Loft box - Labgear HDU681

[mpg1977]

Hello all,

I plan on connecting our Sky+ to a Labgear HDU681.

Can somebody please tell me how many cables I need to run from the loft to lounge.

I've looked at the diagrams and read other forum articles and can make out that I need at least two cables (down link and up link), but I was unsure from the diagram whether or not I need a third for the Sky+. (ie 2 down links, 1 up link)

I'm connecting to a PSW351T as shown on following link:

Labgear HDU681 8 Way Aerial Amplifier for Satellite TV, Analogue TV, FM, DAB, VCR etc.

Also is normal coax cable adequate to use?


Thank you for any help you may be able to give.

 

[Stevenage Neil]

... but I was unsure from the diagram whether or not I need a third for the Sky+. (ie 2 down links, 1 up link)

Yes you do.

Also is normal coax cable adequate to use?

You should use satellite cable for the down links. Ordinary co-ax cable is OK for the Uplink.

 

[logiciel]

I need at least two cables (down link and up link), but I was unsure from the diagram whether or not I need a third for the Sky+

Surely you already have the two downlinks to the Sky+ receiver of satellite quality cable, and need from it only the one uplink of aerial cable? And don't you also already have an aerial cable into the room?

 

[mpg1977]

Thank you for your replies.

We've just moved to the house and are rewiring so wanted to put cables in at same time. Sky hasn't been installed yet.

What is difference between satalite cable and ordinary coax cable? would it be quality of signal transmitted?

Thanks
Matt

 

[Stevenage Neil]

What is difference between satalite cable and ordinary coax cable? would it be quality of signal transmitted?

Signal loss, (attenuation), at the higher satellite frequencies.

 

[logiciel]

OK Matt, and welcome to AVF. That clarifies the situation.
The Sky installation will give you the two cables from the satellite dish to the Sky+ receiver that are required so that you can record one programme while watching another.
You would normally have as well a rooftop aerial for Freeview and you could install that yourself with aerial cable down to the room together with the aerial cable back from there up to the distribution unit.
Satellite cable is of a different quality from the "ordinary co-ax" that's used for aerials, and no doubt the technical guys here will explain what makes that difference.

 

[Stevenage Neil]

The OP says: "I plan on connecting our Sky+ to a Labgear HDU681. "

 

[Stevenage Neil]

mpg1977 you have to consider that Sky will not, in general, go up into a loft - they will make a connection from the dish directly to the box - ie through your walls.
It may take a "crossing of palms with silver" or an independent installer to wire up as you wish.

 

[mpg1977]

mpg1977 you have to consider that Sky will not, in general, go up into a loft - they will make a connection from the dish directly to the box - ie through your walls.
It may take a "crossing of palms with silver" or an independent installer to wire up as you wish.

Thanks, I thought they may not be keen to do that. I'll see what I can agree with them!

 

[logiciel]

The OP says: "I plan on connecting our Sky+ to a Labgear HDU681. "

Yes, I was taking that point but not too literally, as it could have meant only that the Sky+ receiver was going to be involved somewhere within the system. That's why I referred only indirectly in "Sky installation will give you the two cables from the satellite dish to the Sky+ receiver" to your point that the installation would not involve connecting from the dish to the device in the loft.

 

[MartinPickering]

Ordinary co-ax cable is OK for the Uplink.

I disagree. Modern so-called "low loss" aerial cable frequently has extremely poor screening, which can allow interference in and cause intermittent operation of the "magic eye". If there's a choice, use double-screened cable. if you are forced to use an existing cable, watch out for intermittent problems.