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Thread ID: 79036 2007-05-06 05:59:00 Installing free view question rogerp (6864) PC World Chat
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547648 2007-05-06 05:59:00 I am thinking of replacing by regular aerial and UHF aerial, with one of these free view satellite dishes, as my reception isn't good. My question is, can I simply replace my old aerial with the new satellite dish, and attach the current coaxial cable that was attached to the normal aerial, straight to the satellite dish. Or does the satellite dish use a special cable. I am wanting to use the existing coaxial cable aerial hot points in the living room, and don't want an additional wire that has find it's way from the roof into the living room.

TIA
rogerp (6864)
547649 2007-05-06 06:01:00 The satellite uses coax so I doubt theres any difference. pctek (84)
547650 2007-05-06 06:08:00 Hell of a difference probably.

The sattelite needs very high quality coax, typically "TV aerial coax" is not of this quality and little sattelite signal will get to the set top box, due to the losses at the much higher frequency used.
godfather (25)
547651 2007-05-06 06:34:00 The freeview package I was looking a says it comes with a special cable

10m of Freeview RG6 Cable with PPC CMP6-OR-S linear compression connectors, so unsure how that compares with a regular TV Coaxial cable.

www.freeviewshop.co.nz

When people get satellite sky, does the installer usually connect it to their existing aerial sockets in their room, or does the installer usually have to drill crude holes into the room to get the new wire in?
rogerp (6864)
547652 2007-05-06 06:38:00 Hmmm, interesting that some has moved this tread.Chris Keall posted a post about freeview in the F1 help, and I would have thought it would come under that heading, and computers and TV are now one in the same medium. rogerp (6864)
547653 2007-05-06 07:27:00 I am thinking of replacing by regular aerial and UHF aerial, with one of these free view satellite dishes, as my reception isn't good. My question is, can I simply replace my old aerial with the new satellite dish, and attach the current coaxial cable that was attached to the normal aerial, straight to the satellite dish. Or does the satellite dish use a special cable. I am wanting to use the existing coaxial cable aerial hot points in the living room, and don't want an additional wire that has find it's way from the roof into the living room.

TIA

The minimum for quality satellite usage is RG6 quad shield. How long ago was the VHF antenna installed? If the UHF antenna was installed at the same time you may already have RG6 co-ax which can be used. Closely check the cable itself as quite often the coax type is printed on it.

Usually the thicker the cable the higher the quality when it comes to coax.

But you could always cut the plug off one end and check?
apsattv (7406)
547654 2007-05-06 08:19:00 When people get satellite sky, does the installer usually connect it to their existing aerial sockets in their room, or does the installer usually have to drill crude holes into the room to get the new wire in?

Well isn't coax just RG6? I thought it was....the stuff for TVs anyway.
Maybe not.
Sky uses RG6 anyway. So does satellite broadband.


All sky installs at my house have involved the guy drilling a hole up through my floor. However, he did ask me first how I wanted it. Don't see why they can't connect to an existing aerial wall jack or whatver if you prefer.
pctek (84)
547655 2007-05-06 08:22:00 The minimum for quality satellite usage is RG6 quad shield. How long ago was the VHF antenna installed? If the UHF antenna was installed at the same time you may already have RG6 co-ax which can be used. Closely check the cable itself as quite often the coax type is printed on it.

Usually the thicker the cable the higher the quality when it comes to coax.

But you could always cut the plug off one end and check?

Thanks for that. I will have to get up and check to see if their is anything written on the cable. The house was wired in 2004-5
rogerp (6864)
547656 2007-05-06 10:08:00 can I simply replace my old aerial with the new satellite dish mayby. depends on cable, system (splitters/amps) and most important satalite mounting.


When people get satellite sky, does the installer usually connect it to their existing aerial sockets in their room, or does the installer usually have to drill crude holes into the room to get the new wire in? sky simply doesn't pay to connect it to existing system unless its cheaper to do it that way ;)


The minimum for quality satellite usage is RG6 quad shield no. quad shield is fairly rarly used. the minimum requirement is any satilite rated cable, it just happens to have double shield. quad sheild is advailable but costs a lot more.

with house wiring you will need to check even if the sparky fited "satilite" or "digital" cable. VERY comman for them to use cheap non-sat rated cable to cut costs. note- being RG6 doesn't mean its sat rated.

also a lot do poor connections which may be why you have bad reception in the first place ;)
tweak'e (69)
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