Communal Dish with no communal TV system?

[Hpoint]

Hi! 

I am having Sky Q installed into my flat and received a message saying the engineer  will need access to my buildings communal tv system as we share a dish. I contacted the company that manages the building but they said they have no knowledge on where the communal tv system is which really confused me. 

I have access to some of the cupboards within the building so I tried to look for it myself, but most of them are filled with switch boxes and I couldn't see anything similar to the diagrams online. 

I had a look in my flat and found a " 2- way IR pass distribution amplifier" in one of my cupboards which had a satellite input leading into it and two wires coming out which are the satellite sockets in my front room. My building is relatively new ( built in 2012)  so could it be the case I have a direct line from the satellite dish or is this usually a device that connects to the communal system?

Many thanks 

[Stephen+Mourton]

Your flat and the others in your block and indeed any other blocks in your complex should have a management committee made up of a handful of residents who control the price of cleaning of the communal areas, likewise the gardens etc, they also advice on rules regarding keeping pets, the putting of things on the outside walls including satellite dishes which are often forbidden, they should know about the communal tv system in the complex if there is one.

[Chrisee]

@Hpoint those sockets will have to be connected at the other end to some kit even if whoever you asked was not aware of it. Try asking your neighbours if they have Sky Q how it was installed. The dnginer may know where the kit is if other customers have Sky Q.

However even if Sky Q cannot be installed it looks like Sky are about to announce a new service that wont need a dish see this thread 

[bob1234]

@HpointI would have another go at your management company as they are the people you pay for maintenance of common areas and facilities it is unlikely that a build of that date does not have a communal dish and distribution system.

If you have a satellite type socket (a screw in type) and usually labeled satellite you have some sort of communal system.

It is also worth looking at the contract you have with management company and see if there is any reference to communal systems.

[Stephen+Mourton]

There is nothing wrong with @bob1234 advice and indeed that may work.  My own experience of  dealing with management companies they usually have a large portfolio of properties and finding someone at their head office that knows your apartment bock intimately may prove challenging.  As I mentioned above your complex will almost certainly have a management committee made up of other residents who volunteer to deal with a lot of the more general issues affecting your flat.  

When you moved in you should have been informed who they are and who to contact, if not then ask your managing agents.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Hpoint wrote:

My building is relatively new ( built in 2012)  so could it be the case I have a direct line from the satellite dish 

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Typically not, because for Sky Q that would require one dish per dwelling unit which generally isn't viable for more than a few units under planning control.  Sharing a directly cabled dish connection between more than one unit raises issues with electrical safety, which is another reason distribution systems are deployed.