virgin media and tv wiring

[wrighty]

alright folks,

Im in the process of buying my first house. The house needs some work doing especially a rewire. The home owner is a ive worked on a building site and seen it done before type of bloke. Will upload pics when sale goes through unless they have to get a CU change done, but in words the main switch on an old rewireable fuse box is broke, so hes jammed the Live into the open side of the fuse with i presume just the fuse carrier holding it in looks that way to power all ciruits, was shocked when i saw it, he even told me himself it was illegal. Not to mention highly dangerous as the fuse board is located under stairs which is used as storage aswell.

so anyway back to the reason for my post due to the above problem and me wanting sockets etc where i would like them im going to be rewiring the property. so during the rewire ill also be fitting an intruder alarm and tv points/virgin media. My problem is ive never done any tv points or anything myself before and im a bit lost for where to start. Basically im wanting TV/virgin media in the majority of rooms, now i know i can get a box from virgin for each room but that implies monthly charges, also i dont want to have the same channel on in every room.

So im hoping a few of you that are experienced in this field could help me out. My aim (not sure if its possible) is to run 2/3 boxes with possibly a couple of magic eyes like for sky to be able to change the channel from each room. The virgin coming into the property is located in the living room, Im looking at maybe 1 box in living room, and 1 in main bedroom, (3 bed property) can i distribute the signal from 1 room into a further 2? can i use magic eyes to change channel? and without sounding daft will normal flush coax plates suffice or is there a certain type i need for virgin media?

If above is possible i was thinking of running cables from each box to other bedrooms to give maximum channel options. So if my OH was watching tv downstairs i could watch something different in 1 of the other bedrooms or if she was watching in main bedroom i could watch something different in Other bedrooms as such

long winded i know but any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[mhar]

I have never seen one of these boxes, we don't have cable in North Devon. However first thing to ascertain is how you want to or are able to do the distribution.
Does the box have a modulated uhf output? If so then you run cables (rg6 min standard) to a central distribution point (plus the feed from the box) and split accordingly. Being an analogue output you may have to amplify the signal where it originates from the box. Downside of this is picture quality may not be up to the standard you are used to (analogue is not always brilliant on lcd/plasma tvs) plus any tv you buy in the future will have to have an analogue tuner and these tvs are likely to become increasingly rare in this country.
If you don't have this type of output then you are likely to be in the realms of hdmi distribution but I am not experienced in this.
One thing to note is that when using a splitter you can only get away with a couple of points before having to purchase an amp which is made to facilitate magic eyes - no eyes, no problem

 

[alarm man]

for virgin boxes you need rg6 cable to where your virgin box/es will be,you can tee off the original cable if required or run a cable from the main box,you dont need any coax outlets the cable goes straight into the virgin box then out via hdmi to your tv,vigin charge between £5 & £10 pm month per box tho you do get 1 free box with the vip package tho you can haggle with virgin to get an extra 1 free depending on the package you get,also any bb router uses the same cable as the tv so you can put it anywhere there is a box or cable you dont need an a additional telephone line

 

[tombrooker84]

I don't think there is a facility on the virgin boxes to runa magic eye. However you could always buy a hdmi splitter and use this in conjunction with a infra red repeater, but it would mean runing another hdmi cable rather than an extra coax. Also it is quite an expensive option at around £50.

Regards

Tom

 

[jpm646]

even if u did put a magic eye in (look about and u can get them for virgin) you swould have to watch the same channel on all the tvs

 

[wrighty]

why would i have to watch the same channel in each room, if im in effect running 2 multiroom installs using 2 set top boxes?

 

[alarm man]

why would i have to watch the same channel in each room, if im in effect running 2 multiroom installs using 2 set top boxes?

you wont,virgin multi room is not the same as skys magic eye multi room,you have your own box and control what you watch

 

[mogga]

Iv now got TIVO down stair V+ upstairs n standard box in the weans room there is a monthly charge for TIVO and for multiroom but its loads less than sky as well as boxes being HD ( no HD subs unlike sky) the activation of £50 for HD service can be waived if you talk nice to customer services If the box breaks down or any problems Virgin fix it unlike sky who charge £65 I cant say for everyone but my installs have always been virgin direct employed guys Sky use subbies of varrying quality and standards

Phone virgin and ask them to come survey before rewire explain you will install cables as you want them under floors ect and they will leave you the correct csabling for the job Again talk nice and give guy coffeee n biccies

 

[Berniethebolt]

First things first do not fit wall plate, if you must fit a blank with the trailing lead, (this is because the spectrum which virgin media use ranges from 20 mhz to 800 mhz and the wall plates do not cover this full range)

I can work out what you are trying to do, but no way will it be cost-effective especially as everything is mainly in HD now, it would be a lot cheaper and less hassle just to get the Virgin Media put the extra boxes in every room, and as the previous post states if anything goes wrong it is not your problem.

Virgin media will fit the correct snap on F connectors, and use the correct type of RG6 cable.

So the answer is quite simple just ring them up and let them do a survey.

 

[Hardwired]

I would not wire this yourself mate, virgin media does not use standard copper coax they way sky does, iv never seen anywhere else use the cable virgin use, your best bet would be to either run in containment or prepare the cable route for them if you dont want them surface mounted.

 

[RISElectrical]

One of my blokes is currently doing a full rewire on a large house and the owner is having virgin installed in 4 rooms. Basically he has arranged with virgin that they come in when the house is in 1st fix stage and install the cabling. They were happy to do this.

