Can 2 Sky boxes be connected to the same satellite dish?

red1028 · 04-12-2006, 8:52 PM

I've just upgraded from Sky to Sky HD, which means I'll have a spare Sky digibox. Can I keep this old digibox connected to the satellite dish after my new Sky HD box is added? I'm thinking of getting a Sky freeview card for the old box.

I know HD comes with Sky+, but I've got a brand new Sony RDR-HXD860 that will be sitting idle, apart from when I play DVD's. I've only got an analogue signal going through it at the moment, and I'd like to make use of the EPG capabilities with it (which I assume I could, and if it only costs me a £20 freeview card why not).

Also, can you upgrade the quality of cable that comes from the LNB on the satellite dish, only I've forked out for gold plated cables, and I don't know if the cable coming from the dish would therefore be the 'weak link'?

Thanks in advance.

hornydragon · 04-12-2006, 8:59 PM

gold plated cables arent worth it for the gold..........

you should have been fitted wth a 4 ouput LNB you can use the spare box on a spare output and get free channels

ailean · 04-12-2006, 9:35 PM

On a simular note can you connect a SkyHD box to two dishes?

I've got a larger, old dish round the side, probably only a single LNB (never used it).

I'm wondering if it'll have better reception during bad weather to avoid the corruption of planner.

Is it possible to have one dish per input or is the lnb power only one input?

red1028 · 05-12-2006, 9:49 AM

hornydragon,

It's being installed this Thursday. Would a Sky installer have a quad LNB output with him, seeing he needs to have a 2 LNB one for Sky+? Also, does anyone know if he would then claim it's not part of the standard installation? As I see it, I've already got a satellite dish up anyway, so that will save him/her some time and effort, and a new LNB needs to be fitted anyway, so what's it to them if it's a 2 or 4 LNB output?

Is it worth me buying a 4 LNB output and handing it over to be fitted? I've seen a 0.2dB Titanium Quad LNB for £42.95 (see link), how does that compare? Is it worth paying extra for better quality to reduce any reduction in quality?

http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/skylnb.htm

Sorry, lots of questions, but very grateful for any advice.

SimplyGed · 05-12-2006, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red1028

hornydragon,

It's being installed this Thursday. Would a Sky installer have a quad LNB output with him, seeing he needs to have a 2 LNB one for Sky+? Also, does anyone know if he would then claim it's not part of the standard installation? As I see it, I've already got a satellite dish up anyway, so that will save him/her some time and effort, and a new LNB needs to be fitted anyway, so what's it to them if it's a 2 or 4 LNB output?

Is it worth me buying a 4 LNB output and handing it over to be fitted? I've seen a 0.2dB Titanium Quad LNB for £42.95 (see link), how does that compare? Is it worth paying extra for better quality to reduce any reduction in quality?

http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/skylnb.htm

Sorry, lots of questions, but very grateful for any advice.

The engineer should have all the neccessary equipment.
How long have you had your existing dish?
Mine was going rusty when I got HD installed and the engineer replaced the dish for me. (I already had a 4LNB fitted).
You shouldn't have to pay for the new dish, as it is part of your standard installation. If you've already got one fitted, then it's a nobus for the engineer as the job should take less time to complete.

I would guess that he may replace the dish from a 2LNB to a 4LNB just for the future. After all, Sky want people to have as many boxes installed as they can !

HTH

hornydragon · 05-12-2006, 11:18 AM

a QUAD, 4ouput LNB is standard for HD and Sky+ Now ifyou have an old twin LNB get the Quad fitted and for an Xmas tip i am sure he will rn the extra cable for the old box

GeoffWork · 05-12-2006, 1:01 PM

My installer replaced the whole kit, dish cables etc, super job. He replaced the 4 way LNB with an octo and moved my Sky+ into the bedroom.

-=Rob=- · 05-12-2006, 2:18 PM

When I had HD installed, The engineer installed a cable to my bedroom upstairs, moved the digibox and installed a qual LMB instead of a double for £30. I got a freesat card from Sky for £20, so all in it cost £50 for multiroom with no sub's, allbeit less channels but hey it's free forever now!

red1028 · 06-12-2006, 11:19 AM

I've just read that Sky subscribers viewing cards become freesat cards once a subscription is cancelled. Anyone else heard that? Would that include just the card being cancelled (to be replaced with a SkyHD one)?

-=Rob=- · 06-12-2006, 4:46 PM

No they use the same viewing card when you upgrade to HD....

TaylorMUK · 07-12-2006, 6:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red1028

I've just read that Sky subscribers viewing cards become freesat cards once a subscription is cancelled. Anyone else heard that? Would that include just the card being cancelled (to be replaced with a SkyHD one)?

That's true. I had a full package multiroom subscription (pre HD days). When I cancelled the multiroom the card and box just worked as a freesat installation. twin 40s2000 is also correct when HD is installed the same card is used and paired with the HD box.

red1028 · 07-12-2006, 8:50 AM

Thanks for the info, the installer is due today and I was sweating that I hadn't received a new viewing card. It's 8:48am, now where is that engineer...