Sky RF Output and New Sky Q``

culsoh wrote: »

So when we built our house back in 2005, all the TV cables were brought back to a central "hub" in the attic. Thats where our aerial and splitter and also our Sky+ box. The Sky box is connected to the splitter via the RF output and its then brought around the house where we work the box via Magic Eye.

We've been happy with the set up but realise now that the new Sky boxes/Sky Q boxes dont have RF output? What the hell do we do if we want to upgrade or the box breaks?

An upgrade means SkyQ and its client boxes.

To prepare for a Sky+HD box failure - buy a used one now so you have a replacement.

Kira Some Denim wrote: »

There is not much point upgrading to a HD or 4K service if you are distributing the output over coaxial cable. You would not be getting the benefit of the improved picture quality.

SkyQ is the only upgrade path Sky offer.
SkyQ does not use RF output ...... its client devices connect via LAN.
The coax distribution would not be used.

Kira Some Denim wrote: »

That upgrade path gets expensive very quickly if you are putting a Sky Q mini in every room. I believe you can only have a maximum of four mini boxes as well.

Max of 4 but you can only use 2 at any one time.

Thankfully those of use who receive FTA using non-Sky hardware have no such difficulties or limitations.
We regularly have 5 clients devices watching different channels/media at the same time.

I guess it all depends on how important those specific 'Sky' channels are to the end user.

IrishHomer wrote: »

There is another option, run a HDMI splitter from Sky Q then run HDMI long cables around the house to the various rooms (this is what I did) you can watch your sky in HD or ultra HD in all rooms and change channels via the sky+ app on any smartphone or tablet. This way you don't have to pay more money to Sky.

If you use a HDMI to IP converter you can put a receiver at each TV point if you wish, with the signal going over the LAN.
No need to run bulky HDMI cable at all.

IrishHomer wrote: »

Can that work on a sky+ HD box or is it solely for IPTV?

Its input is from a HDMI out of any device. It converts the input to IP and sends it across the LAN.
At each TV point you can put a complimentary receiver which has a HDMI out to connect to the TV.

Example device

http://www.lenkeng.net/Index/detail/id/149

This is a similar device

http://www.freetv.ie/hdmi-modulator/

lowbatt07 wrote: »

any idea if you can use a powerline adapter to transmit the signal over a lan cable ? it's not feasible for me to run lan cables over the house so a powerline adapter may be a good solution if it works - thanks in advance

I could not say for definite.

those adapters do not work well (or at all) in some premises.

The powerline adapters work well here ..... even for HD video ..... so I would expect it all to work here.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I could not say for definite.

those adapters do not work well (or at all) in some premises.

The powerline adapters work well here ..... even for HD video ..... so I would expect it all to work here.

Thanks for the reply - my gut is that they won't work. I read somewhere that you can use your router & a network switch to transmit the signal , not quite sure how to do this but hopefully this could be an option


Would anyone happen to know what the difference is between the two devices below ? Presumably they both do HDMi over IP?

GHB 60m HDMI Extender Repeater 1080P with IR Signal Transmission Up to 197 Feet Supports Sky HD Box Laptop PC DVD PS4 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072FLFRHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vzKpzb7TGEN4S

Mirabox HDMI Extender Over TCP/IP Rj45 Cat5/5e/6/6e UTP/STP Ethernet Lan Switch Network Support 400ft 1080P Full HD Extension, Black (HSV373 A Pair) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FYPQ612/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2AKpzb57ZP34T

lowbatt07 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply - my gut is that they won't work. I read somewhere that you can use your router & a network switch to transmit the signal , not quite sure how to do this but hopefully this could be an option

I see no real problems with it working, provided the home plugs function well in your environment.

You can connect the Tx & Rx directly to each other with an ethernet cable.
You can connect them indirectly through a router or switch.
You can connect them indirectly through home plugs.

In all cases they connect to each other.

Would anyone happen to know what the difference is between the two devices below ? Presumably they both do HDMi over IP?

GHB 60m HDMI Extender Repeater 1080P with IR Signal Transmission Up to 197 Feet Supports Sky HD Box Laptop PC DVD PS4 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B072FLFRHY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vzKpzb7TGEN4S

Mirabox HDMI Extender Over TCP/IP Rj45 Cat5/5e/6/6e UTP/STP Ethernet Lan Switch Network Support 400ft 1080P Full HD Extension, Black (HSV373 A Pair) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FYPQ612/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2AKpzb57ZP34T

Check out the differences between the 372 & 373
373 would be much preferred.

TIP: Mains extension leads with built in surge protection can seriously restrict home network plugs performance.

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

@emaherx

Have you any up to date information about the "LKV373A HDMI Extender"'s output?

It would be good to find that Unicast URI.

Whatever it is doing presently it just breezes through both my IGMP capable switches, so I guess the output is not properly multicast compliant, else something is the matter with my switches.

No. And I spoke with Danman in the comments section of his blog, it would seem there is no unicast option in any of the known firmwares for the receiver device. So no way to get the URL without capturing packets between communicating unicast devices.

The chipset is used in a number of devices by different AV manufacturers and they just implement the functions they want / need. You would need to find a device using that chipset in Unicast to get a working firmware and then capture the packets sent between them, so for that reason I wouldn't be too hopeful.

I'm still using a UDP proxy on a Raspberry Pi with an extra USB Ethernet adapter so no multicast issues on my Network.

What switches are you using?

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

TP-Link SG-108 and an SG 24 port easy manage

Thanks for the update.
It seems the best option at present is a dedicate NIC for it so.

Thanks.

I have some Cisco switches here. I must try one of them also.