Sky + DIY Cable installation help

[high.pressure]

Hi Guys, first post so be gentle with me

I have sky+ being installed in a couple of weeks (present from the wife, more for herself though !) and I want to run the cable in myself as currently all my cables are run through the walls.

So my question is what is a good cable to get, read about twin cables (shotgun) but is there a big differance in quality ? and what about fittings ?

Dont want to run cable in and find the sky man does not have the fittings for it etc..

All comments gratefully received

Steve

Note, I already have sky installed but thinking that if I have to pull in another cable I may as well pull in a double ??

[madrat]

I may be wrong but I don't think shotgun cable is as good as 2 separate strands.

You need CT100 or equivalent, Copper core, foam or air spaced insulator then a copper sheet and strong plastic cover. Try looking at www.satcure.com

[JustBiteMe2k]

I just has Sky+ installed and the nice man used shotgun cable.
I greeted him at the door with an offer of a cuppa (it's cold outside drilling holes in walls!) and just before he started the installation i offered him an extra £20 if he'd put the dish in an awkward position (best for me/house rather than easiest for him) i also asked if he'd change the LNB to 4 port and run 2 extra cables... he did a great job and sure did earn the extra £20... He also reeled off a huge amount of cable for me before he left so i could route to other rooms should i want to.


So, don't feel bad about asking for extras once he gets there if you greese his palms

[high.pressure]

Thanks guys I will take that on board, is there a technical standard for the cable which I should aim for ?

What sort of cable would the sky man look to run in ?

[Robbo]

Yes, the cable you should use should be CAI approved 100 type. Wf100 for example. Screwfix sell 100m reels of pf100 which is an equivalent.


Here are the standards:-

Download Support Material - The Confederation of Aerial Industries Limited

[high.pressure]

Thanks Robbo, would you recommend just pulling in another single cable or going for the shotgun type cable ?

Would either option create a potential problem when the sky guy comes to install the new box and LNB ?

I am also planning to pull in a new aerial cable as a spare, and recommendations for this cable ?

Thanks in anticipation

Steve

[Robbo]

There is no advantage whatsoever in using shotgun cable, apart from its ease of installation and that it's more compact than two full size cables.

It is down to personal choice really, as either solution would work, as long as your existing cable is up to scratch. I tend to just use wf100 as I have a sh!t load of the connectors, cable stripper,clips, hole tidys and compression tooling for it.

In theory it would make no difference to the Sky guy, but whether they would be willing to use a customers own installed cable is a different matter. You may have to let them install their own, and then rip it out again, I don't know.


For aerial cable use the satellite cable, wf100, pf100 etc as mentioned above. The aerial plugs (belling-lee) will fit it OK.

[high.pressure]

Originally Posted by Robbo

In theory it would make no difference to the Sky guy, but whether they would be willing to use a customers own installed cable is a different matter. You may have to let them install their own, and then rip it out again, I don't know

I understood that they will not pull cables in that do through roof voids under floorboards etc.

Thats why I want to get the cable in prior to him turning up, I would of though he would be well chuffed not to have to drill any holes or pull any cables in ?

Steve

[Robbo]

Personally, I would agree. Feeding and running cables is both time consuming and uninteresting, but Sky guarantee the installation I believe, and they can't guarantee something that they didn't do. Let us know how you get on when they come.

On the other hand though, Iam always a bit dubious when an existing cable is to be used, as you don't know what king of a sh!t job has been done of it. I have had two jobs in the last two days, whereI have had to replace the cable anyway because it was bodged, and its not always done in an obvious way.

See piccie below

[madrat]

I used to split my analogue TV signal that way, wouldn't dream of trying it on satellite or digital though