Sky Q Single feed from lnb

[deepblue]

Hi,

I may be moving from sky+hd to Sky q . The issue I have is that when my property was built all the cables were hidden within ..in other words currently a single feed from the lnb into the roof space then around the rooms.  I dont really want external cabling around my property. Now, I've done some research and also contacted sky  and have been told that i will need a dual feed from a new lnb etc. I have also been informed if I had a different lnb to the one supplied by sky i can still use a single feed ( in other words no need to change the exisiting cable . If that's correct can someone tell me which is the best lnb to purchase...i guess the sky installer will not use it so i may have to do it myself ( if i can get them to send the box ). I can then change the settings.  If this is a non starter then it may have to be the stream box. BTW I do not reocrd any stuff.

[nigea99]

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@deepblue wrote:

Hi,

I may be moving from sky+hd to Sky q . The issue I have is that when my property was built all the cables were hidden within ..in other words currently a single feed from the lnb into the roof space then around the rooms.  I dont really want external cabling around my property. Now, I've done some research and also contacted sky  and have been told that i will need a dual feed from a new lnb etc. I have also been informed if I had a different lnb to the one supplied by sky i can still use a single feed ( in other words no need to change the exisiting cable . If that's correct can someone tell me which is the best lnb to purchase...i guess the sky installer will not use it so i may have to do it myself ( if i can get them to send the box ). I can then change the settings.  If this is a non starter then it may have to be the stream box. BTW I do not reocrd any stuff.

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hi @deepblue 

Yes the standard LNBs used for SKY Q need a twin cable as each cable carries a different polarity

SKY Q boxes can work with a single cable using digital siganls to control this is called dSCR mode and used in communal systems

I believe there are some dSCR LNBs that can work with a single cable but I am not sure whether they need special set up etc & if you were to get one whether SKY would  support one - the official policy is not to support any LNBs not supplied by them

I will tag our kind expert @Godfrey who may be able to give you more specific info regarding dSCR LNBs

BTW you may wish to read some notes I have made for people considering switching from SKY +/HD to SKY Q

SKY +/HD to SKY Q 

[deepblue]

many thanks for quick response and the info.

[Chodley]

"Around the rooms"? So you had more than one sky box fed off that one cable? How was it distributed, was there a box in the middle?

[deepblue]

Just one box in lounge...so whatever was on i had to watch same channel in say kitchen/bedroom ..i was ok with that. had other kit in the electric cupboard...aerial amplifier/SPS1  etc ..i also have standard aerial in loft. I do realize that I may have issues with freeview etc on tv's in the bedrooms...wiring was put in 19 years ago...everything was off sky. sockets were installed in 5 different locations. A little complicated which could become redundant.

[Godfrey]

@deepblue   The cost and complexity would depend on whether you wished to maintain a feed of Terrestrial Television for FreeView to the present 5 destinations whilst providing a Single Feed Router signal for a Sky Q receiver in your lounge.

How many coaxial cables are running between your loft area and the electric cupboard where your present Radio / Terrestrial Television distribution amplifier is presently installed, is it one cable for Terrestrial Television and one cable for the Legacy Universal satellite LNB output.

The fact that you mention that you can presently distribute the RF output of your Sky+ Receiver to the bedrooms suggests that you have at least two coaxial cables between your lounge and the distribution amplifier in your electric cupboard because this would require one coaxial cable feed from the amplifier to provide a diplexed feed of VHF / DAB Radio, Terrestrial Television, and Legacy Universal LNB signals to the lounge media plate, and a second 'return' coaxial cable feeding the RF output from your Sky+ receiver back to the distribution amplifier in your electric cupboard.

Godfrey.

[Godfrey]

@deepblue   It is now quite a long time since Global Invacom stopped offering their dCSS LNB pre-programmed for UK Sky Q receivers, but this website based in Jersey would appear to still have stock.

NB  It has a 40mm mounting collar so you would also need to obtain a 40mm mounting clamp for your existing Sky MiniDish, or replace your old Sky MiniDish with a traditional design of satellite dish which would then provide the shape of reflector to accurately match the feedhorn of this LNB, this design of dish  would already be fitted with an industry standard 40 mm mounting collar.

Like most Global Invacom products my test sample performed very well back in April 2022.

Have a look on the FortunaJersey.com website for a Global Invacom dCSS LNB ( D 0 0 0 3 6 2 )

Bear in mind that this LNB will not provide a signal that suits your present Sky+ receiver, and the specialist satellite engineer who installs it needs to understand that it will continually present a strong unmodulated 'User Band' signal which will then only be modulated with the requested satellite transponder datastream when the dish is pointed within around 3 degrees of the correct alignment.

So, it will prove to be quite tricky to set up if this is the first time that anybody has not previously encountered it, often best to initially aim the dish with a Legacy Universal LNB fitted and then replace with the dCSS LNB.

Godfrey.

[deepblue]

thanks for all the details..

I've checked the website etc for the said lnb .

I may have to speak to the sky people and explain what i want to do otherwise they will just connect with the dual feed  etc.

I intended going for the stream box but they wanted a lot more per month than I'm currently paying but no increase if i went with sky q. 

[Chodley]

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@deepblue wrote:

thanks for all the details..

I've checked the website etc for the said lnb .

I may have to speak to the sky people and explain what i want to do otherwise they will just connect with the dual feed  etc.

I intended going for the stream box but they wanted a lot more per month than I'm currently paying but no increase if i went with sky q. 

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Also bear in mind your current RF redistribution to the other two TVs will not work on a Sky Q box.

[deepblue]

thanks ..yep i'm aware of the issues with sky q ...never mind had nearly 20 years of the use.

I could keep the sky + hd box but when will that go to the bin when sky will not do any updates etc.

[Chodley]

The recycling centre of course 😉