 year warranty on Australian Made Antennas and any New Cabling installed unless described otherwise on the invoice.Does not cover Existing Cabling or lightning strikes tp the Antenna or Amplifier.

The licenses, qualifications and training of our technicians include: Matchmaster, THX certified, Government Endorsed Installers, CEDIA, Restricted cabling licence, Low voltage cabling licences, OH&S training and awareness, Safety at Heights training & Master builders – BSA.

Sometimes there is a cheap fix, other times there is a risk of doing it cheap and it will cost more in the long run. Sometimes it has been done that badly in the first place that it’s going to cost more to erectify an old system than it’s going to just install a brand new one from scratch. Sometimes, the old gear is that old that the whole lot just needs replacing. In the end, the tv reception signals need to comply to certain requirements or it’s just not going to work. These requirements are described as per the requirements of Digital Broadcasting Australia (DBA) authorities.

No, we specialise in fixing antenna signal issues to improve your TV reception.

Yes! We diagnose and repair antenna signal problems to restore your TV’s clarity.

Common causes include damaged antennas, faulty cables, or signal interference. We can identify and fix the issue quickly.

Think of it as your TV’s free lunch! Free-to-Air (FTA) refers to Australia’s local television channels that broadcast openly—no subscriptions, no hidden fees. Just turn on your antenna, and voilà! Entertainment, news, and sports stream straight to your screen.

Your channel lineup might shuffle depending on where you’re kicking back. Coastal, rural, or city views? Each spot tunes into slightly different waves.

So, grab the popcorn—your free TV feast is waiting! 

Good news! 📡✨ Your Foxtel box might double as a free-to-air (FTA) gateway—no extra tickets needed! Here’s the deal:

📍 Location & Box Matter:

• If you’ve got an iQ4 or iQ5, some FTA channels can stream via the internet.

• Older box? Signal strength and local reception play a role.

🔍 Quick Check:
Peek your postcode and box type in Foxtel’s guide—it’ll reveal which FTA goodies are up for grabs. No magic remote required! 🎩📺

Cut the cords, but keep the shows! 🍿

Want to catch every moment of your favorite FTA shows? Here’s the scoop:

📦 For Boxes with Recording Power:

1. Find Your Channel – Surf the Foxtel TV guide to check if the FTA channel’s available.

2. Hit Record – Use your remote to:

   • 📌 Record Live – Tap the record button now.

   • ⏳ Schedule Future Shows – Set it and forget it via the guide.

⚠️ Heads Up, Streamers!
If you’re watching FTA channels via the internet (like on iQ4/iQ5), recording and trick-play (pause/rewind) won’t work. It’s live TV only!

Pro Tip: Antenna-connected? Hit record like a boss! 🌟📡

Free-to-air (FTA) channels come as a bonus with Foxtel—not a guarantee. Since they’re rebroadcast differently across states, access isn’t always a sure thing. Here’s why your FTA fix might be MIA:

🔍 Common Culprits

• 📶 Signal Struggles – Weak or no signal from your local FTA antenna.

• 📦 Box Limitations – Some regional/older boxes (like standard set-top models) can’t receive FTA.

• 🏠 Home Hurdles – Existing antenna or cabling issues blocking the signal.

💡 iQ4/iQ5 Workaround

If satellite FTA fails, try streaming the channel via internet (where available).

⚠️ Heads-Up: Legacy Box Sunset

After 29 May 2025, older Foxtel boxes (Mystar, iQ, NDS, etc.) will lose ABC/SBS satellite FTA for good. Time to upgrade or switch to streaming!

Pro Tip: Check your setup or contact Foxtel support to troubleshoot. 🛠️📺

Imagine getting all your favorite local channels without the antenna hassle—that’s FTA via internet! But fair warning: this isn’t instant like traditional TV. Here’s the real deal:

How It Actually Works

• 📱 App-Powered TV – Channels stream through their official apps (like 7plus, 9Now, ABC iView) but appear in your Foxtel guide

• 🌍 Internet, Not Airwaves – No satellite dish? No problem! Uses your broadband instead

• ⏱️ Slight Lag Alert – Expect a 30-60 second delay vs antenna/satellite (sorry sports fans!)

