Multiroom

wiresandmore

Hi

We are looking to re-connect to Sky after going Freesat for a few years. We are in a new house now where the owner previously installed a amplifier/router for the satellite connections which I understand isn't compatible with Sky Q. It's very much hard-wired so difficult to change. So we are looking at the older version (2TB Sky + HD boxes)

I know the new Q boxes make multiroom very easy - do you have to have phone lines installed for the older multiroom boxes which I think was the case in the past? The Sky rep didn't think so which surprised me.

Thanks

The Cush

wiresandmore wrote: »

We are in a new house now where the owner previously installed a amplifier/router for the satellite connections which I understand isn't compatible with Sky Q. It's very much hard-wired so difficult to change. So we are looking at the older version (2TB Sky + HD boxes)

A multiswitch I assume. It can be swapped out for a SkyQ compatible dSCR multiswitch but at a cost - http://www.satshop.co.uk/search/?s=dscr&submit= , this would allow Saorview to be carried to the TV points on the same cable also.

Alternatively you could remove the existing multiswitch and join the incoming cables to the cables going to the main TV point, 2 cables required. Saorview cannot be carried on these cables.

wiresandmore wrote: »

I know the new Q boxes make multiroom very easy - do you have to have phone lines installed for the older multiroom boxes which I think was the case in the past? The Sky rep didn't think so which surprised me.

Phone line no longer required.

Vic_08

wiresandmore wrote: »

Hi

We are looking to re-connect to Sky after going Freesat for a few years. We are in a new house now where the owner previously installed a amplifier/router for the satellite connections which I understand isn't compatible with Sky Q. It's very much hard-wired so difficult to change. So we are looking at the older version (2TB Sky + HD boxes)

I know the new Q boxes make multiroom very easy - do you have to have phone lines installed for the older multiroom boxes which I think was the case in the past? The Sky rep didn't think so which surprised me.

Thanks

The sky rep was correct, phone line connections are no longer required.

It may be easy enough to adapt the current wiring for Sky Q use.

Typically a setup with a multiswitch will have 4 feeds from dish to multiswitch and then any number of feeds to various rooms.

To adapt to sky Q use the LNB on the dish needs replacing. This will have the 2 wideband outputs for the sky Q box, a hybrid LNB that also has a further 4 standard outputs is available.

If you wish to continue with the multiswitch distribution (if you want to run freesat boxes or direct viewing of free channels on tvs) you will need to separately feed the Q box while keeping the 4 cables to the switch. You can do this by getting the Sky installer to route new cables directly to the box or to the location where the multiswitch is to connect directly to the cables going to the room where you want the main Q box. You can then still use the switch to feed all other rooms (and possibly the main room as well if it currently has more than 2 cables from the switch)

If you are happy to lose the switch and connections other than sky Q then when the new LNB is installed all that is needed is to connect 2 cables from the LNB directly to 2 cables to the room where you want the Q box. You will still have 2 cables from the hybrid LNB available so you can also connect these directly to any 2 room feeds bypassing the multiswitch.

Gerry Wicklow

wiresandmore wrote: »

Hi

We are looking to re-connect to Sky after going Freesat for a few years. We are in a new house now where the owner previously installed a amplifier/router for the satellite connections which I understand isn't compatible with Sky Q. It's very much hard-wired so difficult to change. So we are looking at the older version (2TB Sky + HD boxes)

I know the new Q boxes make multiroom very easy - do you have to have phone lines installed for the older multiroom boxes which I think was the case in the past? The Sky rep didn't think so which surprised me.

Thanks

Is this actual satellite connections using F type screw in leads or a simple RF distribution amp from a single Sky box?

wiresandmore

It's a triax box with about 12 f-type outputs on it which go round many rooms in the house (they carry Sat + TV + FM and DAB signals)

wiresandmore

Vic_08 wrote: »

The sky rep was correct, phone line connections are no longer required.

It may be easy enough to adapt the current wiring for Sky Q use.

Typically a setup with a multiswitch will have 4 feeds from dish to multiswitch and then any number of feeds to various rooms.

To adapt to sky Q use the LNB on the dish needs replacing. This will have the 2 wideband outputs for the sky Q box, a hybrid LNB that also has a further 4 standard outputs is available.

If you wish to continue with the multiswitch distribution (if you want to run freesat boxes or direct viewing of free channels on tvs) you will need to separately feed the Q box while keeping the 4 cables to the switch. You can do this by getting the Sky installer to route new cables directly to the box or to the location where the multiswitch is to connect directly to the cables going to the room where you want the main Q box. You can then still use the switch to feed all other rooms (and possibly the main room as well if it currently has more than 2 cables from the switch)

If you are happy to lose the switch and connections other than sky Q then when the new LNB is installed all that is needed is to connect 2 cables from the LNB directly to 2 cables to the room where you want the Q box. You will still have 2 cables from the hybrid LNB available so you can also connect these directly to any 2 room feeds bypassing the multiswitch.

ok, that's very helpful indeed - I need to keep the switch as it feeds several other freesat, Saorview, FM/DAB connections around the house. It's not easy to route new cables to the place where the switch is. I'll have to have another look tonight.

Does the new LNB have 6 outputs then (2 for the Q box, 4 "standard" ones?)

Also, if I go down the Q route, can you connect them via ethernet or do they have to use their own Wifi (which I doubt would work, the distances are large and the walls very thick in the house)?

The Cush

wiresandmore wrote: »

Does the new LNB have 6 outputs then (2 for the Q box, 4 "standard" ones?)

The standard install SkyQ lnb has 2 wideband outputs for direct connection to the receiver. The hybrid LNB has 6 outputs, any of which can be used for SkyQ or legacy receivers as required. The hybrid LNB must be requested at install.

wiresandmore

The Cush wrote: »

The standard install SkyQ lnb has 2 wideband outputs for direct connection to the receiver. The hybrid LNB has 6 outputs, any of which can be used for SkyQ or legacy receivers as required. The hybrid LNB must be requested at install.

ok, thanks - understood - will Sky treat this as a specialist install with greater €€€ up-front?

The Cush

wiresandmore wrote: »

ok, thanks - understood - will Sky treat this as a specialist install with greater €€€ up-front?

No, my brother upgraded to SkyQ about a month ago, he failed to mention he had sat feeds to other rooms when ordering, I met the installer that morning and told him about the other rooms, he said no problem we have an LNB for that.

wiresandmore

ok, thanks

steveon

Your triax Multiswitch may not work with Sky q and so two new cables may be required to be ran directly to where its located and the room's cables you want to put the sky q box in to will need to be removed from the switch and connected directly.

As previously stated a sky hybrid quad will need to be installed, not all sky installers have these so u should request it on install before he arrives..

wiresandmore

Sky offered me older boxes more or less free so I will go with them for now and use the existing wiring. Maybe Q will follow in a year or so. Thanks for all the help and advice!