topic Re: Identify sky dish cables in Sky Q

Identify sky dish cables

Tim08 — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 16:53:23 GMT

I currently have sky Q but I am thinking of leaving because of the price. I'm looking to use my old sky+ box but need to change my LNB. I've ordered a replacement Hybrid one which has 4 + 2 ports, but my current LNB has 3 cables. How do I know which cable to put into the correct port on the new LNB?

Re: Identify sky dish cables

nigea99 — Sat, 08 Mar 2025 18:04:11 GMT

@Tim08 wrote:

I currently have sky Q but I am thinking of leaving because of the price. I'm looking to use my old sky+ box but need to change my LNB. I've ordered a replacement Hybrid one which has 4 + 2 ports, but my current LNB has 3 cables. How do I know which cable to put into the correct port on the new LNB?

hi @Tim08

If you have SKY Q then the LNB will only have 2 cables actually connected (unless you already have a Hybrid LNB)

Is there any reason why you cannot trace the cables from the box to the LNB and any other cable ?

As a matter of interest why have you ordered a Hybrid LNB - is it just to use with SKY Q before cancelling or is there some other reason ?

Re: Identify sky dish cables

Tim08 — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 10:26:06 GMT

I cannot trace the cables as the are hidden behind the fascia boards. I've ordered a hybrid because I might use Freesat or something else in the future and I thought I'd cover myself.

Re: Identify sky dish cables

nigea99 — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 10:42:38 GMT

@Tim08 wrote:

I cannot trace the cables as the are hidden behind the fascia boards. I've ordered a hybrid because I might use Freesat or something else in the future and I thought I'd cover myself.

hi @Tim08

The Freesat 4K boxes will work with either Wideband feeds (as used by SKY Q) or older style 'Universal' outputs

As I mention the existing SKY Q LNB will only have 2 cables connected so maybe easiset just to identify which ones they are and mark them (maybe by just wrapping some insulating tape aourn them - or around the one not connected..

The wideband feeds send the different polarities down each of the 2 cables but it doesn't matter which way round they are connected

If you do need to identify each cable independently one way to identify is to have only one cable connected at the box end at a time and making sure you don't short out the cable check with a multimeter across the central core to shielding and see which has voltage

Do you know where there the 3rd cable goes to - is that another room ?

How do you plan to align the new LNB ?

Re: Identify sky dish cables

Godfrey — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 11:38:30 GMT

@Tim08 If you have ordered a Geo-Sync compatible Hybrid LNB, this link will help you fit the replacement dish arm mounting collar which will be required to mount the new compatible LNB.

Pay particular care in centering the Spirit Level bubble, and then set the LNB skew angle that is required for the area where you live.

Geo-Sync installation guide

Godfrey.

Re: Identify sky dish cables

Tim08 — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:01:57 GMT

I have multi room set up in the bedroom so that's where the other cable goes to I assume.

Re: Identify sky dish cables

Laing1 — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 15:53:21 GMT

@Tim08 wrote:

I have multi room set up in the bedroom so that's where the other cable goes to I assume.

@Tim08 If you have Sky Q then the mini box is not connected to the Sky dish the mini box gets its signal from the main box by either wifi or ethernet. Its most likely a redundant cable thats not connected to the LNB from if you have multiroom with Sky+HD

It looks as though I have 6 cabbles as I had 2 multiroom boxes when I had Sky+HD but 4 of these cables are redundent and not connected to the LNB.