How to wire up old sky box?

purplepatch

Had sky+ installed today, with intention of putting the old box in kids playroom. How do I wire this up? The sky man was in a rush and said something about it being really easy, just need some coax cable and that my other half could do it no problem. Now he doesn't know my OH, but let's just say that I am more techie minded than him and I haven't got the first clue what to do!!

Any help (not worded too technically!) very gratefully received

Hunnymonster

OK - it is easy.....

You need 2 f-plugs, some self-amalgamating tape and a length of double-screened satellite grade coax cable preferably copper foil.

You'll find the f-plugs and the cable at B&Q or similar places - do not get regular low-loss coax, it's not the same.

http://www.satcure.net/tech/fconn.htm tells you how to put the plug on and waterproof it - vitally important not to let in the wet.

Basically all you have to do is put the plug on to one of the unused outputs - then waterproof the joint outside, clip the cable or otherwise support it and run the cable to the box - make a similar end indoors and voila! Just be careful not to move the arm on the dish or the dish itself....

The fun is winding the SA tape whilst perched up a ladder..... the rubber boots as sold by SatCure http://www.satcure.net/accs/page8.htm#boot are probably a better bet actually.

purplepatch

:eek:, thanks hunnymonster but that doesn't sound that easy to me (being a fairly hopeless female) - is it something that I could get a sky engineer out to do, or is that breaking the rules as I'm not paying a subscription - or will I end up paying through the nose. Perhaps a non sky aerial type installer person would do it. Any suggestions? Wish my OH was a bit handier!!

Hunnymonster

If you can twist the plugs on it's easy - the hard bit is lining up the dish initially (and even that can be done in seconds if you're used to it or have beginners luck).

Local aerial dude can probably do it - but make sure you specify CT100-type cable (copper foil, not aluminium foil) and if necessary look at the cable before he fits it.....

You're doing nothing wrong - this is called "Freesat from Sky", self supplied so you can buy the card for £20 and your son will get C4/five and the right BBC/ITV variants.

purplepatch

Been reading it again and maybe we could have a bash, but we are pretty useless at stuff like this - would probably end up losing the signal altogether! Don't suppose it's possible to buy the cable with the plugs on already from anywhere?

Hunnymonster

purplepatch wrote:

Been reading it again and maybe we could have a bash, but we are pretty useless at stuff like this - would probably end up losing the signal altogether! Don't suppose it's possible to buy the cable with the plugs on already from anywhere?

It is - but then how are you going to get it into the house without leaving a larger hole.... The Satcure page I linked to above with the rubber boot on has a selection of cable/f-connector combos you could buy all in the one place.....

purplepatch

Have decided to have a go. Contacted satcure to find out if they can put the rubber boot and f connector on the outdoor end, but leave the indoor end for me to do and they are getting back to me. Take it that the rubber boot/silicone greasing bit isn't needed for the indoor end?

Also, you mention about lining up the dish. How do we do this? Isn't it all set up for the sky+ box, so wouldn't it work already - if I start messing about with it, don't I run the risk of losing the sky+ box signal?

Hunnymonster

Nope - you don't need to waterproof the inside connection (unless it rains inside your house - in which case I'd be scared )

I mentioned the lining up the dish only because it's the 'hard bit' in your case it's already done - just make sure you don't knock it when you're putting the new line in.

purplepatch

Hunnymonster wrote:

Nope - you don't need to waterproof the inside connection (unless it rains inside your house - in which case I'd be scared )

I mentioned the lining up the dish only because it's the 'hard bit' in your case it's already done - just make sure you don't knock it when you're putting the new line in.

Nice one. Just had a look at the connections on the dish, the sky engineer doesn't seem to have used any tape or anything to waterproof the existing cables, should I be concerned? Or do they use some special cabling that doesn't need it

Hunnymonster

Hmmmm - tricky - if the LNB has a slide down shield that covers the plugs in the bottom then technically the answer is no because the slide down shield acts as the weathershield, however received wisdom is that any joint outside ought to be weatherproofed or it'll lead to a breakdown later.

I'm only aware of one type of plug that doesn't require additional weatherproofing and I haven't seen any used in the UK except where I've used them myself.

Not quite so important if you've installed your own - just shin up the ladder and replace - if you're relying on a 3rd party then you'll need to call them out and Sky charge £65 for a call out (maybe more for Sky+).

purplepatch

Have you used these rubber boots hunnymonster, do you put it on at the end after the f connector is attached to the cable? Can't see too much on the satcure website about fitting the boots. From the picture I would have thought that the f connector would be too big to pass through