Q for anyone that installs or understands Sky Q /Sky +

[GetCarter]

I've spoken to Sky but they don't seem to understand my question.... so here's a punt.

I have a Sky+ box that feeds 4 TVs via a wired junction box in a cupboard (built into a new house 14 years ago).

I'd like to upgrade to Sky Q, but one of the TVs (which gets used a lot), is a 'Tile TV' in the master bathroom.

If I rip out the Sky+ box, and replace with Q, I understand I can easily get the other 3 TVs working no problem, but can I get the Tile TV to work without ripping the wall that it's built into apart? (Big hassle).

As I don't understand the tech, this may be a simple yes or no.... but it is probably a '...only if you...' ???

Thanks in advance.

[QuartzDad]

Some possibly relevant questions:

Can you change Sky channel on the Tile TV currently? If so, how?

Do you still need the ability to change channel once you change to Q?

What is the cabling that connects the Tile TV to the junction box? Co-ax, HDMI, HDMI over Co-ax, ethernet, something else?

[GetCarter]

Can't change channel (almost always set to news).

Connection to junction box comes out of one of the 'Twin Tuner' outputs (screw in) of the sky+ box. I assume that some sort of coax?

Don't need to change channel in bathroom in future.

Cable turns up at the wall (tv end after junction box) as the same screw in cable - into coax of TV

[bristolracer]

Yes there are ways to distribute the Q picture around. You will need some additional equipment.

Does the tile TV have a digital tuner in it or is it analogue only?

[GetCarter]

bristolracer said:

Yes there are ways to distribute the Q picture around. You will need some additional equipment.

Does the tile TV have a digital tuner in it or is it analogue only?

Analogue. 14 years old!

[bristolracer]

Are you having a Q box per TV or is there one in the cupboard serving all TVs?

Does the bathroom TV have an eye to change the channels?

[GetCarter]

bristolracer said:

Are you having a Q box per TV or is there one in the cupboard serving all TVs?

Does the bathroom TV have an eye to change the channels?

One box.

Yes, but it's only sent one Chanel, I can't change the sky channel.

[megaphone]

The Q box has no RF outputs. You need to modulate the HDMI signal from the Q box. Are you sure your TV does not have a digital tuner? Most HDMI modulators only output a digital signal. You'll need to convert the HDMI to analogue composite video, then use a separate video modulator to convert to RF.

I'd stick with the Sky HD box.

How are you sending the signal to the other TVs?

Edited by megaphone on Friday 10th May 06:53

[GetCarter]

megaphone said:

How are you sending the signal to the other TVs?

Edited by megaphone on Friday 10th May 06:53

One coax cable to the junction box from Sky+ - coax throughout the house to various rooms. (It was as high tech as I could do back then).

[megaphone]

GetCarter said:

megaphone said:

How are you sending the signal to the other TVs?

Edited by megaphone on Friday 10th May 06:53

One coax cable to the junction box from Sky+ - coax throughout the house to various rooms. (It was as high tech as I could do back then).

Then I'd stick with the Sky HD, unless you're going for Sky Mini boxes in other rooms there is no point in going for Q.

[GetCarter]

Thanks for all the help.

[bristolracer]

It can be done, but would be costly and you will end up with a cupboard full of boxes and gizmos which if you dont understand what they are and what they do will cause you a headache when something inevitably stops working.

The tile TV is 14 years old now, and somewhat out of date, maybe its time for an upgrade? You are sure theres no way of getting it out?

You could maybe use the old HD box as a freesat unit when you upgrade, but that will involve some tweaks to the dish and the dish cabling.

The other option is an ipad or tablet streaming the news?

[GetCarter]

Thanks.

Having read all that, I think I have to rip the whole lot out and start again, as I'd like more than 2 channels recorded at the same time and quite fancy Ultra HD. Combined with that my SkyHD+ box is near death methinks.

Means a new bathroom refit / re-tile (bugger).

Again, thanks for the tips and advice.

[bristolracer]

If you get a new bathroom tv

Ensure it has an HD digital tuner, not just a digital one
If its no more than 10m away from your cupboard put in an HDMI cable as well.

I think the fitting of bathroom tvs has moved on these days and you can get tvs that come in a water sealed mounting box so you can dis mount the tv for any maintenance.

[UpTheIron]

If you typically only watch the news on the Tile TV then the option suggested above about keeping your Sky+ box just for that TV is a good one. There are some additional considerations:

1. Sky Q uses a different LNB (on the satellite dish). Your engineer might want to just replace the existing one, but Hybrid LNB's are available that will support both Sky+ and Sky Q boxes.
2. In addition to the correct LNB, you would need to run additional cables from the dish to your new Sky Q box (rather than re-use the existing ones as these will need to stay connected to your Sky+ box).
3. The cupboard you put everything in will need to be big enough for both boxes (obviously)

Also, this doesn't offer a solution for getting the signal from your Sky Q box(es) to any of your other TV's. You'll be looking at some sort of HDMI distribution or Sky Q Mini boxes for that.

[hornmeister]

If it's just for say BBC news, I'd get a cheap Freeview tuner with RF/aerial output and connect that the the bathroom TV using the existing cabling. You'll probably need to go 2nd hand, charity shops ebay etc.

You can get adapters and converters to get an RF signal out of a Sky Q box but the cost and hassle is not worthwhile imho. Ideal solution is to get a new waterproof monitor/TV with HDMI