Satellite Port issue - couldn’t install sky Q

[JB2904]

Hello, was wondering if anyone can help with the below:

We had a sky engineer come out yesterday to install sky Q, we have the 2 satellite ports required already installed in the house (from

when it was built). When in the loft checking the connection to both ports the engineer could see that one Port was receiving signal but one wasn't, and therefore he said that he could no longer continue the install, and it was postponed.

I have had an aerial engineer out today to have a look and he couldn't see anything wrong with the connections, but obviously he didn't fish the whole cable out of the wall and check that.  What he did notice was that I have a spare TV port that isn't being used, and he did question why the sky engineer could not have used that, along with the 1 working satellite port.  Is this something sky can do?

Otherwise I'm not sure what my options are?

Thanks 

 

[JB2904]

 

[oldfella]

Hi @JB2904 

Sky's preference for dish cables is from dish direct to Q box without Wallplates.

However if the wall plate has straight through F connectors (female/female) they can be used.   Some satellite wallplates contain filters that do not work with Q.

Certainly the TV port cannot be used with Sky Q.

Suggest you get an independent Satellite installer an not just an aerial engineer to check your installation before going back to Sky

[JB2904]

Thanks @oldfella - would an electrician be able to diagnose the problem or is a satellite fitter best?  If the cable is damaged or something like that, is it case of an easy replacement, or would drilling through the wall and bypassing the faceplate be the only way?

[oldfella]

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@JB2904 wrote:

Thanks @oldfella - would an electrician be able to diagnose the problem or is a satellite fitter best?  If the cable is damaged or something like that, is it case of an easy replacement, or would drilling through the wall and bypassing the faceplate be the only way?

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Hi @JB2904 

Cannot judge how competent with Satellite systems your electrician is likely to be unfortunately.

Same really for the cables.    If in the wall cavity they will be difficult to check or replace.

Certainly an option to install new cables through the wall.   Could be the Wallplate could be used if they are straight through connectors and there is the possibility to drill through to the outside for new cables.   Obviously also needs to be suitable dish position with satellite line of sight.

[TimmyBGood]

@JB2904 

A 'TV port' ends up at an aerial, not the Sky dish.  While it's not impossible that such a cable could be disconnected from wherever the aerial is and either patched to an existing satellite cable or even brought all the way out to the dish, plus terminated at an F-connector rather than a socket at the Q box end, that's a major undertaking and there's no way a Sky installer would even attempt it.

[bob1234]

@JB2904Your best bet is an independent satellite installer BUT make sure he has worked on Q and has the correct test meter so he can see what the actual signal is.

He if competent should be able to check the outputs from the LNB in the dish and if necessary trace where they go/don't go quite easily without pulling cables about. Simply connecting the centre conductor to the screening at the LNB end and looking to see which cable is short circuit with a basic meter. The job starts to get complicated/expensive if it does not go anywhere.

The two feeds on the separate plate look as though they are straight through types BUT again a satellite installer would know and could change if appropriate.

Try and get a quote first as it could either be very easy and "cheap" or difficult and expensive.