Some Practical Concerns I Have About Getting Sky In.

IT Loser

My house only has one operating phone line and that is dedicated to the broadband and to the phone itself....if I get Sky Multiroom in {I don't have SKY at all at the moment} how will that work out??? How will the engineer work this out without upsetting the rest of my phone-line dependent systems???

Next, the satellite, when I go through the online application process it asks me can the satellite be installed below 30 feet- I don't want it slapped onto the side of my house I want it slapped onto the chimney instead- but I'm not sure thats under 30 feet. Also, there is already a satellite on the chimney belonging to next door. Again..any issues here??

Finally, I am concerned/curious about the drillings which will be needed to get the co-axial cable into the house. Where will these holes be drilled? I am sure I can use the existing hole {which is used by the terrestrial aerial} to get one of the cables in {remember there are 2 as it is Multiroom} but the house owner doesn't want the window frame drilled as it is brand new double glazing. Again, any ideas as how to minimize potential damage and damp would be appreciated.

Thanks again

IT LOSER.

bigpaddy2004

Would you not be better going to a local agent/installer and have them come around to look at the job first and talk you through it the way in which they would install it instead of getting a Sky contractor out who just wants to get in and out as quickly as possible?

cgarvey

IT Loser wrote: »

How will the engineer work this out without upsetting the rest of my phone-line dependent systems???

You'll need to have a phone point made available at the location of each satellite box (all multiroom boxes, and the main subscription box must be connected to the same phoneline). If you don't/can't have phone sockets at each location, the engineer will probably run some wire for you for a cash fee. Make sure there's a DSL filter on each socket (or centrally if you're doing fancy stuff.. just make sure each Sky box is filtered!).

IT Loser wrote: »

I want it slapped onto the chimney instead

You'll find it very hard to get an installer to do that, I'm afraid. I believe installing on chimneys is generally frowned upon now. I'm even more sure that a Sky installer (as against a local agent) won't do that for you (but cash might persuade them if you want to chance it).

IT Loser wrote: »

Where will these holes be drilled?

Usually, through the wall behind the TV corner. A lot of house would have a TV in the front room, but against a gable-end wall, so that's ideal as the wire can be out of view on the gable-end wall. They shouldn't have to drill any windows, but may go in beside or just underneath a window (through the wall, not the window). They'll use proper rain loops and sealant to prevent damp.

watty

Well, they OUGHT to have rain loops, sealant, mount dish were mechanically safe...

It depends on the Chimney.

Really you want the dish as low as possible to allow easy maintenance (repainting, LNB replacement, realignment after a storm & etc).

They absoultely should never drill frame of a Double glazing unit.

IT Loser

Great stuff lads thanks for the replies....I assume by "local agent" you mean one of these guys who advertises in the local newspapers as being available for doing this kind of work...

..PS...will I lose my two months half-price TV??? I think that only applies over the internet. Do these local agents/engineers have the Sky boxes, dishes and cards? If so, how do you arrange the billing and activation??

The last time I know of somebody getting SKY it involved them going online and then tying up the loose ends over the phone with someone in Scotland- then an engineer came out and he installed it with NO phone line and on the Chimney. The guy was working for Sierra communications. He took around 20 mins, less.

PPS- I know this is slightly off topic but can I do the phone work myself? Will it be okay that the phone jacks have the same number and are not independent.?? Also, is the standard jack what you are referring to as a DSL connections???

Sorry for all these stoopah questions!:(:confused

Anyways thanks again. I'll try and speak to a local engineer.

cgarvey

IT Loser wrote: »

Great stuff lads thanks for the replies....I assume by "local agent" you mean one of these guys who advertises in the local newspapers as being available for doing this kind of work...

Yup

IT Loser wrote: »

will I lose my two months half-price TV??? I think that only applies over the internet. Do these local agents/engineers have the Sky boxes, dishes and cards? If so, how do you arrange the billing and activation??

Dunno about the 2 months offer, but you could well be right about it being online-only. Agent will give you the paper work to fill out (and your contract/billing is with Sky thereafter).

IT Loser wrote: »

The last time I know of somebody getting SKY it involved them going online and then tying up the loose ends over the phone with someone in Scotland- then an engineer came out and he installed it with NO phone line and on the Chimney. The guy was working for Sierra communications. He took around 20 mins, less.

Multroom requires each box on the same phone line. There are no exceptions to that. You can get a subsidised box installed for an additional fee (€35 I think) without a phoneline in place, which sounds like what your friend did. That won't work for Multiroom. Even if you get a dodgy engineer to install it for you, Sky will start charging you the full whack for the second subscription (not the reduced €15/mo. rate for Multiroom) after a warning letter, or two, about the phone line.

IT Loser wrote: »

PPS- I know this is slightly off topic but can I do the phone work myself? Will it be okay that the phone jacks have the same number and are not independent.?? Also, is the standard jack what you are referring to as a DSL connections???

You can do it yourself. The jacks MUST be on the same line/number, so yup. Just have RJ-11 (google it for images) sockets at each box location. Dunno what you mean by the DSL bit, but if you have DSL, make sure each new jack is filtered.

Either (not allowing for your existing phones which should be filtered already) ...

          Phone Socket
          |          \
     Ext Lead     DSL Modem
      /      \
  Filter    Filter
     |         |
  Box1        Box2

... or ...

     Phone Socket
     |          \
  DSL Filter   DSL Modem
     | 
  Ext Lead
  /      \
 Box1  Box2

IT Loser

As ever, thanks for the info. We have a 1 meg connection from BT but I don't know if it is DSL or ADSL....I think it is ADSL because the UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD speeds are greatly varied. Is that different?? :dunno:

I was aware that SKY Multiroom was absolutely dependent on a Phone Line and I wasn't going to try and get away without one. I guess its just a question of getting the linework done in advance. I have a few filters from my years dicking around in Broadband so they can be used.

To be honest, given that this is my folks home I would almost as soon as go the direct route with SKY and put the line work in place myself. So much easier than having to explain what the engineer is all about. I think I could impress on SKY that I have certain aesthetic and engineering minimums that their subcontractor had better adhere to.

Cheers and thanks again.

ITL.

Tell you the truth, considering that

cgarvey

DSL and ADSL are one in the same in that context. Just make sure everything (your existing phones/faxes and *all* your new sky boxes) is filtered, as above.

bigpaddy2004

IT Loser wrote: »

As ever, thanks for the info. We have a 1 meg connection from BT but I don't know if it is DSL or ADSL....I think it is ADSL because the UPLOAD and DOWNLOAD speeds are greatly varied. Is that different?? :dunno:

I was aware that SKY Multiroom was absolutely dependent on a Phone Line and I wasn't going to try and get away without one. I guess its just a question of getting the linework done in advance. I have a few filters from my years dicking around in Broadband so they can be used.

To be honest, given that this is my folks home I would almost as soon as go the direct route with SKY and put the line work in place myself. So much easier than having to explain what the engineer is all about. I think I could impress on SKY that I have certain aesthetic and engineering minimums that their subcontractor had better adhere to.

Cheers and thanks again.

ITL.

Tell you the truth, considering that

Just because you are going down the direct route with $ky does'nt mean you are going to get a 'great' or 'dedicated' installer, quiet the opposite.
You will be dealing with an installer whom will be badly paid, wont be interested in taking the long way around your installation just for you & on top of that be under tremednous pressure to get to the next job and get their quota done for the day.

Going independant is a totally different ball game altogther.

If I wasnt already an installer, I know the route I would be going. I have been on both sides of the industry before.