Sky - existing dish & quad LNB

DragonQ

Hi,

I have a dish already pointed at 28°E (used for Freesat and Sky). This dish has a quad LNB but only two outputs are connected to cables running to the living room. If I were to get sky, would they be able to hook up two new cables from the unused outputs for me so the two existing cables can still be used for Freesat? I know it's not necessary for Sky but it'd be really useful so will they do it if I ask?

I've called Sky and they can't seem to answer this question. All they say is that "it's up to the engineer" and that they usually prefer to replace any existing dish with a new Sky mini-dish, something I made clear I don't want.

Does anyone have any experience with this?


Thanks.

penrhyn

I got a new dish + LNB when I upgraded to Sky+, I guess they like to have known good kit, especially as the LNB is power fed from the set top box.

[Deleted User]

DragonQ wrote: »

Hi,

I have a dish already pointed at 28°E (used for Freesat and Sky). This dish has a quad LNB but only two outputs are connected to cables running to the living room. If I were to get sky, would they be able to hook up two new cables from the unused outputs for me so the two existing cables can still be used for Freesat? I know it's not necessary for Sky but it'd be really useful so will they do it if I ask?

I've called Sky and they can't seem to answer this question. All they say is that "it's up to the engineer" and that they usually prefer to replace any existing dish with a new Sky mini-dish, something I made clear I don't want.

Does anyone have any experience with this?


Thanks.

A new Sky mini dish would have new cables and still be perfectly capable of receiving Freesat as well as Sky.
Personally, in your position I'd let Sky install their equipment (for free, presumably) and then pay an independent to install a quad LNB on the new dish. I suppose it depends on the age and condition of the existing dish.

penrhyn

Sky fit Quad LNB's as standard.

[Deleted User]

penrhyn wrote: »

Sky fit Quad LNB's as standard.

Well, I really meant fit the extra cables for the Freesat-Sky will only do this for a multi-room subscription.

DragonQ

I actually don't mind them installing a new dish if they leave the old one where it is, I hadn't thought of that. I'd have 4 cables running to the living room (as I want) but they'd be coming from two dishes instead of one, which gives me the option of moving one of them to pick up a different set of satellites if I want to.

spike7451

Sky won't install any equipment (dish/cabling) for use with equipment (Freesat/Sky boxes) not supplied by them.
They will also,where possible,use existing dishes & cabling if they are in a good condition,if the dish/cabling is'nt in good condition,then they'll replace it.
You may also have to check with your local authority to see if they will allow more than one satellite dish on a property.

[Deleted User]

spike7451 wrote: »

Sky won't install any equipment (dish/cabling) for use with equipment (Freesat/Sky boxes) not supplied by them.

Agreed,which is why I suggested having a new Sky dish installed and then getting an independent to run the cabling for Freesat from it.

Why does the OP want the old dish if it's only for Freesat? Is it a very large dish which receives (theoretically) better reception?

macman

The engineer might do it for a cash consideration if he has time-or ask him to come back in his own time on the same basis.
He won't do it as part of the Sky install.
I get the impresion that their schedules are already so crazy that there's no way they'll take on any extra work, they have to cut corners just to do the scheduled jobs.

spike7451

macman wrote: »

The engineer might do it for a cash consideration if he has time-or ask him to come back in his own time on the same basis.
He won't do it as part of the Sky install.
I get the impresion that their schedules are already so crazy that there's no way they'll take on any extra work, they have to cut corners just to do the scheduled jobs.

They were when I worked for them & everything had to be accounted for,especially quad/octo LNB's & sky boxes.
The's also the risk that if he gets caught using sky supplied kit for homers,especially during work time ,he's sacked.

DragonQ

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Agreed,which is why I suggested having a new Sky dish installed and then getting an independent to run the cabling for Freesat from it.

Why does the OP want the old dish if it's only for Freesat? Is it a very large dish which receives (theoretically) better reception?

I want to keep the old dish because it is larger than a normal Sky minidish and thus should, theoretically, be better at keeping a good signal. It also came with the house (I rent the place) so it'd be easier all-round to keep it.

I understand that Sky won't do non-Sky work but if I say that I wanna keep my current two cables for Freesat then surely they'll have no choice but to either run two new cables from my current dish for Sky, or install a second dish and run two new cables from that?