Single feed into Sky HD+ via standard aerial socket possible?

[NutritioN]

We have had a new install into a first floor room where the dish feeds into. The Only TV we wish to receive Sky on is downstairs next to a standard aerial faceplate. Can we forfeit the dual record functionality and move the Sky receiver downstairs if I make up the right cable off the standard plug into only one of the dish inputs? I can run one of the proper dish cables into a socket next to it to send the signal downstairs.

Also, we asked ages ago for the Sky adapter cable to use a standard TV on it. Still nothing, run up twice and it's never in stock. Anyone else got one?

 

[Lethagized]

I don't fully understand your question, but you can use different connectors, they don't HAVE to be F connectors, and normal coaxial cable will do for short runs.

Best place to buy adaptors and connectors is ebay. Just search F connector or F connector-coaxial adaptor.

HTH

 

[lucid]

If you are talking about trying to send the Sky dish signal via the house TV aerial system as a way to avoid running new cable outside then the answer is no. If your home has a multipoint TV aerial system then it's a one-way signal system. The thing that distributes on aerial signal to several rooms will block any signal going back up a cable that's a down feed.

Besides, if it was installed by the house builders then they use the cheapest awful aerial cable they can buy. It is c-rap. It's barely good enough for Freeview let alone Sky.

Your simplest solution is to have a length of satellite grade twin coax run from one room to the next. Finish each end with a double F plate. Use a short U linking cable in the old room to redirect the signal to the new room.

 

[NutritioN]

Thanks for the replies, even if they're not what I want to hear!

It's a newish shared house so yes there's a signal distribution box under the stairs. My first plan was to used the RF adapter that was to be provided by Sky, send that downstairs via existing wallplate and used a IR Eye device to control the Sky box from downstairs. But then we can't get an HDMI / HD to the TV as the Sky box is still upstairs.

It'd be too inconvenient to run a cable between the two rooms. So looking for the best option to relocate the Sky box to another room.

Cheers.

 

[NutritioN]

Hey, one last double check seeing as we'll be getting a new TV soon and deciding when we should start getting out of the Sky contract...

The source aerial face plates (non-TV room) are in the top image showing the connection required to make the coaxial faceplate in the TV room work - the bottom image. The signal also works if the two plugs on the right face plates are connected to each other.

No other combination transmits a signal that the Freebox registers. I've just been seeing if the Sky box gets anything with any combination when plugged into the normal coaxial in the TV room (bottom image)

When the Sky HD box was installed the two f-connectors fed directly into the Sky box (when in the same room) and that worked.

So, is lucid's word final and that as we have a signal distribution box under the stairs no satellite signal will work out of the coaxial face plate? (bottom image) Happy to ditch Sky HD and use Freeview HD if that only needs one coaxial lead.

 

[lucid]

The way that the triple socket (FM/TV/Sat) works is that it is band frequency filtered. What that means is that although the FM, TV and Sat signals all occupy different frequency ranges, the distribution amp combines them and outputs all of them together down a single coax to each wall plate.
They remain distinct because they operate at different frequencies. The wall plate then has filters which pass or block certain frequencies. So the TV socket only passes signals in the 470-790MHz range.

FM............ 88-108MHz
DAB......... 217-230MHz (FM and DAB are usually combined as 88-230MHz)
Digital TV... 470-790MHz
SAT......... 950-2300MHz


This means that if you're trying to get a TV signal out of any socket other than "TV" then you're wasting your time. Ditto for FM/DAB and for Satellite if they are present at the amp end.

If you want a satellite signal from the LNB cable transporting from one room to another then you need either to send the signal in to the amp first (in your case, under the stairs), or you need a direct physical connection from one room to the other i.e. a bit of wire that does not go via the aerial amplifier/splitter. Both of these solutions require dedicated cabling. There's no getting away from this.

If you want to move the Sky box (or any Satellite receiver) to room 2, then really the best solution is just to get two new LNB feed cables off the dish direct to room 2. Simple. Job done.

The reason for two cables with Sky/Freesat is because Satellite works in 4 bands. A quad LNB with 4 outputs is really 4 LNBs in one. Each LNB is "tuned" to whichever band the particular channel is on. Changing channels often means changing the LNB band. Since the LNB can't be tuned to more than one band at a time, then watching one while recording another means the need for to LNB feeds to two individual tuners.

Single cable mode on a Sky box works by restricting the "other" channel choice to just those that are on the same band.

Freeview works differently. It's more like the FM/TV/Satellite combined signal. The various channel groups operate at different frequencies but are all received simultaneously by a single antenna and then relayed via a single coax to the TV tuner(s). A modern Freeview recorder has at least two TV tuners. This allows the "watch one, record another" feature.

If you are ditching Sky then either Freesat or Freeview is an option. Freeview is the simplest. Your existing aerial system will supply the signal required with no need for any additional cost. Invest in a decent box (Humax) and it's pretty much plug and play.

Freesat offers marginally better picture performance. The rub is the extra costs for cabling.