distributing aerial via sky+ box

syboit

Hi,

I have currently setup a sky+ box in the main room which has rf2 connected to one of the distribution amps in the attic. That then feeds 2 tv's which can control the sky+ box via magic eye's.

I wanted to add aerial into the mix, to tune in soarview on both tv's. When I plugged a cable from aerial box in attic into the "aerial in" on the sky box. I've lost the analog signal for the sky+ and also dont pick up any digital signal for saorview.

Is there something I'm missing ?

Ronnie Raygun

The signal from the aerial must be conflicting with the Sky RF2 channel. You'll have to go into the service menu & change the RF2 output channel (first find out which UHF channels you are likely to be picking up on the aerial; digital & analogue).

syboit

thanks, I checked that and rf was set to channel 69. I changed it to channel 50 but it made no difference.

The aerial can pick up saorview from spurhill and mullaganish.

Ronnie Raygun

You'll have to describe what's connected to what, how many distribution amps etc. & what you changed. You'll probably figure out the solution yourself in the process.

In the old days

syboit wrote: »

Hi,

I have currently setup a sky+ box in the main room which has rf2 connected to one of the distribution amps in the attic. That then feeds 2 tv's which can control the sky+ box via magic eye's.

I wanted to add aerial into the mix, to tune in soarview on both tv's. When I plugged a cable from aerial box in attic into the "aerial in" on the sky box. I've lost the analog signal for the sky+ and also dont pick up any digital signal for saorview.

Is there something I'm missing ?

Check the magic eye is working in other rooms to eliminate any possiblility of the cable to the amp being damaged. Then connect the aerial directly to the distribution amp, bypassing the sky box. Check then if you can get analogue or saorview signals from the transmitters. If this works ok chances are you still have a conflict. You will have at least 8 analogue UHF signals plus possibly Collins Barracks plus the saorview DTT channels flooding in - it may be hard to find a free RF channel. You should look at the RTE NL website to find a free frequency not broadcasting analogue or DTT frequencies from transmitters in range. The RF output from the skybox is very strong so you should find an empty channel ok.

Peter Rhea

Channel 69 isn't anywhere near the output of Spur Hill or Mullaghanish, or any other transmitter receivable in or near Cork city.

syboit

thanks guys, here's the setup

cable comes into attic from aerial on roof and plugs into a powered box, and then out to another aerial splitter box, one in and 4 out (powered).

Cable now goes from attic to aerial in on sky+ box (this is a direct cable).

I plugged that cable into the tv instead of the sky+ box and I was able to pick up the soarview channels from spurhill and mullaganish.

Not sure what the first powered box that the aerial plugs into to, but could that be an issue ?

thanks.

In the old days

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Channel 69 isn't anywhere near the output of Spur Hill or Mullaghanish, or any other transmitter receivable in or near Cork city.

If plugging in the aerial into the sky+ is causing channel 69 and 50 to be blocked out the source of interference must come from the aerial somehow.

In the old days

syboit wrote: »

thanks guys, here's the setup

cable comes into attic from aerial on roof and plugs into a powered box, and then out to another aerial splitter box, one in and 4 out (powered).

Cable now goes from attic to aerial in on sky+ box (this is a direct cable).

I plugged that cable into the tv instead of the sky+ box and I was able to pick up the soarview channels from spurhill and mullaganish.

Not sure what the first powered box that the aerial plugs into to, but could that be an issue ?

thanks.

Are you sure the aerial is plugged into the aerial input on the sky box and not the second output? Try using a cheap Y splitter/combiner joining the sky box output and aerial lead feeding both to your attic. If you can then get saorview and sky RF2 the problem would seem to lie with your skybox or possibly overload from your aerial amp. Quite a curious problem! Hope you get sorted.

Ronnie Raygun

syboit wrote: »

cable comes into attic from aerial on roof and plugs into a powered box, and then out to another aerial splitter box, one in and 4 out (powered).

Cable now goes from attic to aerial in on sky+ box (this is a direct cable).

Direct from where? What does the "splitter box" feed?

Not sure what the first powered box that the aerial plugs into to, but could that be an issue ?

Might be a power supply for a masthead amplifier outside near the aerial. Spur hill Saorview is hugely more powerful than the analogue signal, it's possible there's too much signal for the Sky box to handle.

If the "direct" cable mentioned above doesn't already bypass the powered splitter, you can try bypassing it.

syboit

thanks again,

The second box is something like this, aerial splitter booster

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TV-Aerial-Signal-Booster-4-Way-Amplifier-Radio-Splitter-/390103973276?pt=UK_ConElec_TVAerials_RL&hash=item5ad4023d9c

There is 2 other connections in this, but I havent traced where they go (probably to other bedrooms ) I suppose the can be removed.

I will try your suggestion of by passing these 2 boxes and run direct to the sky box.

forgot to say the direct cable from attic to sky+box is connected into that aerial booster box.

In the old days

syboit wrote: »

thanks again,

The second box is something like this, aerial splitter booster

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TV-Aerial-Signal-Booster-4-Way-Amplifier-Radio-Splitter-/390103973276?pt=UK_ConElec_TVAerials_RL&hash=item5ad4023d9c

There is 2 other connections in this, but I havent traced where they go (probably to other bedrooms ) I suppose the can be removed.

I will try your suggestion of by passing these 2 boxes and run direct to the sky box.

forgot to say the direct cable from attic to sky+box is connected into that aerial booster box.

As Ronnie says I'd bypass the 4 way aerial booster amp to test. If you can get both Spur Hill and Mulla it seems way too much overkill in terms of boosting/distribution.

syboit

Hi,

Bypassing that 4 way booster/splitter box did the trick. Now have soarview/sky-eye's working on both tv's.

Just one other question, I noticed on both tv's that when they doing the digital scan, they find 8 tv stations at channel 21 (mullaganish) and then it stops again at channel 45 (spur hill). But it doesnt find another 8 stations.

Should it have 16 channels (even though they are the same repeated)? Or does the digital scan know its the same channel on 2 different frequencies.

thanks again...

zg3409

It may just be finding a weak signal but not a strong enough signal to show the channels.

In the old days

syboit wrote: »

Hi,

Bypassing that 4 way booster/splitter box did the trick. Now have soarview/sky-eye's working on both tv's.

Just one other question, I noticed on both tv's that when they doing the digital scan, they find 8 tv stations at channel 21 (mullaganish) and then it stops again at channel 45 (spur hill). But it doesnt find another 8 stations.

Should it have 16 channels (even though they are the same repeated)? Or does the digital scan know its the same channel on 2 different frequencies.

thanks again...

Could be either I've seen boxes do both. Could also be that the booster/aerial was set up originally for Mulla and the signal is too weak for Mulla without the booster box. You're not missing anything anyway