[len112]

I just got my tx50g20b which has freeview and freesat , however I don't seem to be able to watch freesat if i'm watching sky as the Sat cable instructions tell me to plug the sat lead directly into the tv , this means unplugging it from my sky box . Am I doing something wrong ?

[hardeep]

Yes
You need a seperate feed for Sky and for the G20's Freesat input. (Unlike video recorders you can't feed from one to other.)

Now as to whether it is worth the hassle/expense of fitting another lead is upto you and your current circumstances.

One option might be upgrade your Sky box - I'm guessing you don't have Sky+ or HD - to Sky+( or HD) - and keep the existing your cable for use with the G20.

You could fit the another cable yourself - you'll need a dual input LNB.

And so on - if you post what you exactly want to be able to do with your TV, Freesat and Sky (and if you want SkyHD or just FreesatHD) people will be able to offer suggestions.

[skinj]

You could also just get a switch box that takes 1 feed in and has 2 outputs that you select from if you are using Sky or the TV. We have certainly done this for a few customers with a single feed and it works quite well. We normally pop to maplins and get this:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=17808

I know it says the the box is a 2 into 1 but it will work the other way round.

[Winston_1]

You've just spent a lot of money on that Panasonic. Don't bother with cheap switches, get a quad LNB and another cable from the dish.

[len112]

Originally Posted by hardeep

Yes
You need a seperate feed for Sky and for the G20's Freesat input. (Unlike video recorders you can't feed from one to other.)

Now as to whether it is worth the hassle/expense of fitting another lead is upto you and your current circumstances.

One option might be upgrade your Sky box - I'm guessing you don't have Sky+ or HD - to Sky+( or HD) - and keep the existing your cable for use with the G20.

You could fit the another cable yourself - you'll need a dual input LNB.

And so on - if you post what you exactly want to be able to do with your TV, Freesat and Sky (and if you want SkyHD or just FreesatHD) people will be able to offer suggestions.

I do have a Sky HD box , should that make a difference ?

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by len112

I do have a Sky HD box , should that make a difference ?

Almost certainly yes as quad lnb's are fitted as standard. All you need is another coax from one of the two spare lnb outputs that should be available

[hardeep]

Originally Posted by len112

I do have a Sky HD box , should that make a difference ?

In that case - with all due respect - why do you need to need to use the Freesat in the G20?

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by hardeep

In that case - with all due respect - why do you need to need to use the Freesat in the G20?

Suppose he want's to watch BBC HD (or any other freesat channel) while the Sky-HD box is recording two programmes

[len112]

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

Almost certainly yes as quad lnb's are fitted as standard. All you need is another coax from one of the two spare lnb outputs that should be available

Ok so that's a straight coax cable then , and could you give me an indication of the connection set up , i'd be eternally grateful . thanks

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by len112

Ok so that's a straight coax cable then , and could you give me an indication of the connection set up , i'd be eternally grateful . thanks

A length of sat grade coax (PF100/WF100 is best). Two F connectors, ideally a tube of silicone grease and wall clips.

The lnb has a push up weather shield that covers the connections. Make sure you put a drip loop on the cable before it enters a wall if it comes downwards to avoid tracking rainwater into the wall.

http://www.satcure.com/tech/fconn.htm

[len112]

Originally Posted by grahamlthompson

A length of sat grade coax (PF100/WF100 is best). Two F connectors, ideally a tube of silicone grease and wall clips.

The lnb has a push up weather shield that covers the connections. Make sure you put a drip loop on the cable before it enters a wall if it comes downwards to avoid tracking rainwater into the wall.

http://www.satcure.com/tech/fconn.htm

Here was me thinking I could just connect another wire from my sky box to my tv , I think I might just have to pass on freesat . Thanks for the advice though

[PlayerUK]

I've just used the switch from Maplin (as per skinj's post) and it works fine. You do also need a couple of short lengths of cable with an F plug at each end to connect between the switch and the TV and switch and the Sky box. Maplin's sell the cables at £5.99 each or Screwfix sell the same one for £1.79.

If you do connect the cable for Freesat and an ethernet cable to your router you can access BBC's iPlayer. I tried it at the weekend and it connects no problem.

Additional cabling is not always a possibility and this switch does work quite effectively.