They didn't say anything about standard definition when I signed up ht; if that proves to be the case, well, then we have a problem Houston.

As for the second bolded bit, I presume body corporate would have to approve this.

That's the funny thing, they sent the technician to check whether it could be done just for the one apartment with no impact on anyone else... apparently it could and so they did it with no requirement to contact the body corporate. I think they only get involved if there will be a cost and major work involved.

OK, so the Foxtel technician just left and I don't have Foxtel Because of the same issue as the IQ, it was going to be standard definition only, which is a bit pointless given that I just a new HD tv.

Best alternative according to the tech guy is going to be a satellite dish on top of the apartment. He said Foxtel may need permission from the Body Corporate, but I'm going to try and wing it because I own the apartment and I didn't bother getting permission when I put an air-conditioner in much the same spot where the dish will be.

Thanks everyone for their input!

Edit: Bit annoyed with Foxtel too - the person I spoke to when I signed the account and booked the installation didn't say anything about standard definition; because of this, she wasted their tech's time and mine too

GV here is an explanation of why foxtel require two coax cables to their IQHD box http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2121846

Make sure you read the whole thread

Main reason is that when they went to HD channels, some extra new cable channels and the new extra FTA channels they ran out of bandwidth

So they put some channels on the second line and used Vertical Polarisation on the channel signal.

On the first line the channels use Horizontal Polarisation

The channels on the second line are the FTA channels and a small number of minor cable channels

You can run an IQHD box with one cable and you just miss those channels

Maybe you don't need the minor cable channels

You can then get the FTA channels using your normal aerial cable to the TV (and selecting "TV" on your remote). I'm assuming you do have a separate aerial cable.

To test if this suits you, you could borrow a friend's IQHD box and test it yourself (assuming your unit is wired up actively to the block's foxtel multiswitch - most likely)

If satisfied you could try asking telstra for an IQHD box with one cable and you accept the consequences. Seems others have done this.

A sneakier, cheaper way, is to get a family member who has foxtel IQHD and get them to subscribe for a second IQHD in another room.

You then use this box and pay your relative the cost of the 2nd box

P.S. if you wanted to record the FTA channels in this scenario, you would have to use either the TV's record function (if it has one) or a separate PVR (connected to aerial cable)

Edited March 30, 201510 yr by daisycutter

GV here is an explanation of why foxtel require two coax cables to their IQHD box http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/2121846

Make sure you read the whole thread

Main reason is that when they went to HD channels, some extra new cable channels and the new extra FTA channels they ran out of bandwidth

So they put some channels on the second line and used Vertical Polarisation on the channel signal.

On the first line the channels use Horizontal Polarisation

The channels on the second line are the FTA channels and a small number of minor cable channels

You can run an IQHD box with one cable and you just miss those channels

Maybe you don't need the minor cable channels

You can then get the FTA channels using your normal aerial cable to the TV (and selecting "TV" on your remote). I'm assuming you do have a separate aerial cable.

To test if this suits you, you could borrow a friend's IQHD box and test it yourself (assuming your unit is wired up actively to the block's foxtel multiswitch - most likely)

If satisfied you could try asking telstra for an IQHD box with one cable and you accept the consequences. Seems others have done this.

A sneakier, cheaper way, is to get a family member who has foxtel IQHD and get them to subscribe for a second IQHD in another room.

You then use this box and pay your relative the cost of the 2nd box

P.S. if you wanted to record the FTA channels in this scenario, you would have to use either the TV's record function (if it has one) or a separate PVR (connected to aerial cable)

I note that you are not recommending this, as may be contravening contract with Foxtel.

I note that you are not recommending this, as may be contravening contract with Foxtel.

perish the thought, md

though i do know a neighbour who did this, combining his own home and holiday home (the holiday home had an existing sat dish when he bought it)

Thanks Daisy, Foxtel are coming to install a dish this afternoon, which will give me the full compliment of HD channels and IQ, thereby saving the need for a PVR / USBHD.

Thanks Daisy, Foxtel are coming to install a dish this afternoon, which will give me the full compliment of HD channels and IQ, thereby saving the need for a PVR / USBHD.

that's good gv.

did you have any issues with body corp re positioning of dish? or did you just bypass them

i presume body corp would be [censored] off having paid for cabling initially for it to now become redundant and cost of upgrading being prohibitive