Sky (or Sky+) in a property with communal dish

daveboy

Me and my wife currently live in an area of flats, which apparently has a communal satellite dish. In accordance with the contract, we recently wrote to the agents that handle everything, asking for permission to have Sky put in.

We received a letter back saying that the landlord has no problem with us having Sky. But it also said the following:

• We must be connected to the main dish on the building
• We must not place another dish on the property

• If we want Sky+ (which we do) this will need two feeds which may cause others to receive a weakened signal - an amplifier may be needed to stop this happening

Is there anyone out there that possibly installs Sky who could tell me what this would cost, in regards to the amplifier. I'm not sure whether me having it installed would be counted as a 'regular' installation, and I don't want to be stung with charges - especially if I have no idea what they might be.

Any helpful advice is appreciated in advance.

Kane99uk

I'd suggest ringing Sky and speaking to one of their agents on the phone about any possible extra installation charges. Just explain to them what your situation is and what advice the agents have given you. If it sounds a reasonable amount, or they say there won't be any extra charges, get them to send it to you in writing before agreeing to anything else and wait for the response to come through, just in case they try to charge you anything extra when the job does come round.

Bongedone

I have Sky HD on a communal dish. You can still pause and record but you cannot use two channels at the same time.

Tesla

As you have investigated Sky+ requires two feeds. You cannot split one feed to two. You need two independant feeds from the dish, or in your case the communal satellite system.

If you have access to two feeds using the both of them will not effect other tenants at all.

If you don't have two feeds then there are still plenty of options available.

seadee

Tesla wrote: »

As you have investigated Sky+ requires two feeds. You cannot split one feed to two. You need two independant feeds from the dish, or in your case the communal satellite system.

If you have access to two feeds using the both of them will not effect other tenants at all.

If you don't have two feeds then there are still plenty of options available.

Sounds interesting - what are the options if you don't have two feeds (My sister may well benefit from knowing)

shere1

Use one feed form the communal dish and if you have a south facing window get one of those sat dishes you can attach to a window.

Bongedone

As I said in my post. If you only have one feed then you can watch, pause, record only one channel at a time.

Sky introduced a way of switching of the 2nd aerial socket on the HD box in the update that happened lately. Not sure if this is the same with Sky + without HD. If not then all you do is set a continuous recording on the feed that does not have an aerial. This stops the system choosing that feed for viewing and recording.

It crossed my mind that if I could get a deal going with the neighbour then maybe we can split each others feeds. Not sure if this would work though. I suppose it depends on whether their feed used a different LNB.