Shared Saorsat and Freesat for apartment block

irlrobins

Hey all,

The apartment block I live in was prewired for UPC when constructed. Due to a few residents looking to get Sky subscriptions we allowed Sky to install a dish on the roof (we don't allow individual dishes on balconies) and link it to apartments that require it using fiber running down external walls. This arrangement works well and the fiber cables are not visually intrusive.

A couple of the residents have inquired about getting a similar system installed for Saorview/Freeview so they can get the Irish and UK Channels without a subscription.

Would it be technically possible to install a second satellite on the roof to receive both Saorsat and Freesat and run connecting fiber cables to each apartment? Does such a setup exist?

Any advice welcome, thanks

dubrov

The same dish can be used for Freesat and Sky. The channels are all on the same satellite.

You can just run extra cables from the already existing dish.

You'll need to get an independent installer to do this.

dubrov

Just to add, Saorview is better than Saorsat and is picked up with an aerial.
The signal can be combined with the Freesat signal from the satellite dish and run down the same cable.

For pause/rewind/record Freesat facilities, you'll also need two feeds to each apartment from the satellite dish

irlrobins

dubrov wrote: »

The same dish can be used for Freesat and Sky. The channels are all on the same satellite.

You can just run extra cables from the already existing dish.

You'll need to get an independent installer to do this.

Not sure Sky would allow us to use their dish for Freesat and they'd see the extra cables on site visits. Hence the requirement for separate dish for the free to air.

irlrobins

dubrov wrote: »

Just to add, Saorview is better than Saorsat and is picked up with an aerial.
The signal can be combined with the Freesat signal from the satellite dish and run down the same cable.

For pause/rewind/record Freesat facilities, you'll also need two feeds to each apartment from the satellite dish

Yeah I'd be hopeful that apartments could pick up Saorview with bunny ears connected to TV/decoder, would simplify things if that were the case. Interesting info on the dual cable requirement, thanks.

dubrov

For private single dishes, Sky no longer own the dish once the initial 12 month contract is completed.This may not apply to communal dishes though.
Another option might be to subscribe to Sky and they will do the installation for you. Sky plus facilities will also require two cables from the dish. Once the 12 month contract is completed, you could just end the contract and swap out the Sky box for a Freesat one.

If you are getting a private installation, for the most reliable aerial signal, the best thing to do would be to get the installer to put an aerial on the roof along with the new dish.

I had a look into this before for my apartment block and found KBO the most professional in relation to their quote. Most other installers didn't seem to have any experience with installing apartment block TV solutions.
We never went ahead with the work, though, due to lack of demand.

Johnboy1951

I've never connected to a communal Sky dish, hence the question .......

is there some reason the Sky connection cannot be use for FTA Sat reception?

If it can then it seems the only requirement would be a Saorview aerial set up in addition to it.

If not then I guess a duplicate Sat dish and aerial would be the answer?

dubrov

A communal Sky dish can be used for FTA Sat reception.
However, Sky won't connect you to the dish unless you subscribe to their service for 12 months.

Johnboy1951

dubrov wrote: »

A communal Sky dish can be used for FTA Sat reception.
However, Sky won't connect you to the dish unless you subscribe to their service for 12 months.

Ah, thanks.

I had envisioned all apartments being wired.

The_Conductor

Saorsat requires a different dish, or a multi satellite arm (the satellite is at a different inclination). For apartment blocks, who normally are precluded from having external antenna, a multi system is sometimes used (though- then you enter the realms of multi-dish systems- which unless your users know what they're doing, is a nightmare).

We went the single Sky dish route- then ended up adding a Polish free-sat type dish, then a Lithuanian one- now we have a request for a Canadian/US one, as we have a few US and Canadians after moving in.......... be careful about accommodating a couple of users- a few months down the road you may end up with a few Polish tenants who demand their system- and then Latvians/Lithuanians and then Canadians (their one needs a 2 meter dish!) etc......

Also- check out planning permissions- often there are issues with satellite dishes on apartment blocks (and terrestrial antennas too).

Its a bit of a minefield- if you accommodate one group of people- as soon as you have a few new residents, you end up with a new set of demands.........

maxg

dubrov wrote: »

A communal Sky dish can be used for FTA Sat reception.
However, Sky won't connect you to the dish unless you subscribe to their service for 12 months.

The installation is managed from the installer firm and not from sky. The kbo fibre installation I know offer the ability for non subscribers to get connected for a connection fee.

irlrobins

Thanks guys some useful info there. I'll ask the management agent to investigate it in the new year and see if there's enough interest amongst residents to warrant the cost.