Optic cable damadged - how do you remove connection?

Backtowhite

Lads,

My sky in our apartment is fed through an optic cable inot a optical converter which is then converted into a normal coaxial cable.

I am getting error 29 on the sky box which says no satellite signal - plug out of mains for 5 min. Now i rang Sky and went through there procedure but there was no joy. They said it would cost €100 to geta repair man out.

Now I am looking at the cables that come into the apartment the optic cable has got squashed behing the couch and it is crushed. I am thinking this could be the problem.

Is it possible to cut the optic cable back to where it is still good and put the connector on there?

This is a pic of the connector currently on the optic cable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FC-optical-fiber-connector-hdr-0a.jpg

zg3409

I would have thought you need to contact whoever put the system into your apartment rather than Sky.

It may have been Sky, as some sort of agreement, or it may have been a company that has nothing to do with Sky. A normal Sky installer will not be able to fix that.

I would not have a go yourself. From what I heard fibre optic cables need special tools to terminate them, and the end plug may not be designed to be removed and re-used but I would prefer someone who has installed one of these to comment.

How about talking to the apartment management to see who looks after the apartment-wide TV system?

Also try swapping the box with a neighbour to confirm it's not the box?

Jimjay

zg3409 wrote: »

I would have thought you need to contact whoever put the system into your apartment rather than Sky.

It may have been Sky, as some sort of agreement, or it may have been a company that has nothing to do with Sky. A normal Sky installer will not be able to fix that.

I would not have a go yourself. From what I heard fibre optic cables need special tools to terminate them, and the end plug may not be designed to be removed and re-used but I would prefer someone who has installed one of these to comment.

How about talking to the apartment management to see who looks after the apartment-wide TV system?

Also try swapping the box with a neighbour to confirm it's not the box?

Thats correct. If sky send someone round they will end up cancelling the job as unless it is a box fault (which it probably isnt) they will not be able to do anything. You must get the company that supports your appartments sky to come round. This is usually the company that installed it and your managment company should be able to put you in touch.

Btw i am a sky contractor, we do not carry any optic equipment as standard. I think a company called finlays did a lot of the appartments using optics but not sure if they still support them.

Backtowhite

Thanks lads.

You are right when sky heard I was in apartment they said I would need to get the original installers in which are Finlay's.

I will give them a call to see how much they charge. Optic cable is very light weight and easily damaged.

I swapped sky boxes aswell and that made no difference

Booms

It sounds like a very unprofessional installation if the optical cable is in a position that it can be damaged by moving the furniture.

sean2012

use your camera phone to see if there is light out of fibre fc connector

zg3409

sean2012 wrote: »

use your camera phone to see if there is light out of fibre fc connector

Just to clarify I know little about fibre optic but Sean seems to think the cable puts out infra red light, which cannot be seen by a person but can be seen by the camera in a mobile phone.

Test first by turning on the camera in your phone and look at the end of the Sky remote control while pressing a button. On the camera screen you should see a flashing dot, but without the camera you should see nothing.

I don't know how to disconnect the cable from the converter but be careful. These things can be horribly expensive.

sean2012

you could rent a otdr, you can wipe clean the end of the connector and media converter with pure alcohol on a cloth lightly for dust

zg3409

Lots of info on the technology here:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055909861

Backtowhite

Thanks guys for the comments.

I still hvent rang them for the repair, it is the sky box in the bedroom which isn't working so I am just going to cancel multirooom anyway.


Came across these instructions on how to fit an FC connector ......maybe of some use to someone else

http://www.adc.com/us/en/Library/Techpub/90222_2.pdf?refer=...

homelink

Backtowhite wrote: »

Thanks guys for the comments.

I still hvent rang them for the repair, it is the sky box in the bedroom which isn't working so I am just going to cancel multirooom anyway.


Came across these instructions on how to fit an FC connector ......maybe of some use to someone else

http://www.adc.com/us/en/Library/Techpub/90222_2.pdf?refer=...

If one of your boxes is working then the fibre optic cable is okay. there must be something wrong with the connection between the optical converter in your living room & the box in your bedroom.If you don't have a cable going straight to your bedroom from the converter, then they may have routed the signal using the existing cabling in you living room. This would then have been connected to your bedroom cable, probably at the cable hub in a hallway service shaft & somebody may have disconnected the link. I would suggest you get the company that installed your boxes out to have a look.

kbell

This sounds right, i've had to do numerous repairs and callouts to communal systems where someone had gotten access to the comms and decided they could hook up their apartment themselves.

Kristopherus

Backtowhite wrote: »

Thanks guys for the comments.

I still hvent rang them for the repair, it is the sky box in the bedroom which isn't working so I am just going to cancel multirooom anyway.


Came across these instructions on how to fit an FC connector ......maybe of some use to someone else

http://www.adc.com/us/en/Library/Techpub/90222_2.pdf?refer=...

Finlays no longer have the Installation contract for Ireland, Sierra currently have it. Just be careful you're not charged an arm and a leg by Finlays.

Backtowhite

No the bedroom is fed offa different connection than main room. The cables run down the outside of the block.

for some strange reason the standard coaxial cable is in the main room and the optic cable runs into the bedroom. And the optic cable is kinked and squashed so I assume that is the problem

Thanks tho lads,

homelink

Kristopherus wrote: »

Finlays no longer have the Installation contract for Ireland, Sierra currently have it. Just be careful you're not charged an arm and a leg by Finlays.

That's not correct Finlays still have the contract for apartments

Kristopherus

homelink wrote: »

That's not correct Finlays still have the contract for apartments

They may have seperate arrangements with different management outfits in the Pale, but they're not operating on behalf of $ky in Limerick, Galway or Sligo.

homelink

Kristopherus wrote: »

They may have seperate arrangements with different management outfits in the Pale, but they're not operating on behalf of $ky in Limerick, Galway or Sligo.

Once again, Not correct!

Kristopherus

No use arguing with you:D. However I have a family member who works for them and they do not service apartment complexes in aforementioned places.

sean2012

you cant remove the connection its glued with epoxy if the connection was damaged you'd just cut it of and fit a new one thats not easily done thou you need a kit for polishing, cleaning and cleaving the fibre in the head of the connector