Engineer could not replace SKY HD box because he could not install new aerial

[Stephen+88]

We booked a visit to upgrade from a SKY HD box to a QBox.. Despite SKY having information that we are upgrading and they say in their literature that the engineer will replace aerial where necessary, the SKY engineer said he could not install an aerial himself and therefore could not install the QBox. Another engineer was not available to install the aerial that day so the installation would need to be cancelled and rebooked. In addition where an installation requires a ladder (when did it ever not require a ladder) SKY's H&S requirements required drilling into the wall. (ladders are dangerous but never in my long experience in the construction industry have I come across ladders needing to be screwed to walls for working on a 2 storey house.) On top of that the current location for the HD aerial which is fine apparently would not be fine for the new aerial.

We could, we were advised, pay for an independent aerial installer. We decided to do so. He is coming in a few days time. Rebooking for SKY install of QBox is at the earliest in 3 weeks time. Of course it is impossible to find a contact to talk to at SKY. Am I wrong in thinking this is not service of the highest standard from SKY.

[GD1]

@Stephen+88  You do mean Dish not aerial as Sky boxes cannot use an aerial it has to be a dish.

[Stephen+88]

Yes. Dish. 

[MightyQuinn]

Hi @Stephen+88   A picture is worth a thousand words. Any chance of a image of the current location. The installers have no choice but to follow Sky H&S rules or lose their livelihood or worse still their life.

[Daniel0210]

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@Stephen+88 wrote:

We could, we were advised, pay for an independent aerial installer. We decided to do so. He is coming in a few days time. 

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@Stephen+88 

Be aware that should your system suffer signal problems you'll end up in the same position whereby a Sky engineer may have issues accessing the dish. 

[bob1234]

@Stephen+88Unfortunately this is not legislation although sometimes installers say it is. Sky set their own H&S rules and drilling holes to secure ladders is one of them. There are many ways to secure a ladder but it is easier for Sky to set strict rules than to leave it to the discretion of the installer.

The standard installer does not carry a long ladder and it needs a "working at heights" team to deal with jobs such as this.

Just to cheer you up it has been known for Sky installers to refuse to connect to dishes etc that others have installed. If you have the work done by an independent he needs to provide a Q LNB and TWO cables from the dish to where you want the Q box to go. The existing cable may/maynot be suitable for one of the cables.

[Godfrey]

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@Stephen+88 wrote:...........We could, we were advised, pay for an independent aerial installer. We decided to do so. He is coming in a few days time. Rebooking for SKY install of QBox is at the earliest in 3 weeks time.

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It might be worth re-scheduling the independent satellite specialist installer, who will change your present legacy Universal LNB to a Wideband LNB, to attend on the day before the Sky engineer is booked.

Because, once the LNB is changed from legacy 'Universal' to 'Wideband' you will no longer be able to use it to provide satellite transponder signals that are compatible with your existing Sky+HD receiver.