Diseqc switches and receiver setup

Eurorunner

My current system involves cascading diseqc switches which I have configured on my DM7020 & DM500's.
I will probably be looking at gettting a DM8000 (but only when all the bugs are well and truely sorted out and the price drops substantially!). For this I will need 2xsat feeds. I only have one proper sat feed dropping down to the living room from the attic. The other cable is used for terrestrial - but I could probably put a couple of diplexers either end of this.

Question is, once I get to that stage, is my setup too complex that its simply unconfigureable on the dreambox?

(few more details on setup; Quad lnbs - leading to 4way diseqc switch - leading to 8 way commited switch - leading to tv point(s); 5 feeds off of Octo lnb feeding directly to 8 way commited switch - leading to tv point(s).

Zaphod

It's not clear, to me at least, how many LNBFs are in use and how many receivers you're using, or what exact additions you want to make. How about a diagram of your existing setup?

Eurorunner

You'll have to forgive the sketching skills...not a strong point!



System as you see it works fine. However, if i am to run an additional cable from the fixed dish/octo lnb with a view to attaching it to what is now one of the terrestrial feeds dropping into the living room (using a diplexer)........after all of that, I probably won't be able to configure it in the box as the rest of the setup is diseqc based - whereas this additional feed would be independent of that.

I hope i'm making some sense


>>>>>Sorry, the bloody sketch didn't get included somehow, will edit when i get home this evening and include...<<<<<<<<

Zaphod

I still don't understand it. You have 4 quads and an Octo shared between 4 receivers. And in between the LNBFs, you have 4x 4-way diseqc switches and 4x 8-way diseqc switches.

What's the reason for the 4-way diseqc switches? They seem to be completely redundant.

Eurorunner

Zaphod wrote: »

I still don't understand it. You have 4 quads and an Octo shared between 4 receivers. And in between the LNBFs, you have 4x 4-way diseqc switches and 4x 8-way diseqc switches.

What's the reason for the 4-way diseqc switches? They seem to be completely redundant.

The quads/2 ways are on the multi lnb dish. I used the 4 ways as I didnt wanted to reduce the number of cable runs going along the side of the back garden, up the house wall and into the attic( the 4 way switches are outdoors need the dish). They then feed into the 8way committed switches. Each 8 way is joined at this point by 1 additional input in the form of a cable run from the sky octo lnb which is on a seperate fixed dish.
In hindsight, I wish I had opted for a proper multiswitch (incidentally, you had advised me on this quite some time ago) as now understand that this would have worked out better and allowed for some scope as regards future proofing.
The above is all diseqc based and so I have been able to configure it on my dreamboxes. However, if i try to utilise the seperate terrestrial system ie. the terrestrial cable run to the living room (via diplexers) for the purpose of a second satellite run, this run will not be diseqc based. Problem arises in that I may not be able to configure both diseqc and non diseqc together on the box.....unless of course someone here knows this is possible and if so, how is it done???

Zaphod

Does it look something like this?



Just to confirm - you already have 4 disecq-enabled receivers attached, and you now want an additional 5th receiver, a Dreambox?

Eurorunner

Yes, the diagrams right zaphod. I don't want to add another receiver but sometime in '09 - I will swap out the receiver in the living room for a twin tuner receiver - and therefore need two feeds. As per diagram, I have one feed already. There is a second cable dropping down but that is for terrestrial at the moment. The intention then was to put diplexers each side of that so that I could use it for both. I am only looking for the twin tuner functionality on Astra2 - so the addional cable will be run from the sky octo on the fixed dish.

I thought that was problem solved until I realised, its probably not possible to configure a mixture of diseqc feeds and direct feeds on the box - as the diplexed cable will effectively be direct.
I've had a look through the dreambox settings and can't see how I would configure ....unless someone else here has the knowledge and it is actually possible????

Zaphod

The twin-tuner PVR will be a dreambox or a freesat unit?

If a dreambox, would you also be using it to view channels on Hotbird, Astra 19, but to "PVR" on Astra 28 only?

Eurorunner

Zaphod wrote: »

The twin-tuner PVR will be a dreambox or a freesat unit?

Twin tuner will be a dreambox.

Zaphod wrote: »

If a dreambox, would you also be using it to view channels on Hotbird, Astra 19, but to "PVR" on Astra 28 only?

Yes, thats right.

Zaphod

I don't think there should be any problem. In a 7025 you can mix tuner types (DVB-S/C/T), so it should be similarly possible to set Tuner 1 as diseqc enabled but tuner 2 fixed and for the EPG to grey out channels accordingly if T1 and T2 are set to different satellites.

Eurorunner

Zaphod wrote: »

I don't think there should be any problem. In a 7025 you can mix tuner types (DVB-S/C/T), so it should be similarly possible to set Tuner 1 as diseqc enabled but tuner 2 fixed and for the EPG to grey out channels accordingly if T1 and T2 are set to different satellites.

Thats good news Zaphod - thanks. Once DM8000 drops down to a normal price, then i'll stick this job on the 'to do' list.:)

Zaphod

I was thinking about this since, and wondering how well twin tuners cope with Diseqc switches in practice, so in between the hail showers this afternoon, I lashed up a offset twin LNBF on 28E along with a diseqc switch and the motorised dish pointing at 19E.




Tuner 1 set to Diseqc 1.0 with port 1 19E and port 2 28E. Tuner 2 set to 28E.


No problem recording a channel on 19E while watching something else on 28E. Or recording a channel on 28E while watching a different channel on 28E. You can also stream a channel from 19E onto a laptop while a channel from 28E is displayed on the TV.

With the Pli Jade image, there is also a Picture-in-picture function. Here it's showing Dr Dish TV on 19E along with BBC News on 28E in the main pic.

Eurorunner

Thanks for that Zaphod. Reassuring to know that diseqc switches will still do the job.