Help setting up a Skybox without a sub

joe123

Hey just need some advice/tips/links that would help me out setting up a freeview sky box or other type of box.

Basically I have just moved into a new house and have decided I don't want to go and subscribe to Sky due to cost.

The landlord has told us there is a Satellite dish on the back of the house but everything is currently deactivated at the minute (phone line, no sky sub, no broadband)

If I was to bring a HD sky box to the house, is it just a simple matter of plugging in the sky box to the back of the tv and into an...aerial jack?

Does the phone line need to be activated for it to work?

I have no clue how to set it up but just to get free to air channels would be grand.

I was also recommended to get something called a combi box that would allow me get more channels?

If anyone could help me out with some info or links so I could read up more it would be great.

Getting that sky box set up to get FTA would be the first step though.

Dark sun

Yes it's that simple run cable from dish to sky box,no phone line is required, don't think you'll get Irish channels not sure, but if your tv can receive soarview your sorted.

joe123

Dark sun wrote: »

Yes it's that simple run cable from dish to sky box,no phone line is required, don't think you'll get Irish channels not sure, but if your tv can receive soarview your sorted.

Do you still need the viewing card in the box? No saorview in the tv unfortunately.

gordongekko

The handiest thing might be to get a combi box. Some are saorview approved some not. Have a look in the terrestrial forum. Something like the Ferguson Ariva 150 might do.

you might need to have a quick look in the attic

Reg'stoy

You'll only need the one feed to the box as you will lose all recording functions. Best thing is save the channels you will be able to view for free (free to air) to your favorites.
You will have all the BBC channels plus all the ITV and Channel 4's, you won't get any of the Sky channels.

Sit down and think what shows you normally watch and what channels you watch them on. You will be surprised how many shows are free to view on channels you would not normally watch them on. Granted they might be on later on in the year or you might be able to watch them online.

Free sat is the way to go.

The Cush

How many feeds from the dish do you have to the main TV point?
Is there an aerial feed to the main TV point?

Freesat is the way to go for the UK channels, but no Saorview - http://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/recommended/freesat-plus

joe123

The Cush wrote: »

How many feeds from the dish do you have to the main TV point?
Is there an aerial feed to the main TV point?

Freesat is the way to go for the UK channels, but no Saorview - http://www.freesat.co.uk/get-freesat/recommended/freesat-plus

Im not even too sure. Im not in the house at the minute but I had a quick look yesterday. Where the TV is, there's a regular aerial socket (well I thinks thats what it is) There is another wire coming out too which Im not even too sure what it is.

The wire is a fairly thick one and it has a round top with a tiny pin in the middle of it. Looks like you kinda screw a connection into it.

I might post up a pic on here so to show what Im looking at.

The Cush

Screw-on connector (F-connector) is used for satellite feeds to satellite receiver.

Pics would explain a lot.

joe123

Hey all. Ive tried hooking it up but im just getting a error message "your sky plus box is not receiving a satellite signal"

Ive attached two screenshots. One is of the wall sockets and what I think is the satellite feed?

The second photo are the wires I currently have. Now im not even sure if these wires are suitable as basically I got the box on its own with no wires. The wires in the screenshot were taken from my old apartment wwhere I had upc so not even sure if its compatible in any way.

With the cables it says "2 way splitter". All have those f5? connection slots.

Any help would be great on this.

The Cush

The bundle of cables and splitter from the old apartment will be of no use here.

I assume the thick black cable with the F-connector is from the satellite dish, no signal could indicate a fault with the dish or the LNB on the dish. In the recent storms the dish could have moved or the LNB could've been damaged. You may have to get a professional in to check the dish.

Regarding the aerial socket on the wall, have you tried connecting this to the TV? Is there a standard aerial on the roof?

joe123

Yep thats coming from the dish. When you say the bundle of cables are of no use, do you mean they are wrong type?

On the sky box itself there are two connections side by side that look like they are for an f connection.

what type of cable do I need to connnect the satellite feed wire coming from the wall into these two connections?

Theres no regular aerial just the dish. Are those type of aerial sockets no obsolete anymore due to digital?

Redser13

Is that a power unit that is in the top right of the picture.?

The Cush

joe123 wrote: »

When you say the bundle of cables are of no use, do you mean they are wrong type?

There is nothing on the wall that you can use them with right now to connect to the TV or Sky box.

joe123 wrote: »

On the sky box itself there are two connections side by side that look like they are for an f connection.

what type of cable do I need to connnect the satellite feed wire coming from the wall into these two connections?

You said in an earlier post you were getting no signal, how did you test this?
The cable from the wall appears to be a bit short alright, to extend this you can use one of the cables from the bundle, one of the cables with the screw-on F-connectors at each end, and using an F-connector joiner to connect the cables together. Connect the other end of the cable to the LNB 1 input. The second LNB input would require a second feed from the dish and a Sky sub for recording.

Point to note: ensure when connecting or disconnecting the satellite cable to the Sky box that the box is completely powered down to prevent short circuit damage to the LNB or Sky box.

joe123 wrote: »

Theres no regular aerial just the dish. Are those type of aerial sockets no obsolete anymore due to digital?

No, they are standard co-ax connectors for your standard aerial connection to the TV be it digital or analogue. Is the wall socket connected to the a cable and if so where does this cable go? Is there an aerial in the attic?

joe123

Thanks for the help. The only way I tested the signal was when I had everything hooked up, it said on the tv that the sky box had no satellite signal.

Is the splitter any use? The way I worked it was by hooking the splitter up to the wire coming out of the wall and then hooking the other two wires to the splitter and dish input one and two on the back of the box.

Is it possible for the sky box to work with just one wire or should you have two wires always hooked into the back of the box?

The Cush

joe123 wrote: »

Is the splitter any use? The way I worked it was by hooking the splitter up to the wire coming out of the wall and then hooking the other two wires to the splitter and dish input one and two on the back of the box.

Is it possible for the sky box to work with just one wire or should you have two wires always hooked into the back of the box?

A splitter cannot be used with a satellite feed, each input into a satellite receiver requires a direct connection to the LNB on the dish. You have only 1 feed from the dish there so it should be connected directly to Input 1 only on the receiver. Input 2 requires a second separate feed but in your case it won't work as it is used for Sky+ recording which requires a Sky sub.

To extend the cable you'll require a joiner like the one I linked to above and use one of the existing cables connected to the splitter (the ones with the screw-on connector at each end).

joe123

Cheers for the help. That worked!

I take it if I wanted to get Sky plus, I'd have to get someone out to put in a second wire?

The Cush

joe123 wrote: »

I take it if I wanted to get Sky plus, I'd have to get someone out to put in a second wire?

Yes and a Sky sunscription is also required.