How to Combine Sky+HD & Sky FTB

necstandards

Hi there,
I have to sky boxs at the moment, a Sky+ Hd and a FTA (not currently connected to anything). Currently we have a magic eye that allows us to control the sky+ box in the bedroom (see attached existing wiring schematic). I would like to know is it possible to connect the FTA box to the ‘network’ in some way to enable any of the tv’s to view either one of the boxes, depending on the user? And how would the user select what box to control? Basically I want to be able to watch different programs on at least two of the TVs in any of the rooms.. Any help would be great, I’m not overly proficient in this kinda wiring!
Regards
J

Ronnie Raygun

You would use one of these SPC4 combiners if you want to be able to remotely operate each receiver independently.

The output can then be connected to the distribution system.

jgbyr

I had a similar set up using a sky + box with a sub & a sky box without the sub, It worked perfectly though you need 2 controls in the room for the boxes through the magic eye as you tune the remote to each box.
I had to stop using it though when I got a hd box. The output signal is different from the hd box & it was effecting the picture from both boxes. Could not fix it even by moving rf channels.

necstandards

Hi jgbyr,
Can you explain what you mean by a sub? Were you use the SPC4 combiner as suggested by Ronnie Raygun?
Regards
J

jgbyr

necstandards wrote: »

Hi jgbyr,
Can you explain what you mean by a sub? Were you use the SPC4 combiner as suggested by Ronnie Raygun?
Regards
J

Sub is subscription. I suppose it doesnt really matter anyway as the spc4 combines the signal from 2 sky boxes.
Yes I was using the spc4.

Peter Rhea

necstandards wrote: »

I have to sky boxs at the moment, a Sky+ Hd and a FTA (not currently connected to anything). Currently we have a magic eye that allows us to control the sky+ box in the bedroom (see attached existing wiring schematic). I would like to know is it possible to connect the FTA box to the ‘network’ in some way to enable any of the tv’s to view either one of the boxes

Is the 'FTA' box another Sky+ HD receiver? I could be wrong, but I don't think you need the SPC4 if the receivers are different models.

Any splitter/combiner that enables powering of the magic eyes should work, or if the boxes were in the same room, you could loop the RF output of one to the RF-in of the other.

necstandards

The FTA box is an old sky box (no hd or +, the real basic one).

Is it true that the HD box will not allow this system (SPC4) to work?

J

Peter Rhea

There's no reason why the system wouldn't work with a HD box. I don't think there's any need for you to use the SPC4 as there shouldn't be a conflict between your remotes.

jgbyr

necstandards wrote: »

The FTA box is an old sky box (no hd or +, the real basic one).

Is it true that the HD box will not allow this system (SPC4) to work?

J

It will work with the spc4 but the picture quality is poor & this is caused by the hd box

Peter Rhea

jgbyr wrote: »

It will work with the spc4 but the picture quality is poor & this is caused by the hd box

It didn't work right with your HD box for some reason, or have you seen problems elsewhere?

OP mightn't need an SPC4 anyway. It's easy to check for conflicts between the 2 remotes by trying each with the other receiver (try the HD remote with the SD box & vice-versa).

jgbyr

Peter Rhea wrote: »

It didn't work right with your HD box for some reason, or have you seen problems elsewhere?

It wouldn't work with my hd box even though I tried different rf channels but it made no difference. It interfered with the picture quality from the other box also. When I changed back to my other sky box the picture was grand from both boxes.

Peter Rhea

Probably something not right with the modulator in your HD box, doesn't imply that all HD boxes are the same.

steveon

there is a newer version of the SPC-4-F it is black in color and has F connectors instead of normal coax connectors that were on the earlier version.

These work perfectly with HD-Boxes I use them all the time and have never had any issues so far with them.

necstandards

Hi Peter, ive checked both of the units with the different controls and they dont work i.e. the HD control cant control the FTA box and visa versa, so i think that your saying that i dont need the SPC4?

I have a box (4 way PRO-DA distriubtion amplified (see photo) currently in the attic with only one TV Input and 4 outputs. Correct me if im wrong, but i currently have the RF2 output from the HD box going to the TV IN of the distribution amp in the attic. Where and how do i connect the RF2 from the FTA box to the network, because im assuming that this needs to be connected to the distribution amp as the connection point of the network.

