How to User's Guide for Sky TV

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Saorview & Satellite TV FAQs

How to Assemble a Sky Satellite Dish
How to Mount a Satellite Dish on a Wall
How to Mount a Sky Satellite Dish on a Pole
How to Align a Satellite Dish
The difference between Mark 3 and Mark 4 Sky LNB Attachment
How to Install a New Sky box
How to Install a New Sky+ box
How to Install a New Sky HD Box (Non PVR Version)
How to Install a New Sky+ HD Digibox (PVR Version)
How to Pair your new Sky Box with your Sky Subscription Card

How to Assemble a Sky Satellite Dish

List of sky dish components

Sky satellite dish
Wall bracket
Wall tube (arm)
Elevation Bracket
Dish Bracket
Fixing Kit
Feed arm
LNB (plastic insert)

Tools needed to assemble sky dish

10mm, 13mm socket and rachet
Philips screwdriver

Steps to assemble the dish

Open fixing kit and select U-bolts (qty: 2), nuts (qty: 4)
Insert the U bolts through the wall bracket, thread on the nuts, insert the arm and tighten the nuts using 10mm socket and ratchet. The wall bracket & arm assembly is complete
Next insert U-bolts (qty: 2) through the elevation bracket and loosely tighten nuts
Attach the Elevation bracket to the dish barcket using bolts and washers (qty: 4) and tighten with 13mm socket and ratchet
Use the bolts and nuts (qty:4) and the philips screw driver to attach the dish bracket to the dish.
Use the long threaded bolt and small nut to attach the Feed arm to the back base of the dish bracket - so the arm protrudes infront of the dish
Finally insert the LNB (and plastic insert) into the end of the arm and secure with a tie wrap.

How to Mount a satellite dish on a wall

Equipment needed to mount a satellite dish on a wall

Sky satellite dish, complete with wall bracket and arm
Coach bolt M8 x 50mm & 10mm plastic plugs (qty: 4)

Mounting a Dish or Aerial using a Pole

Outlined below is the steps involved in installing each of these different types of masts

How to mount the satellite dish using a pole

Slide the fully assembled satellite dish down over the top of the pole
Use 10mm socket to lightly tighten the dish 'U'-bolts so they are fixed to pole but the dish can still rotated
Follow steps in the How to Align a satellite dish guide below

Tips

Never use an aluminium pole to mount a satellite dish (just too light).
Remember that the satellite signal is coming from an angle of 21 degrees. This means that even if there is an object e.g. a roof or tree in front of the dish, the dish should still be able to get a signal as long as it can achieve it's 21 degree angle.
If you do not have an expensive satellite meter and are using your receiver to tell whether the dish is at the correct angle and position, it will be necessary to turn off and on the box every 2-3 minutes to ensure that the receiver is giving an accurate reading.

Mounting a Sky Satellite Dish on a Pole

Why mount a satellite dish on a pole ?

To gain extra height to avoid an obstacle that is blocking a signal such as a tree or an adjoining house.
To avoid mounting a satellite on the front of a house

Tools needed to mount on a wall

Cordless drill - ideally a 24-36v SDS drill
8mm, 10mm drill bits
10mm, 13mm socket and rachet
Satellite meter

Criteria on where to mount the satellite dish ?

Dish must face South East (141 degrees i.e. direction of sun 11am BST).
Wall must be a solid surface capable of carrying weight of satellite dish
Signal must not be blocked by houses or trees (signal is coming in at 21 degrees to the horizontal)
Place at back or gable end of house to minimise visual intrusion
Place as close at possible to room / wire box to which the satellite cables are to connect so as to minimise cable run

How to mount and align a satellite dish ?

