sky plus installation please look

[cherylc1107]

i currently a sky customer and have been you over 2 years and wanted to upgrade to sky plus however on calling them they advised me that the cost will be £99 then i thought i could buy one off ebay however again they said its not as easy has switching over the box.

 

just wondering if it is that easy and are they just trying to [problem] more money from me?

 

also told them that due to the high price i was going to have a look at virgin media v+ service and they left it like that.

 

please help would i be wasting me money buying one if i cant install it myself

[barracad]

You can't just switch the box over as the Sky+ box requires two inputs rather than just one, so you need an extra cable running from the dish to your box.

 

Ring them again and ask to be put through to their cancellations department. Tell them you want to cancel your subscription as you want the Sky+ service and are going to Virgin Media instead. They may offer to upgrade you but you will need to say you're cancelling first rather than just make an enquiry about it.

[DOBBYDOG]

I did exactly as Barra says and i got mine for free

 

They do have to come and make alterations though so you cant just swap the boxes. It wont work.

[buzby]

Not only an 'extra cable' but an LNB fitted to the dish that provides both H/V outputs, without this the + box will only work for half the channels recieved. Because existing dishes are notoriously difficult to upgrade, a completely new installation is required, with new dish, twin LNB and double cable run.

[sharkie]

Cheryl

 

Buzby, Barracad, and Dobby Dog are correct, although the Sky + box would accept just one input, that would defeat the object as its the opportunity to watch and record two programs is one of the features.

I installed my own, using my old dish with a new double LNB (that's because I won't have anyone work on anything of mine), however the Sky chap had to commission it.

I don't think the features are available if you don't subscribe so they've got you anyway.

I would try as Barracad and Dobby Dog suggested and try and get it for free.

[robin9342]

I don't think the features are available if you don't subscribe so they've got you anyway.

True, but as I understand it, there is no longer an extra monthly charge to have Sky+ (It was an extra £10)

[Tricky_Dicky]

Hi I installed my own sky+, it is simple.

 

Buy a SKY+ box and a Quad lnb

(got mine from ebay with a free quad lnb for £99)

Clip the new lnb to the arm of the dish (be careful not to move the dish out of alignment)

Run another length of coax cable to your sky receiver

connect both cables to the SKY+ receiver

Call sky to assign card to box and activate sky+ recording facility (free if you already subscribe to movies or sport)

Job done.

You will still have 2 outputs free on the lnb so you can run another cable to your bedroom and use your old receiver to view the free channels

 

P.S. I tried the I'm going to leave routine after 8 years and got the reply "OK then we will cancel your subscription"

[buzby]

The 'spare' outputs from the LNB are polarised... meaning each will only receive H horizontal or V vertical polarised channels. Using this with a standard receiver means have the channels will not be available unless you recombine them into one.

[sharkie]

P.S. I tried the I'm going to leave routine after 8 years and got the reply "OK then we will cancel your subscription"

 

 

Yes they don't care if you threaten to leave now.

 

Years ago they would give you free stuff, now its fine we'll cancel your subscription, then the extra features on your Sky + box won't work.

 

As for the Quad Lnb, when I did my installation the maximum was a twin.

 

A meter to align the dish is less than twenty quid mine has paid for its self many times over.

[crh]

The 'spare' outputs from the LNB are polarised... meaning each will only receive H horizontal or V vertical polarised channels. Using this with a standard receiver means have the channels will not be available unless you recombine them into one.

 

 

not so true, your getting confused between a Quattro LNB and Quad LNB.

 

A quattro has four outputs broken down into Horizontal High band, Horizontal Low band and Vertical High Band, Vertical Low band. this LNB will only work with a multiswitch and is only really for installations where you need more than 5 boxes

 

a quad LNB has four outputs to feed four boxes where each signal type is multiplexed down a single cable down to the box. This is the LNB sky will most commonly install

 

as long as you buy a quad lnb you'll be fine but the major problem is do you know how to crimp a f connector?

[buzby]

The distinction isn'r lost on me, but there have been so many disputes on eBay with punters purchasing a Quad (4 output) LNB to find them configured 2 x H and 2 x V. This doesn;t cause problems to a Sky box but will if the user wants 4 V/H feeds. THe point really is there's more to it than meets the eye, and an uninformed user can be caught unawares.

 

Crimp an F? Never had to buy the tool - a rubber boot and a scew-in-F has done me well over the last 15 years. No point buying a tool you'll only use once!

[crh]

The distinction isn'r lost on me, but there have been so many disputes on eBay with punters purchasing a Quad (4 output) LNB to find them configured 2 x H and 2 x V. This doesn;t cause problems to a Sky box but will if the user wants 4 V/H feeds. THe point really is there's more to it than meets the eye, and an uninformed user can be caught unawares.

 

Crimp an F? Never had to buy the tool - a rubber boot and a scew-in-F has done me well over the last 15 years. No point buying a tool you'll only use once!

 

of course it will cause a problem if you have a quattro lnb then plug a single feed from the horizontal high into the box then you'll only get channels on the horizontal high you could get bbc one but you wouldnt get mtv because it sits on the V

 

i dont really see your point apart from you posted something which was technically misleading

[buzby]

Technically misleading? Oh come on! You've said a quad LNB will work with a Sky + and provide 2 additional outputs for other boxes. I've pointed out not all 'quad' LNBs are created equal and to the untrained eye a 4 output LNB is NOT the same and will cause problems. I've several Quad LNBs that these days would rightfully be called Quattro, but their branded QUAD with V/H. No confusion on my part. Either way, I've been installing dishes for Sky since their were on the OTS (prior to the Astra launches). So cool the 'misleading' bit - I'll guarantee you it'll be easy even now for someone to buy or assume a quad and quattro LNB are one and the same. The fact this has been pointed out helps everyone. Sorry if you feel this misleads.

[IdaInFife]

or if you can get a friend to join sky you both can get free skyplus box and only pay for install.

 

you can do that online

 

Idax