Wiring a second free-sat box

gnolan · 03-06-2011 4:01pm #1

I'm about to get a new Freesat box. We currently have a FTA box connected to a Sky satellite. The FTA box that we currently have has an output labelled "Loop Out". Does this mean i can simply plug a coaxial cable from "Loop Out" to the input in the new Freesat box? If not will i be able to use a splitter on the cable? I won't be able to install an LNB myself as the Sky satellite is very difficult to get to.

Can i also ask peoples' recommendations on somewhere to get 20m of suitable coax cable, preferably with connectors already fitted.

Tony · 03-06-2011 4:07pm

I'm afraid you have to run a cable to the dish, satellite cables cannot be split or looped.

gnolan · 03-06-2011 4:25pm

Ah balls.

Do you know if a Sky satellite generally comes with a dual LNB? How difficult is it to fit a quad LNB? Do i need to have any kind of special knowledge or would it be a case of screwing out the old one and screwing in the new one?

Tony · 03-06-2011 4:38pm

If you have sky + or sky Hd then the dish already has a quad lnb , sky do not use twin output lnb's. Its pretty straightforward to change if the dish is aligned correctly to start with.

gnolan wrote: »

Ah balls.

Do you know if a Sky satellite generally comes with a dual LNB? How difficult is it to fit a quad LNB? Do i need to have any kind of special knowledge or would it be a case of screwing out the old one and screwing in the new one?

gnolan · 03-06-2011 4:44pm

No, i didn't have Sky + or Sky HD. I haven't had Sky for about 3 years at this stage. Can I assume that the satellite will still accept a standard quad LNB?

Tony wrote: »

If you have sky + or sky Hd then the dish already has a quad lnb , sky do not use twin output lnb's. Its pretty straightforward to change if the dish is aligned correctly to start with.

Tony · 03-06-2011 4:54pm

gnolan wrote: »

Can I assume that the satellite will still accept a standard quad LNB?

No you need a quad lnb specificially for the sky minidish

gnolan · 03-06-2011 5:02pm

Tony wrote: »

No you need a quad lnb specificially for the sky minidish

Thanks for that. I know this may not be your area of expertise but have you any idea how much it might cost me to get an electrician to come fit the LNB, 25m of cable and maybe re-align the satellite?

excollier · 03-06-2011 5:39pm

Don't let an electrician anywhere near it;)

Tony · 03-06-2011 6:13pm

Agreed, you need a satellite installer not an electrician. . I'm a little confused as to why you think this is not my area of expertise?

gnolan · 03-06-2011 6:26pm

Tony wrote: »

Agreed, you need a satellite installer not an electrician. . I'm a little confused as to why you think this is not my area of expertise?

No, i was thinking you might not be in any position to estimate a price for this specific fitting given the sketchy details.

In that case, how much do you think it would cost to get a satellite installer to do the job?

Tony · 03-06-2011 6:45pm

try www.isaa.tv and see if theres an installer near you

gnolan wrote: »

No, i was thinking you might not be in any position to estimate a price for this specific fitting given the sketchy details.

In that case, how much do you think it would cost to get a satellite installer to do the job?

gnolan · 03-06-2011 7:10pm

Tony wrote: »

try www.isaa.tv and see if theres an installer near you

Will do, thanks. Sent you on an email

Wiring a second free-sat box

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