Long Run from Dish to Receiver, and....

jwb1

Thinking about ditching my UPC subscription and going for a Freesat/Saorview combination. Two potential issues I need some advice on:

1. The Saorview antenna won't pose a problem but I know for a fact that the trees in the back garden will block the satellite signal so I will need to mount the dish on the back fence. But it's some run (100-150ft) from there to the receiver location. What is the best technical solution to this problem? (Running a cable the whole way is neither practical nor is it technically feasible I suspect).

2. I've seen some discussion about combi boxes for both Saorview and FreeSat so I know they exist. But I also want a PVR solution. Any sign of an approved box that combines all three functions?

Any advice/caution appreciated.

JB

Ronnie Raygun

You'll have to cable from dish to receiver. What alternative did you have in mind?

You might get away with using slightly larger than typical spec. dish & better cable, or maybe an inline amplifier. No big deal either way.

Maybe you could make a hole in the trees for the dish to "look" through ... or something.

jjf1974

If the running of a cable to the fence is not practical can you mount the dish on top of a gable or on the chimney .If you mount on the chimney it is advisable to use a lashing kit as drilling a holes into the chimney is not advised.

LLU

Out of curiosity, is there a theoretical maximum distance between dish and receiver? Or is it completely dependent on things such as quality of cable, size of dish, accuracy of alignment, etc?

Mr. JoeCool

As suggested if you can mount the dish high up the gable or at the chimney to save you running a long run of coax. Failing that the cable run shouldn't be an issue, just make sure to use quality double screened coax like webro wf100 or wf125.

jwb1

Hmmm...looks like a long run of coax is inevitable. Even if I put the dish on the gable or chimney, the takeoff will still hit the trees (they're huge). I need to figure out how to run the cable so that it doesn't become a physical obstruction.

I'm surprised a run of even high-quality coax of that length won't cause signal deterioration but I guess I can always install an inline amp to counteract that.

Anybody have anything on my question about a combined Saorview/Freesat/PVR box?

Thanks again for the replies...

Jb

STB

jwb1 wrote: »

Hmmm...looks like a long run of coax is inevitable. Even if I put the dish on the gable or chimney, the takeoff will still hit the trees (they're huge). I need to figure out how to run the cable so that it doesn't become a physical obstruction.

I'm surprised a run of even high-quality coax of that length won't cause signal deterioration but I guess I can always install an inline amp to counteract that.

Anybody have anything on my question about a combined Saorview/Freesat/PVR box?

Thanks again for the replies...

Jb

http://www.dishpointer.com/

Enter you address, pick the satellite you are going to use (Astra 28.2). Move the pointer to where you are going to put the dish. Then Zoom in and it tells you how near and how high the obstacle would have to be in order to cause an obstruction. (click on the obstacle/line of sight box).

The satellite signal has travelled apx 25,000 miles. You are not living in a forest ? Dishes also fit on poles concreted into the ground too.

jwb1

STB wrote: »

http://www.dishpointer.com/

Enter you address, pick the satellite you are going to use (Astra 28.2). Move the pointer to where you are going to put the dish. Then Zoom in and it tells you how near and how high the obstacle would have to be in order to cause an obstruction. (click on the obstacle/line of sight box).

The satellite signal has travelled apx 25,000 miles. You are not living in a forest ? Dishes also fit on poles concreted into the ground too.

.....and it confirmed my fears. I'd need a large mast to clear the trees so a cable run to the back fence is the way forward. Actually. I am living in a forest!

Jb

snaps

I had a job once in Westport, a guy lived in a forest. Also croagh Patrick was in the way, we ran about 100m cable, used a in line amp. We mounted the dish onto a tree. Only place we could get signal.