Thinking of upgrading to MySky

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cldlr76

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#82227 25-Apr-2011 16:53

Hi,

I'm looking at upgrading from normal sky to Mysky and just have a couple of questions about the install.

Since Sky was orginally installed I have redone the wiring in the lounge and run all the coaxil in the walls and put in cat5e cabling.

Is upgrading to MySky just a matter of the installer swapping the old STB for the new STB or will they need to run new or additional cabling, and will they be happy using my cabling - I didn't add any extra cable, basically just moved the cabling they orginally install and made some new f-connections and installed faceplates.

Also does Mysky require a telephone line permenantly plugged in? There is currently no phone line at the existing sky box, but its just a matter of moving a patch lead to get phone there.

cheers

DjShadow

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#462218 25-Apr-2011 16:58

They will replace your LNB with a Quad one and run 2 cables from it (basically if they decide to start using Optus D3 it won't be much of a mission for them), phone line its basically the same as for standard decoders

cldlr76

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#462233 25-Apr-2011 17:47

So will they run the 2 cables in the wall and terminate it on the wall plate or will they just go straight through the wall from outside and terminate it straight at the decoder.

Also we have 2 decoders so do they just run the 2 cables from the dish to the split point, then carry 2 onto the mysky site and just 1 to the standard decoder?

Oh and 1 more thing, I currently use the rf out on the decoder we are looking at replacing to get the sky feed in the bedroom via coaxial, looking through the forum it looks like that can't be done anymore, is that the case?

ipsearch

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#462343 26-Apr-2011 09:13

SKY installer will just replace our old SKY decorder with MySKI box and you do not require phone line. I have got it installed recently.

Cheers

Dunnersfella

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#462352 26-Apr-2011 09:30

The installer who put our MySky in, ran a single cable - and as we're on naked broadband, we're not running the box into a phone line.
We made it clear to our installer that we'd prefer a neat job over anything else, so he ran a single cable... what that will mean in the future - I'm not sure, but I'm pleased with the job as it is.

Dingbatt

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#462378 26-Apr-2011 10:21

Because of the amount Sky pays the installer they will always try to do the the job that is the quickest for them. If you want a tidy, considered installation you are possibly better to run some Sky quality cable yourself. That is what I did and then got the technician to install the f-connectors on the ends of the cable. Because I had done the cable he was more than happy to do the f-connectors and make up a couple of cables to go from the the wallplates to the decoder.

Phone line is not essential.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

cldlr76

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#463121 27-Apr-2011 18:52

Thanks for the replies, The installer is coming on Monday, I'm hoping to get the guy to redo a couple of my f-connectors because a couple of my DIY ones are a bit dodgy.

Has anyone had any experince with the modulators they install for $50.00 to get sky in another room? how do they work, how big are they etc?

Cheers

HP

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Speedy885

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#463155 27-Apr-2011 21:20

cldlr76: Thanks for the replies, The installer is coming on Monday, I'm hoping to get the guy to redo a couple of my f-connectors because a couple of my DIY ones are a bit dodgy.

Has anyone had any experince with the modulators they install for $50.00 to get sky in another room? how do they work, how big are they etc?

Cheers

Regarding the modulators the ones sky supply are apparently mono.

Jaycar sell modulators like this one: http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LM3878 for $72 which im pretty sure is stereo.

Or this one: http://jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=LM3879 which is stereo but is a bit higher in price at $90.

manaia

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#463582 29-Apr-2011 07:47

Is upgrading to MySky just a matter of the installer swapping the old STB for the new STB or will they need to run new or additional cabling, and will they be happy using my cabling - I didn't add any extra cable, basically just moved the cabling they orginally install and made some new f-connections and installed faceplates.

Also does Mysky require a telephone line permenantly plugged in? There is currently no phone line at the existing sky box, but its just a matter of moving a patch lead to get phone there.

The MySKY currently needs only one cable to work. SKY's had a practice for a long time of upgrading the LNB to dual-throat (i.e. sees both D1 & D3 simultaneously) on MySKY installs, and also has been getting installers to run dual cables. I've heard rumours that installers are no-longer running dual cables but don't know for sure.

The dual-throat LNB can see both satellites, but still has only one output, so cannot support a multi-tuner household (e.g. one with a single MySKY) accessing content simultaneously from both D1 & D3. If SKY were to move onto D3 for expansion, not redundancy, then the installation would need an upgraded LNB (e.g. a quad-output, dual throat which could output both polarities on both satellites). A dual-cable install would then permit the MySKY to see one polarity on both satellites simultaneously.

My guess is that the installer will look at your setup and say "sweet - no cabling required". You might get a new LNB but I'd be surprised if the installer would insist on running a new cable, and you seem to have your phone system well sorted.

cyril7

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#463586 29-Apr-2011 08:21

To confirm manaia's comments, I had a conversation with the Skys national Installer manager at Sky HQ recently, there is no longer a requirement for dual cables for a MySky, and the official line is that there is no short or medium term intent to use capacity on D3.

That said, I personally would still recommend 3coax runs from a central roof space cable congreation area to all major AV sites, this will allow for future dual feeds plus FTA and UHF return to other rooms. In minor AV sites 2 coax runs is good although a single with duplexing will allow for both LBand and UHF.

From the central coax congregation point (where all room feeds can be connected, and fed from) I still recommend two coaxs to the roof, one for Sky and one for UHF (assuming its available), if Sky need another LBand feed in future and its not easy to run another feed for the then again a duplex with the UHF will save the day.

Obviously as a minimum 1 coax feed to any AV point to the central cable point is sufficient, however if you want UHF in and UHF out (ie antenna in and antenna+SkyModulator return) from a AV location to feed the rest of the house then at least two coaxs will be needed with diplexing or as I said ideally 3.

As for commercial installs (MDU/Apartments etc), its my understanding (from the above discussions) that dual backbone RG11 feeders and RG6 laterals must be installed for future options, with amps and taps for the 2nd feed only fitted if its not possible access in future.

For those of you worried about the lack of expansion onto D3, I should note that with the release of terrestial use of the spectrum occupied by Optus fleet TP9 that that TP on D1 (2 muxs worth) is now in/or about to be used by Sky, in addition to compressor software advances that has allowed increased capacity on D1.

Cheers
Cyril