analogue reception with sky+

agentsmith

Hi
I am based in kildare (~35km from kippure as crow flies) and currently have sky+ setup in 4 rooms via dish signal feed to sky box and rf2 signal to attic and televes digiamp 4 way out (ref 5509 model). This gives me access to view sky channel in all rooms 1 upstairs and 3 downstairs (albeit same channel) and ability to change the channel in each with magic eye installed. I only have standard coax cable throughout. The location is set in a small valley so may have some LOS issues? Q is I have poor reception of regular terrestrial analogue stations RTE1,2,3,TG4 (particularily downstiars rooms). Is there some way to improve on this reception. Would installing an aerial (UHF or DTT) in the attic help? How would this be hooked up with existing system?

slegs

how are you getting analogue reception without an aerial currently?

If you are using rabbits ears then yes of course an attic or external aerial would be better

Feed your aerial into your sky box aerial in and the analogue channels will get added to the distribution setup you have automatically

agentsmith

simple answer is i dnt have an analogue aerial just sky dish. Apologies for ignorance but had thought/hoped signal would be strong enough to recieve without out one.

by comment "Feed your aerial into your sky box aerial in and the analogue channels will get added to the distribution setup you have automatically" can you elaborate some on how to do this. Do you mean add add aerial in attic and feed from this into a sat +tv combiner and the output from this into the feed of televes amp to supply all rooms?

slegs

You need an aerial to receive analogue TV.

I would suggest you get an attic aerial and feed it down to your Sky box and plug into the aerial in port on the Sky box. As you are already feeding the Sky RF picture around the house via your Televes amp then the aanolgue TV channels will just be added to this feed and be available on all TVs

coylemj

You don't need an aerial if you have Sky, the Irish channels are on Sky so you need to sort out the Sky box, not install an aerial.

If you decide to jack in the Sky subscription and use the Sky box as a Freesat receiver then you will need to install a UHF aerial to receive the Irish channels but if you have an active Sky subscription then you do not need an aerial.

slegs

coylemj wrote: »

You don't need an aerial if you have Sky, the Irish channels are on Sky so you need to sort out the Sky box, not install an aerial.

If you decide to jack in the Sky subscription and use the Sky box as a Freesat receiver then you will need to install a UHF aerial to receive the Irish channels but if you have an active Sky subscription then you do not need an aerial.

I presume he knows this but his question was sepcifically about analog. Alot of people want analog as well so that they can at least watch RTE in different rooms even if the distributed sky channel is the same in all rooms

agentsmith

Coylemj - yes as slegs has commented I wish to be able to view Rte etc analog channels on all connected TV's while kids say watch cable channels - apologies if unclear at start.

Looking into a bit more seems I will need a UHF (group C/D)/VHF aerial kit (preference for indoor installation) to recieve transmission from nearest kippure transmitter. I have seen one on the web which includes pole,brackets,aerials and diplexer etc.

As suggested and I currently undertsand it. I could connect up the analog aerials and run down to the "aerial in - rf1" connection on sky box and use the RF2 feed to amp in attic to distribute throughout house. The issue with this is trying to run through already insulated walls etc which I think will be near impossible without cutting holes all over the place to try feed through as from what can see existing line to attic is not a straight vertical run!

what are my options to configure so will be able to connect to amp in attic without running a second unsightly line? Can I setup the aerials and have the single feed coming from diplexer and the feed from the RF2 on sky box going to a sat/tv combiner into the televes amp to provide solution - will this work?

slegs

agentsmith wrote: »

Coylemj - yes as slegs has commented I wish to be able to view Rte etc analog channels on all connected TV's while kids say watch cable channels - apologies if unclear at start.

Looking into a bit more seems I will need a UHF (group C/D)/VHF aerial kit (preference for indoor installation) to recieve transmission from nearest kippure transmitter. I have seen one on the web which includes pole,brackets,aerials and diplexer etc.

As suggested and I currently undertsand it. I could connect up the analog aerials and run down to the "aerial in - rf1" connection on sky box and use the RF2 feed to amp in attic to distribute throughout house. The issue with this is trying to run through already insulated walls etc which I think will be near impossible without cutting holes all over the place to try feed through as from what can see existing line to attic is not a straight vertical run!

what are my options to configure so will be able to connect to amp in attic without running a second unsightly line? Can I setup the aerials and have the single feed coming from diplexer and the feed from the RF2 on sky box going to a sat/tv combiner into the televes amp to provide solution - will this work?

