How to swap Sky Digi box to Sky+

[Dave Mill]

Hello,

I'm getting Sky HD installed on 22nd so my Sky+ will no longer be needed, what I would like to know is, a friend has Sky but I have offered to give them my Sky+ box, what do they need to do, I know I can just swap the boxes over but do they need to contact Sky CS and request a second cable and a new viewing card or just tell them the number of the card that I have in the box already and will it work a few minutes later? (They pay for 2 Premium packages already I think)

David.

[SamRadford]

They must install* a second cable and swap the LNB for a quad-output type.
Then phone Sky and ask for their card to be paired to the new SKY+ box. They'll probably also have to sign a new contract which includes an additional £10 a month for the recording facility.

*Or get someone else to do it - Sky or an independent.

Do NOT give them your card or its number!

[peter_pan]

They could have the sky + box with just the one line in from the dish but they wouldn’t be able to recorded one program and watch another, it will still recorded on standby as normal.

If they do have 2 premium packages then they wont need to pay the £10 extra subscription.

[SamRadford]

Originally Posted by peter_pan

If they do have 2 premium packages then they wont need to pay the £10 extra subscription.

Correct, I missed that point.

[Dave Mill]

Cheers for the replies, do you really think they will have to sign a new (12 month??) contract?

Also I have just been told they have two magic eyes (2 other rooms) connected, will this be a simple plug and play job?

It's quite funny, they are worried that it would be complicated to use Sky+, I have assured them that it is so much simpler than recording with their VHS recorder. They will look at getting a second cable fitted after I have given them the box, I have told them the benefit to this will be huge (well I think so anyway).

[Bluevanman]

Also I have just been told they have two magic eyes (2 other rooms) connected, will this be a simple plug and play job?

Not quite, they will need to go into the installer menu and check the RF output frequncy of their existing box, and then set the Sky+ to the same one, and also turn on the 2nd RF output power.

[Dave Mill]

Thanks again!

[STOWITBELOW]

Originally Posted by SamRadford

They must install* a second cable and swap the LNB for a quad-output type.

I dont see why, as + needs 2 feeds, so a duel LNB should be ok. I understood Quads are fitted for 'expandability' ie so you can multi room even with 2 + boxes. (still need the 2nd wire though) Also, Ive no experience, but read on here without the two feeds + doesnt work at all. (unlike has been suggested that it partialy works) I think I'll go & unplug one feed & find out!!

[peter_pan]

They do partly work with just one feed, it will record a program when you are watching it but all the other channels will be blank while its recording . If you are watching another channel when the recording starts than it wont record. That channel will just show a blank screen when you turn to it. So it best to start the recording when watching that program not to set it to record earlier.

It will record as normal on standby though.

[SamRadford]

Originally Posted by STOWITBELOW

I dont see why, as + needs 2 feeds, so a duel LNB should be ok.

Because "duel" (or even "twin-output") LNBs are no longer manufactured for the Sky minidish.

[STOWITBELOW]

You learn something new everyday! However they were a standard fit for many years, & it's probable one is fitted & can be used avoiding disturbing alignment & buying a new LNB - unless a single is fitted already, then no choice. Ebay has a ready supply of LNBs, single, Dual, & Quad, so someone must be making them.

[SamRadford]

A "Dual" LNB is a "monobloc" for two satellite reception and is totally unsuitable. If you really want to limit it to two connections, look for a "twin-output" LNB. But, when these were available (going back 3 years) they were more expensive than quad-output LNBs.

Sky took them off the market allegedly "because they caused problems". I suspect it was really because they wanted everyone to go for SKY+ multiroom installations. Never the less, I'd be wary about buying an LNB that Sky deemed troublesome.

[Tony Hoyle]

They are still available for some configurations - I bought one only last year brand new. It's not a standard dish though, and you can't (AFAIK) get quads for that kind of dish.

[SamRadford]

Quad-outut LNBs are available for Sky minidish spigot fixing, standard 40mm clamp and C120 flange fitting. Twin-ouput LNBs are available for the latter two but not for Sky minidish.

[STOWITBELOW]

Originally Posted by STOWITBELOW

You learn something new everyday!

& more than one thing on some days!
I don't know what the difference between a dual LNB or one with 2 outputs is. My original (pre +) set had an LNB that had two outputs (a dual?), allowing for 2 installs 1 dish (multiroom). When they fitted + they swaped the LNB for 'a quad' that only uses 2 outputs & leaves 2 free (for multiroom). I dont see why what I thought of as 'a dual' would not support +, or why if such an LNB is exchangeable with a quad, how they've not got interchangeable fittings? Im thinking if the LNBs already fitted has got 2 outputs then unless you require more of them, why fit a new LNB?