How can I extend the length of my cable from dish to box?

J

JNM

Member
My Satellite Setup
Sky +
My Location
UK
Hi,

I have just moved into a house were the Satellite dish has had to be mounted on a poll in the rear garden, now for the problem. It has to be right at the bottom of the garden, which is 175 foot long, the cable then has to travel down the garden over the house, so the total cable length is approx 220 foot. The guy that installed it said it SHOULD be ok, and it was for a few days, on checking the signal test I see the signal quality if near perfect but the signal strength is almost nothing. Is there a booster I can get to improve the signal strength, or some sort of repeater box?

Any help with this question would be really appreciated.

Many Thanks
JNM
 
You don't say what size dish you have, where you are in the UK or which satellite your are pointing at, but if we assume that it's a standard zone 1 minidish, pointing at Astra 28.2 East, you need to install a bigger dish, a 90cm should do the trick for pretty much anywhere in the UK on that cable length.

You can also use a line amplifier (two if it is two feeds) best located about 20 to 30m down the length of the cable from the dish. Here is an example from one of our supporting advertisers: _http://www.sateuropa.co.uk/product_overview.asp?id=312&catid=12&subcat=11
 
Thanks Rolfw, I'm just outside Bristol I'm not sure on the size of the dish, but it's an oval shape approx 75cm across at the widest point, also not sure what satellite it's pointing at (sorry). But I think the way forward is the amplifier, as it seems the cheapest and most straightforward.

I take it is just a case of cutting the cable then ending both ends and plugging the amplifier in the middle. The one you have listed is the one to go for I take it.

Thanks very much for your help.

JNM
 
If it is to give you Sky, then it is Astra 28.2 East, sounds like you have a Zone 2 minidish. Is it standard coax, twin, or small diameter twin?

Yes regarding the amp, cut the cable and use two "F" connectors, the amp should be marked as to which end is which and you need to waterproof the whole assembly, or put it in a container of some sort, one of my friends used an Ice cream box.:)
 
The cable the guy used, I think he called it double barrel. I’ll order a couple of the amp’s in the morning and let you know the out come, again, thanks for your help with this.

Regards
JNM
 
Shotgun cable is the name of it.:) They do it in two sizes, is yours 6-7mm in diameter for each cable, or smaller? If it's the smaller type, then the connectors are non-standard.
 
Thanks, just show's I’m a bit of a doughnut when it comes to the terminology, double barrel!!!. I'm sure it it's a standard "shot gun" cable as the guy was contracted to sky so I would suspect it is standard.
 
Sky use both types, I would hope that they'd have the sense to use the larger type on that length of run. You can easily tell the difference, as the thinner type will be only 10mm wide (both cables) and would have wf65 printed on it.:)
 
hello, if you are using sky plus then you will need 2 small amps one for each line.
if there is a bouble barrel conector then 2 small amps are requires.
tape everything with electrical tape.
22o feet is about 66 meters is a long run.
each amp will run less than 10 euro each.
ralph
 
Can I just go back to the beginning ............... you say the Quality is almost perfect yet Strength is almost nothing: If these are the readings from a Sky Box, then don't assign too much meaning to them unless you actually have some visible reception issues such as pixellation or loss of lock.

My neighbour has a Sky box which reports similar outcomes ie zero Strength, but the signal on all Channels is actually perfectly strong and stable, and clagging on one of my own Receivers shows a more realistic "measurement".

You might be fixing a problem which is not a problem.

Have you actually experienced pixellation or worse at all? In poor weather? In benign weather?
 
Hi,

The problem I’m getting is intermittent, and would appear more so at night. The screen locks up on certain channels (some times gets a bit juddery, not sure if that a proper word!) and occasionally I get the message “No signal being received” but again only on certain channels.

As for the weather, we have had clear nights so far since it has been installed. So, not sure how it is going to react in poor weather conditions, yet…
 
Ok. Amplifiers it is.

But the other thing that concerns me is that it appears to have been ok and now isn't ............ so what has changed?

eg: Dodgy connections? Slight misalignment exacerbated by strong winds?

ie If it was ok for the first few days, why is it not ok now ............ long cable notwithstanding.
 
I'm going to get a couple of Amps at the weekend, I’ll put them in line and see how it goes.

One last question, where is the best place to put the Amp, logic would suggest the middle of the cable??

Thanks to all of you for your help, I have never used this site before, the responses have been fantastic.

So, thanks to all again.
 
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