split satellite signal

john_doe.

I know you can do this with twin LNB or Quad LND etc but I'd like to know is there some way to split a signal so I can have two satellite boxes using only one connection.

I'd like to have two satellite boxes sitting under the TV. Only one of these boxes will ever be use at one time.

Currently I have an old sky box connected to the satellite under the TV I would like to add a second without changing the cables at the satellite. Both will never operate at the same time.

The reason for this is to provide a way for someone to access setanta on one box paired to a card. They only watch the soccer on setanta and when not in use would like to use the second box in the way they are used to with the English EPG.

Thanks

Apogee

You want something like a smart priority switch, where one receiver is designated 'master' and the other is 'slave'. When the 'master' is on, it gets priority to the LNBF, other times the 'slave' gets control of the LNBF.

One small complication with Sky Digiboxes is that they don't stop sending power to the LNBF in standby. So you may need to physically power off one of the two digiboxes i.e. whichever of the two boxes is used least often should be designated 'master' and powered off when not in use.

http://www.satshop.fi/jakelu/sat-priority-switch.html?___store=default&___from_store=fi

http://www.pulsat.com/products/Digiality-Smart-Priority-Switch.html

Alt. you just use a manual LNBF switch:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/manual-satellite-switch.html

john_doe.

Apogee wrote: »

You want something like a smart priority switch, where one receiver is designated 'master' and the other is 'slave'. When the 'master' is on, it gets priority to the LNBF, other times the 'slave' gets control of the LNBF.

One small complication with Sky Digiboxes is that they don't stop sending power to the LNBF in standby. So you may need to physically power off one of the two digiboxes i.e. whichever of the two boxes is used least often should be designated 'master' and powered off when not in use.

http://www.satshop.fi/jakelu/sat-priority-switch.html?___store=default&___from_store=fi

http://www.pulsat.com/products/Digiality-Smart-Priority-Switch.html

Alt. you just use a manual LNBF switch:
http://www.tvtrade.ie/manual-satellite-switch.html

Thanks very much that looks to be exactly what I need. One box will only be powered on at any one time if needed.

I'm assuming that the manual switch also requires only one box to be powered up at any one time ?

Apogee

The manual switch will work even if both boxes are powered on.

Spook_ie

Half hijacking this thread as it seems to partly answer my questions already.

Just brought an LG 42ln570 Smart TV, already have Sky+ Box, can I just install something like
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/2-way-f-splitter-qq69a
or
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/2-way-satellite-splitter-bm90x

to obtain Sky subscription via box and non subscription channels via the F connector on the TV

Is there any thing else I should watch out for when plugging it together the Maplin blurb about voltage supplies to the LNB being one thing that worries me, really don't fancy blowing up the TV

classix

You would be much better off running a seperate feed from the dish to your LG TV.

Gerry Wicklow

A satellite box sends control voltages to the LNB to select which band it "watches" (high, low, vertical, horizontal). Trying to split the signal to a second box/tv will limit you to the same set of channels that the main box is watching. AFAIK most Sky subscription channels are on a different set of frequency bands to the FTA stuff, so you will still have either /or. As already suggested, it is far simpler, safer and more effective to run a second cable to the dish.

Spook_ie

Prersumably that means upping thje number of connections from the present 3 ( 2 for sky+ /1 to multiroom ) to a bigger LNB?

EDIT
Just looking at the connector on the TV it says
13/18V 750 Ma Max LNB in
would this enable me to use one of the splitters I assume it means the TV sat reciever would then drive the LNB or would I blow the LNB by connecting 2 suppies?

Gerry Wicklow

There is usually a setting to turn off the LNB power hidden in the satellite options menu somewhere. If you have 3 connections in use on the lnb at the moment there should be a fourth one spare. It would be far better to use that connected directly to your TV.

Spook_ie

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

There is usually a setting to turn off the LNB power hidden in the satellite options menu somewhere. If you have 3 connections in use on the lnb at the moment there should be a fourth one spare. It would be far better to use that connected directly to your TV.

OK thanks going to have to see if I have a head for heights then by the looks of it

Peter Rhea

Spook_ie wrote: »

Just brought an LG 42ln570 Smart TV, already have Sky+ Box, can I just install something like
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/2-way-f-splitter-qq69a
or
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/2-way-satellite-splitter-bm90x

to obtain Sky subscription via box and non subscription channels via the F connector on the TV

Presumably you want to do this to get channels that can't be tuned via 'other channels' on the Sky box?

