URGENT - Bought digibox + FTA card??

Andy Mc · 08-02-2002 9:26am #1

Hi,
I bought a digibox and FTA card on ebay but now I'm not sure, so my question is two fold,

1. Can I run a second digibox to another TV from the one dish in other words split the signal?
2. Can I transfer the FTA card over to my digibox from the digibox I have bought or is the card married to the original digibox for life.

If the above cannot be done how feasible with regards to connections to transfer between digiboxes.

Thanks

Andy Mc

Charles Slane · 08-02-2002 10:08am

Hi Andy,

1. You can't split the signal from the dish between two digiboxes. Although you could switch the the cable from one box to the other, and back again. That would get pretty tiresome after a while if you were doing it manually (ie unscrewing the cable at the back). There may be a switching device out there that could do that for you (anyone know ? would diseq switching work ?)

2. The card is not married to the original digibox for life, but it's not as simple as just taking it out of the old box and slotting it into the new one. You would have to ring Sky to get them to marry the new card to the old box (and pretend you live in the UK).

I guess the final alternative would be to put up another dish for the new xbox - that way you wouldn't have to bother switching the cable from one box to another all the time.

Anyone else got any ideas ?

Andy Mc · 08-02-2002 10:12am

Hi Charles/ Forum,

Thanks for the reply. If I ring sky and ask them to switch the card from the digibox I bought to my digibox will they get suspicious , like why would someone do this? What if they ask me for an address in the UK, blocking the number is easy??

ShaneOC · 08-02-2002 10:52am

Hi Andy,

You could always get a dual LNB for the end of your dish. This will allow you to have both boxes permanently connected to the dish and you should be able to run one box through another without any difficulty.

This means that you do not have to contact Sky.

Only problem is if you have both boxes together you will have a very confusing remote control situation.

Charles Slane · 08-02-2002 10:56am

Good thinking Shane.

That's probably the best/least messy solution. I'm sure a local satellite dealer could sort that out pretty cheaply.

dmeehan · 08-02-2002 5:31pm

what is a dual lnb?
can someone explain in laymans terms?

Tony · 08-02-2002 6:48pm

Originally posted by dmeehan
what is a dual lnb?
can someone explain in laymans terms?

Actually whats required is a twin output lnb which is as the name suggests an lnb with two outputs for two receivers. Unfortunately I have been unable to source these for sky dishes.

Regards Tony

chernobyl · 08-02-2002 8:45pm

Just get a standard dual output LNb and some masking tape.

Tony · 08-02-2002 8:48pm

Originally posted by chernobyl
Just get a standard dual output LNb and some masking tape.

I'm not sure this would work as the focal lengths are different between standard and sky digital lnb's

Regards Tony

chernobyl · 08-02-2002 8:53pm

Thats where the masking tape does its sitcky magic.

ShaneOC · 09-02-2002 2:32pm

You could always get a quad LNB. There would be two spare connections available for future use and I think they are not as hard to get for Sky dishes.

freetoair · 11-02-2002 1:31pm

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chernobyl: Thats where the masking tape does its sitcky magic.
**********************************

I had my installation upgraded to a twin output LNB for the very same purpose only 3 months ago.
Total cost was £100 for installation but installer could not source correct size lnb for minidish arm. So he improvised and cut the bottom from the LNB holder and as Chernobyl suggested used loads of masking tape. Works fine and we now have a digibox in two rooms.
But if considering upgrading to SKY+ at a later date I'd suggest going for the quad lnb as the dual will not allow you to run a SKY + box and another box.

Shop around independent installers for prices.

URGENT - Bought digibox + FTA card??

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