What You Should Know

✔️ No extra cost – Still free like regular FTA
✔️ No antenna needed – Great for apartments or poor reception areas
❌ Not instant – Slower than antenna/satellite (buffering possible)
❌ Limited control – No pause/rewind on live streams

Best For: Casual viewing when convenience > instant access
Not Ideal For: Time-critical viewing (sports, news breaks)

Pro Tip: Keep that old antenna hooked up if you want the fastest possible live TV—think of internet FTA as your backup plan! 🛠️📺

Cutting the cord? Here’s your full list of streamable FTA channels on Foxtel – no antenna needed! But first, a quick reality check…

⚠️ Streaming ≠ Instant Like Antenna TV
Unlike a direct digital antenna connection (which gives you lightning-fast broadcast TV), internet streaming has:

• Slight delays (typically 30-60 sec behind live)
• Occasional buffering (depending on your connection)
• No instant channel surfing

Now, onto the good stuff!

Your Internet FTA Channel Lineup

🔵 ABC Network
• ABC (102/202) • ABC Kids/TV Plus (152)
• ABC News (642) • ABC ME (723)

🟢 SBS Network
• SBS (104/204) • SBS Viceland (170/270)
• SBS World Movies (432/433) • SBS Food (171)
• NITV (172) • SBS World Watch (644)

🟣 Channel 7 Family
• 7 (107/207) • 7Two (156) • 7mate (157/257)
• 7Flix (158) • 7Bravo (159)

🟠 Channel 9 Crew
• 9 (100/209) • 9Gem (164/264)
• 9GO! (162) • 9Life (163)

🔴 Channel 10 & Friends
• 10 (110/210) • 10Bold (166)
• 10Peach (167) • Nickelodeon (168)

🔜 More channels coming soon! We’re always working to expand your streaming options.

Pro Tip: For the absolute fastest FTA experience (think sports/live events), your old-school antenna still can’t be beat! But when convenience wins, internet streaming’s got your back. 🌐📡

Want to ditch the antenna but keep your local channels? Here’s exactly what you’ll need for each network (spoiler: your iQ4/iQ5 box is doing most of the heavy lifting!):

🛠️ Hardware Must-Have

• Foxtel iQ4 or iQ5 box (connected to the internet)

🔐 Network-Specific Requirements

🟢 SBS Channels
✓ Free SBS On Demand account
✓ Logged into the SBS app (stays logged in!)

🔵 ABC Channels
✓ Just your iQ box! (no login needed – easy!)

🟣 Channel 7 Channels
✓ Free 7Plus account
✓ Logged into 7Plus app

🟠 Channel 9 Channels
✓ Free 9Now account
✓ Logged into 9Now app (stays logged in!)

🔴 Channel 10 Channels
✓ Free 10Play account
✓ Logged into 10Play app

💡 Pro Tips:

1. First-time setup takes 5 minutes per app – then you’re set!

2. SBS & 9Now remember your login (no constant re-entering passwords)

3. ABC is the easiest – just needs internet!

⚠️ Remember: While convenient, this isn’t instant like antenna TV. Perfect for when you can’t get reception, but keep that antenna handy for live sports/news!

“All the local channels, none of the aerial acrobatics!” 🎪📺

Think of internet-delivered Free-to-Air like a live stream – convenient, but with some trade-offs. Here’s what won’t work:

⏺️ The Big Missing Features

• No Recording – Can’t save that must-watch show (only antenna/satellite FTA allows recording)
• No Playback Control – Pause/rewind/fast-forward? Nope – it’s strictly real-time viewing

📝 Closed Caption Roulette

• ABC: 👍 Captions available (press yellow button)
• SBS & Channel 9: 👎 No captions via internet streams
• Other Networks: Varies by app

Why It Matters?
Perfect for casual viewing, but if you need:
• To record the news/sports
• Pause live TV
• Reliable captions
…you’ll want to keep that old-school antenna connected!

“Streaming FTA: Great for convenience, limited for control” ⚖️📡