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Cable from communal Sky dish to the apartment

  • 08-03-2018 05:54PM
    #1
    omb0wyn5ehpij9
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,066 ✭✭✭✭


    I am moving into a new apartment next week. The block is wired for Virgin Media and can get all features and their fastest broadband. Eir can't provide TV services and can only provide 8mb broadband. So my idea is to get Virgin broadband and then Sky TV. There is a communal Sky dish according to Sky. From what I gather, this was installed years after the apartment was built as the girl on the phone said that the installer would need to run a cable in through an external wall.

    This will be a rented apartment so will need to know what drilling through an external wall will be like. Does anybody have any experience of this (and pics)?

    On a side note, I read some very old posts that connections of this nature from a communal dish do not have the option of recording one channel while watching a different channel, is that true?


Comments

  • #2
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 24,122 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    I have this, very small hole, abut the width of two cables, about 1cm diameter, I'll take a pic when I get home.

    In my case I can record one channel while watching another (due to two cables). I think that is the case for most communal installs, but maybe there are some exceptions.


  • #3
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 98,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭Capt'n Midnight


    A good few satellite receivers can loop two tuners on one cable. So the second tuner can record another channel, but ONLY if it's on the same H or V , low or high frequency. So the channels you can record on the second tuner depend on what you are watching on the main one.

    Because of BBC/ITN regions and +1 channels and repeats you can stretch it a wee bit.


    A second cable is always a better option :)


    Edit - AFAIK SKY don't use this but some communal systems may
    http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/unicab.htm


  • #4
    Thurston?
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,278 ✭✭✭Thurston?


    BDJW wrote: »
    ... There is a communal Sky dish according to Sky. From what I gather, this was installed years after the apartment was built as the girl on the phone said that the installer would need to run a cable in through an external wall.

    This will be a rented apartment so will need to know what drilling through an external wall will be like. Does anybody have any experience of this (and pics)?

    On a side note, I read some very old posts that connections of this nature from a communal dish do not have the option of recording one channel while watching a different channel, is that true?

    I've read on here before that some Sky communal setups use fibre distribution, & this cuts down on unsightliness etc. where external cable runs are involved. Also no problems with limited receiver function, as everything is carried on the single fibre cable, & converted back to an electrical signal in the apartment itself.


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