| Suggested wiring layout is given, below. We recommend that you copy this as closely as possible. Before you begin, please make a sketch of your own proposed layout on A4 size paper. This will make it easier to see if you make a mistake. It will also allow you to send a GIF image of your sketch to our Technical department if you require help. Please note that our technical help will necessarily be limited and will be based totally on your ability to describe your layout and your problem. We do recommend that you read our eBook very carefully and, again, to employ a professional if you run into difficulties that we can not solve for you by email. What use is a Loft Box? A loft box is able to combine the SAT LNB, TV AERIAL and RADIO AERIAL signals and send them down a single coaxial cable to your main room. (You will also need a Return Feed back to the loft box). This reduces the cable requirement to two instead of four. It can also handle signals from a Remote Control Extender (eg. tvLINK) in the reverse direction. It is important to understand the limitations of a Loft Box: It handles modulated RF signals, not raw video. Modulated RF signals will give "average" picture quality which will usually be fine on a 14" portable TV and acceptable on a 21" TV. Analogue transmissions using NICAM will give stereo audio on a suitable TV set. Other signals (eg. Sky Digibox RF Out) will give mono audio. (The only way to get stereo is via Scart or Phono connections and a Loft Box can't handle those). The more signals you try to feed in to the Loft Box, the worse the picture quality is likely to be. This is due to the limited number of UHF channels available (21 - 69) and the very real risk of cross-modulation between channels (as explained in "Piping TV Around the House".) You *can* use your existing TV aerial cable as the return feed and simply add the new down feed using double-shielded cable. However, for best results (maximum signal with minimum interference) we recommend you use double-shielded cable for ALL connections. The satellite TV picture quality through a Loft Box should not be significantly worse than it is when it comes direct from the Digibox RF Output, provided that you've followed the eBook advice. Obviously it can never be as good as Scart or S-Video quality. To ensure best possible picture and audio, use Scart or S-Video (if you have a SKY-Plus model) for the larger screens. But also bear in mind that digital satellite pictures are a compromise between quality and bandwidth so they'll never be a patch on DVD quality! The diagram shows a typical Loft Box wiring layout where the Loft Box is expected to be in the roof space or some dry upstairs location. There are optional inputs for an FM aerial, DAB aerial, security camera (or pond camera etc.) A 230 volt AC power supply is required. The wall plate is in the main viewing room. You can choose from a selection of wall plates, dependent on whether you need the telephone sockets and return feed. The RETURN feed will allow you to distribute the Sky Digibox programme AND normal TV aerial signal to other rooms, as shown. (So it's not really optional - it's essential!) A tvLINK system can be used in each room. The return feed can also carry other signals from the main viewing room (VCR, DVD etc.) These must all be tuned to separate UHF channels 21 - 69 as described in our eBook "Piping TV Around the House". IMPORTANT: The wall plates used for the secondary TV sets must be either GLO27 (UHF only) or GLO28 (UHF and RADIO). The main wall plate can be a single combined unit or two separate plates as required. It's important that you wire up the loft box FULLY as shown in our web page wiring diagram. If you omit vital connections (such as the return feed) the unit can not work. This is obvious from the internal diagram on page 26 of our "Piping TV.." eBook. Without the Return Feed the signals go ONLY to the living room. They can not go to TV OUT 1 - 4 because there is no internal connection. Please DO connect the Return Feed. It need only be a short link cable for the purpose of testing. Please also be sure to connect the decombiner wall plate for each output in use, otherwise you could cause damage. Frequently Asked Questions Q. Can I use a Loft Box with a non-Sky receiver? A. Yes but, if you want the remote extender function to work ("magic eye"), you will need to order a Global TVLink Plus with power supply. Q. Does the Loft Box aerial input provide power for a masthead amplifier or an MRD? A. No. You would need to fit a suitable power supply between the Loft Box and the amplifier. Note that an aerial amplifier will overload the Loft Box input unless there is a suitable length of cable (or attenuator) fitted. Q. Would you recommend a masthead amplifier to be used with and powered by a Loftbox? A. No. A Loft Box normally takes the place of a masthead amplifier and is located as close to the aerial as possible. If a masthead amplifier is used, it's likely to overload the input of the Loft Box built-in amplifier unless you have a very long connecting cable or fit a suitable value attenuator to the input. Q. What's the difference between the Global Loft Box and the Philex SLX version? A. The Global version has a number of accessories available for purchase. (See 2nd diagram on Global page). - Loftbox expander and DIP1 for running a second LNB signal through the Loftbox (for example, if you have a SKY+ system and don't want to run cables direct from LNB to living room).
- Amp Adder if you need more than 8 outlets.
- tvLINK remote extender "magic eyes". (You can use other makes but the tvLINK is manufactured by Global so compatibility is ensured).
Q. Will these accessories work with the Philex SLX version? A. Possibly, but we can't guarantee it. Q. What do I do if I don't want to use the "Return Link"? A. Without a Return Link there will be no outputs from the Loft Box so you must connect the "Combined Feed" output to the "RF Return" input on the Loft Box. You should do this anyway as an initial test to ensure the Loft Box is working. Q. Can I get good quality pictures and sound for my Flat Panel display though a Loft Box? A. No. A Loft Box has virtually no effect on picture quality if connected correctly. However, a Loft Box passes Modulated carrier analogue RF signals such as those from the RF output of a Digibox. What you put in will be what you get out. A Loft Box won't improve it. To get the best possible quality you should use a CAT5 distribution system instead. CAT5 systems will not carry LNB signals. All Digiboxes produce the same "RF Output" quality picture. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the choice of Loft Box (but it can obviously be affected by the choice and length of coaxial cables and the choice of UHF channels in use if they conflict with each other or with terrestrial channels. See our eBook "Piping TV Around the House"). Q. Why must I solder the TV plugs? A. If the plugs are carrying power to a "magic eye" or to a masthead amplifier, the wire should be soldered to the centre pin. If you don't do this, it may not make a reliable connection. Even if it does, to begin with, you risk losing the connection as the copper oxidises over months or years. See instructions HERE. If you can't solder then you could fit twist-on "F" connectors and use a "090-4333 TV-F adapter". Note, however, that this arrangement produces a rather long and heavy plug, which might damage the socket in some circumstances. Q. Why can't I use female TV plugs? A. Female TV plugs can not be soldered so there's always a risk of a bad connection. It's better to solder a male plug to the cable then use a "COLCM - male-female adapter" to convert it. Apply silicone grease to all plug connections; this will keep moisture out and also make it easier to pull out the plug when necessary. Q. How many plugs should I order? A. It depends on exactly how you intend to wire up your system. As you will be making your own wiring sketch, you can mark it according to which plug you need for each connection then count the total of each type. Q. I want to connect two or three Sky Digiboxes to a Loft Box and I want magic eyes to be able to control all of them. Please tellme how to connect everything. A. I would stress that the Loft Boxes we sell are designed to be connected as shown in the example wiring diagrams. While small variations may be possible, it is unlikely that I can help you to design a major variation because I have no personal experience of connecting them differently and I have no knowledge of the internal workings, apart from that which is already on these web pages. It is most important that you draw your own wiring sketch on a LARGE piece of paper before ordering! Time spent determining what you need, now, will save much hassle later! You can order the kit at the bottom of this page. | 