The 1st of those splitters is no use to you, BTW, the 2nd not much either.

Spook_ie

Peter Rhea wrote: »

Presumably you want to do this to get channels that can't be tuned via 'other channels' on the Sky box?

The 1st of those splitters is no use to you, BTW, the 2nd not much either.

Sort of, it's the recording to a HDD facility that should ( I hope ) enable me to use it as a pseudo sky box for things like UTV, C5 etc.

Splitter was just trying to avoid ladders I dislike heights above about 10 feet and sat dish is on chimmney

Peter Rhea

I'd agree with the others, that you would be far better off running a separate cable.

It's not like the OP case here, where only 1 receiver was ever going to be powered up at any 1 time.

kooga

re the above post

i saw the attached image in the manual for a samsung freesat pvr box.

I thought you couldn't split a satellite signal? and is this worth doing

tks

JDxtra

The diagram is wrong.

steveon

kooga wrote: »

re the above post

i saw the attached image in the manual for a samsung freesat pvr box.

I thought you couldn't split a satellite signal? and is this worth doing

tks

Dunno who drew this diagram but as already said completely and utterly wrong.

The Cush

kooga wrote: »

i saw the attached image in the manual for a samsung freesat pvr box.

I thought you couldn't split a satellite signal?

Yes you can split a satellite signal but you won't be able to access the full range of transponders independently at each input if you do, as JD says the diagram is wrong.

Thurston?

JDxtra wrote: »

The diagram is wrong.

It isn't necessarily 'wrong', depending on the context in which it was used in the manual: probably a section titled 'single cable feed'.

It's better to have a feed to both tuners, even if it's from the same LNB port, as while recording, you can then access any other channel in the same frequency & polarity block, rather than just 1 transponder, as you would with only 1 tuner connected.

Thurston?

kooga wrote: »

i saw the attached image in the manual for a samsung freesat pvr box.

I thought you couldn't split a satellite signal? and is this worth doing

It's worth doing if you can't get an independent feed to the 2nd tuner.

Presumably the diagram is from a section of the manual specifically dealing with single cable operation?

kooga

link here pdf wouldn't upload

http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/UM/201106/20110617165048190/GL68-00414A_Ed.01__SMT-S7800_UG_Freesat_110609_CMS.pdf

Thurston?

The accompanying text:

If you want to connect through a splitter:
- Use a splitter with DC pass on SAT IN 1.
- Only a limited number of frequencies can be turned simultaneously.

Might have helped if they'd explained the point of connecting through a splitter.

Thurston?

Should add that if you're thinking of doing this yourself, & it's not with this particular make/model of box, that not all need a splitter: some have an internal link or a loop-out from LNB1. Post the make/model if you're not sure how to go about it.

kooga

i have ahumax hdr 1010s. use it solely for recordings so there is rarely a clash between watching tv and recording something else. Single LNB Feed.

Thurston?

kooga wrote: »

i have ahumax hdr 1010s. use it solely for recordings so there is rarely a clash between watching tv and recording something else.

Can't it record more than 1 programme at a time?

Anyway the Humax, to the best of my knowledge, has an internal link between tuners, no need for splitter or loopthrough. During initial setup, it detects how many cables are connected & sets itself up accordingly. If you later connect a 2nd LNB feed, you will need to do a 'factory reset' to get it to run the initial setup again & detect the 2nd feed.

kooga

Thurston? wrote: »

Can't it record more than 1 programme at a time?

Anyway the Humax, to the best of my knowledge, has an internal link between tuners, no need for splitter or loopthrough. During initial setup, it detects how many cables are connected & sets itself up accordingly. If you later connect a 2nd LNB feed, you will need to do a 'factory reset' to get it to run the initial setup again & detect the 2nd feed.

yes it can record more than one.

Tigerandahalf

Hi

I am reviving this thread as it is still relevant.

I had thought a satellite master slave splitter would enable me to have my freesat box and a sky box connected to the 1 satellite feed. The sky box would just be needed to receive eir/bt channels.

