Standard practise for flats - Sky

Hypnodisc · 03-11-2009, 18:40

Right, I thought this was a bit unusual..

My sister has moved into a block of flats (private, not council)

There are 12 flats in the building - and there is an 80cm dish on the top of the flats with an LNB and 4 outputs.

Her flat doesn't have a satellite socket on the wall, but if you remove the blanking plate which the aerial socket is behind, there is a second coaxial cable coming through which isn't connected to anything.

I stripped the end of it and connected it up, but no signal, neither satellite nor terrestrial - but I do get a little 12v shock when I touch it.

What the heck is the deal here?

My sister has emailed the letting company - but they are notoriously difficult with anything like this

BKM · 03-11-2009, 20:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

What the heck is the deal here?

My sister has emailed the letting company - but they are notoriously difficult with anything like this

Flats almost invariably have a communal distribution system run by some specialist company - in cooperation with the management company. The four outputs from the dish will be the 4 possible band and polarization settings - then these will go to a distribution system. It sounds like the cable you found is preinstalled but not currently enabled fully - until your sister pays the appropriate fee!

Hypnodisc · 03-11-2009, 21:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by BKM

Flats almost invariably have a communal distribution system run by some specialist company - in cooperation with the management company. The four outputs from the dish will be the 4 possible band and polarization settings - then these will go to a distribution system. It sounds like the cable you found is preinstalled but not currently enabled fully - until your sister pays the appropriate fee!

That sounds like the answer then!

I didn't know that was possible! I thought you required one LNB output per flat

It seems very cheeky if they want to charge her a fee just to connect up a single cable and fit a socket on the wall. It is a brand new build, so it's unbelievable it doesn't come as standard

tomvoxx · 03-11-2009, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

That sounds like the answer then!

I didn't know that was possible! I thought you required one LNB output per flat

It seems very cheeky if they want to charge her a fee just to connect up a single cable and fit a socket on the wall. It is a brand new build, so it's unbelievable it doesn't come as standard

If it's a new build then I would be very surprised if this is the set up. With only one LNB feed to the flat she would not be able to use Sky+ or HD as two feeds are needed for the recording set-up. There are ways round it but are difficult to set up and will compromise your ability to watch one channel while recording a second. It's certainly worthwhile contacting the letting company to find out the arrangement.

wgmorg · 04-11-2009, 15:26

Not really ... it depends what the owner of the flat specified for their options.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

It is a brand new build, so it's unbelievable it doesn't come as standard

Strathclyde · 05-11-2009, 07:59

Although the communal system does only need a quad LNB, there's some fancy kit required to distribute this around the building. And someone has to maintain the cable.

We in the UK have been stupidly slow in mandating that all new builds should be compulsorily fitted out with proper TV (terrestrial and satellite); broadband; and phone connectivity. [Believe it or not, BT never quite got around to even marketing such a service to developers, cos the wholesale and retail arms of BT couldn't agree which should bear the installation cost, and which collect the subsequent retail revenues!]Much easier and cheaper to do it at the outset, than retrofit it. And we'd have been able to avoid high-rise flats looking like hedgehogs.

But I do reckon it's fair that if a tenant wants to utilise the communal system, they should be paying a (modest) charge for its maintenance....

Hypnodisc · 05-11-2009, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strathclyde

Although the communal system does only need a quad LNB, there's some fancy kit required to distribute this around the building. And someone has to maintain the cable.

We in the UK have been stupidly slow in mandating that all new builds should be compulsorily fitted out with proper TV (terrestrial and satellite); broadband; and phone connectivity. [Believe it or not, BT never quite got around to even marketing such a service to developers, cos the wholesale and retail arms of BT couldn't agree which should bear the installation cost, and which collect the subsequent retail revenues!]Much easier and cheaper to do it at the outset, than retrofit it. And we'd have been able to avoid high-rise flats looking like hedgehogs.

But I do reckon it's fair that if a tenant wants to utilise the communal system, they should be paying a (modest) charge for its maintenance....

Yes, but I believe that should form part of the rent!

If the electrics go wrong, or the communal hallway needs hoovering, or something else needs maintaining they aren't invoiced for each individual item!

They pay just over £700 a month in rent and you would hope that includes all services!

wgmorg · 05-11-2009, 20:35

Was Sky declared as a service that would be included...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

They pay just over £700 a month in rent and you would hope that includes all services!

Hypnodisc · 05-11-2009, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by wgmorg

Was Sky declared as a service that would be included...

