Do I need quad LNB for Sky HD?

ravravrav

I purchased 79.97 inc vat deal from a company called Action Aerials (the link is still on their website). I called up and asked if that deal was ok for Slky HD (not Sky +). I was told it is perfectly ok.

When the engineer came he basically said that it wasn't fine and we would need to upgrade to the quad LNB version which was 129. So basically we paid up believing it was right.

I then phoned up later to complain because I wasn't given the right price. Then I was told by 2 different staff members that in fact the single LNB version would be fine for Sky HD (box provided by ourselves) and they would check.

Eventually I spoke to a manager who explained that the staff were wrong (a training error) and indeed I would need the quad LNB version which is what was installed. He agreed to part-refund the overpayment which I thought fine.

Still, I want to check that this is what others have experienced and we have indeed been told is right.

wiogs

You don't need a quad LNB for HD but for Sky+ you need more than one LNB. A dual one would be adequate.

brewerdave

If you just have 1 SkyHD+ box then you only need two feeds from the dish therefore theoretically you don't need a quad LNB....BUT as I'm sure one of the technical experts will tell you,MOST standard installations are with a quad LNB anyway...I certainly have one evn tho' I just have an old Sky+ box!!

EDIT -And the difference in cost between a twin LNB and a quad LNB is peanuts!! Were they just quoting for a single core cable run rather than twin??

davemurgatroyd

Lets get some facts straight here.

There are two types of Sky HD box - the non recording box which is actually called a "Sky HD box" and only requires one lnb cable AND secondly the PVR (recording) box which is a "Sky HD+ box" and requires two lnb cables for full functionality (however if you do not have a Sky subscription of any sort it will not record and only needs one lnb input).

Most installers fit horizontally oval mini-dishes that were designed for Sky and lnbs designed for these are only available with one, four or eight outputs (it is many years since a two output one was discontinued.

The confusion here seems to be what you have asked them to fit - "Sky HD but not Sky+" - this would require only a single output lnb (as per your original phone call) BUT if you presented the installer with a Sky HD+ box then he was correct in that for full functionality a quad (4 output) lnb was necessary.

What make and model is the Sky box (printed on the back panel) and do you have a Sky subscription? (Essential info for this query)

almillar

To work as intended, a Sky+ or SkyHD+ box needs two feeds - as in watch one, record one. The signal can't be split like on an aerial. Therefore you needed at least a dual LNB. Sky don't install those, they do either single or quad, if indeed they still do single.
Therefore the company was getting it completely wrong. You would've needed quad (and paid more) for your Sky+.

ravravrav

Thanks all - we only have a standard Sky box currently and explained we want to fit only a Sky HD box (NO RECORDING REQUIRED).

macman

The difference between a twin and a quad should not be £50, The parts are marginally more, and labour is the same.

ravravrav

davemurgatroyd wrote: »

What make and model is the Sky box (printed on the back panel) and do you have a Sky subscription? (Essential info for this query)

I have the standard Sky box (not HD / not Sky+) and we don't have any Sky package - just the free channels. All we requested for the dish to be installed and at some point to be able to use a Sky HD box when it was installed - ie. not Sky +

brewerdave

So the end conclusion is that you WERE conned by the installation engineer -either,he didn't have the right kit for a single feed or he is on a bonus for getting people to pay for an upgrade!!
You should really get the whole overcharge back.

almillar

So if it's just a standard box, not a plus box, then only one feed was needed. SD/HD doesn't make a difference.