TV system installation for apartment block

Seamus1964

Hi everyone!

I have been asked to find a company (VAT registered) who can provide TV system setup in 32 rooms.
Each room has 2 cables coming down to the central panel.
One cable to be provided with Saorview signal, another one to be provided with satellite signal (Astra 2/Freesat) so apartement owner can use either SKY or Freesat.
Setup requires Saorview aerial and communal dish (no individual dishes allowed)
No any other equipment like set top boxes or sat tv decoders required at this time.

Location is in county Sligo.

Can anyone recommend TV installation companies nearby (Sligo,Mayo,Roscommon)who can handle this kind of job?

Tony

Try http://www.isaa.tv/

The Cush

Installers association - http://www.isaa.tv/isaamap.htm

Also suggest that you use the 2 cables to supply a combined satellite and Saorview signal down each cable which would allow each apartment to use a twin-tuner Sky+ or Freesat+ PVR and Saorview too. The satellite and saorview signal is split behind the TV e.g. http://www.vision-products.co.uk/catalogue/product/V33-23PLUS.

Seamus1964

Thanks for the link,lads
Diplexers are not required as there are two cables already present. Who wants to get SkyPlus can disconnect aerial cable and hook up second feed from dish.
Still waiting other recommendations, Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon areas peferred.

The Cush

Seamus1964 wrote: »

Diplexers are not required as there are two cables already present. Who wants to get SkyPlus can disconnect aerial cable and hook up second feed from dish.
Still waiting other recommendations, Sligo, Mayo and Roscommon areas peferred.

Another list here - http://www.nationalguild.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=140#sligo

Sky+ carries the Irish channels so no problem there but if someone wants to go down the free tv route Freesat doesn't carry the Irish channels so the if an apartment wanted the flexibility of a twin-tuner Freesat+ PVR and Saorview+ PVR to watch and record both services diplexing the 2 feeds would be an option.

zg3409

Make sure you get installers that are experience in apartment setups. If you get a one man pony company they might not be able to install it properly and fix any problems. The equipment used to set it up are not normally used by normal TV installers.

It is VERY important you get a long term guarantee, and possibly a longer term maintenance contract.

As already said, 2 satellite cables should be a minimum these days. You can combine Saorview and Satellite on one cable, and use the second cable for satellite only.

Any person quoting will need a site visit to determine existing ducts, cabling etc.

Assuming the coax cables are not already run to each apartment and if you are retro fitting an existing apartment block, you should consider installing fibre optic cables instead of coax cables. This is because they are far smaller and cause less disturbance to existing tenants. In some cases it can actually work out cheaper too.

If the cables have already been ran top a central point each one will need to be tested for quality and possible damage. I have seen coax cables dragged and knotted during installation. Sometimes it can be totally broken inside, often the cable is the cheapest possible quality and can sometimes not carry a satellite signal over long runs.

Seamus1964

Thanks buddy,very good point!

I found one website http://www.industrialvideo.ie and I'm looking something like this but more nearby. But in another hand - distance does not matter as long as efficient back up service will be provided.
In my own opinion it takes 1-2 days and at least two man to complete this job. Its a huuuuuge house with many many corners...
I am pretty sure that most them installers from isaa and that another website carries only one pair of pliers in them minivan..

St Senan

Give http://www.tonratv.ie/commercial_tv_system.html a call they specialize in what you are wanting done.

ISAA

I'm not going to comment on your silly statement (I am pretty sure that most them installers from isaa and that another website carries only one pair of pliers in them minivan)

Seamus1964

Ok, can you recommend me somebody from your website then for this kind of job.
It would be highly appreciated ,thanks for advance

JTMan

I live in an apartment block. It is wired for UPC and also wired for Sky. There are circa. 200 apartments.

Roughly, what are the costs per apartment to get FTA satellite installed?

What are the steps involved? I guess step one is to approach the management company?

Many thanks.

Kristopherus

Navarre wrote: »

Give http://www.tonratv.ie/commercial_tv_system.html a call they specialize in what you are wanting done.

+1. Can recommend. See him passing regularly. But he is over 50 miles from Sligo.

Seamus1964

Not too bad, acceptable distance

zg3409

Fungus wrote: »

I live in an apartment block. It is wired for UPC and also wired for Sky. There are circa. 200 apartments.

Roughly, what are the costs per apartment to get FTA satellite installed?

What are the steps involved? I guess step one is to approach the management company?

Many thanks.

Hi Fungus,

It might be better to start a new thread. In summary it depends on what is currently installed. I it Fibre to a small box, then coax? Is there an outet you can get Saorview on? Can you take a photo of the connections? Can you try hooking up a Saorview TV and doing a scan and see if you get channes like RTE NEWS NOW?

The managment company may not know. Who paid for the install, did Sky pay for it? If so there may be no free Irish channels on it. You normally can get Free UK channels just by cancelling Sky and keeping the box.

