satellite signal distribution query

makavelithedon

I am currently trying to update my sisters tv system so as to be prepared for the digital switch over.They have a large house, they keep students in the summer and b&b sometimes as well.
At the moment they have an RTE aerial pointing towards achill, and a grid type aerial picking up the local re-broadcast of the bbcs etc. They also have a dish with four way lnb on the house as well (sky)
There is an amp outside on the mast, I presume for the bbcs as you will pick up perfect rtes around here with a coat hanger. There is a power supply and distribution system in the attic. There is a remote link distribution system with outputs going to every room and they have one or two magic eyes in bedrooms to operate the sky channels.
Basically Im wondering if I can introduce a suitable multi-switch to the system, by getting a new dish with 4 way lnb put up and running the cables into the attic, where i would put the multi-switch. Can I use diplexers in conjunction with the multi switch to combine the sat feed and rte feed as its not possible to run a second cable to each room. There are 9 tvs and if one of you guys could recommend a suitable multi-switch i would be grateful.
Or maybe im totally wrong and none of this will work. I am semi technically savvy and would like to help her out if i could as things are tight at the moment. Thanks in advance for any advice. I should have mentioned earlier that there is a combi box going in each room, ferguson i think.

Peter Rhea

Most if not all multiswitches have an input for terrestrial tv & will diplex it with the satellite signal.

If you only want satellite channels from 28 east, a switch with 5 inputs (4 sat: 1 for each band/polarity combo & 1 terrestrial) will suffice. If you want more satellite positions for foreign channels, then it's 4 more inputs for each extra satellite.

I can't personally recommend anything, except to say that some (Q2 switches) can function with a normal quad lnb rather than the quattro type that other switches require. Other features to consider would be internal amplification & line powering for masthead amps.

Here's an example of the Q2 type with 5 inputs & 12 outputs, that offers enough gain for distribution on reasonable length (& quality) cables as well as switchable power for a masthead amp; http://www.optima-tv.com/assets/pdf/OPTIMA-Multiswitches.pdf

homelink

A 5in (4sat feeds & 1 terrestrial), with multiple outputs,4/8/16 etc. should be sufficient. You would need to change the LNB to a Quattro type (not quad). A quattro lnb will have four fixed outputs that the multi switch requires. The outputs will combine the Satellite & dtt signals together, but you will need a diplexer at the receiver end of the drop cable to split the signals again.
Below are some examples but you will probably get a triax diplexer cheaper.

http://www.dipol.ie/tv-sat-tv/multiswitches/for-1-lnb/cascadable-multiswitch-terra-ms-553-5-input-4-output.html

http://www.dipol.ie/tv-sat-tv/tv-antenna-equipment/diplexers-combiners/tv-sat-combiner-diplexer-dc-009-terra.html

Ronnie Raygun

Peter Rhea wrote: »

... except to say that some (Q2 switches) can function with a normal quad lnb rather than the quattro type that other switches require.

As well as Optima/Vision, this type of switch is also available from EMP-Centauri & Spaun.