Foxtel iQ Installation

[bigbod]

Hi all,

My Foxtel iQ installation was supposed to happen last Monday, but was delayed until next Friday due to bad weather. This came as a bit of a surprise, as I thought it would be a simple STB swap. But apparently not. The Foxtel technician was vague, but said that he had to access the roof and ceiling.

Can anyone tell me exactly what changes Foxtel make during the iQ installation? I have Foxtel Digital via Satellite. I rang Foxtel Sales, and they told me that a replacement cable needs to be run from the disk to my wall socket. But I've also heard the following:

1. An amplifier needs to be installed (where)?

2. Multiple cables need to be fed to the iQ box.

This is an issue to me, as I have a Sony KV-HR32 in a large entertainment cabinet, and the Foxtel wall socket is behind the cabinet. My wall socket already has two outlets (Foxtel/FTA) and I don't really want another hole in my wall.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Rod

[GregA1503560021]

Can anyone tell me exactly what changes Foxtel make during the iQ installation? I have Foxtel Digital via Satellite. I rang Foxtel Sales, and they told me that a replacement cable needs to be run from the disk to my wall socket. But I've also heard the following:

1. An amplifier needs to be installed (where)?

2. Multiple cables need to be fed to the iQ box.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My parents had regular satellite but in an apartment. They now have Foxtel IQ (but with Digital "LITE"), and I understand a bit more about it.

Firstly, the thing to remember is that the Foxtel IQ has 2 Tuners in it - it's like 2 set top boxes in your TV room. That way it can record 2 things at once (or record one channel while you watch another channel)

Now, Foxtel has recently started using 2 polarities of the satellite so they can fit more channels in, and the polarities can't both come down 1 cable at the same time. So if you had 2 set top boxes they'd have to have their own cables, or they might fight each other for the signal they each want.

Your original wiring just needed one cable from the dish's LNB (the white thing in the middle), down to your Foxtel box. It just has the horizontal frequency, and may be split for a few set top boxes.

The NEW wiring requires the following

1) A change on your satellite to a dual LNB that can output both the vertical and horizontal polarised signals.

2) A multi switch in your roof close to the satellite - this takes the 2 separate signals (Vert and Horiz.) and outputs a separate cable for each tuner in your set top boxes. The tuners tell the multi switch whether they need V or H.

3) A separate wire from the multi switch to each tuner - that's TWO cables for a Foxtel IQ!

You can get Foxtel Digital LITE instead if you want. It'll just use exactly you're current cabling because it ONLY uses the horizontal signals. So (1) the satellite dish doesn't need to output both, (2) you don't need a switch to handle both, and (3) one wire is fine to be split for multiple tuners.

Not that much is on the Vertical stuff YET. Right now, you don't get 2/9/SBS, FBO, Sports interactive, or RAI/Antenna. Any new channels you probably also will not get. You're investing $500 so get the cabling done IMO.

Good luck.

Greg

[bigbod]

Can anyone tell me exactly what changes Foxtel make during the iQ installation? I have Foxtel Digital via Satellite. I rang Foxtel Sales, and they told me that a replacement cable needs to be run from the disk to my wall socket. But I've also heard the following:

1. An amplifier needs to be installed (where)?

2. Multiple cables need to be fed to the iQ box.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can get Foxtel Digital LITE instead if you want. It'll just use exactly you're current cabling because it ONLY uses the horizontal signals. So (1) the satellite dish doesn't need to output both, (2) you don't need a switch to handle both, and (3) one wire is fine to be split for multiple tuners.

Not that much is on the Vertical stuff YET. Right now, you don't get 2/9/SBS, FBO, Sports interactive, or RAI/Antenna. Any new channels you probably also will not get. You're investing $500 so get the cabling done IMO.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi Greg,

Thanks for the detailed reply. I already get ABC & SBS (or did last time I checked) on Digital (Basic Package). Are you saying that will change?

Thanks

Rod

[gadget1503559522]

In a house with only one IQ STU you will not require a multiswitch. All that is required is a new cable run to the dish from the STU. A new dual pole dual output LNB on the existing dish. The 2 cables (1 old and 1 new) from the LNB are then connected straight to the tuners of the IQ STU. A phone line will needed to be installed if you don't already have one in place. ie upgraded from the old Foxtel Black STU, if your upgrading from the newer Digital STU, there should already be a phone line in place. The vertical and horizonal freq's are selected by voltage sent to the LNB from the STU. 13v for Vert and 18v for Horz. That is why you need a dual pole dual output LNB and 2 cables.

Gadget

[GregA1503560021]

Thanks for the detailed reply. I already get ABC & SBS (or did last time I checked) on Digital (Basic Package). Are you saying that will change?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NO worries

Gadget has corrected me on my point #2 - you don't need a multiswitch in the roof if it's just 2 tuners (or 1 IQ box) - the LNB does the job. If you're already getting the ABC on satellite then you probably have the right LNB already.

If you do NOT get an extra wire from the dish to your Foxtel IQ then they put you on "Digital LITE". This stops you getting access to FBO, ABC, SBS, Nine, Antenna & RAI, and Sports Active for now.

I'm asking questions about that in another thread in this area.

Hope that helps.

Greg

ps. I'm not sure how to get notifications of replies to my posts...sorry about the delay

[bigbod]

Thanks for the detailed reply. I already get ABC & SBS (or did last time I checked) on Digital (Basic Package). Are you saying that will change?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NO worries

Gadget has corrected me on my point #2 - you don't need a multiswitch in the roof if it's just 2 tuners (or 1 IQ box) - the LNB does the job. If you're already getting the ABC on satellite then you probably have the right LNB already.

If you do NOT get an extra wire from the dish to your Foxtel IQ then they put you on "Digital LITE". This stops you getting access to FBO, ABC, SBS, Nine, Antenna & RAI, and Sports Active for now.

I'm asking questions about that in another thread in this area.

Hope that helps.

Greg

ps. I'm not sure how to get notifications of replies to my posts...sorry about the delay

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hi... my iQ was installed today (I've got to give Foxtel a wrap here... they were here at 7:06 am, and the whole installation went very smoothly).

The iQ PDR seems impressive at first glance, though I'm yet to really stress it. For some reason the technician configured the Playback Indicator to 'Demo', resulting in a continuous chaser sequence. This of course, made the iQ my 9 month old daughter's favourite new toy, so I had to set it back to 'Standard' so that she'd lose interest

The Foxtel technician told me that the only reason for replacing the LNB was to feed two tuners - that is the current LNB was H/V capable, but a dual H/V capable LNB was required (or alternatively get Foxtel LITE if the additional cable installation proves too difficult).

Cheers

Rod