STB

Fungus wrote: »

I live in an apartment block. It is wired for UPC and also wired for Sky. There are circa. 200 apartments.

Roughly, what are the costs per apartment to get FTA satellite installed?

What are the steps involved? I guess step one is to approach the management company?

Many thanks.

Wired for Sky!

I doubt it unless your management company are useless.

Have you tried connecting a FTA box to the satellite connection (you refer to it as Sky). They are the one and the same. Except one uses a proprietary box that involves paying Sky, the other is a Free to Air Satellite box with no subcription charges. The communal satellite dish provides the signal for both.

Seamus1964

I think I got it sorted, waiting quotations now.
Thanks everybody for your help, I really appreciate that!

JTMan

Thats ZG3402 and STB.

Sky did the install. Sky did it free of charge, after some haggling, with the management company. Sky keep sending leaflets sayings Sky is in the apartment block and they can hook up my apartment. I would say that the management company gave Sky free reign to install it whatever way they wanted.

Sky did not place a connection box in every apartment. Sky will install the connection box when you request it as part of the install. Hence, I cannot test for Saorview or FTA.

What are my options? Should I subscribe to Sky for a year and then I should have FTA after one year?

zg3409

Fungus wrote: »

What are my options? Should I subscribe to Sky for a year and then I should have FTA after one year?

You should ask your neighbours did they put in two cables or 1. If it is one they should not be able to record one show while watching another.

I suspect if Sky install a cable for you, they may lock you into at least a 12 month if not longer contract.

Sky deliberately, normally, do not include terrestrial channels, so if you leave, you have no way of geting RTE, TV3 etc, as they are not free via Satellite.

As to what to do, yes you could sign up for a year and cancel. However if Sky own the cable and system they might/may have a right to disconnect the cable at the other end. If they do not, which they probably won't, you could use the box without a subscription but recording will be disabled. You should be very sure of what will happen before signing up.

Be warned also Sky is addictive and expensive, if you, or anyone in the household, get hooked on pay channels then it is hard to leave.

A better solution of you want recording is to get a freesat box with recording. You could try get the Irish channels using an indoor aerial or hanging an aerial outside the window.

You should try and insist on getting 2 cables.

On a more interesting note, is that after 2 years, no company can have a monopoly on an apartment system. In theory all the residents could opt for their own system, which could provide RTE for "free" to all apartments. However Sky may own the exisiting cables and may not allow you to use them. I am not sure on the legal details, but in theory everyone could throw Sky out, and anyone that wanted to keep Sky just pay Sky for the box, everyone else could access all free channels with their own boxes. There would possibly be a quite high upfront cost ,and maintence costs but it would give more choices and possibly cost savings for those who only want the free channels.

JTMan

Thanks ZG.

So my options seem to be:
(1) Get a 12 month Sky contract, disconnect about 12 months. Then use FTA and Saorview. Risks include Sky fully pulling the plug and Saorview reception been crap.
(2) "A better solution of you want recording is to get a freesat box". Do you mean after the 12 months are up? Who could install the Freesat set up for me if Sky own all the wires?

Could I approach the management company and suggest a FTA / Saorview installation is complete for all residents? How much would this cost roughly?

zg3409

Fungus wrote: »

Thanks ZG.

So my options seem to be:
(1) Get a 12 month Sky contract, disconnect about 12 months. Then use FTA and Saorview. Risks include Sky fully pulling the plug and Saorview reception been crap.
(2) "A better solution of you want recording is to get a freesat box". Do you mean after the 12 months are up? Who could install the Freesat set up for me if Sky own all the wires?

Could I approach the management company and suggest a FTA / Saorview installation is complete for all residents? How much would this cost roughly?

If Sky do not disconnect the wires, which they probably won't do (as it would cost them a specialised engineer callout to disconnect, and again to reconnect) then you can just buy the box yourself and connect it to the cables. It's as easy/hard as connecting a DVD player.

Regarding all residents for FTA/Sky it very much depends who owns the cables and what existing ducts and drilling etc would be required. The equipment is not cheap, but the labour is far more. You would also be asking Sky users to fund the installation and they would see no immediate benefit. If you can aviod it for the moment then I would. Costs could be a few hundred/thousand per apartment but it very much depends on layout etc.
If most people already have cables installed, and they own the cables then there is no need to run new cables to each apartment. This is the main cost and work. Currently Sky maintain the system for free, without that you would need a maintence contract.

JTMan

Right, Sky for 12 months it is for me, followed by FTA. Goodbye UPC.

It is a shame that, in this day and age, there is no way to have a small discreet hidden satellite dish in an apartment complex. It is also a shame that there is no legal decent IPTV packages available.

Peter Rhea

Fungus wrote: »

It is a shame that, in this day and age, there is no way to have a small discreet hidden satellite dish in an apartment complex.

No, the 'master antenna' & distribution system is the way to go 'in this day & age'. Only it should be available to residents to connect their own equipment, not under the control of a pay tv operation.