A communal television antenna (STA) distributes the signal from the roof to all flats via a single system. If the distribution still supports older broadcasting standards, it may be time for modernisation. What this entails and how the building's owners' association or property manager can proceed.
A communal television antenna, abbreviated as STA, is a system where a single antenna or satellite set on the roof supplies signal to all flats in the building at once, instead of each household installing its own antenna on a balcony or window. The signal is distributed from the main unit via cabling through splitters to individual flat sockets. For an apartment block, this is usually a clearer, more reliable and visually better solution than dozens of separate antennas on the façade, and it eliminates the need to repeatedly address individual tenants' complaints about signal quality.
Apart from the façade appearance, the central solution also offers maintenance advantages: STA has a single location for troubleshooting faults, one roof antenna requiring upkeep and protection against weather conditions, and one point from which the system can be expanded with additional services or satellite programmes for the entire building.
Older STA systems were designed for older transmission types and often struggle with today's demands, digital terrestrial reception, satellite programmes, and potentially additional data services. A typical sign of an ageing distribution system is tenants complaining about outages in some flats while others work without issues, along with pixelated pictures or complete loss of certain programmes. This is also caused by the age of the cabling, corroded connectors, and outdated splitters that cannot handle today's bandwidth. It is also common for buildings to have gradually added programmes and satellite receivers beyond the original design, meaning the distribution system is now operating beyond its intended capacity.
It always starts with a survey: the technician inspects the distribution system in the building, measures the signal in multiple flats and identifies exactly where the distribution loses quality. Based on the findings, a solution is proposed, this may involve replacing the main receiving unit on the roof, installing new amplifiers and splitters, or completely renewing the cabling in common areas. In larger buildings, modernisation is often carried out in stages, for example floor by floor or entrance by entrance, so that the signal is not cut off for all tenants at once and the work can be spread over a longer period.
The cost of modernising the STA always depends on the size of the building: the number of flats, the condition of the existing cabling and whether a partial repair is sufficient or a complete replacement of the distribution system is required. That is why we offer this service as price depending on scope: after survey. The first step, measuring and diagnosing the existing condition, is based on from 890 Kčincl. VAT and based on this you will receive a specific offer for the entire house, broken down by the scope of work required.
Modernising the central heating system can be planned as a predictable investment or addressed only when tenants start complaining en masse about outages. The second option usually costs more: a rushed repair with no possibility of staging the work, and it often soon becomes apparent that other parts of the distribution network, which were still functioning until then, also need attention. Planned modernisation additionally allows costs to be spread over time and enables choosing a solution that accounts for the building's future needs, not just an immediate fix of the worst section.
For the building's owners' association committee or property manager, we recommend starting with a non-binding survey of the entire building. The output is an overview of the distribution system status and an estimate of the scope of work, which can be used for tendering or approval at the owners' meeting. We then plan the implementation to minimise disruption to tenants, and upon completion, hand over documentation for the distribution system along with a warranty for the work performed. This provides the building committee with a reference document that can be consulted at any time, whether in response to further tenant complaints or when planning future system expansions.
We will arrange a non-binding survey and calculate the scope of modernisation tailored to your house.