Can I install my own dish and hook up without a Sky technician?

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SumnerBoy

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#84199 26-May-2011 16:39

Hi,

I recently had my old house relocated and am building a new pad on the same site. I have one of those deals with Telecom and Sky combined and I didn't want to lose that so I didn't tell them anything and just keep paying the bills.

I am living at my parents while I build the new place and have hooked up my MySky decoder in my room so at least I am getting my monies worth!

Now when the old house was removed the dish went missing. It was taken down and then was nicked off the site that night.

Just wondering how much a dish would cost to buy myself and install? And how hard is it to line up with the satellite etc? I can't imagine it is that tricky...

I could then do the install myself and hook it all up to my current decoder, and Sky would be none the wiser...not that I am doing anything wrong of course!

Ben

Kyanar

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#474488 26-May-2011 17:20

Actually, you technically are doing something wrong. In the giant essay on the back of your original installation form, it says you will only use Sky approved equipment with their service - and that includes the dish. As a matter of fact, that's not even your dish - it's Sky's dish.

To be honest, if you do the install yourself you're going to be in for a world of hassle if you ever have issues with the service - the first thing they'll do if they have to send a tech out will be to bill you for the service call as it's not done by their people. And because you have their equipment, you're legally obliged to notify them that you moved anyway.

illicit

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#474595 26-May-2011 22:11

Ring Sky, tell them you have moved - they arrive, install new dish and connect it = $80.

Legal and cheap = problem solved.

SumnerBoy

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#474600 26-May-2011 22:20

Cheers Illicit - wasn't aware I was doing anything illegal - I am paying my monthly bill and will be back at that property in a few months. Was just trying to figure out the best way to go about getting things reconnected.

Unfortunately they probably won't buy the 'I moved' story since my billing address will be the same!

tdgeek

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#474620 27-May-2011 00:13

Call Sky, tell, them this story "I am paying my monthly bill and will be back at that property in a few months. Was just trying to figure out the best way to go about getting things reconnected.
"

Im sure they will be happy to sort it, as Illicit said. Quick, cheap, and covered if there are issues.

Regs

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Snowflake

#474625 27-May-2011 00:47

i built a house and installed my own dish and cables. dont remember the cost at all. sky subsequently came and hooked up their decoder to it. technically *I* didnt connect it to the dish, *they* did, so I can assume they have now "approved" it for use....

wouldnt apply in this case though, as you would be doing the 'installation' of the decoder yourself.

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SumnerBoy

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#474657 27-May-2011 07:54

Yeah that is exactly what I did. Rang and told them I was building and what was the best way to get reconnected. Because the old dish went walkabout during the relocation they are saying I will have to pay for a new one which is probably fair enough. The other problem I have is there is no accessible ceiling space in the whole house - none! So I need to run the cables and mount the dish before the interior lining is done. But Sky wont do an install unless they can hook everything up and connect in one go, which I will be far from ready for. So I think I will have to run the cables myself and get the dish mount installed, and then when the house is complete get Sky to come out and attach the dish to my mount and plug in the decoder.

Dingbatt

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#474681 27-May-2011 09:24

You may be better to bear the expense of buying some Sky grade cable and run it through the walls before lining. If you just leave it unterminated, but easily accessible, the tech doing the install will be able to do the rest without messing up your walls.

At the very least have some draw wires in place to pull the cable through the cavity.

I have just had the lnb on my Sky dish replaced, no hassle no cost, that will not occur if it was your dish/lnb.

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Niel

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#475182 28-May-2011 17:21

Cover the ends of the cables to ensure no water can get in. Best to seal it somehow if you can. Even if only a tiny bit of water gets in it wicks up the cable and you can throw it away (or use it as a draw wire).

You can never have enough Volvos!

ruff

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#480127 11-Jun-2011 18:38

When I built my house I put in my own dish - larger than the sky one, and on a post that I concreted into the site, away from the house, ran the cable x4 through conduit into the house and connected it all up.

Moved the Mysky box from the previous address, pointed the dish the same place as next door then used an inclinometer to get it right, and a tiny tweak for fine tuning. All done, worked just fine now for a couple of years. Pretty easy really.

SumnerBoy

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#480250 12-Jun-2011 09:36

Cheers guys - I have ended up running 4xRG6 from the dish location back to my central hub. Once the lining goes on and things are getting close I will get Sky to come out and install the dish and hook up the box. Hopefully I can convince them to only charge me the standard install fee - $49 or whatever it is.

Appreciate the tips and suggestions.