How to extend VIrgin Cable TV and Sky TV?

stphnstevey

We have moved our living room around and now the Virgin TV and Sky TV box are in the wrong place and I need to extend the cable inside the house.

The Virgin box is fairly new and just the basic one (not V+), but the Sky box is an old one I picked up which doesn't have SKy+ or anything.

I am not sure what spec cable I need to buy as there are a few alternatives on ebay - can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks

flashg67

Will a ready made one not be easier - like this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXTENSION-CABLE-VIRGIN-MEDIA-10m-WHITE-FREE-PLUGS-/250788801732?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item3a642d6cc4

spike7451

Unlike Sky,where you can use a WF-100 coax cable,You have to use a specific cable type & connection for a Virgin cable service.This is due to the signal loss over distance,therfore the foam honeycomb core type is not suitable for cable installs.You're best bet would be to speak to a cable engineer if you see one & bung him a few quid for the cable properly made up,reason being if you have a fault & you call VM out,you'd be charged a call out fee as it's NOT VM cabling.

You need a length of this;

http://mediacables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_27&products_id=237

Or you can use a shotgun RG6 for both.Shotgun is 2 cables joined together in which case you need 4 of the F connectors & a Barrel connector to join the new cable to the Sky cable.With the VM,you need to disconnect the cable from the Isolator (white box on the wall) and attatch the new cable to it. If you simply barrel the old to the new then you'll loose around 4DBmv on the connection.

Barrel;
http://mediacables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=36&products_id=183


With a compression F or similar fitted;
http://mediacables.co.uk/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=36&products_id=367
(These are a new type that is screened unlike the standard Sky screw on type.)

Feel free to PM me if you need any other advice.

spike7451

flashg67 wrote: »

Will a ready made one not be easier - like this - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EXTENSION-CABLE-VIRGIN-MEDIA-10m-WHITE-FREE-PLUGS-/250788801732?pt=UK_ConEle_SatCableFreeview_RL&hash=item3a642d6cc4

No,they are not shielded connections like are used on Cable install & the cable looks like cheap aerial cable.My advice,avoid.

stphnstevey

I understand what you are saying, but that ebay one does say

Higher Quality Shielded extension Cable RG6 7mm cable

Is this not what you said was needed?

spike7451

stphnstevey wrote: »

I understand what you are saying, but that ebay one does say

Higher Quality Shielded extension Cable RG6 7mm cable

Is this not what you said was needed?

I did,however it is near on impossible to get screw on F-Connectors as shown in the photo on to the cable that VM use.

To illustrate what I mean,length of RG6 with a compression F connector as used by VM;



Rear of Screw on F & Compression F,you can see the internal diameter of the Compression F is bigger than the screw on one;



Cable with Screw on F,it is near on impossible to properly fit the screw on F to the cable as the collar is nearly the same diameter as the cable.



Which suggests to me that the cable is'nt suitable for cable installs,certainly the screw on F's aren't.

Sorry about the pic quality,camera phone.