Extended sky box not working
- Thread starter DHFrames
- Start date
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No-name cable can be horrendously bad. At best, it could be steel-cored RG6, which is only "poor". You really need to run WF100 direct from the dish, to be certain of having no problems. Otherwise you could waste days, faffing about.
It may boil down to having exposed, working cables or hidden, non-working cables.
As regards eBay, don't trust any seller who won't state precisely what he's selling. And bear in mind that most eBay sellers disappear rapidly because they don't make enough profit to survive. = worthless guarantee.
It may boil down to having exposed, working cables or hidden, non-working cables.
As regards eBay, don't trust any seller who won't state precisely what he's selling. And bear in mind that most eBay sellers disappear rapidly because they don't make enough profit to survive. = worthless guarantee.
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Read this and you'll know as much as I:
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm
Concealed RG6 makes the fix difficult. As mentioned best solution is a new sat grade cable [edit: i.e. WF100 or better], continuous length back to the dish.
If you could move the dish closer with new cable it would be even better.
Thinking outside the square, there are two other alternative work arounds that come to mind.
1) Use an aerial to drive the cable. You could install a compatible aerial either near the site of of the dish / instead of the dish or somewhere that allows you to patch into one of the two coax runs.
You would then need to have a TV that is capable of receiving digital TV channels through its own Freeview tuner.
This is a bit of a risk - as you'll have to fork out for an aerial and you won't know if it will work until you've tried it but far more likely to work with the cable you have installed.
The sky box is then redundant unless you kept the dish installed as well and one of the two cables to drive it in it's original location (for another TV set).
Or
2) Keep the sky box in it's original location. Use the "RF out" of the sky box to output an analogue RF signal up to the TV located in the loft.
You need a TV that has an analogue tuner as well as Freeview or a device that will receive analogue TV channels.
You won't get Stereo sound and the picture quality will not be "HD" but for some the result will be more than adequate.
The STB picture looks like it is SD anyway and depending on you TV size and quality expectations this could get you out of a bind.
Edit: PS you would have to switch on off / change channel in the original location where the STB is. Or use a magic eye in the loft as well, they are cheap.
If you could move the dish closer with new cable it would be even better.
Thinking outside the square, there are two other alternative work arounds that come to mind.
1) Use an aerial to drive the cable. You could install a compatible aerial either near the site of of the dish / instead of the dish or somewhere that allows you to patch into one of the two coax runs.
You would then need to have a TV that is capable of receiving digital TV channels through its own Freeview tuner.
This is a bit of a risk - as you'll have to fork out for an aerial and you won't know if it will work until you've tried it but far more likely to work with the cable you have installed.
The sky box is then redundant unless you kept the dish installed as well and one of the two cables to drive it in it's original location (for another TV set).
Or
2) Keep the sky box in it's original location. Use the "RF out" of the sky box to output an analogue RF signal up to the TV located in the loft.
You need a TV that has an analogue tuner as well as Freeview or a device that will receive analogue TV channels.
You won't get Stereo sound and the picture quality will not be "HD" but for some the result will be more than adequate.
The STB picture looks like it is SD anyway and depending on you TV size and quality expectations this could get you out of a bind.
Edit: PS you would have to switch on off / change channel in the original location where the STB is. Or use a magic eye in the loft as well, they are cheap.
I had a mate pop in today who's an electrician he reduced the extended cable as there was 6-7 meters in slack in the bedroom, he's checked all the connections which are ok, after all that..... Still the same.
He then mentioned getting a amplifier/booster which should sort the problem.
We bought a "Labgear Amplifier" today..... Still the same!!
Plan B, I think we'll have to run some WF100 back to the dish.
Thanks for the advice
He then mentioned getting a amplifier/booster which should sort the problem.
We bought a "Labgear Amplifier" today..... Still the same!!
Plan B, I think we'll have to run some WF100 back to the dish.
Thanks for the advice
Amplifier was never going to work for Sat. 7M reduction was not likely to work at all.
Have you considered trying the RF out as one of the suggestions above. The latter will not cost you a penny to try?
Have you considered trying the RF out as one of the suggestions above. The latter will not cost you a penny to try?
Just as simple as leaving the set top box in its original location. Plugging the RG6 patch cable into one of the two RF outputs on the box.
You will need a F plug to female pal plug lead to allow you to do that or a F connector to Pal pug adaptor. They cost a pound or two to buy if you do not have already. Or you could put on a pal plug directly to the coax but F connector with adaptor is better.
RF2 is best output as it would allow you to use a magic eye to control the box if the picture quality is satifactory for you.
You will need to tune the tv into the SKY chennel as if it is a TV channel. And an old analaogue one at that like you used to have to tune the vcr into the TV. At least I did when I was a kid - long time ago now.
You will need a F plug to female pal plug lead to allow you to do that or a F connector to Pal pug adaptor. They cost a pound or two to buy if you do not have already. Or you could put on a pal plug directly to the coax but F connector with adaptor is better.
RF2 is best output as it would allow you to use a magic eye to control the box if the picture quality is satifactory for you.
You will need to tune the tv into the SKY chennel as if it is a TV channel. And an old analaogue one at that like you used to have to tune the vcr into the TV. At least I did when I was a kid - long time ago now.
Yes ok. You will need two connectors.
one at the STB end, Female pal plug, Looks like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/2712...f11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0
one at the TV end, Male Pal plug looks like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Type-Fe...ion_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2a3d35a257
Should be able to pick up electrical wholesalers, hardware store or maplin or similar. In ascending price order.
When you when you have connections you plug the remote end of the RG6, with the male pal plug adaptor into the TV aerial input. As if it was an aerial feed. Don't think I mentioned that detail in previous post.
one at the STB end, Female pal plug, Looks like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/2712...f11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0
one at the TV end, Male Pal plug looks like:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/F-Type-Fe...ion_Video_Cables_Adapters&hash=item2a3d35a257
Should be able to pick up electrical wholesalers, hardware store or maplin or similar. In ascending price order.
When you when you have connections you plug the remote end of the RG6, with the male pal plug adaptor into the TV aerial input. As if it was an aerial feed. Don't think I mentioned that detail in previous post.
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It seems the extended cable has a kink in it, I had a virgin media mate pop in, no signal was getting through, he's re routed the existing cable back round the house and in. Took him 30mins, thanks again for the advice
Ah, you didn't tell us the cable was damaged!
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm#kinks
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm#kinks
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