Sky HD box input lead badly corroded and tuner input blocked solid.

swoofer

I checked a sky box today and found the cable on input 2 was very badly corroded, so bad the inner core bit was gone and the little hole in the tuner input was blocked solid. I cut back quite a bit of the lead and it still felt damp. I then went on roof and found a tiny pin prick hole left by a plastic cable joiner but it looked weird in that it had a little pimple facing inwards and it was this that made hole in cable. Now I am not 100% positive this is where the water got it.

I am interested in how water can get in cable in the first place, my buddy does not believe it can happen but they cant explain why cable is corroded. I am positive it can happen and that is why a rain loop is used. These 2 cables are laid along a moss ridden roof, run down side of wall, lots of cable ties, badly fitted, then in at skirting board level enter house. Install is about 18 months.

What damage can the water ingress cause to box and is it a fire hazard? Also am I right in assuming this is sky's fault and a new install should be done free of charge including new box? By the way box says no signal on both inputs now as it was disconnected and then re-connected.

I must admit the sky customer service reaction was woeful, ie THAT CANT HAPPEN. I should add the owner had rang sky mon. tues, wed, pleading for an engineer. One is calling sunday but I fear they will just use same leads.

snaps

When you say laid along a roof you mean the cable comes down over the tiles? If so and the cable isnt secured by clips and it moves in the wind then there's a high chance the cable has rubbed on tile edges or the edge of the gutter and worn through. Ive come across this many times in the past in my installation days.
You will probably have to pay sky for them to come out, I highly doubt they will replace it for free.
Also note if your dish is high up, Sky have a health and safety policy now, where they might not go up there.

swoofer

I did a further check and discovered the install was a new one about 18 months ago but installer used existing fittings, only replaced dish and lnb as existing lnb was an octo!! The cables are probably 20 years old so it was an accident waiting to happen. I found this link as well

http://www.aerialmarket.co.uk/pages.asp?ID=23

I dont think installer was too bothered, which is a shame.

swoofer

just and update, they called today, new cables, new lnb, replacement box, 60 euro, friend is delighted. i would cancel as it was their fault,. They used shotgun cable, run is not very long, signal and quality very good.