Advice on home tv set ups requested.

[argk342]

If you would be so kind chaps.

Downstairs in my living room, I have my tv set up to a Eurovox [via Virgin] and a hard drive/ dvd recorder. By using a splitter, I was thinking of using the Virgin box to connect to a tv in the dining room. Any problems doing that ?

Downstairs, I also have a Sky+ box and cable which I was thinking about moving upstairs to my daughters bedroom. I'm told that the Sky equipment can still be used to catch Freeview channels. Is this correct ? If so, would the Sky+ box still work as a hard drive ? Is it worth the hassle in moving the cables, etc ?

I have a splitter, but where would I be able to buy the proper connectors ?

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[argk342]

Anyone ?

[Robbo]

Hi
The Sky box cannot be used to view freeview channels as that is for terrestrial TV, although with an ex subscription card or a freesat from sky card you can watch the Free to View channels as well as the Free to air ones.

The sky+ facility would not work unless you paid them £10/month or alternatively kept a minimum subscription running with them.

If the the cable box has an rf out then yes you should be able to run some coax to another room to watch it there also.

All you need for the proper connectors are some F-plugs and some decent quality satellite cable. I think you might find those in Lincsats Nick Nack shop.

Alternatively go down to Maplin and get some FT100 and some F-connectors, that should do the job OK

Robbo

[argk342]

Your advice is very much appreciated Robbo. I believe my Sky card is still fitted to the Sky+ box.

It means pulling the Sky cable supply through the wall from living room to dining room and then through the outside wall of the house. Then moving it up through the eaves of the roof before drilling through into my daughters bedroom. Being a troglodyte when it comes to matters technical, you'll understand why I sought advice before embarking on this task.

I'll give Linksat a look when I've recovered from this nightshift.

Thanks very much for all your assistance.

[Robbo]

It is best to keep one complete cable without joins from the dish to the box, if you can. Never use the wall-plates, and if you must have a join use one of these:-
fcoupler.jpg

[argk342]

Thanks again Robbo.

The cable would appear to be long enough so no joins needed.

[argk342]

Got the Sky+ box cable upstairs via the eaves and the loft.

Daughter delighted that she has a lot more channels [and a hard drive].

Just the Virgin cable box to connect now.

Ain't it great being a techie ?