Sky from shared dish - only one input

jd87

We are moving into a flat in a small block that has a communal dish. There is a faceplate in the lounge but it only has one Sky socket on it. As the experts out there will know, to get full Sky+ functionality you need two Sky sockets.

We've signed up for an installation from the local installers, but now I am thinking, why should I be paying the same as everyone else and getting less service?

Is it possible for them to change the set-up, do a bit of wiring, and make it so I have the two required feeds, or would this require destroying my walls and everything? If they can't do anything then is it worth asking for a discount?

ilikewatch

It probably will be possible to change your set-up so that you have 2 outlets available, however, the ease of doing this will depend on your exact situation. If there is a spare connector on the LNB on your communal dish, and depending on how the cable enters your house, it could be a few minutes work and only need a new length of cable, connector and a faceplate with double outlet, - however if you rent the flat the installer will probably require authorisation from the landlord to do the work.

Alternatively, you may find it is easier just to install your own dish if you're allowed.

You could always ask Sky about a discount on your package, but I very much doubt they'll do it. From their point of view it's hardly their fault if your landlord won't supply a suitable connection and won't allow you to install your own dish!

nelster

You won't get a discount, but can configure your box to work with 1 feed and still record ok.

Go on to digitalspy and check for "single feed", there is a single feed mode on HD boxes (not very good) or you can set up a dummy recording that runs all day every day.

jd87

I know there's way round it so you can do recording, etc in certain ways, but the fact is I just don't want to be penalised just because the person before me had a rubbish set up. If there was no Sky installed I'd be getting the set up I want and installation would be free. Going to phone the installers now. Will let you all know how I get on.

jd87

Spoken to the installers and they said that the company who installed the communal system would need to be the ones to make any changes to the current set up. This probably means the original builders or something. It's not sounding very promising. I think they can do it but they just don't want the hassle.

We're in a ground floor flat so surely just getting a dish of our own should be easy enough. How can I get sky to give me that even where a dish is already in place?

KurtisBlue

You donot need to use the original builders or installers, but you will need/should have permission from the freeholders.

There are numerous ways to doing this depending on the current setup and it would need to be inspected.

Pretty standard afternoons work for an independent, use CAI or RDI registered.

Pokerlad

The reason any installer cant do it is because its not a case of just hooking up another feed to the lnb. Communial dishes have a quatro lnb which has four outputs (one each for vertical hi/vertical lo/horizontal hi/horizontal lo) which in turn feeds a multiplex somewhere in the building which then distributes feeds to the flats. Only the original installers will know if there is any spare outputs from the multiplex, where it is located etc and probably have a maintenance contract in place with the management company to undertake new connections etc (usually charging the tennant big fees for such things). Contact the management company as you may also have to pay them an annual fee for maintenance of the system but they will tell you all you need to know.

You would probably need the management companys permission to put your own dish up which they are unlikely to give if they have installed a communial system. Does anyone else have one up?

jd87

Assuming I can get permission then how much is the work likely to cost? I'm still annoyed that I need to pay anything at all (again if there was nothing already installed I wouldn't be having this problem), so I'd rather it wasn't too expensive.

And we're new at renting so I don't even know how to approach this topic with the landlord, any tips? Do I have a "right" to get Sky the way I want it, or will the landlord see me as a pain in the buttocks?

Pokerlad

I'm afraid if your renting your at the landlords mercy. Also if you want to put a seperate dish up you need his permission and in turn he would need to seek permission from the management company.

Gordon_Hose

We're have the same problem. The flats are newly built, so have a communal dish, all flats had one feed installed (it's cheaper).

Problem is, unlike most house Sky installs where the coax is tacked to the outside of your house, all the wiring is internal, and to get a second feed into the flat would be impossible.

The best I can ever get is Sky+ HD using one feed, but then I can only record what I'm watching, and having a look around the net, it seems quite hit and miss when recording. So I have bog standard Sky TV because I don't see the point in paying for a service I can't use properly.

You don't have any "rights" to get Sky the way you want it, as you don't own the building they be drilling holes into.

jd87

I think the wiring is internal here as well because the faceplate is on a party wall, not an external one. I know I don't have a right to have sky, I suppose what I mean is, is it a reasonable request?

Starting to wish we'd moved elsewhere now. I really hate that I'm going to pay the same as everyone else, without any of the signing up offers (quidco, M&S vouchers, etc), and get a poor service. There's no cable and BT Vision looks rubbish so they've got us really haven't they. :-(

[EDIT] Can I cancel the flat install I have arranged and just try signing up normally online and getting quidco? If is just a case of plugging in the box then why do I need a special flat install??