If you get an external aerial mounted you could run the cable from outside the house to the Sky box without going through the walls. Otherwise if you have a second UHF RF in on your amp you could plug it in there (you wont get analog on the TV with the Sky box though). You cant merge the aerial with the RF2 before it goes into the AMP as this will affect the magic eye voltage.

agentsmith

as mentioned would prefer to not install externally if possible. where existing dish is installed there is little room for extra aerial(s) and chimney stack is other side of house some distance away for placement there. Out of interest what height might analog aerial need be to reciece good signal?

current televes amp believe only has one f-connector input so unable to connect a second. might be an option to replace amp though if required? suggested suitable model?

are there any other options open?

slegs

The postioning of your aerial is entirely dependent on your own location so it is not possible to say. My guess is that because you are not far from Kippure an attic aerial will be more than sufficient. Generally the higher you go the better your signal reception and outside is better than inside (due to walls etc).

I cant find an example right now but I am sure there are distribution amps with dual UHF-in. I can find quite a few that have VHF/FM and UHF separate inputs.

exaisle

agentsmith wrote: »

Looking into a bit more seems I will need a UHF (group C/D)/VHF aerial kit (preference for indoor installation) to recieve transmission from nearest kippure transmitter.

Actually, if you have an uninterrupted view of Kippure, I wouldnt bother with the VHF antenna at all.

Firstly, if you get a decent directional UHF antenna, it will easily pick up the VHF signal (VHF transmitter output is about 150kw as far as I remember but I'm open to correction). I installed a small UHF antenna for a pal near Coill Dubh a few years ago and mounted it on one of the rafters in his attic. Reception is excellent. I think he's slightly further from Kippure than you are.

Secondly, this will also serve perfectly well for reception of DTT without the need for further visits to the attic/roof.

E.

agentsmith

slegs wrote: »

You need an aerial to receive analogue TV.

I would suggest you get an attic aerial and feed it down to your Sky box and plug into the aerial in port on the Sky box. As you are already feeding the Sky RF picture around the house via your Televes amp then the aanolgue TV channels will just be added to this feed and be available on all TVs

If I install as suggested an external aerial and feed back to amp distributor will I be able to change channels in each room using specific TV remote -sony/LG etc (toggle up terrestrial and sky (main only) stations or will I need to use a sky remote in each room to toggle up all stations using magic eye only. i.e. will it require me getting sky eye and remote for each room?

Unable to source dual UHF amp so would seem need consider external aerial option a bit more.:(

exaisle

agentsmith wrote: »

If I install as suggested an external aerial and feed back to amp distributor will I be able to change channels in each room using specific TV remote -sony/LG etc (toggle up terrestrial and sky (main only) stations or will I need to use a sky remote in each room to toggle up all stations using magic eye only. i.e. will it require me getting sky eye and remote for each room?

Unable to source dual UHF amp so would seem need consider external aerial option a bit more.:(

Slegs' suggestion re Sky Box is good, but that Televes amp is likely to severely attenuate the Band III frequencies carrying RTE1&2, as these are similar to the frequencies for DAB handled by that amp.

It really depends on how desperate you are for RTE1&2 if you're restricted to using the signal from Kippure.

Do you have access to any other transmitter? Three Rock, Cairn Hill and Clermont all transmit RTE1&2 on UHF so the simplest solution is to see if you can get usable signal from any of those.

Then you will be effectively sending five channels down the coax to each TV....RTE1, RTE2, TV3, TG4 and Sky. Use the Magic Eye to control Sky and the relevant TV remotes to change to the other channels.

D.

agentsmith

hi exaisle - afraid the technical detail is a little above my head so will take your word on it regarding likely signal loss.

I am going the get a uhf WB/vhf aerial kit and run down to sky box (or bring box to attic -yet to decide) and connect all through amp for distribution and see how we go. If as suggested signal is poor on rte will try align to another transmitter other than nearest kippure and see if that works else if needed I may have to source another amp (wolsey? or suggested suitable replacement that can run off 9v RF feed?) although that will probably bring its own issues as may then need to get power supply to attic to run (will work if decide to bring box to attic as need power anyway then).

as stated previously I have very good rte1,2 signal already upstairs with no analog aerials so may be fine

whats the best way to align aerial? point and check signal on tv's or better way if need to find different transmitter for eg.

thanks ( and thanks to slegs) for input

exaisle

Ive sent a PM to you...I'm fairly familiar with your area so have a look at that and get back to me if you like.

E.

Randyleprechaun

One solution would be the following.

• Put your sky box in the attic(or location where your 4 way splitter is). You would need a 13A socket there and you would need to ensure that the box is not likely to over heat, or get contaminated with dust or anything. Of course this will also involve getting the cable(s) from your dish/lnb to the new location of the sky(+) box. This may cause you the same problem as you already have in getting cables down to where the box is now.
• Feed your new aerial(mounted indoor or outdoor) directly into the sky box.
• Go from RF2 to your splitter
• Put magic eyes on all TV's
• Job done

The only problem is that you will have to go up to this location when the sky card has to be replaced periodically... but hey could be worse.

Hope this helps