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Pmann93

New Member
My Satellite Setup
None - yet! Moved into a rented flat with satellite cables. Need help with set up.
My Location
S London
1E693C3A-1FE0-446D-9DE8-D229C8073E30.webp Hello!

I’ve recently moved into a rented flat with no ‘traditional’ digital aerial. Instead, poking from behind the bookcase are two cables which I think are satellite cables. (Photos included)

First question - am I right? Secondly, why are there two of them? I’ve looked at some freesat boxes on Amazon - some only have one Satellite input. Do I need to find a box that has two inputs? If so, are these much more costly? Most basic box I could find (no HDD) was ~£99.

Help and advice for this novice greatly appreciated!
 
Hi there - welcome to the forum.

Those certain;ly look like a satellite feed from a dish or a distribution system in the premises. Two cables allows thew use of two tuners on a receiver - which means you can use the pvr function of Freesat+ or SkyHD+ receivers.

Should you buy a single tuner receiver just connect one cable to the back - it doesnt matter which one.


There is an outside chance it could be a Virgin Media feed if the area is cabled - check with the building maintenance people. Chances are though its a normal satellite connection.
 
Pmann93 said:
View attachment 110524 Hello!

I’ve recently moved into a rented flat with no ‘traditional’ digital aerial. Instead, poking from behind the bookcase are two cables which I think are satellite cables. (Photos included)

First question - am I right? Secondly, why are there two of them? I’ve looked at some freesat boxes on Amazon - some only have one Satellite input. Do I need to find a box that has two inputs? If so, are these much more costly? Most basic box I could find (no HDD) was ~£99.

Help and advice for this novice greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
just plug the cables into a twin tuner freesat box and see if it tunes in, if it does then the cables are for satellite but however if it does not tune in, its either that a dish is pointed at a different satellite or the cables are for virgin media.
 
If you can get hold of a cheap satellite meter, just connect each cable in turn and see if you get a beep.
 
Thanks all - very helpful indeed.

It appears these cables are Virgin Media cables - which is particularly frustrating since I opted to go for a Sky Broadband package after being messed around by VM for weeks on installation delays!

I may give the satellite meter thing a go, however.

One follow up question - is there such a thing as a 'generic' cable box that I could use to plug the cables into and receive the free to air channels - or would I need a Virgin subscription?
 
Pmann93 said:
Thanks all - very helpful indeed.

It appears these cables are Virgin Media cables - which is particularly frustrating since I opted to go for a Sky Broadband package after being messed around by VM for weeks on installation delays!

I may give the satellite meter thing a go, however.

One follow up question - is there such a thing as a 'generic' cable box that I could use to plug the cables into and receive the free to air channels - or would I need a Virgin subscription?
Click to expand...
well there are cable boxes but i wouldn't advise plugging it into the cables cause virgin media can detect non virgin equipment on their network
 
John Pykett said:
well there are cable boxes but i wouldn't advise plugging it into the cables cause virgin media can detect non virgin equipment on their network
Click to expand...

Do you know that from your own experience John?
 
What about installing a dish and running a cable?
 
They don't look like Virgin cables, appearing to have copper cores, and they are certainly not the type of "F" connectors they use.

See if you can borrow a sky box from a friend, if that works and if you don't need to record, then there are hundreds available on ebay due to the Sky Q roll out and for very little money.
 
@Pmann93
Can you see any sort of dish on the walls or roof of the building? If so, any chance of a photo?
 
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