Quattro LNB and Multiswitch

Calibos

Thanks to some great advice from the regulars here I'll have a much more flexible Satellite system with TV service provider future proofing.

With a Quattro LNB and 5/16 Multiswitch I'll be able to have 2 runs of CT100 to all 8 rooms, ie the 2 Sky HD boxes and 2-4 SD boxes can work with their full functionality in any room. If in a few years we got sick of PayTV we have the option of FTA Sat and with a future installation of a Loft ariel and amp, a DTT Terestrial feed for the Irish Channels in every single room too.

Something I need clarification on though. Under some specific set of circumstances we might go back to NTL/UPC.

A. if they upgrade the infrastructure in the Bray area to support their full range of services. ie. Digital TV, HDTV, 20mbit Broadband, Phone.
B. if the regulators force Sky to supply their Home grown HD channels on cable like they did with the SD versions.
C. if UPC offer the Trio of services at a price that is less than Eircom line rental,Phone,BB and SkyHD (Full sub) combined.

All three Likely? Probably not.

However, I am assuming that if they did upgrade the infrastructure and I was tempted, I wouldn't have to worry about signal strength. So can I assume that 1 NTL feed from their box under the eaves is all that will be required and that signal strength would not be an issue being split upto 8/16 ways in the multiswitch? Can this feed go into the input on the multiswitch designed for a terrestrial feed or would I have to use one of the LNB inputs in which case I'd lose a channel polarity feeding FTA sat to non UPC STB equipped rooms.

Also, with diplexer units, they only unscramble one of the two Sat inputs. What about the second sat input for the possible future twin tuner FTA. Would terrestrial or UPC diplexed into this input but not removed by a diplexor affect the sat signal?

Apogee

Calibos wrote: »

B. if the regulators force Sky to supply their Home grown HD channels on cable like they did with the SD versions.

Neither of the two (useless) Irish regulators has any legal say over what Sky does.

Calibos wrote: »

However, I am assuming that if they did upgrade the infrastructure and I was tempted, I wouldn't have to worry about signal strength. So can I assume that 1 NTL feed from their box under the eaves is all that will be required and that signal strength would not be an issue being split upto 8/16 ways in the multiswitch? Can this feed go into the input on the multiswitch designed for a terrestrial feed or would I have to use one of the LNB inputs in which case I'd lose a channel polarity feeding FTA sat to non UPC STB equipped rooms.

NTL feed must go into the 'terrestrial input' only. You risk damaging the multiswitch if you try to put it anywhere else.

You should be careful to check the specifications of the multiswitch to see that it will pass through and amplify both UHF and VHF signals from the terrestrial input and no gaps in between.

Calibos wrote: »

Also, with diplexer units, they only unscramble one of the two Sat inputs. What about the second sat input for the possible future twin tuner FTA. Would terrestrial or UPC diplexed into this input but not removed by a diplexor affect the sat signal?

The terrestrial feed will be diplexed with the sat feed on all 16 outputs. It should have no effect on the sat reception. You can just split the feeds from one output and loop through the terrestrial signal to the second tuner - you don't require 2 separate feeds for a terrestrial or cable PVR, unlike a satellite PVR.

Calibos

When you are talking about UHF and VHF. Do the triax multiswitches do both?

Apogee

According to the specs on the Triax UK site, it should be fine.
http://www.triax.co.uk/?alPage=&rkPage=&articleId=%7B41D13EE6-2A3A-481C-8E5A-A8C3D37DA700%7D

Terrestrial 47-862MHz.

BTW it's probably not a great idea to start multiple threads on the same topic in this forum.

Darcon

Would like to use a quattro LNB with a DiSEqC motor. Is this possible? Which of the LNB outputs should be connected to the motor? Any observations/help appreciated. Thanks

Thurston?

Presumably there's a multiswitch involved it a quattro is in use, & I don't think the DiSEqC commands would get past that, or maybe you're removing the switch?

Darcon

The multi switch is in use. It must be as otherwise a single feed from the Quattro LNB to a TV would result in a very limited number of viewing channels. I don't think that the use of a Quattro LNB with a DiSEqC motor should be that unusual? The Quattro LNB/multiswitch arrangement enables the distribution of satellite signals (plus a terrestrial signal) to (in my case) up to 4 receivers (2 inputs per receiver). To be able to do that from more than one satellite needs either a DiSEqC motor or at least one more LNB on the dish. The only downside of the Quattro LNB/DiSEqC arrangement is that all receivers can only see the same satellite at any one time.

The Cush

Darcon wrote: »

I don't think that the use of a Quattro LNB with a DiSEqC motor should be that unusual?

I have never come across it before and don't remember the question being asked here before. I would be thinking the same as Thurston, the Diseqc switching may not pass-through the multiswitch, adding a second or third LNB to the dish might be a more flexible option into a 9 or 13 input multiswitch with Diseqc switching done at the switch. What other satellites are you wanting to add to your setup?

Gerry Wicklow

I'd agree with Darcon, the big disadvantage of using a motorised dish is that all receivers can only watch the one satellite at a time. A multi-LNB / multiswitch setup allows each box watch whichever satellite it wants.

icdg

we don't drag up old threads