Using Sky HD box with Sky Q dish

[HarryR]

It might have been answered before but I cannot find the answer I want. I recently cancelled my Sky Q subscription and returned the Q box back. I have an old Sky + HD box lying around. I want to use them for watching Freeview channels. Is this possible? 

[GD1 · Accepted solution]

@HarryR  Freeview is via an Aerial, you mean Freesat (there is a difference)  You would need to change the LNB from the Sky Q type (Wideband) to a Universal  type for Sky HD (A hybrid one would also do the job).

[Mark39]

Most likely not, I'm afraid. Sky Q dishes aren't compatible with Sky+, unless you had a hybrid LNB (on the arm of the dish) fitted. Your Sky+ box won't receive a signal.

[HarryR]

Ta mate. Yes I did mean Freesat. Might sound a stupid question, is it fairly straightforward to change LNB or will it need an engineer?

[GD1]

@HarryR  If the dish is easily accessible it's a 5 minute job to replace the LNB, if the dish is high up I would recommend the services of a Satellite installer for safety.

[HarryR]

Thanks GD1. The dish is fairly easily accessible. Just a short ladder would do. I guess there would be some videos on YouTube or something. 

[Annie+UK]

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@HarryR wrote:

Ta mate. Yes I did mean Freesat. Might sound a stupid question, is it fairly straightforward to change LNB or will it need an engineer?

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It is possible to do yourself but the install also is where the signal is fine tuned so it is better done with the correct equipment

[GD1]

@HarryR  There are lots of videos on Youtube, replacing one is straight forward.

[Davidkerr18071965]

Dear Sir/Madam,

                                   I am getting my SKY Q box installed and I understand that the LNB for SKY Q must be a Wideband LNB as the LNB I have is a Wideband LNB with two COAX connections, hopefully he won't need to change the LNB and anyway I hope to get rid of my old SKY HD+ box and any way I have no copper telephone line so hopefully the SKY Q box will use my Ethernet connection to communicate with SKY HQ.

Yours sincerely Gregory.

[Mark39]

@Davidkerr18071965 note we're a customer Community. If your Sky+HD is currently connected to your dish and working satisfactorily, you don't have a wideband LNB unless it's a hybrid version compatible with both Sky+ and Sky Q.

Just to add: it hasn't been necessary to connect a Sky+HD box to the telephone line for many years now.

[nigea99]

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@Davidkerr18071965 wrote:

Dear Sir/Madam,

                                   I am getting my SKY Q box installed and I understand that the LNB for SKY Q must be a Wideband LNB as the LNB I have is a Wideband LNB with two COAX connections, hopefully he won't need to change the LNB and anyway I hope to get rid of my old SKY HD+ box and any way I have no copper telephone line so hopefully the SKY Q box will use my Ethernet connection to communicate with SKY HQ.

Yours sincerely Gregory.

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hi @Davidkerr18071965 

Is there any specific reason why you are concerned about the engineer chainging the LNB to a wideband LNB so it can work with SKY Q ?

As @Mark39 says the SKY Q box uses a broadband connection for certain services (ethernet to router is best but it can connect to your router via wifi) 

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 

[Davidkerr18071965]

Strange as I had a look at the LNB and it is a wideband LNB and my SKY BOX is a HD PLUS 

[nigea99]

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@Davidkerr18071965 wrote:

Strange as I had a look at the LNB and it is a wideband LNB and my SKY BOX is a HD PLUS 

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May I ask how you have determned this - is it a non SKY LNB ?

Did you get the LNB reference (possibly ELB xxxx) 

SKY HD + boxes won't work with a standard Wideband LNB - they need a 'Universal LNB' that uses 22KHz tone & Voltage change to select the relevant band & polarity 

Aalthough for a brief period of time SKY did install  a 'Smart' LNB  which could work both as wideband & universal but these were only a few cases for SKY Q customers I believe

[Davidkerr18071965]

Took a photograph of my satellite dish and zoomed in on the LNB 1583D looks like a SKY Q LNB

[Davidkerr18071965]

Will be hard to get to as the taramac is smooth and I don't want the guy getting hurt hopefully he will have a rebaged BT Van with cherrypicker basket on it so he doesn't have to use a ladder.