Trying to get freesat working in apartment

Raoul Duke

I've just moved into an apartment and the first thing I do is hook up my tv (which has a satellite decoder inbuilt) to the cables coming out of the wall. No signal. So I presume that down at the distribution box the connection to my apartment has been cut off. Would I be correct in thinking this?

What do you think is the best way to get freesat working again? Should I sign up with Sky for a year and then hope that they don't disconnect me when I cancel with them?

I should add that Sky Conway were/are managing the satellite dishes. Apparently though, I think we can go direct to Sky for our tv signal.

Also, with regard to a 12 month contract with Sky, both Sky Q and the HD+ box appear to be the same price per month (€20.65). Which one should I get? If you unplug a Sky Q box, do you get free to air channels the same way as with the HD box?

Thanks for your help in this.

winston_1

Sky Q uses a special LNB which is not compatible with standard sat receivers or decoders built into TVs.

Why don't you speak to your new landlord and tell him the satellite feed does not work?

The Cush

winston_1 wrote: »

Sky Q uses a special LNB which is not compatible with standard sat receivers or decoders built into TVs.

Why don't you speak to your new landlord and tell him the satellite feed does not work?

In apartment blocks they're installing dSCR multiswitches attached to Quattro LNBs which will feed legacy and SkyQ receivers as required. Wideband SkyQ LNBs are used in domestic installs, hybrid SkyQ/legacy LNBs are also used when required.

listermint

Raoul Duke wrote: »

I've just moved into an apartment and the first thing I do is hook up my tv (which has a satellite decoder inbuilt) to the cables coming out of the wall. No signal. So I presume that down at the distribution box the connection to my apartment has been cut off. Would I be correct in thinking this?

What do you think is the best way to get freesat working again? Should I sign up with Sky for a year and then hope that they don't disconnect me when I cancel with them?

I should add that Sky Conway were/are managing the satellite dishes. Apparently though, I think we can go direct to Sky for our tv signal.

Also, with regard to a 12 month contract with Sky, both Sky Q and the HD+ box appear to be the same price per month (€20.65). Which one should I get? If you unplug a Sky Q box, do you get free to air channels the same way as with the HD box?

Thanks for your help in this.

Check if upc are in the building you'll prob need Internet anyway.


Conway are jokers.

Raoul Duke

winston_1 wrote: »

Why don't you speak to your new landlord and tell him the satellite feed does not work?

Sure what can he do except tell me to talk to Sky? I presume the previous tenant was with SkyConway and they switched the feed to the apartment off.

The Cush wrote: »

In apartment blocks they're installing dSCR multiswitches attached to Quattro LNBs which will feed legacy and SkyQ receivers as required. Wideband SkyQ LNBs are used in domestic installs, hybrid SkyQ/legacy LNBs are also used when required.

I have read that a hybrid LNB is needed to get the free to air channels and I suppose that if I was living in a house then I could ask him to install one. However, as it's an apartment block, I presume that the chances of it getting installed, even if I ask for one, is a lot slimmer?

Is the new LNB being installed by Sky proprietary to them? Or is it a new industry standard that the next generation of satellite decoders would be able to work with?

listermint wrote: »

Check if upc are in the building you'll prob need Internet anyway.

Conway are jokers.

Yes, they do seem to have a bad rep. UPC tell me that they are also available now in this apartment block. So I might go with them. But if I'm going with Sky, then their broadband (the 100mb one) as part of a bundle makes sense, economically, for the 12 month contract at least.


I was onto Sky earlier and they told me that they would use new cables from the dish for my apartment. So once the contract is up, it looks like I would still have access to free channels without being disconnected, which is what I was worried about.
And to be sure that I can actually watch those channels in 12 months, I must ignore my natural temptation for the latest tech with the Sky Q and go with the old and trusted HD+.
Unless I'm missing something, that's what I'm going to do. Thanks for your help!

The Cush

Raoul Duke wrote: »

I have read that a hybrid LNB is needed to get the free to air channels and I suppose that if I was living in a house then I could ask him to install one. However, as it's an apartment block, I presume that the chances of it getting installed, even if I ask for one, is a lot slimmer?

Is the new LNB being installed by Sky proprietary to them? Or is it a new industry standard that the next generation of satellite decoders would be able to work with?

Apartment blocks would normally have a Quattro LNB and SkyQ compatible dSCR multiswitch setup to feed all apartments.

Not sure how your block/apartments are wired to the dish but would be surprised if you got your own LNB.

The new SkyQ LNB/hybrid LNB is proprietary to them but I believe there are 1 or 2 other receivers out there than can handle the wideband signal supplied by these LNBs.

winston_1

Raoul Duke wrote: »

Sure what can he do except tell me to talk to Sky? I presume the previous tenant was with SkyConway and they switched the feed to the apartment off.

He can get it fixed. Satellite distribution in flats is nothing to do with sky, though they sometimes subsidise its installation in the hope of getting subs.

Insist you landlord gets it fixed or vote with your feet. Don't be bullied in taking sky for a year which you obviously don't want.

winston_1

By the way read this thread about sky Conway which shows you it is nothing to do with sky.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054912247