Where do i go?

Potential-Monke

So i finally picked up a Saorview STB (had Sky for a few years and then nothing for the last 1 1/2 years, but renting out a room now so want some channels). It's a brand new STB, but i can't guarantee that it's working for the following reason:

There does not appear to be a working analogue cable in the house. I have where the connection should be, but it was just a hole, and when i took the cover off i found the end of 2 thick black cables, one with a bit of copper sticking out. So i figured that must be the cable i'm looking for, and done a quick job to get it to connect to the STB, but it still can't pick up any channels.

I also tried the STB on a similar cable (with no connection) in the bedroom which i've never used before, again taking the opinion that it's the old analogue cable for RTE, and i still couldn't find any channels.

I do remember when the Sky man came out he said that he had set up the TV so that if Sky is out i can still access the Irish channels through the normal TV Stations. But the only 2 cables left after i removed the Sky STB are 2 similar black cables with screw connections. Would either of these be the cable i'm looking for if i changed the connection?

Or who/where would i go to see if this can be sorted? The house was built 11 years ago so i'd imagine that it was piped for RTE et al.

Cheers in advance!

The Cush

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I do remember when the Sky man came out he said that he had set up the TV so that if Sky is out i can still access the Irish channels through the normal TV Stations. But the only 2 cables left after i removed the Sky STB are 2 similar black cables with screw connections. Would either of these be the cable i'm looking for if i changed the connection?

Or who/where would i go to see if this can be sorted? The house was built 11 years ago so i'd imagine that it was piped for RTE et al.

http://www.saorview.ie/what-is-saorview/make-the-switch/

A Saorview STB or TV requires an aerial, is there an aerial installed on the property?

The cables in the wall in the the main room and bedroom probably run back to a central point in the house, attic or press for connection to an aerial/dish in future but I assume the Sky installer ran his own cables from the dish to the Sky box.

The screw on connections (F- connectors) are for connecting to a satellite receiver but I'm wondering if the Sky man combined the TV aerial with the satellite signal when the dish was installed?

You could test the cables on the STB by replacing the F-connectors with regular co-ax push-in connectors. You will be able to pick one up locally, Dunnes Stores/tesco, DIY shop, TV shop etc.

If you can't do it yourself get an installer in, list of registered installers here or look up the yellow pages to find a local installer.

Peter Rhea

Potential-Monke wrote: »

. . . I do remember when the Sky man came out he said that he had set up the TV so that if Sky is out i can still access the Irish channels through the normal TV Stations. But the only 2 cables left after i removed the Sky STB are 2 similar black cables with screw connections.

So there is no cable plugged into the aerial input of the tv itself?

Potential-Monke

Sound for that, and i'm 99.9% sure there's an aerial there. I have vague recollections of watching RTE and TV3 before i got Sky after buying the house in '09, and i'm also fairly confident that the Sky man tuned in the Irish channels in case Sky went down. He ran his own cables, but as for the central switch i've no idea. Maybe he re-routed the aerial cable with his. Are the 2 that go into the back of the Sky box specifically for Sky?

I'll pick up a couple of the co-ax push in connectors tomorrow and try the Sky cables and see what happens.

Peter Rhea wrote: »

So there is no cable plugged into the aerial input of the tv itself?

No, it was going through scart.

Cheers again!

Peter Rhea

Sky+ needs 2 cables from the dish, if it's to work properly. Strange the installer would say he had terrestrial set up as a backup, if he didn't actually connect anything.

Your Sky box can still be used for free-to-air channels. In most of the country, a terrestrial-only Saorview box won't be any use for UK channels.

The Cush

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Are the 2 that go into the back of the Sky box specifically for Sky?

It is possible to combine the satellite signal with an aerial signal, maybe the Sky installer did this when he installed the dish. Test both cables with the STB.

It that doesn't work you'll have to get an installer in to check the situation with the aerial and cabling.

Potential-Monke

Cheers for the info, it's getting a bit late now to be pulling out the (stupid) amount of cables behind the tv so i'll give it another go tomorrow when i get the proper connections!