Skybox Loop question

[jonnymac]

HI
A bit of a noob question but I have done a few searches and can't find the answer. I want to sit a F5 Skybox above my Sky+ box and bring one of the two connections coming from my standard sky dish into the F5 and then use the loop out to connect to my sky+ box. So I would keep all the functions of my Sky+ box and have FreeView HD etc from the F5 box. Is this right or am I missing the point of the loop?

[digicon]

No your pretty much spot on attach one of the sat feeds directly to the F5 then use a short loop cable to connect back into the official box, Just remember for the loop to work the F5 would have to be in standby while viewing the official box

[Paul0802]

Is it possible to use my sky+ box as my hard drive as the f5 does not have one. Or do I need to buy another hard drive to be able to record etc.

[sb18180]

the loop only loops the satdish so not possible to use the hard drive. another hard drive would be required.

[ajax2061]

get a powered 3.5 inch sata hdd caddy and you could then remove the hard drive from the slybox (if its a hd + if non hd then ide caddy instead)

Put sly box back together and use as a freesat box

your have to format the hd from the sly box as they are in a strange format

[rhysishere]

No your pretty much spot on attach one of the sat feeds directly to the F5 then use a short loop cable to connect back into the official box, Just remember for the loop to work the F5 would have to be in standby while viewing the official box

So if I drilled through into the next room and looped the boxes through the wall I couldn't watch my box while the Mrs watches hers?

[P&D]

Not with the loop connected
Yes if u have a single feed to each box

[mast]

Hi

Maybe better to get a quad lnb and run a new cable to 2nd box to give you total independance viewing of each box then you can both be happy

Regards

[bm100]

No your pretty much spot on attach one of the sat feeds directly to the F5 then use a short loop cable to connect back into the official box, Just remember for the loop to work the F5 would have to be in standby while viewing the official box

What cable would be needed for this? TV tech really isn't my thing, so a link would be helpful!

[cactikid]

would not go near skyboxes as next problem you will get is the no signal issue,providers box and skyboxes on their own feeds have issues,a better box than skybox would be better option,but i know you love your skybox problems,no signal,lost channels,glitching and forgot the rest.

[bbb_uk]

You would need a short satellite/coax cable with F connectors.

A quick search found this on ebay. This may not be the cheapest.

Remember though to ensure cable will be long enough to go from F5(s) to original $ky box and that you need to ensure you use only one box at a time (the other has to be on standby).

Word of warning, I had my setup like that and occasionally by F5S box would lose some channels even though the original $ky box was on standby. As soon as I removed the loop cable the F5S was fine. I put this down to the fact that although the original $ky box was on standby it may have been updating itself/EPG or something whilst on standby so was in effect still using the dish in someway. I ended up having to run a separate cable from the dish (LNB) to the F5S and everything has been fine since.

I therefore recommend using a separate feed to the F5(s) box instead otherwise you are likely to have problems. As I said I have no problems at all now that the F5S has it's own feed from LNB/dish.

[bbb_uk]

...i know you love your skybox problems,no signal,lost channels,glitching and forgot the rest.

I don't have any of those problems since I used a separate feed to my F5S.

The box itself is only cheap yes but it does it's job. Anyone wanting more from the box would be best upgrading to a better box.

[bm100]

You would need a short satellite/coax cable with F connectors.

A quick search found this on ebay. This may not be the cheapest.

Remember though to ensure cable will be long enough to go from F5(s) to original $ky box and that you need to ensure you use only one box at a time (the other has to be on standby).

Word of warning, I had my setup like that and occasionally by F5S box would lose some channels even though the original $ky box was on standby. As soon as I removed the loop cable the F5S was fine. I put this down to the fact that although the original $ky box was on standby it may have been updating itself/EPG or something whilst on standby so was in effect still using the dish in someway. I ended up having to run a separate cable from the dish (LNB) to the F5S and everything has been fine since.

I therefore recommend using a separate feed to the F5(s) box instead otherwise you are likely to have problems. As I said I have no problems at all now that the F5S has it's own feed from LNB/dish.

Thanks a lot for your help. So if I go with a SkyBox, do I NEED the loop cable? What benefit does a loop cable bring if both boxes work without one?

But basically, from these two replies I've had, the very best options are to either go for a different box, or to get a separate feed for a SkyBox with a dual LNB?

[cactikid]

all boxes need their own sat cables to run from lnb=3 cables for yours,if sat dish only has a duel tuner it would need to be upgraded to a quad

[bbb_uk]

Personally, go with a separate feed as all boxes need their own feed otherwise you risk chance of having problems regardless of whether it's a cheap box or a more expensive box.

If your LNB (on end of dish where cables come from) has only two ports and they're both in use due to $ky+(hd) then you will need a quad LNB (4 ports).