MultiSwitch New Build

jasgrif11

Guys,

I know there are already threads on this subject but I just want to get it cleared up while I'm chasing the walls in my new house.

I plan to have

2 X Sky+ boxes
4 X FTA boxes

I also plan to have an RTE aerial with 6 feeds out.

My question is this. If I want to use a multiswitch do I just install a normal sky dish with single LNB and feed the wire from this into my multiswitch and then run wire to all my rooms from the switch. Do I also feed one wire from my RTE to the switch and then run 6 wires out of the switch?

My plan is to have the multiswitch in a data room downstairs and then run everything from there. This way I can switch wires effortlessly between rooms. Is this a good idea? What are other people doing?

My electrician seems pretty good and has also advised installing a view cameras, he said these can be viewed from the tvs in the house. Would the feed from the camera need to go through the multiswitch and how would I distinguish the feed from sky and the camera on my tv?

Finally what multiswitch would suit my purpose. Anyone any recommendations?

Many Thanks

ethernet

You'll need a special LNB with four outputs:

• high-band horizontal
• high-band vertical
• low-band horizontal
• low-band vertical

These four outputs require four cables to be run to your multiswitch. You you're using a digibox as normal, these bands are changed by the digibox unknown to you.

Make sure the multiswitch you get has input for terrestrial TV [RTÉ aerial, as you call it].

Regarding the cameras, you could feed the footage into the multiswitch if connected by RF, the same way the terrestrial TV will be connected. You may need a modulator to convert the camera's output to RF.

All these inputs are then combined and a single cable can be run to each location. A special wall-plate breaks up the signal again into satellite and TV.

cormacl

Each single cable run from the switch can accommodate a satellite receiver and terrestrial (aerial feed) at the same time.

So run 2 cables for each Sky+.. you'll still be able to take an aerial feed from either with the correct splitter box.

As ethernet mentioned, the generic LNB-type for a multiswitch is a quatro LNB with the 4 H/H, H/V, L/H, L/V.

But if the satellite dish is a Sky minidish dish, its best to use a Sky Quad LNB.. in which case, you need to use a switch that supports the manual switching over-rides to force 2 of the LNB inputs into the correct mode.

EMP-Centauri Profi-Line models support this.. I'm sure there are others that also support this.

If the setup had more than one LNB, put the 28.2 feed in the first input as the sky/sky+ receivers do not support multi-satellite and will default to the first diseqc input.

steveon

What you require for use with a multiswitch is what's known as a Quattro LNB not a quad LNB as advised in an earlier answer. You will basically then run four feeds(4cables) from the dish to the multiswitch and one cable from your terrestrial aerial.

Then depending on the setup you require you will run the necessary amount of cables from the multiswitch to the required room..i.e 2 cables for sky plus or sky hd and one cable for standard sky.

You will then need a special wall socket diplexor which will separate the sky signal from the terrestrial signal..

I would recommend using a double feed to each room for future proofing if possible

cormacl

steveon wrote:

What you require for use with a multiswitch is what's known as a Quattro LNB not a quad LNB as advised in an earlier answer.

But if the satellite dish is a Sky minidish dish, its best to use a Sky Quad LNB.

Steveon, I'm afraid I was right on this.. if the dish is a Sky minidish.. they are elliptical in shape and require a custom form of LNB.. which come in single or quad feed format. They do not come in quattro form. I'm sure you could try to fit a generic Quattro LNB to a Sky minidish but it would not work optimally because of the circular versus eliptical feed horn shape.

See:
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/lnb.htm
...for some excellent detail on this issue.

The point I was making is that if a Sky dish is used, and hence a quad LNB is what he should get, that the multiswitch must support quad LNBs.

The setup I have is a Sky minidish with quad LNB feeding 4 cables to the 1st sat input on the 13/8 multi-switch, then the 2nd and 3rd quartets of inputs are cabled to an 80cm dish fitted with 2 universal quattro LNBs (for 13/19 E).

The EMP Centauri Profiline switch has a set of dip switches that lets you control the configuration and mine are modified to force the Sky LNB to behave as a quatro would. All the dips do is force the LNC C&D inputs into the correct high band mode. You can use quad LNBs on the first 2 sat inputs. The 3rd only works with quattro LNBs

Quad LNBs are even shown in the diagram on their website:



Full link:
http://www.emp-centauri.cz/products.php?menuId=7&page=p160-cp-8

BTW: Those German diplexor plates are just excellent for hollow wall installation!.. The circular back can be drilled easily in the pasterboard with the right 54mm drill fitting. The socket fits in, and is then clamped once you straighten it (it turns out you cannot drill crooked circular holes!). Then the front plate is screwed on.

