Sky/Saorview/FTA Distribution Query

rookie76

Hi,

I am looking for advice on how to set up a distribution system for 3 tv's in the house, including sky, saorview and free to air.
The following is list of what I have and what I want to achieve (with your help):

- Roof - Sky dish (quad LNB) & Aerial
- Room 1 - Saorview approved tv, Sky+ box, 3 coax sockets from attic
- Room 2 - Old tv without saorview, 1 coax socket
- Room 3 - Old tv without saorview, I coax socket

I currently have the sky split to all tv's but reception in room 2&3 is poor, even though there is a powered Global F140 splitter in the attic.
I was thinking of getting a saorview combi box for room 2 and I have the option of running another cable if necessary.

What I would like is to have all TV's capable of viewing sky, saorview and free to air.
Can this be done without losing picture quality or am I wasting my time. If so what are the best equipment options and how would I set up the cabling. I have some flexibility with rooms 1&2 but room 3 can only have 1 coax socket.
Any advice would be appreciated, even if it is to tell me that I'm mad.

Thanks a lot...........................

zg3409

It should be possible to get a perfect picture on all TVs. The main issue is the quality of existing cabling.

You say current signal is poor. You would need to correct this fault before adding more systems and setups. You need to find the problem with the current setup first. Is the Saorview aerial currently connected directly to the "aerial in" on the Sky box and is the RF2 from the Sky box fed to the global splitter? If so then disconnect the aerial in on the Sky box. Does the picture improve in the other rooms?

rookie76

I will try this out and post back results tomorrow. I'll also check out exact orientation of the connections. Cabling should be ok as it is black satellite cable, but i'll try different connections to eliminate any faulty line.
I'll post results here tomorrow evening.

Thanks

spongerobinson

I have my sky box split to about 6 tvs using a Global F140, and picture is pretty good in all rooms.

it could be that the RF output channel on the sky box is being interfered with and needs to be changed. as zg3409 said, disconnect the aerial from the sky box. If the picture from the sky box then improves in the other rooms, my guess would be you need to change the RF channel...easily done and then would just require a simple retune of your tvs.

rookie76

OK guys.
I have had a closer look. Room 1 which is the main room with sky box etc. is set up as follows:
Cable 1 is combining tv aerial and sat dish from attic and then split in two at socket, with one cable going to sky+ and the other to rf in. As suggested I disconnected the rf in and sky is perfect on other tv's, but lose analogue signal.
Cable 2 is second cable for sky+ recording etc.
Cable 3 is the return to the attic for distribution via the F140.

So looks like the aerial signal is causing the interference.Thanks for that. I will try a different output channel later to see if it improves. also wonder if I run it separately will it improve or is it the connection to the sky box the probably.

What is my best option if I was to start from scratch and run extra cables if required, and also best free to air box etc.(with recording preferably).
Is changing older tv's to Saorview gonna save me a lot of hassle.

Again, aim is to have all options in each room.

Thanks for all tips so far.

spongerobinson

sounds like there are combiners being used for the satellite and terrestrial signal on one cable...I don't see any problem with this once they are set up correctly which it looks as though they are.

if you need help changing the RF out on the sky box...check here. http://www.ukfree.tv/helpme.php?faqid=1107051117

With regards to Room 1 - sounds like you already have an aerial feed there, so your sorted for Saorview, Sky+.

With the other rooms, you'd probably be best off with either a combo box that can do Saorview and Free to air, but as far as I'm aware none of these will give you a full EPG on Free to air channels, so recordings would have to be set manually. For this reason, you might be better off with seperate Saorview and Freesat boxes. Freesat boxes will give you a full EPG.

Humax boxes are probably the best on the market.

http://www.richersounds.com/product/freeview-freesat-pvr/humax/pvr9300t-500gb/huma-pvr9300-500gb

That box would essentially give you the same features as Sky Plus, but only for the Freesat channels. You would need two satellite feeds to each room you want one of these in, similar to Sky Plus.