splitting MMDS signal

snaps

Im moving into a MMDS cabled house with 1 box already installed (UPC, Ballinrobe, Mayo) I have a spare MMDS reciever (Ntl). Can i split the signal from the roof MMDS antenna and use my old box for FTA stuff like radio etc? Just wondering as i thought the MMDS antenna was simular to the way a satellite dish works, thus can't be split?

icdg

I've seen installations with more than one MMDS point, however you do need a seperate box (and SUBSCRIPTION) for each point. You may also need a second LNB but not sure about that one...

snaps

Yeah thats what i was wondering (A second LNB type thing)

Zaphod

No need for a second downconverter. You can use a simple Y splitter as long as you connect it between the power inserter and the box - not between the antenna and power inserter. Frequency range is approx VHF.

steveon

The MMDS can be split depending on the signal arriving at your house through the aerial. You will need a 2 way powerpass splitter. Usually this come with a f connector fitting. One end usually has the powerside which must goto the box with a powersupply fitted usually your main box.

watty

however you are obilged to pay a 2nd sub add on for multiroom. All the boxes belong to Upc. The spare box is their property.

5h4mr0(k

In areas where they still have the analogue service, if you split it, you can pick up TV3 and Channel 4 without an extra box. Just sheer coincidence I guess.

snaps

Thanks lads, I may well just experiment using the bypass output on the back of one box and feed it into the input on the other one. The house has 3 other tv points (New house) But i dont think all points are live. I am not stealing the signal, I just want a box (Which i have already from my previous house) to be used in the kitchen for FTA (Radio mostly) The box i brought with me is an older version of the current UPC box. I plugged it into the living room point and it worked. (Only FTA channels showed) RTE, TV3, TG4, Setanta Sports, TMF & a few others. Just the splitting/loop throgh Im dubious about.

watty

If you use two decoders and your subscription is for one, then you are stealing.

Unlike satellite, cable/MMDS has no "free" channels.

snaps

So if the broadcast has no encyption it is stealing. Thats strange then I must be stealing BBC/ITV from Sky then via my FTA Sat set up.

maxg

No its not stealing.
You are paying for the transport of the none scrambled channels not for their content.
Transport is already paid for mmds and for the content you pay via your TV licence.

gerryo

maxg wrote: »

Transport is already paid for mmds and for the content you pay via your TV licence.

Not strictly true, licence only covers Irish content, some of your € to UPC pays for BBC/ITV/etc.

watty

MMDS is defined as Cable.

Satellite is defined the same as terrestrial in EU pickup laws.

Cable by defintion is a pay only service. NO free channels, not even RTE. The TV licence does not come in to it as you still need TV licence to watch foriegn only.

In Irish law watching ANY cable, or even connection to it without cable company payment & authorised equipment is "theft of Service"

You are confusing this with Copyright.

FTA Satellite can be watched PERSONALLY, but to distribute it would be breaking Copyright.

RTE is Free to Carry and Must Carry, in Ireland, so you may freely distribute it on a private or commercial cable system.

MMDS is regarded as "wireless cable".

IF there was unencypted channels and you used your own aerial and receiver, you could in defence claim it was a FTA terrestrial transmission. You might lose, this has not been tested.

But if you use Chorus/NTL MMDS aerial, then what you have in the house is 100% Cable TV and normal Cable TV rules apply.

Satellite and Terrestrial can have Free and pay TV. You may connect anything you like to receive the free (un-encrypted part).

But Cable (and thus MMDS) has no free part, even should the Cable company decide to not encrypt all of it to save money.

watty

Your TV licence is a tax on having a TV receiver. It's nothing to do with TV transport.

maxg

If you paid your mmds fee you have already paid for transport to your house and nobody can forbid you to watch RTE at a second TV set.
Btw do you get BBC/ITV none scrambled via NTL mmds?

snaps

RTE, Net 2, TV 3, TG4, Setanta Sports, TMF, City Channel, Euronews all seem to have no encryption on UPC MMDS. I have 3 boxes that UPC left when i cancelled my old sub in the old house. These boxes when plugged into the MMDS connection clear these channels, ONLY With the original ntl card inserted? I cant see why I am stealing cable. Surely if UPC wanted they could encrypt these channels the same as all other channels on their service?

The loop through on the subbed UPC box, works (I can watch 1 channel & record another)

P.s I have a valid TV licence as well.