Place the wall bracket and arm in the correct location
Use the cordless drill and 8mm drill bit to drill 4 guide holes
Use 10mm drill bit to drill holes to a depth of 60mm
Insert the 4 plastic plugs in the holes and mount the wall bracket using the 4 Coach bolts.
Tighten the coach bolts using the 13mm socket and rachet.
Attach the satellite dish to the arm of the wall plate
Use 10mm socket to lightly tighten the dish 'U'-bolts so they are fixed to arm but the dish can still rotated
Follow steps in the How to Align a satellite dish guide

How to Align a satellite dish

Having already mounted the dish on a bracket or pole
Attach your satellite meter to the dish LNB and align the dish so that it is (1) perfectly vertical, (2) pointing South East (141 degrees
Rotate the dish slowly over and back. Repeat adjusting the tilt angle by 1 or 2 degrees to until a signal is found
Tightend the U-bolts and side bolts using the 10mm & 13mm sockets
Disconnect the satellite meter and connect a cable with an F Type Connector from the dish to the satellite box and check that the signal is working

The difference between Mark 3 and Mark 4 Sky LNB attachment

Facts about LNBS

Sky have 3 types of LNBs - single, Quad (4 outputs), Octo (8 outputs)
Quads are increasing becoming the industry standard
Sky+ boxes (2 inputs), Freesat PVR (2 inputs) and multi-room installations (2 or more inputs) all require Quad LNBs
Using a Quad LNB is cheaper, easier and neater alternative to installing an extra satellite dish on your house

Note: Changes to Sky Dish Design April 2009

Most houses that got Sky before April 2009 have Mark 3 Sky dishes
Since April 2009 sky have changed to the new Mark 4 dish and the LNBS and feed arms are of a different design.
Basically the new LNBs 'Snap-on' rather than slip into the feed arm
These LNBs are not directly interchangeable but can be adapted

How to Install a New Sky box

Having already installed your sky dish and run in the satellite cables and fitted the connectors, the next step is to actually insall the box. Below is outlined the steps to complete this task:

STEPS

Open the outter sky cardboard box
Check contents:
- sky standard box
- Sky Remote
- Power Lead
- RF lead
- Scart lead
- Instruction Manual
Screw the cable from the satellite dish into the LNB in connection
Connect scart lead from TV to 'TV' out connection on the sky box
Plug in the power lead
Press the 'Power on' Button on top of the box
After 5-6 seconds the box will come on and should automatically switch TV to AV channel
That's it Installation is complete

Note: It is advisable to do a software backup on Sky box when Installating it for the first time

How to Install a New Sky+ box

Having already installed your sky dish and run in the satellite cables and fitted the connectors, the next step is to actually insall the box. Below is outlined the steps to complete this task:

STEPS

Open the outter sky cardboard box
Check contents:
- sky+ box
- Sky+ Remote
- Power Lead
- RF lead
- Scart lead
- Instruction Manual
Screw the cables from the satellite dish into the 'LNB in' 1&2 connections
Connect scart lead from TV to 'TV' out connection on the sky box
Plug in the power lead
Press the 'Power on' Button on top of the box
After 5-6 seconds the box will come on and should automatically switch TV to AV channel
That's it Installation is complete
Note: It is advisable to do a Software Backup on a Sky+ box when Installating it for the first time

How to Install a New Sky HD Box (Non PVR Version)

How to Install a New Sky+ HD Box (PVR Version)

How to Pair your new Sky Box with your Sky Subscription Card

Part 1 - What channels / Features will work if I put my sky card in a new box?

If you simply insert your Sky Card in a new box you will be able to view all the non premium channels, for example;
- Any standard package channels such as RTE 1, RTE2, MTV, Discovery that you are subscribing to
- All the free non-subscription channels such as BBCs, Sky News, Film 4 etc
- You will be able to receive the 7 day EPG
When you pair the Sky Card to the new box, you should be able to;
- View the premium Sports or Movie channels
- Use the Sky+ recording, rewind & pause facilities
- View your previous recordings on this sky box

Part 2 - How to pair a Sky Card with a Sky Box

When you receive the box;
- Connect up the satellite feeds, power etc to the sky box
- Insert your sky viewing card into the viewing card slot with the Sky logo facing upwards
- Turn on the TV and press the services button on the sky remote
- Next phone sky on 0818 719 819
- They will go through the steps of taking your card details & serial number of the box etc
- Then they will send a signal to pair the Sky Box with the new card