 

[supasparxs]

I would not wire this yourself mate, virgin media does not use standard copper coax they way sky does, iv never seen anywhere else use the cable virgin use, your best bet would be to either run in containment or prepare the cable route for them if you dont want them surface mounted.

I had virgin upgrade my Vee+ box to a TiVo. He told me that they use RG6 coax. I explained that I install CCTV systems and have alot of RG59 coax. I was told that over long runs there would be losses using RG59, but within a house it would be fine. He then gave me about 20 RG59 sized F plugs the use the coax for shorter runs

 

[Hardwired]

If you have the correct cable then fill yer boots

 

[oldskoolbeat]

I've got Virgin Media Tivo Box Downstairs and Virgin plus box upstairs, from these I've run cables back to a TV booster, along with the Digital aerial and a sky box with just the free channels.
From the booster I've run coax to all the TVs.
This means that anything can be viewed from either Virgin box along with the sky box or from the TV aerial.
Even means that downstairs can watch what's recorded on the upstairs box and visa versa. :dizzy2:

Not so straight forward as that thou.....Virgin don't do a magic eye like sky, had to get transmitters and receivers for the remotes to work and also the second output from the Tivo box isn't a coax (think it was a second HDMI but not sure now...) so you have to get a converter for this also.
All sound a pain to set up but not hard to do.
Only problem with the transmitters is that all our TVs are Samsung and therefore use the same remote, so you end up changing setting on all the TV if your not careful...........

Transmitters are pyramid type and can be found on Amazon (search powermid)

Good luck :smile5:

 

[jazzygazza]

just to say make sure the property is being discounted due to electrical problems and get a quote to fix them be worthwhile getting periodic inspection done to show all faults in property, it is the owners resposibility to provide you with safe up to date electrics unless theyve stated that its sold as seen i have got people rewires done in the past so discuss with your lawyer options open to you

 

[Bloggs96]

Seen as I used to work for ntl: / Virgin media as an installation tech then moved way up to service and network tech... I'd strongly advise you not to use any old cable for this, you need specialised low ohm RG6 or RG59 screened cable, you also can't terminate this to wall plates as this will reduce the dbmv and the spectrum used is 20-800Mhz, and wall plates do not go this far. You can buy the cable from Commscope, Hager sell FSAT plug modules for europlates without any anntenuation, of just get yourself some blank 1G plates, drill some holes and fit F coupler barrels, so you can terminate the cable to the barrel, if you need the pressure fit F Plugs let me know as have a few spare, you would need the compression tool available from mills ltd, same as the cable stripper.

Internally you can do what you like, but you're not allowed technically to add, extend or modify any of virgin's network as if you terminate incorrectly and use the wrong cable etc, you will cause the SNR to increase and noise on the network.

You can get Virgin to come and leave you the cable, you route it all and they will then return and terminate if you are having them in each room.

 

[Bloggs96]

For the same channel in every room, run Cat 6 cabling, x 2 to each room and then run HDMI over Cat 6 using a HDMI matrix meaning you get the same channel in every room. you can then also use a magic eye to change channels if you grab yourself a logitech harmony programmable remote control.

 

[alarm man]

You can get Virgin to come and leave you the cable, you route it all and they will then return and terminate if you are having them in each room.

i second what kris says,their installers are rough as..make bt look neat...if you want multi room its flat carpets up,bumpy carpets back down,get the cable and run it yourself..

 

[Copper Wire Stripper]

alright folks,

Im in the process of buying my first house. The house needs some work doing especially a rewire. The home owner is a ive worked on a building site and seen it done before type of bloke. Will upload pics when sale goes through unless they have to get a CU change done, but in words the main switch on an old rewireable fuse box is broke, so hes jammed the Live into the open side of the fuse with i presume just the fuse carrier holding it in looks that way to power all ciruits, was shocked when i saw it, he even told me himself it was illegal. Not to mention highly dangerous as the fuse board is located under stairs which is used as storage aswell.

so anyway back to the reason for my post due to the above problem and me wanting sockets etc where i would like them im going to be rewiring the property. so during the rewire ill also be fitting an intruder alarm and tv points/virgin media. My problem is ive never done any tv points or anything myself before and im a bit lost for where to start. Basically im wanting TV/virgin media in the majority of rooms, now i know i can get a box from virgin for each room but that implies monthly charges, also i dont want to have the same channel on in every room.

So im hoping a few of you that are experienced in this field could help me out. My aim (not sure if its possible) is to run 2/3 boxes with possibly a couple of magic eyes like for sky to be able to change the channel from each room. The virgin coming into the property is located in the living room, Im looking at maybe 1 box in living room, and 1 in main bedroom, (3 bed property) can i distribute the signal from 1 room into a further 2? can i use magic eyes to change channel? and without sounding daft will normal flush coax plates suffice or is there a certain type i need for virgin media?

If above is possible i was thinking of running cables from each box to other bedrooms to give maximum channel options. So if my OH was watching tv downstairs i could watch something different in 1 of the other bedrooms or if she was watching in main bedroom i could watch something different in Other bedrooms as such

long winded i know but any help would be greatly appreciated

hello try this item ,

[video=youtube_share;BEHG3f0QI7s]http://youtu.be/BEHG3f0QI7s[/video]

 

[tidyboiler]

I actually had a qualified electrician cut through my Virgin cables with a hedge trimmer............you just can't get the staff......