having Sky Installed

[tricky69]

good morning, having SKY come round on thursday to install a dish and new box. I would like them to install a wall socket for the connection. Which is easy as there is an ariel socket there already and the cable will run next to the ariel cable.

Just wanted to ask if thats something they will do as part of the installation ? Or will i need to buy the wall socket etc ?

And if i need to buy them what will i need ? Is it just the wall socket or will i need anything else ?

thanks

http://www.amazon.co.uk/MA52-Flush-double-F-outlet...

[thetapeworm]

My experience is that they just drill a big hole through your house and poke a wire through it, if you are lucky they then replace the brickwork that's fallen off with silicone.

You might be able to get individual installers to do a bit more for some extra money but we've all seen Cable Guy so be careful what you ask for.

Probably worth trying to contact the installer in advance but I doubt Sky will tell you even if they know who they are using for your job.

[HereBeMonsters]

They just leave two wires poking out of your wall.

[4Q]

The guy that fitted my Sky was really good...he left the place tidy and everything seems well fitted, including the socket.

[tricky69]

4Q said:

The guy that fitted my Sky was really good...he left the place tidy and everything seems well fitted, including the socket.

did you have to buy the socket ?

[dave_s13]

Just buy the bits yourself and be prepared to DIY fit them.

assuming sky+/hd

If the cable guy refuses to do anything other than poke a wire through the wall and connect the box up to make sure it works then let him crack on with that.

You can then install whatever you need to afterwards safe in the knowledge it all works. He will also have left you 2 F-connectors plugged into your box.

Make sure he leaves enough slack on the sky cable to make up a patch lead to connect box to wall.

All you'll need then is the faceplate and 4 f-connector. Don't buy these from Maplins....£2 each!!!

Saying that, I assume you have backbox in the wall that your new faceplate will screw on to?
If so how are you going to get the sky cable into this box? Won't you have to chase it in somehow or can you pull it through using the redundant coax aerial?

I'd be very suprised if the installation guy will do anything other than the bare minimum, I beleive they are on a fixed price per install and they won't go handing out free faceplates.

[tricky69]

dave_s13 said:

Saying that, I assume you have backbox in the wall that your new faceplate will screw on to?
If so how are you going to get the sky cable into this box? Won't you have to chase it in somehow or can you pull it through using the redundant coax aerial?

We all ready have the TV ariel cable running down the side of the house and then is drilled through the wall from the outside to a socket on the wall in the livving room. We have a conservatory next door where the cable goes into the house which we have not redeveloped yet so getting the cable into the living room will be a doddle

[Skyedriver]

And don't expect them to turn up when they say and don't expect the first guy who arrives to do the installation.....sorry mate the dish needs to go on thechimney, you need a heights crew... on a bungalow.

Regarding the installation itself, I installed a draw wire down a stud wall, the cable came in at eaves level, I carried it across the loft, tied it to the draw wire and the Sky guy pulled it down the wall. i pulled it through a box and it exits at the bottom of a blanking plate

[dave_s13]

Skyedriver said:

And don't expect them to turn up when they say and don't expect the first guy who arrives to do the installation.....sorry mate the dish needs to go on thechimney, you need a heights crew... on a bungalow......

Don't forget leaving you a couple of nice holes in your brickwork for fixing lashing points for their ladders.

[mcflurry]

Skyedriver said:

And don't expect them to turn up when they say and don't expect the first guy who arrives to do the installation.....sorry mate the dish needs to go on thechimney, you need a heights crew... on a bungalow.

They sent 2 vans and installers round our house, one with standard ladders and the height ladders on the other.

Both lads went over and beyond, fitting points where asked, and left some cable and adaptors for later. They also gave their phone number for 30 days of personal service following the call.
Total cost was 2 cups of tea

[Carl_Spackler]

dave_s13 said:

Skyedriver said:

And don't expect them to turn up when they say and don't expect the first guy who arrives to do the installation.....sorry mate the dish needs to go on thechimney, you need a heights crew... on a bungalow......

Don't forget leaving you a couple of nice holes in your brickwork for fixing lashing points for their ladders.

Also, don't forget leaving the used cable drums and clipped cable ends all over your garden.

[MonkeyHanger]

mcflurry said:

They sent 2 vans and installers round our house, one with standard ladders and the height ladders on the other.

Both lads went over and beyond, fitting points where asked, and left some cable and adaptors for later. They also gave their phone number for 30 days of personal service following the call.
Total cost was 2 cups of tea

Tea & chocolate digestives often gets results.

It's worth remembering they're on fixed time slots and asking for extra work early in the day might not get the same response as it would if your slot is later.

For what it's worth the Installer who fitted my HD box just over a year ago was top notch and insisted on changing the dish even though I said he could leave the old one up. He also filled in the holes from his ladder anchor kit....remember it's not their fault they have to do that and most of them hate it as it slows them down.

[Engineer1]

Or they go over and above and make sure the job is done, as per the fitter who did downstairs' sky connection off our shared dish. Despite his boss saying he couldn't actually go up the scaffolding that was round the building at the time he arrived.

[Mr AJ]

dave_s13 said:

Don't forget leaving you a couple of nice holes in your brickwork for fixing lashing points for their ladders.

To be fair, Thats not the Engineers fault - It's a h&s requirement from Sky if he doesn't do that and gets caught he will loose his contract. I can guarantee he's no happier about it than you are...! I used to fill the holes back up again with dyed mortar (or atleast brick-coloured silicone!) so it atleast didn't look too bad but i doubt many lads do that (As this was my downfall, Accused of not using h+s gear because there wasn't some bloody awful looking holes left in the customers wall - Even though you could see where i had filled them in!)

Sky do not supply or fit faceplate's it's just a basic install service - If you get a sub-contractor he may do it for you for an additional fee (As i did on quite a few occasions) if he has them on his van (Or you have some) and he actually knows how to use them. Don't expect it as a freebie though - The self employed lads earn next to nothing out of each install (Circa £30-£45 per install BEFORE you take out the cost of their stock/diesel etc).

Also, if you need a flylead drop me a pm i've got loads of my old stock in the shed and i'll happily crack together a flylead for you (With proper connectors, Instead of the crap twist-on affair sky make their lads use!) If you was in Manchester i'd stick a faceplate on for you myself.

Edited by Mr AJ on Friday 11th March 20:03

Edited by Mr AJ on Friday 11th March 20:04