Communal cabling systems / co existing with Sky

[grant29]

Hi,

Im looking at a block wiring project for a block of flats. In this politically correct world I have been tasked with making sure that we maintain 'freedom of choice' of viewing for all dwellers. This means whatever carrier they want to go with we must provide a connection. Therefore, i am proposing an integrated system (IRS) that will accomodate Sky, Digital terrestrial, DAB, Terrestrial and channel based subscriber broadcasts from a number of sats such as hotbird etc..

The question is, can Cable broadcast (such as NTL) also co-exist on such systems, will the frequencies clash? will it in theory work? and if so, does anyone have any recommendations?

Morning Grant - and to Cable Fourm.

I can't directly answer your question (although there are a few NTL techs on this board who should be able to), but I do know from domestic experience that they are funny enough about cable that they have not installed themselves that they will probably have kittens at the thought of Freeview, digital satellite and cable signals all coming down the same length of user-installed coax.

While I admire your dedication to customer choice ... virtually every other landlord sets rules about what residents can or cannot hook up to, so I can't see the problem with you doing the same. Personally I think having your flats cabled for NTL is the easiest option.
__________________

I've moved this thread to the Installation forum.

[SMHarman]

I believe the frequencies that Sky, CATV and Freeview play out on are sufficiently similar that you cannot put them all down the same cable. It would be like having three telephone conversations on the same phone line at the same time (IYSWIM).

To maintain freedom of choice you could put sat grade coax from each dwelling to a central point (in a star network), at that central point the relevant installation company can hook up / distribute, so you would have three (or more cables coming in Freeview, Sky, NTL) and they would then be split and distributed to the appropriate dwelling. If you wanted to change supplier the supplier / you / the dweller would need to access the router cupboard and put the cable onto the sky / freeview segment as appropriate.

This should work for Sky and Freeview (where you will have shared sat / aerial) but may be a bit more fiddly for NTL wher they may want to bring in more cables if more customers want their product.

Can the building have risers but into it so a cable can be pulled if necessary?

EDIT:
Reading your post more thoroughly - you would probably want at least two coax to each property, one for a terrestrial broadcast, combined with AM, FM and DAB and another for the Sat OR CATV/BB feed.

Are you thinking of putting some CAT5 wiring to / thru each property too?

[spike7451]

A lot of installs i have done for landlords,the cable is pulled in advance from the street cab to the meter cupboard next to where BT/Sky,NTL terminate.Then you run internal catv & telco from there to the dwellings.(Dont use #cheap' catv cable as the signal loss over distance can be too excessive.best bet,ask NTL for a roll or two of INTERNAL WHITE SIAMESE, A lot easier to run as both the catv for tv/broardband & teephone cables are joined onto the one cable)What some flats do is run the cable from the meter cupboard in the hall to the electric box.There they run individual catv & telco to the relevent points in the flat.That way,if the renter wants TV in the living room & Broardband in the bedroom,there is no extra drilling to be done.All the connections can be done in the flats electric box & the relevent points in the flat.A lot easier for the installer & less mess for the landlord.
Remember,each flat needs it's own drop cable (Cable from the meter to the street cabinet) & please lable all the cables with the flat number.
Hope this is of help.
Spike
Oh,
the maximum length of the external drop cable that is allowed inside a open living space is one meter.This is due to the risk of toxic fumes from the waterproofing gel inside the cable if there is a fire.

Originally Posted by spike7451

A lot of installs i have done for landlords,the cable is pulled in advance from the street cab to the meter cupboard next to where BT/Sky,NTL terminate.Then you run internal catv & telco from there to the dwellings.(Dont use #cheap' catv cable as the signal loss over distance can be too excessive.best bet,ask NTL for a roll or two of INTERNAL WHITE SIAMESE, A lot easier to run as both the catv for tv/broardband & teephone cables are joined onto the one cable)What some flats do is run the cable from the meter cupboard in the hall to the electric box.There they run individual catv & telco to the relevent points in the flat.That way,if the renter wants TV in the living room & Broardband in the bedroom,there is no extra drilling to be done.All the connections can be done in the flats electric box & the relevent points in the flat.A lot easier for the installer & less mess for the landlord.
Remember,each flat needs it's own drop cable (Cable from the meter to the street cabinet) & please lable all the cables with the flat number.
Hope this is of help.
Spike
Oh,
the maximum length of the external drop cable that is allowed inside a open living space is one meter.This is due to the risk of toxic fumes from the waterproofing gel inside the cable if there is a fire.

There you go.

[sweaty]

If flats haven't been built yet then NTL won't cable them, even if there is a green box outside. They are not connecting to new builds, lack of money.

[spike7451]

No,but if the landlord gets the cables off NTL & runs the cables himself or gets the spark to do it while the internal wireing is being done,If theres a toby outside on the pavement & it's fairly close to the property,All he has to do extra is run some 4 in duct from the meter cupboard where all the NTL services for each flat stops to the toby plate.All NTL then have to do is pull a drop cable from the cab to the toby,run it thru to the pipe & if the landlords ran some rope thru to the meter box,pull the drop thru with that & connect up! Done it loads of times,but not for much longer! Being made redundent on 13 Sept!!
Spike