dual lnbs and diseqc switches

tomdk

Hi,

I'm new to the satellite stuff so forgive me if this is old territory/my question is a bit off target...

I'm planning on buying a dual-decoder hd receiver (the Pace TDS850HD ). To feed this I will need to get a dual-lnb, right?. There would still be a single cable from the dual lnb to the 'lnb input' on the receiver. Do receivers like this automagically detect whether a single, dual or quad lnb is attached to the end of the input cable? The receiver would just choose the correct lnb for any given station (after it's tuned in of course...)

And then...

I've been reading here about people fitting, say two or three lnb's to a single dish, one 'on focus' and one to each side so that they can receive three satellites (28deg, 19deg and 13deg) on a single dish. If I've understood things correctly, it seems as though a receiver equipped with diseqc could control a 'diseqc switch' to select which lnb it is currently receiving from (right?)

Say I wanted to do this with my proposed setup? If I bought three 'dual lnbs' for my 'dual receiver' would a 'diseqc switch' still do the trick? I.e. the diseqc switch would select not just which 'cable' to use (one from each dual lnb) but also which lnb on that cable?

I hope the above makes sense!
Thanks for any input,
Tomdk.

L1011

You'll need two cables. Theres two inputs on the box, two outputs on the LNB and two cables in between.

byte

tomdk wrote:

I've been reading here about people fitting, say two or three lnb's to a single dish, one 'on focus' and one to each side so that they can receive three satellites (28deg, 19deg and 13deg) on a single dish. If I've understood things correctly, it seems as though a receiver equipped with diseqc could control a 'diseqc switch' to select which lnb it is currently receiving from (right?)

Yes, you'd need a 4 way DiSEqC switch.

Say I wanted to do this with my proposed setup? If I bought three 'dual lnbs' for my 'dual receiver' would a 'diseqc switch' still do the trick? I.e. the diseqc switch would select not just which 'cable' to use (one from each dual lnb) but also which lnb on that cable?

That's something I've not considered before. Your issue is different in that there will be 2 feeds. But I'd assume that both IF inputs can control and handle DiSEqC switches.

It could possibly work, but you'd need a DiSEqC switch for each IF input. (switch for Tuner1, switch for Tuner2).


Maybe Tony or watty could come in on this!

I read a PDF about your receiver, it looks good, though not sure what they mean by saying the box supports NDS?

tomdk

Thanks - both replies were informative. I headed over to a mates house after work, hopped up on his garage roof to LOOK at a dish in rl! Found that very informative.

I think I've got the whole single/dual/quad lnb thing straight in my head now. And I think you're spot on byte, I'd need two switches - one for each 'receiver' in the dual box. Assuming both inputs properly support diseqc that is. An experts voice confirming that would be interesting.

As I said - I'm new to this ! I had been searching the net today for a dual decoder High Def box and the box above was one that popped up. But it seems it is only available to 'operators' (maybe that's what the 'supports NDS' is about - if an operator wanted to get a shipment of units that supports the NDS Videoguard they could? Dunno...). So my initial selection of receiver is out.

Anyone found a 'dual decoder hd receiver' they'd care to recommend?

Seems to me I have a choice at the mo of:
A dual decoder SD receiver (handy for taping things!)
or
A single decoder HD receiver (pretty pictures but not so handy on the taping front)

Thanks again for the input - great little discussion u guys have here.

T.

byte

Make sure you keep us updated on how you get on.

It'll be interesting for others also.

Zaphod

Your setup would essentially be the same as this except that you would have 2 receivers combined into one:


http://www.satlex.de/en/2participants-type_conf_2p_3s_2x41diseqc.html

Smeagol

Yes, can confirm. I have one setup here for 28°, 23°, 19° and 13° on an 88cm dish. All twin lnb's and two 4/1 diseqc switches. Works perfect.

watty

I also have 28, 23, 29 & 13, the 28 is a quad.

L1011

29? Random empty space between Eurobird and Arabsat 3?

(methinks you meant 19)

watty

29 = 19... Drat this keyboard!

tomdk

Thanks, good to know I'm on the right track. Took the plunge today and blew a couple of years NTL subscription on the Satellite gear. Now all I need is a fine weekend, a steady hand, some luck and I'm away.

(That diagram described exactly what I had in mind Zaphod- cheers)

T.

givecredit

watty wrote:

I also have 28, 23, 19 & 13, the 28 is a quad.

What Size Dish? Brand? LNBS? Would you recommend for this set up in the Ballinasloe Area.

Im very interested in this. I was just told last week by my local satellite installer that this was impossible! Good to see he was wrong!

Smeagol

I use a Triax 78cm dish. Works a treat.

watty

givecredit wrote:

What Size Dish? Brand? LNBS? Would you recommend for this set up in the Ballinasloe Area.

Im very interested in this. I was just told last week by my local satellite installer that this was impossible! Good to see he was wrong!

Totally prehistoric 80cm dish supplied for Sky Analog .... Home made LNB brackets.

I'm updating to a 28, 19, 13, 5E system with four Quattros (on a Triax bracket and Triax 110cm dish, and a 16 output multiswitch very shortly. I'll post results.
If you add 2 x 8way amplifiers then you can drive at least 10 to 15 four x quad mulititaps, each multitap drives a multiswitch. Then you can have a lot of receivers

watty

Indeed 78cm to 90cm is fine. there is a old picture of my mark one (I'm on MkIII and changeing to mkIV shortly)

byte

http://homepage.eircom.net/~watty/satellite/sathowto-p6.htm

My setup back at home is rather similar. It was watty's site that inspired me to do the same, and again, my bracketry is also DIY used on a Triax TD78! Though, I do intend moiving it to my current home, and putting on a proper bracket (there is a 4way LNB bracket about specifically for Triax dishes that I must get my hands on soon).