They were told 'they could get Sky' - which I admit from a technical point of view is very vague. Had it been my flat I would have asked for clarity

Strathclyde · 06-11-2009, 06:57

Re charging for communal TV provision - I guess it depends on your viewpoint....though I'd be surprised if the rental agreement didn't spell it out.

While pretty well everyone expects water/power to be supplied, those who don't want to use Sky would probably object to subsidising (as they saw it) those who do.

More enlightened countries have for years required that large blocks of flats have communal systems built in as part of the infrastructure. But even then, you get into potential arguments.... what do you do for the ethnic/expat family that wants TV from a different satellite?

wgmorg · 06-11-2009, 09:34

Well press the landlord to pick up the tab in that case.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

They were told 'they could get Sky' - which I admit from a technical point of view is very vague. Had it been my flat I would have asked for clarity

coopermanyorks · 06-11-2009, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hypnodisc

I stripped the end of it and connected it up, but no signal, neither satellite nor terrestrial - but I do get a little 12v shock when I touch it.

Without doubting your TV knowledge,you did connect the feed up to a working Sky box with an F connector and not just push the cable into an aerial socket on a portable Tv ?

The Sat feed if working ,still needs to pass through a working Sky box to give you pictures on a TV

Sorry for doubting you,In advance .

Sandybeaches · 06-11-2009, 10:23

If you want Sky to come and give you a service in the flats you'll need to get atleast 4 residents to agree to take the service for the next year. You'll need the communal sales dept and the CS agent will put you through.

Hypnodisc · 07-11-2009, 15:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by coopermanyorks

Without doubting your TV knowledge,you did connect the feed up to a working Sky box with an F connector and not just push the cable into an aerial socket on a portable Tv ?

The Sat feed if working ,still needs to pass through a working Sky box to give you pictures on a TV

Sorry for doubting you,In advance .

Yep, it was connected to a generic FTA satellite box.

When that didn't work, I fitted an aerial coax cable to the end, and plugged that straight into the TV, just to make sure it wasn't carrying terrestrial signals.

Don't worry about asking, there are plenty of people on these boards who would actually do what you said above

I have my own big 1 meter motorised dish

So I know the biz

03-11-2009, 18:40	#1
Hypnodisc Forum Member Join Date: May 2007 Gender: Male Location: Commuter Belt, West of London Services: Sky+ & Sky internet (Base). Resident Forum Benefits expert and defender! Posts: 4,285	Standard practise for flats Right, I thought this was a bit unusual.. My sister has moved into a block of flats (private, not council) There are 12 flats in the building - and there is an 80cm dish on the top of the flats with an LNB and 4 outputs. Her flat doesn't have a satellite socket on the wall, but if you remove the blanking plate which the aerial socket is behind, there is a second coaxial cable coming through which isn't connected to anything. I stripped the end of it and connected it up, but no signal, neither satellite nor terrestrial - but I do get a little 12v shock when I touch it. What the heck is the deal here? My sister has emailed the letting company - but they are notoriously difficult with anything like this

05-11-2009, 07:59	#6
Strathclyde Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,138	Although the communal system does only need a quad LNB, there's some fancy kit required to distribute this around the building. And someone has to maintain the cable. We in the UK have been stupidly slow in mandating that all new builds should be compulsorily fitted out with proper TV (terrestrial and satellite); broadband; and phone connectivity. [Believe it or not, BT never quite got around to even marketing such a service to developers, cos the wholesale and retail arms of BT couldn't agree which should bear the installation cost, and which collect the subsequent retail revenues!]Much easier and cheaper to do it at the outset, than retrofit it. And we'd have been able to avoid high-rise flats looking like hedgehogs. But I do reckon it's fair that if a tenant wants to utilise the communal system, they should be paying a (modest) charge for its maintenance....

06-11-2009, 06:57	#10
Strathclyde Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 2,138	Re charging for communal TV provision - I guess it depends on your viewpoint....though I'd be surprised if the rental agreement didn't spell it out. While pretty well everyone expects water/power to be supplied, those who don't want to use Sky would probably object to subsidising (as they saw it) those who do. More enlightened countries have for years required that large blocks of flats have communal systems built in as part of the infrastructure. But even then, you get into potential arguments.... what do you do for the ethnic/expat family that wants TV from a different satellite?

06-11-2009, 10:23	#13
Sandybeaches Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,277	If you want Sky to come and give you a service in the flats you'll need to get atleast 4 residents to agree to take the service for the next year. You'll need the communal sales dept and the CS agent will put you through.