Replacing Single LNB with Quad LNB

babaloushka

Sorry if this post highlights my ignorance too much
We've just recently bought a Humax Foxsat and need to replace the single LNB on the dish with a Quad. The dish we have was set up for us about a year ago and I think it's a Sky minidish - small, oval black mesh. The guy who did the work isn't available and I think we're going to have to attempt a DIY job ourselves if we want it before Xmas.
I've also seen a dual coax cable on Ebay and I wonder if this is an option for this job? I would like to use the spare cable with the old Sky Digibox with another TV in the house. Apart from the 4 F connecters and the Quad LNB, what else will I need to buy to set this up? And how can I be sure I'm ordering the right Quad LNB?
The OH and the brother in law are going to do the work - I'm doing the research and the purchasing

steveon

You will need to ensure that you are purchasing a quad lnb for the dish you are using i.e. a sky dish. However a new type of quad has been released recently marked MK4 as its a new type of bar on the front of the dish so if your dish is older than a few weeks then you will need the older style quad so make sure you ask the seller before you buy.

The dual type of cable you refer to is called shotgun cable. I personally dont like it as I find its usually too thin and the F-connectors dont fit them properly. In my opinion you would be better off running a new single cable to whichever room you require, it should be cheaper to do it this way.

You will also need some clips, tiewraps etc to use for the cable drops. And a size ten drillbit and sds drill to drill through the wall.

You may however need to adjust the dish slightly due to fitting a quad lnb.

montgolfiere

the correct F-connectors do exist for the thinner Shotgun cable!!!
i dont use the cablemyself BUT always carry a stock of these f-cons with me to replace the 'BODGE_JOBS' left by others who do install this cable but without the correct sized Connectors!!!!
the Skyman

babaloushka

Thanks a lot steveon and montgolfiere - makes my job easier.
The reason I wanted the 'shotgun' cable is that with 3 cables running through the wall (2 for the Humax and 1 for the Digibox) it would need a much larger hole.
I'm also really worried now about having to adjust the dish if it gets moved - I'd much rather get an expert to do it. Anyone know someone in Donegal? I might just ask in the Donegal forum before I commit to doing it and making a muck of the job

Wizard007

If you contact someone on here - http://www.isaa.tv/map.html - Click on Donegal. Gerry or one of the lads on there might be able to help, or put you in the direction of someone who can.

babaloushka

Wizard007 wrote: »

If you contact someone on here - http://www.isaa.tv/map.html - Click on Donegal. Gerry or one of the lads on there might be able to help, or put you in the direction of someone who can.

Thanks - I sent an email to Gerry - no contact details there for anyone else. He might be too far away but it's definitely worth asking. Would you know what this is likely to cost - a ballpark figure maybe?

Wizard007

No problem at all. I would not like to give you an estimate for someone elses job and be miles out. Gerry won't see you wrong

Steveon is right with the shotgun cable. We never use it and never would, right connectors or not.

babaloushka

Wizard007 wrote: »

No problem at all. I would not like to give you an estimate for someone elses job and be miles out. Gerry won't see you wrong

OK, that's understandable But if Gerry can't do it and I have to hunt for someone else will you give me a heads up? I just don't want to be shafted. Thanks also for the explanation about the cable - I definitely want to do it right.

Wizard007

No problem. There are two other companies on the map, one in Frosses and one in Ballybofey. See how you go with Gerry, somehow I don't think you'll need to go any further after you've spoken with him

babaloushka

Well, I got a quote of €180 from Gerry to do this job and I'm afraid the kitty won't stretch that far! I've sourced the materials on Ebay at less than £40, so it seems very expensive for something which I'm told will only take about an hour. I've had a recommendation for someone in Derry, so I'm checking him out. Failing that, it will have to be a DIY job.

kbell

Don't think you should have posted what Gerry quoted you up here.
I'd edit that post.

babaloushka

kbell wrote: »

Don't think you should have posted what Gerry quoted you up here.
I'd edit that post.

If this represents a fair price for the job, why would it need to be hidden

Finne1993

kbell wrote: »

Don't think you should have posted what Gerry quoted you up here.
I'd edit that post.

Just out of curiousity why did you say that?
It does seem a bit much for the job in question unless Gerry lives 50 miles away then you could understand it. But I'm sure someone local would do the job for €100-€120 no problem.

vsat

All,

I do live 50 miles away from the customer, and explained this to her, that she would be better getting someone nearer for that job. As I would have to charge extra for the distance and extra time.


The power of the internet.

regards,

gerry

Wizard007

For that kind of distance and time, yeah it's a fair enough quote. There's another place in the sticky up at the top of this form http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=155714

If we knew where in Donegal you are we might be able to reccommend someone closer

babaloushka

Wizard007 wrote: »

For that kind of distance and time, yeah it's a fair enough quote. There's another place in the sticky up at the top of this form http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=155714

If we knew where in Donegal you are we might be able to reccommend someone closer

I live near Lifford.

vsat

I think this customer wants a cheap job,? so good luck, and source from ebay.
but you pay for experience, insurance, and 12 parts and labour.



Regards,

Gerry

Wizard007

This crowd install in Lifford - http://www.getdigitalnow.co.uk/
Best of luck

Gerry, sometimes the cost / value of this work is higly underestimated and a person may have just an assigned amount to spend. Fair play to you for offering to fit it in, I know you're up the walls at the moment

babaloushka

vsat wrote: »

I think this customer wants a cheap job,? so good luck, and source from ebay.
but you pay for experience, insurance, and 12 parts and labour.



Regards,

Gerry

No, I want a job at a fair price to suit MY budget. If you hadn't posted the above I would have let things lie, but it was me who suggested to YOU that I was too far away for the work and you told me that distance didn't really matter, as you did work all over the country between Donegal and Dublin.

Darth Maul

Also an Independent installer in Donegal
PM sent with contact details.