All your help and the other posts are of great help.
Thanks and regards
J

Peter Rhea

Just use a 2-way combiner with power pass, example here & here.

Both RF2s into the 'out' ports & the combined signal from the 'in' to the distribution amp.

necstandards

Excellent, i'll try pick one up in maplin tomorrow..
Is it possible to connect in a normal attic arial into this network to get rte channels when using the FTA box, and how would i do that. just windering if i need to get more components. (All new tvs with saorview)
Regards
j

jgbyr

Can you connect the aerial to the aerial in on one of the sky boxes. The signal is carried then with the sky signal through the rf2 out which you intend to feed to the distribution amp.

necstandards

Not currently, but i could move the FTA into the attic, connect the aerial to it and re-run the dish cable to it.

jgbyr

necstandards wrote: »

Excellent, i'll try pick one up in maplin tomorrow.

Did you get this setup working?

necstandards

Well i got a combiner, hope its the correct type (attached photo). Ive connected but it seems that i have to turn off either sky box to watch the other one from the bedroom, thru the eye. Maybe i havent it connected correctly, maybe you could comment..
1. Connected the HD box RF2 to the DC pass 'OUT' of the splitter (left hand connection of the combiner)
2. Connected the FTA RF2 to to the 'OUT' of the splitter (right hand connection of the combiner)
3. Made up a short cable and connected the 'IN' connection of the splitter to the TV IN of the amp.

Another piece of info
The Amp that im using has a red led light. This illumintes when i connect the RF2 of the HD box to the TV IN connection, however when i connect the RF2 of the FTA box, this LED does not illuminate. Is this a problem?

Tks
J

jgbyr

That sounds like the rf out power isn't turned on for the fta box. Have you checked the rf settings, services 4 0 1 select.

Peter Rhea

necstandards wrote: »

Well i got a combiner, hope its the correct type (attached photo). Ive connected but it seems that i have to turn off either sky box to watch the other one from the bedroom, thru the eye.

What exactly do you mean here? What UHF channel have you tuned each box to?

The Amp that im using has a red led light. This illumintes when i connect the RF2 of the HD box to the TV IN connection, however when i connect the RF2 of the FTA box, this LED does not illuminate. Is this a problem?

Only one leg of the combiner passes DC power, as you've noted yourself. It won't matter if the FTA box RF2 power is switched off.

necstandards

To explain more. I have a tv in the bedroom with a magic eye tuned to channel 2. The HD box is connected to the sitting room TV via HDMI cable. The FTA box is in the other sitting room. Using the new combiner (the way that i have connected it, mentioned already), in the bedroom - via the magic eye, i can only have one sky box turned on. If both are turned on, nothing shows up only meaningless interference. I'm leaving this tv on channel 2. Do i need to retune the tv so that i need two seperate channels to view either sky box?
Thanks a mill
J

Peter Rhea

necstandards wrote: »

Do i need to retune the tv so that i need two seperate channels to view either sky box?

Yes, the RF2 outputs must use separate UHF channels: keep the output from the Sky boxes at least 2 channels apart & when/if you include the terrestrial aerial feed, you'll have to take anything picked up there into account too.

Info on how to set the RF output on SD & HD boxes here.

necstandards

Excellent, got it working perfect last night. So on the bedroom tv, i have the Sky+ box tuned into channel 1 and the FTA box into channel 2. Using either remote now i can watch either box.
Thanks for all the support here, couldnt do it without it.
J

Peter Rhea

Glad to hear it's working. Just be aware that adding an aerial to the system can degrade the RF2 signal, with both wanted & unwanted signals playing a part, or the RF2 can interfere with the wanted terrestrial signal.

It may prove necessary to retune the RF2 output channel on one or both boxes, but cross that bridge when you come to it.

necstandards

Hi again.. I’ve some more questions to ask. All has been working perfectly, but I want to upgrade my system again..
Now I’ve gone away and purchased a suitable saorview aerial so that we can watch saorview channels on both TV #1 & 2 (see attached schematic).
I don’t know where I should connect in the aerial thou, would appreciate some more invaluable advise!

Thk
J

Peter Rhea

My 1st choice for connecting the aerial would be the RF-in of one of the Sky boxes, if this is any way convenient.

Another combiner might work (or it might degrade the tv picture & stop the remotes working), a frequency selective type would be best, if the Saorview channel allocation in your area allows this.