The cabling connection is very good, even though you have to feed the copper core into a screw clamp and then attach a clamp over the shielding.. some have said in the past, they prefer the F-type modular wall-plates.. but AFAIK, they don't come in diplexor format.. meaning you have to buy separate diplexors

And even for painting, they are very well thought out as you need only remove the front plate, and mask over the body of the socket.. produces excellent results!

jasgrif11

Thanks guys very informative. My plan is just to have sky so would it be best to go with a standard mini dish and quad or get a different dish and quattro... are there advantages/disadvantages. Also is the Centauri P. 160-CP-8 the best option to get will this support my camera (i presume I will still need the modulator).

Wheres best to get the socket diplexor. All my sockets are brushed steel so it would be great if I could get it to match but not the end of the worls if not.

At the tv end there will be a scart from my sat box to my tv and terrestrial feed into back of tv now how do I get my camera input in?

Many Thanks

cormacl

If its just one satellite you want to distribute & RF.. then you would need to get one of the 5/x variants.. where X is the total number of outputs.. which in your case is a min of 8.. so a 5/8 would be the min spec.

They model these switches in groups of 4 inputs.. 4,8,12,16 etc and where you see an odd number like 5,9,13 etc.. the extra on is the terrestrial feed which you do need for the aeriel and rf out from the camera.

I haven't a clue where you can get an RF converter for the camera.. but in a really hacky sense, you probably could get an old vcr, feed the camera in the ext scart or composite and see if you can relay the picture over the RF out of the video. Then either combine that signal with the aerial before entering the switch (or run the aerial through the video!)

For the specific switch that meets your needs see:
http://www.emp-centauri.cz/products.php?menuId=7&page=p143-up

I've bought mine from HM-Sat in Germany, also where I sourced the wall plates for €8 each for singles and €11 for doubles

See:
http://www.hm-sat-shop.de/multischalter-profiline/
http://www.hm-sat-shop.de/montage-zubehoer-stecker-und-dosen/

If you are buying a dish fresh, then I'd suggest a min 60cm generic dish with quattro LNB over a minidish, simply because its likely to provide a better signal than the mesh. But a properly aligned minidish will also be fine.

If you are not a sky sub and getting this installed, then getting a sky+ installation will come with the minidish, quad LNB and obviously receiver.. then its case of either re-wiring later on or using a sky installer (most likely independent) that will agree to wire it up via the multiswitch.

For cable, you should insist on CT100 if the builder can source it. There are alternatives, but the seasoned pro's on this forum will tell you that CT100 never lets you down.

Sam Radford

cormacl wrote:

Sky minidish.. they are elliptical in shape and require a custom form of LNB.. which come in single or quad feed format. They do not come in quattro form. I'm sure you could try to fit a generic Quattro LNB to a Sky minidish but it would not work optimally because of the circular versus eliptical feed horn shape.

See:
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/lnb.htm
...for some excellent detail on this issue.

But if you see http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page1b.htm#multiswitches
they offer a multiswitch that works with a Quattro OR a Quad-output LNB.

Also, if you look here: http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/cable.htm
it says "CT100 coax (no longer made) .... Please use WC100 in place of CT100.

simonckenyon

jasgrif11 wrote:

Guys,

I know there are already threads on this subject but I just want to get it cleared up while I'm chasing the walls in my new house.

I plan to have

2 X Sky+ boxes
4 X FTA boxes

I also plan to have an RTE aerial with 6 feeds out.

My question is this. If I want to use a multiswitch do I just install a normal sky dish with single LNB and feed the wire from this into my multiswitch and then run wire to all my rooms from the switch. Do I also feed one wire from my RTE to the switch and then run 6 wires out of the switch?

My plan is to have the multiswitch in a data room downstairs and then run everything from there. This way I can switch wires effortlessly between rooms. Is this a good idea? What are other people doing?

My electrician seems pretty good and has also advised installing a view cameras, he said these can be viewed from the tvs in the house. Would the feed from the camera need to go through the multiswitch and how would I distinguish the feed from sky and the camera on my tv?

Finally what multiswitch would suit my purpose. Anyone any recommendations?

Many Thanks

i have the same setup.
sky minidish with a quad lnb. this is fed into a vision multiswitch (which i got from a firm in the north) and it forces the four outputs from the quad into the correct modes. this then feeds an HD box and a multiroom box in the sittingroom and various other places around the house. had old tv wire into a room (from previous arrangement) and tried a sky box on the end of that and it worked (to my amazement).

the multiswitch (as i said) is a vision 4 in 16 out. i recommend it. it is also under 200 yoyos (if memory serves me).
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simon