However from reading more on it, it seems the slave output can only receive the same band of channels that are selected by the master (the freesat box). This would mean I would have to select a channel on the freesat box on the same band as the bt channels on the sky box. It seems a nuisance. Plus I am still worried that both boxes will send a voltage feed to the lnb, possibly doing damage.

I know there is the option of running a 2nd cable but that is not an option for me. All cables are run internally.

Thurston?

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I had thought a satellite master slave splitter would enable me to have my freesat box and a sky box connected to the 1 satellite feed. The sky box would just be needed to receive eir/bt channels.

However from reading more on it, it seems the slave output can only receive the same band of channels that are selected by the master (the freesat box). This would mean I would have to select a channel on the freesat box on the same band as the bt channels on the sky box. It seems a nuisance. Plus I am still worried that both boxes will send a voltage feed to the lnb, possibly doing damage.

If using a priority switch, I'd connect the Sky box to the master side, & power it off when not in use: in this case the Freesat box would work as normal when the Sky box is off, & would be limited to channels in the same block as whatever is selected on the Sky box when it's on. Channel selection on the Freesat box would have no effect on the Sky box, plus the Freesat box could be left switched off if not otherwise needed.

If you use a splitter of the type mentioned in connection with the Samsung receiver earlier in the thread (power pass only on a single leg), then the main box (Freesat I assume) would be connected to the power passing leg, & would have to be powered on with a channel selected in the same block that the Sky box needs.

Another option would be a splitter with 'steered' power passing, where both outputs send power to the input only, though in this case there is no 'master' or 'slave'.

In none of these cases will a box be sending power where it isn't wanted.

The Cush

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

I had thought a satellite master slave splitter would enable me to have my freesat box and a sky box connected to the 1 satellite feed. The sky box would just be needed to receive eir/bt channels.

However from reading more on it, it seems the slave output can only receive the same band of channels that are selected by the master (the freesat box). This would mean I would have to select a channel on the freesat box on the same band as the bt channels on the sky box. It seems a nuisance. Plus I am still worried that both boxes will send a voltage feed to the lnb, possibly doing damage.

What is the make/model of the splitter you have?

A priority switch should allow the slave box to fully control the LNB independent of the master box provided the master box is powered down.

All I can think of offhand is a faulty priority switch or incorrect switch/splitter or some setting in the Freesat is keeping power alive.

http://www.pulsat.com/products/Digiality-Smart-Priority-Switch.html

Tigerandahalf

The Cush wrote: »

What is the make/model of the splitter you have?

A priority switch should allow the slave box to fully control the LNB independent of the master box provided the master box is powered down.

All I can think of offhand is a faulty priority switch or incorrect switch/splitter or some setting in the Freesat is keeping power alive.

http://www.pulsat.com/products/Digiality-Smart-Priority-Switch.html

That is the switch I have. So should I connect the sky box to the master?

To be honest I was looking for a fail safe system. With others in the house I don't want to have any risk of damage being done.

I would have hoped that the switch simply would only allow voltage to come from one box at a time.

I would have recordings set on the freesat box so I presume they are a non runner if the sky box is powered on on the master side.

I am also worried that splitting the signal will weaken it too much. At the moment its strength is only about 50/60% even though quality is close to 100%.

Does the master box have to be completely off or can it be left in standby. I presume the freesat box can be left on as the master (sky box) would take precedence anyway.

Thanks

The Cush

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Does the master box have to be completely off or can it be left in standby. I presume the freesat box can be left on as the master (sky box) would take precedence anyway.

Left in standby with the Freesat box on master. If the priority switch is ok, the Freesat box may still be powering the LNB, possibly for epg updates etc. Is there any option within the menu for a low power standby mode?

Tigerandahalf

The Cush wrote: »

Left in standby with the Freesat box on master. If the priority switch is ok, the Freesat box may still be powering the LNB, possibly for epg updates etc. Is there any option within the menu for a low power standby mode?

Sorry this post is confusing me.
I thought the sky box was connected to the master.

Thurston?

Rig it up whatever way best suits your own needs: there will probably be a compromise no matter which box is 'master'.

Tigerandahalf

Thurston? wrote: »

Rig it up whatever way best suits your own needs: there will probably be a compromise no matter which box is 'master'.

I am thinking it is more hassle than it is worth. I might leave it in the bedroom for the moment. At least that way I don't need a 2nd chromecast in there.