Problem with Centralised Satellite System in Apartment Complex

fudgel

A few weeks ago the signal on our satellite receiver started to drop from time to time. Then about a week ago it dropped completely, there has been no signal on any satellite channel since.

I have a spare receiver that I have checked as well and there is no signal on that either. I have also taken both of these receivers to a friends house and tested them against their satellite connection and they work fine there so this confirms that there is no problem with the receivers. I have also tried replacing the cable that goes from the satellite outlet on the wall in our apartment to the receiver and there is still no signal with the new cable.

Having done all of the above, this would lead me to believe that the problem lies somewhere between the satellite outlet on the wall in our apartment and the distribution point. Obviously I have no access to this so I cannot check.

I contacted the management company regarding the issue and they said that they have not received any other complaints regarding the issue and that I should contact my satellite service provider. I have a Free-To-Air receiver so I do not have a service provider. I said to the management company that when they ban individual satellite dishes on apartments and provide a central system, is the upkeep of the system not their responsibility, to which they replied no. They said they can provide access to the system to a qualified engineer but they are not responsible for fixing issues with it.

Is the management company within their rights to not take responsibility for this issue? Another question is when these systems are being installed, who pays for it? Does Sky come along and say that they will do it all for free in the anticipation of gaining new business (in which case I guess Sky are responsible for the maintenance of the system) or does the management company pay a private satellite contractor to fit the system?

the_syco

When you go into the settings of the receiver, does it give you the signal strength percentage?

fudgel

One of the receivers (VU+ Duo2) picks up 0% on strength and quality, the other receiver (some brand from Lidl) picks up 0% on strength but around 50% on quality.

Both receivers work fine when tested against a satellite connection in a friends house.

the_syco

The only thing that I can think of is someone put a screw through the cable. Ask the management company for their recommended cable guy, so they'd hopefully know how the apartment is wired. Going to ask the mods move this to Satellite.

Paulw

fudgel wrote: »

Another question is when these systems are being installed, who pays for it? Does Sky come along and say that they will do it all for free in the anticipation of gaining new business (in which case I guess Sky are responsible for the maintenance of the system) or does the management company pay a private satellite contractor to fit the system?

I have moved the thread to a more technical satellite forum, where you may get a better response.

In general, Sky would install these dishes, but would not provide maintenance. They are installed at no cost to the development, since Sky estimate that the customers that it will bring in would cover the install cost. They would generally have an idea how many customers they may get from previous sales enquiries from the development.

Maintenance would be on a per call basis and charged accordingly. So, if the customer has Sky and it's not working, Sky may send an engineer, at a cost to the customer.

Thurston?

fudgel wrote: »

I contacted the management company regarding the issue and they said that they have not received any other complaints regarding the issue ...

1st thing I would do is double-check this by asking some of the other residents. (I don't mean the MC are lying, just that people mightn't have contacted them.)

How many homes do you think are served by this system?

slegs

It could also be the satellite outlet point in you apartment..maybe something corroded there that needs replacing

fudgel

Sorry can't figure out how to quote messages!

"In general, Sky would install these dishes, but would not provide maintenance. They are installed at no cost to the development, since Sky estimate that the customers that it will bring in would cover the install cost. They would generally have an idea how many customers they may get from previous sales enquiries from the development.

Maintenance would be on a per call basis and charged accordingly. So, if the customer has Sky and it's not working, Sky may send an engineer, at a cost to the customer."

I wasn't aware that if you were being provided with Sky via a communal dish and there was a fault that they would bill the subscriber for this. I would have thought that it is Sky's obligation to provide you with a service. What would happen in the event that there was a fault with the communal dish effecting several subscribers? Who would be sent the bill then?

"1st thing I would do is double-check this by asking some of the other residents. (I don't mean the MC are lying, just that people mightn't have contacted them.)

How many homes do you think are served by this system?"

Yes I will contact some of the neighbours over the weekend to see if anyone else if effected. There are 46 apartments in the complex and I assume all are served by the communal system.

"It could also be the satellite outlet point in you apartment..maybe something corroded there that needs replacing"

I unscrewed the outlet on the wall, there are 2 cables feeding into the outlet. The wall outlet has 2 satellite connections, 1 TV connection and 1 radio connection. I have connected the TV connection to my TV and I can receive terrestrial channels. I guess this would suggest that the outlet is fine and also the cabling (to a certain extend) is fine? If terrestrial and satellite are being carried over the same cable and the terrestrial works.

Does anyone know if it is the landlords duty to provide a satellite / cable connection when there is an aerial / dish ban on apartments in place? I could call out an engineer to look at the issue and get access to the cable ducts and communal dish but I would be responsible for the cost if I do that.

Zyox

Test your original Sky box. Does it get signal on the free stuff/Sky News?

I run a Vu+Duo2 on a shared dish in a complex and recently a Sky contracted engineer came around and replaced all the sharing hardware to upgrade it to SkyQ. This knocked out my signal because then the Vu+Duo2 wasn't set up correctly to receive it but the Sky boxes all worked grand.

Try this setup on your box: link

fudgel

I don't have an actual Sky box but I've also tested another FTA receiver that I bought in Lidl and that doesn't receive any FTA channels so same as the VU+ Duo2. I tried those setting but still no joy.

I've just managed to speak to 2 other tenants in the same block as me and their satellite signal is also completely gone so it looks like it is not an isolated incident effecting my apartment. Both of them are Sky subscribers, and one of them said that Sky is sending an engineer this Monday. So luckily for me there are other tenants who are Sky subscribers complaining to Sky about the issue who will surely have to fix the issue. I guess I shouldn't have to do anymore now really and the issue should be resolved eventually, I'll check with my neighbour after Monday to see what Sky had to say but I guess it could be a slow process as they will need to get access to the central system from the management company.

Thanks for all the replies.

kbell

fudgel wrote: »

I don't have an actual Sky box but I've also tested another FTA receiver that I bought in Lidl and that doesn't receive any FTA channels so same as the VU+ Duo2. I tried those setting but still no joy.

I've just managed to speak to 2 other tenants in the same block as me and their satellite signal is also completely gone so it looks like it is not an isolated incident effecting my apartment. Both of them are Sky subscribers, and one of them said that Sky is sending an engineer this Monday. So luckily for me there are other tenants who are Sky subscribers complaining to Sky about the issue who will surely have to fix the issue. I guess I shouldn't have to do anymore now really and the issue should be resolved eventually, I'll check with my neighbour after Monday to see what Sky had to say but I guess it could be a slow process as they will need to get access to the central system from the management company.

Thanks for all the replies.

Try and make sure that access is available to the installer to dish and comms otherwise his/her visit will be wasted.