second satellite receiver

[daveyjay]

one for Daveh75 or 8009514:

Is it possible to run a second cable off of an existing sat dish to feed a second freesat box? My mum currently uses an aging Sony Sky receiver to watch all the free satellite channels, whilst my dad uses a freeview set top box for his viewnig in a different room. If it is possible, is it an easy job for a novice or should I call in a pro?

Thanks in advance.

 

[The_Lhc]

Yes it's perfectly possible, whether you could do it depends on how confident you feel in drilling holes through your parents walls...

 

[daveh75]

It's certainly within the scope of any competent diyer,yes.

Your parents dish will almost certainly have single LNB fitted though,so you'll need to replace it with one with multiple output's i.e a quad.

Changing the LNB is a simple task,The LNB's on Sky mini-dishes just slide into the end of the dish feed arm and are held in place by a locating pin that pushes through a hole in the feed arm/LNB spigot.

So to remove it it's just a case of prising out the locating pin with a screwdriver, and the sliding out the LNB from feed arm, be careful though if working at height/up ladders, as the LNB can be a tight fit in the arm and may take quite a bit of force to remove it- You dont want to find yourself off balance when the LNB 'lets go' whilst at the top of a ladder

And make sure you use good quality satellite grade cable such as Webro WF100 and not cheapo rg6 or so called "low loss" cable.

 

[8009514]

daveyjay:
one for Daveh75 or 8009514:

Is it possible to run a second cable off of an existing sat dish to feed a second freesat box? My mum currently uses an aging Sony Sky receiver to watch all the free satellite channels, whilst my dad uses a freeview set top box for his viewnig in a different room. If it is possible, is it an easy job for a novice or should I call in a pro?

Thanks in advance.

Daveyjay, is this your solution to avoid having to retune your dads freeview box? (I know you had problems with that).

A bit of an extreme solution!!!!!!!!!

 

[Alec]

daveh75 - just so you know, ive responded to your question here http://community.whathifi.com/blogs/reviews/archive/2010/03/26/409600.aspx#410594.

My apologies to the OP for the interruption.

 

[daveh75]

Cheers al

, was just curious as what you found off putting about the EPG tbh...

 

[daveyjay]

Thanks for the replies, chaps. Esp daveh for the detailed description.

8009514 - Heh heh, yeh, I know it sounds extreme, you're right. But the thing is, I've got a never been used Humax freesat box kicking around doing nothing, and I've not had any joy with retuning my dad's old freeview box, so I thought I might give it a go.

In truth, I'd like to get my parents to splash out on some new kit (they're still using CRT TVs that are well past it). But that's a different story.

I might *** into Comet after work and get a new freeview box just to keep everyone happy pending a more permanent solution. Anyone know of any el cheapo Comet specials?

 

[Alec]

daveh75:Cheers al

, was just curious as what you found off putting about the EPG tbh...

Might try and see one working though, and tehn see where i am with my sky contract...