Communal system query

[Gewitty]

I tried posting this in the Installers section, but they wouldn't let me in.

Our local community is a mix of apartments and private houses on a managed estate. We are talking to the management company at present about their plans to upgrade the present analogue system in the apartments, in preparation for the switch-over in 2011. They don't seem particularly knowledgeable about the whole issue, so I'm doing a spot of research to get some facts about what we might be able to do.

The area is not great for terrestrial reception and the estate has to be fed from a local analogue repeater. Cable is not an option, as we are in a conservation area and the local council don't want the cable companies hacking 300 year old streets and houses about.

At present, it is not clear whether the reception situation will improve when the new digital transmitters come on line, but given the geography, it seems that problems may still exist. So, the best option seems to be satellite.

Now to the questions:

1. If we go for a communal satellite system, could this offer a choice of either Freesat and/or Sky, for those who want to pay?
   
2. If we want to extend the system beyond the apartment blocks, to include the same offer to the private houses (in order to minimise the proliferation of dishes on walls), what issues might arise, e.g. wayleave permissions for cabling?
   
3. What order of annual maintenance costs should we budget for (there are 52 dwellings in total)?
   
4. Are there any particular issues that we should consider when selecting an installer and a particular hardware system?

That's quite a lot of questions, but hopefully there are people out there who know the answers and can give some advice, so that we in turn can make the right choices and steer the management company towards the right solution.

 

[satelliteman]

Hi, Gewitty

If we go for a communal satellite system, could this offer a choice of either Freesat and/or Sky, for those who want to pay?

yes an IRS system setup on Astra28e would allow either freesat and/or sky TV reception available to each flat/TV point.

If we want to extend the system beyond the apartment blocks, to include the same offer to the private houses (in order to minimise the proliferation of dishes on walls), what issues might arise, e.g. wayleave permissions for cabling?

yes underground trunk cabling required to the private houses or an area close by. Issues of cable length and type.

What order of annual maintenance costs should we budget for (there are 52 dwellings in total)?

Annual maintenance costs depends on the size of system and equipment used. Normally worked out as a percentage of the supply/installation cost.

Are there any particular issues that we should consider when selecting an installer and a particular hardware system?

Get as much advice before hand as possible. Make sure you use a competent installer/company who specialise in this area of work. Evidence of prevoius work would be a an advantage. Health and safety risk assessments, earth equipotential bonding should also be on the agenda.


SM

 

[Gewitty]

Thanks for the reply. The situation has become a little more interesting this week.

The property company who are responsible for the maintenance of our estate have come back to us to say that:

a) They don't think an IRS system is the right solution (they don't say what would be)
b) Because there are three apartment blocks on the estate (all within about 20m of each other) there will need to be an individual aerial array and distribution system for each block
c) They cannot offer this system to properties outside of the apartment blocks, because these are freehold houses not within their remit

They say that they have had three separate quotes from installation companies, all of whom say the same thing.

I might be getting a bit cynical here, but none of this makes much sense to me.

Firstly, an IRS system seems to be exactly the right solution in this case, because of its flexibility and ability to provide a broad range of services.

Secondly, given that the apartment blocks are all within a short distance of one-another, opting to go for three separate installations looks like an unnecessarily expensive way to go about it.

And thirdly; if a system is installed to provide services to the apartment blocks, why would it not be possible for the freehold properties to enter into a separate contract with the installers to provide them with a feed from the same system? Any additional cabling, equipment and maintenance would be paid for separately and an annual contribution could be made towards the maintenance of the main aerial and distribution system through our annual estate service charges.

It seems that what we need is a fully independent assessment of the site, but since we don't know which companies have already been approached, this could prove tricky.

Final point: As we are in a conservation area, cabling will always be an issue (which is why we don't already have Virgin et al available to us). As an alternative, would it be possible to link the various apartment blocks, and possibly the houses, via some sort of wireless system? I'm not at all sure about what, if anything, may be available that could do this, or if it would be cost-effective, but if anyone can educate me, I'd be grateful.

 

[satelliteman]

Wireless, no.

It may be easier to install three separate systems for each block in this case than run underground trunk cables. A simpler design solution also.

 

[Lazarus]

<snip>

Secondly, given that the apartment blocks are all within a short distance of one-another, opting to go for three separate installations looks like an unnecessarily expensive way to go about it.

Potential (bad pun) electrical safety issues: Possibility of different blocks being on different phases of the mains; Earthing and Equipotential Bonding might require a lot of thought and effort.

 

[Robbo]

I don't pretend to know anything abot large commercial IRS systems, but would have though that the Global Fibre system could be a part solution, as it can supply 32 Multiswitches or receivers.

 

[Gewitty]

Thanks for all the thoughts on this one. From what's been said, it looks as if we will have to go with the three separate installations for the apartment blocks and abandon the idea of offering a communal system to the freehold houses.

I can't see the residents wanting to foot the bill for the installation of trunking all over the estate, even if the management company was willing to go along with the idea.

I guess we will have to resign ourselves to a forest of dishes appearing all over the place as we approach the switch-over date.

 

[HB13DISH]

Assuming that internet is available to all dwellings, I think that one way to overcome the cabling and dishes issues would be by considering the use of a Slingbox solution or IPTV (if this is something that is being developed/offered in the UK).
You might need to upgrade the speed in each dwelling in order to get better picture quality.
From what I know already, a dish would give a better picture for sure !!!!
I am not an expert on this, but you might need just one dish in a central location (as you are the project manager, you can have it in your apartment or on the roof of your building and enjoy direct dish reception as a fringe benefit )
Then you might need 52 receivers and 52 Slingboxes connected to each receiver for each dwelling so that they can have full control of what they wish to view. And a fast internet distribution to each slingbox
You can have a nice discount ordering such a quantity. (Will need another 52 slingboxes on the receiving end or just use a slingbox player and a PC or laptop (not recommended)
The electricity bill shouldn't be an issue as the power consumption of a receiver and a slingbox is not that high, but you can charge the "customers" for electricity and the broadband connection on the sending end each month.
You can test the feasibility using the analogue system that is already installed. Just need a slingbox (or a pair) to order and test or have it on lease for few days from a shop.
Hope that this gives you another option to consider.