Multi-channel Sky distribution?

On Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:31:46 +0100, Bill Wright
wrote:

Paul D Smith wrote:

But does this mean that in order to distribute Sky Sports 1,2,3,4 to all
the apartments, there are 4 "standard" Sky boxes each set to a distinct
channel feeding into the distribution system?

Yes.

Seems like there ought to
be a "commercial" box with a single special Sky card and outputting
multiple channels, perhaps even with the ability to add more channels by
slotting in additional cards or chaining a second box.

No such thing. See
http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ymbj/hot-boxes.shtml


Bill


What arrangements do you put in place for recovery after a power
failure, as left to themselves Sky boxes come back on in standby, and
when brought out of standby display EPG 998?

I did once see a device that was basically an automatic handset
emulator and operated a number of boxes via RF2, is that still done?



--

Graham.

%Profound_observation%

Paul Ratcliffe wrote:
On Tue, 22 Apr 2014 14:37:57 +0100, Bill Wright wrote:

http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ourwork/033.shtml

The .PDF and other image link at the bottom of that page don't work.

Cheers

Bill

Graham. wrote:

What arrangements do you put in place for recovery after a power
failure, as left to themselves Sky boxes come back on in standby, and
when brought out of standby display EPG 998?

I did once see a device that was basically an automatic handset
emulator and operated a number of boxes via RF2, is that still done?


There are a few devices. None of them are infallible. Basically it comes
down to the handyman (God help us).

Bill

On 22/04/2014 14:29, Bill Wright wrote:

Each box feeds its RF output into the system and it appears on the
tellys as an analogue channel. Nowadays the Sky boxes usually feed into
digital modulators so the channels appear on the tellys as digital ones.

Just out of interest, I see you can get HD ones with HDMI inputs. Do you
know how they're dealing with HDCP? Surely it wouldn't be allowed to
convert a subscription channel or a BD into an FTA channel would it?

Cheers,

Colin.

Colin Stamp wrote:
On 22/04/2014 14:29, Bill Wright wrote:

Each box feeds its RF output into the system and it appears on the
tellys as an analogue channel. Nowadays the Sky boxes usually feed into
digital modulators so the channels appear on the tellys as digital ones.

Just out of interest, I see you can get HD ones with HDMI inputs. Do you
know how they're dealing with HDCP? Surely it wouldn't be allowed to
convert a subscription channel or a BD into an FTA channel would it?

Cheers,

Colin.

I have no personal knowledge of this (I've been retired, more or less,
for ages now) but I haven't heard of any restrictions.

Bill

"Bill Wright" wrote in message ...

Graham. wrote:

What arrangements do you put in place for recovery after a power
failure, as left to themselves Sky boxes come back on in standby, and
when brought out of standby display EPG 998?

I did once see a device that was basically an automatic handset
emulator and operated a number of boxes via RF2, is that still done?


There are a few devices. None of them are infallible. Basically it comes
down to the handyman (God help us).

Bill
++++++++++
I'm amazed that Sky has not yet implemented a small network server on their
boxes for folks such as yourself to use. Don't all Sky boxes have network
connections these days in which case with only a tiny amount of smarts in
the box and network connection, you could sit at home and use a few mouse
clicks to get them all back-up and running properly.

Makes me wonder whether this isn't already possible. Looks like some Sky
boxes already have Sky apps although they seem to be the Sky HD/+ boxes.
Might be something interesting for any geeky bods to fiddle with.

And then you want a nice applet that lets you "see" all the boxes that you
manage across multiple sites and have "status" and "restore all" one-click
functions.

Sounds like loads of geeky fun if I hadn't already got lots of other stuff
to do.

Paul DS.

.....snip...

There are a few devices. None of them are infallible. Basically it comes
down to the handyman (God help us).

Bill
++++++++++

Seems someone has beaten me to the punch, but bizarrely they seem to use a
serial port rather than a straight network connection.

http://www.dusky-control.com/

Paul DS.

On Wed, 23 Apr 2014 08:36:42 +0100, Paul D Smith
wrote:

I'm amazed that Sky has not yet implemented a small network server on their
boxes for folks such as yourself to use. Don't all Sky boxes have network
connections these days in which case with only a tiny amount of smarts in
the box and network connection, you could sit at home and use a few mouse
clicks to get them all back-up and running properly.

Makes me wonder whether this isn't already possible. Looks like some Sky
boxes already have Sky apps although they seem to be the Sky HD/+ boxes.
Might be something interesting for any geeky bods to fiddle with.

And then you want a nice applet that lets you "see" all the boxes that you
manage across multiple sites and have "status" and "restore all" one-click
functions.

And how exactly does one administer the administration of the system
and the security aspects involved? I don't think you've quite thought it
through.

On Tue, 22 Apr 2014 21:17:43 +0100, Bill Wright wrote:

http://www.wrightsaerials.tv/ourwork/033.shtml

The .PDF and other image link at the bottom of that page don't work.

Cheers

Both working now. I wonder if the system is still in use?
What happened to Rossington Light Engineering? Their web site is defunct
(even if they aren't).

Incidentally we use Kramer routers (switchers as you call them) for
routing 70 MHz IF (as well as rapidly diminishing legacy PAL) as they
are flat to about 200 MHz.

Paul Ratcliffe wrote:
Paul D Smith wrote:
I'm amazed that Sky has not yet implemented a small network server on their
boxes for folks such as yourself to use. Don't all Sky boxes have network
connections these days in which case with only a tiny amount of smarts in
the box and network connection, you could sit at home and use a few mouse
clicks to get them all back-up and running properly.
And how exactly does one administer the administration of the system
and the security aspects involved? I don't think you've quite thought it
through.

Such systems are now normal for large door entry / access control keyfob systems across social housing estates, so if a tenant loses their keyfob the central security office can immediately disable it on all doors throughout the estate.

'autoprovisioning' is also normal for VoIP phone systems where the phone downloads all its settings from a central server.

All Sky would have to do would be to allow approved installers access to a configuration extranet and have the boxes listen for a config file sent over the satellite data stream.

Owain