Virgin Media Extension Cable?

[MondeoMan1981]

Getting some work done at home which means our wired VM box in the bedroom needs to move about 6-7 feet.

Unfortunately our installer didn't leave a massive amount of cable behind so its going to need extended.

Never faffed about unscrewing a Virgin (box) before, is there a cable or kit I can buy? Anyone any experience of this?

[Fore Left]

I've moved mine more than once. You can make up the cables or Get them ready made on Amazon or eBay. Search for a Virgin Media extension cable. You can undo the nuts with an 11mm spanner.

[somouk]

It's just BNC cable, they just use fancy crimp connectors for reliability and to stop people messing with them.

[TonyRPH]

somouk said:

It's just BNC cable, they just use fancy crimp connectors for reliability and to stop people messing with them.

The correct cable to use is CT100 (RG6 is also recommended, but CT100 has much lower loss) - RG6 would be suitable for a short extension.

The connectors are crimped, not to stop people messing with them, but because crimped connections are more reliable, and make a better connection.

[megaphone]

They use 'F' connectors, you can buy twist on F cons and RG6/CT100 co-ax cable and make up you own.

[MondeoMan1981]

Thanks all. Not got a clue what all these codes are, HDMI USB etc is as far as this old brain goes. I'll check out Amazon/eBay and get something pre-made. I'm sure I have an 11mm supplied by Virgin when they upgraded the hub a year or two ago.

[Mr Pointy]

Post a picture of the conector on the cable & somone here will guide you to a suitable item.

[TonyRPH]

Virgin and Sky use 'F' type connectors.

One is the (unreliable) screw on end of cable type, the other is a compression fitting (requires a tool to fit).

Virgin engineers are usually quite adamant that a compression type connector is used.

Compression type:



Screw on type:

[somouk]

TonyRPH said:

The correct cable to use is CT100 (RG6 is also recommended, but CT100 has much lower loss) - RG6 would be suitable for a short extension.

The connectors are crimped, not to stop people messing with them, but because crimped connections are more reliable, and make a better connection.

I'm sure if you re-read the quoted sentence you will see I mentioned reliability... the anti messing thing is true as well, most of the issues for Virgin are introduced when people move equipment about. Crimped connectors are less susceptible to this and so long as they are screwed back in to the box properly tend to be fine.

[megaphone]

Virgin actually supply a cable with their kit that is just push on, pushes over the F connector, does not lock in place.

[durbster]

Do you need to move the box itself?

I started looking into doing this a while ago when I was thinking of mounting the TV on the other side of the room. Then it occurred to me that the box could stay where it was and all I actually needed was a long HDMI cable.

[anonymoususer]

durbster said:

Do you need to move the box itself?

I started looking into doing this a while ago when I was thinking of mounting the TV on the other side of the room. Then it occurred to me that the box could stay where it was and all I actually needed was a long HDMI cable.

And you dont need line of sight to the V6 box as it's bluetooth

We have miles of virgin leads that have beeen removed from renovated properties. I have to say back in the day those Virgin enginmeers did a grteat job of making up cables with nice tight compression joints on them.

If the OP is stuck and can quote the length he needs. (OOOh err missus) I can look in my trays and find him something that will be the lenght he/ she needs
not forgetting the back to back screw in joiner he/ she will need to

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Inside cable is likely to be RG59, and then crimped F connector, but if its just for tv, then you will be ok buying a premade one from Screwfix or Amazon, I work for Virgin, and its not a massive issue for tv.

[judas]

We have the opposite problem: the cable left by VM is way too long. I tried a shorter pre-made one (can't remember where it came from) and had to swap back as the TV signal kept dropping out

[Teddy Lop]

TonyRPH said:

The correct cable to use is CT100 (RG6 is also recommended, but CT100 has much lower loss) - RG6 would be suitable for a short extension.

The connectors are crimped, not to stop people messing with them, but because crimped connections are more reliable, and make a better connection.

I've had virgin """engineers""" have a cry and attempt to blame system faults on ct100 I've prewired for them; since then I'd only use their "demanded" RG6 and make sure it's foam core too - if it's not the crimp-ons aren't compatible and that makes them burst into tears too.

As for reliability given the physical structure of an f plug and coax - anyone with a reliability problem with their attempts at twist-ons should probably just limit themselves to manual labour.

[MondeoMan1981]

Sorry for the bump. More info!

So... the cable out the wall has like a filter/amplifier thing on it and then the end part of the cable is 11mm nut screw connection at one end....and just a standard co-ax aerial style connection at the other end into the box.

Now our extension need is actually shorter than expected, maximum 1m. So could I just try a co-ax extension cable? Or can I buy something longer thats 11mm nut thing to co-ax?

Any links etc recommend welcome!

[anonymoususer]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Sorry for the bump. More info!

So... the cable out the wall has like a filter/amplifier thing on it and then the end part of the cable is 11mm nut screw connection at one end....and just a standard co-ax aerial style connection at the other end into the box.

Now our extension need is actually shorter than expected, maximum 1m. So could I just try a co-ax extension cable? Or can I buy something longer thats 11mm nut thing to co-ax?

Any links etc recommend welcome!

Ahh yes completely forgot about that we actually had a short length adapter cable given to us with the V6 box by virgin that screwed onto the cable and ended in a co ax plug. PRIOR to the V6 box it was a screwed connection at the rear of the box. The adapter cable is this one here:



So the short answer is a simple YES

The rear of the V6 Box looks like this:



And you can simply use a male to female coax cable extension (the sort of thing you used to get with a video recorder)

Something like this:


https://www.amazon.co.uk/Aerial-Lead-Cable-Plug-So...

Edited by anonymoususer on Wednesday 31st August 09:57

[Mr Pointy]

MondeoMan1981 said:

Sorry for the bump. More info!

So... the cable out the wall has like a filter/amplifier thing on it and then the end part of the cable is 11mm nut screw connection at one end....and just a standard co-ax aerial style connection at the other end into the box.

Now our extension need is actually shorter than expected, maximum 1m. So could I just try a co-ax extension cable? Or can I buy something longer thats 11mm nut thing to co-ax?

Any links etc recommend welcome!

A picture would be worth a thousand words. However, with a best guess of what you want have a look here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=f+type+to+aerial+cabl...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=satellite+to+tv+aeria...

[MondeoMan1981]

Brilliant folks. I've got a couple of these kicking around as a relic from the days of roof aerials etc.

If I cant find one then they are cheap as chips everywhere.