Satellite free to air on a new build

Curious Geroge

House under construction at the moment and looking to put up the satellite dish for free to air while the scaffolding is in place. I'm just planning on getting it hooked with an octo lnb and wanted to ask, whats the recommended dish and can the same dish get uk free to air and the irish channels ?

Looking at these dishes but hoping for some advice. Thanks
http://www.satworld.ie/wavefrontier-t90-torodial-satellite-dish.html

http://www.satworld.ie/sky-satellite-dish-octo-lnb.html

http://www.satworld.ie/triax-td110.html

Lindenblad

If you want free-to-air Irish TV, go with Saorview terrestrial, if you have coverage. Saorsat doesn't have TV3 or 3e, probably doesn't even have RTE1 HD yet.

The Cush

Curious Geroge wrote: »

House under construction at the moment and looking to put up the satellite dish for free to air while the scaffolding is in place. I'm just planning on getting it hooked with an octo lnb and wanted to ask, whats the recommended dish and can the same dish get uk free to air and the irish channels ?

Depending on your location a standard 80 cm dish will do anywhere in Ireland, In the east you'll get away with a 60cm dish - http://www.satworld.ie/satellite-dishes-and-lnbs.html

Saorview with aerial, as mentioned in the previous post, is the way to go for the Irish channels - http://www.saorview.ie/get-saorview/make-the-switch/. They are only available with a Sky box and subscription from the same satellite position that transmits BBC, ITV, Ch.4 etc.

Curious Geroge

Thanks Guys.

So, a standard 80 cm dish like this will work with an octo LNB for free to air uk channels - http://www.satworld.ie/triax-td88.html

For Soarview, is there any way to bring in 4 supply's of one aerial or could I bring in one supply to a dist panel ?

The Cush

Curious Geroge wrote: »

So, a standard 80 cm dish like this will work with an octo LNB for free to air uk channels - http://www.satworld.ie/triax-td88.html

For Soarview, is there any way to bring in 4 supply's of one aerial or could I bring in one supply to a dist panel ?

Yes, that dish will be OK.

1 feed from the aerial to a powered distribution amplifier located in the attic or other central location in the house, examples - http://www.tvtrade.ie/tv-distribution/tv-distribution-amplifiers.html

winston_1

Curious Geroge wrote: »

Thanks Guys.

So, a standard 80 cm dish like this will work with an octo LNB for free to air uk channels - http://www.satworld.ie/triax-td88.html

I don't think you can get octo LNBs for standard dishes. They are designed for skyware dishes (wider than they are tall). If you fit one to a standard dish you will get inferior results. Best get a sky zone 2 dish and octo LNB.

The Cush

winston_1 wrote: »

I don't think you can get octo LNBs for standard dishes. They are designed for skyware dishes (wider than they are tall). If you fit one to a standard dish you will get inferior results. Best get a sky zone 2 dish and octo LNB.

Of course you can. I have 3 of them on a T90

http://www.tvtrade.ie/universal-octo-lnb.html
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page1a.htm#octo
http://www.sateuropa.co.uk/cart/catalog/lnbs-coax-standard/inverto-pro-0.2db-octo-lnb-1503.html

winston_1

The Cush wrote: »

Of course you can. I have 3 of them on a T90

http://www.tvtrade.ie/universal-octo-lnb.html
http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page1a.htm#octo
http://www.sateuropa.co.uk/cart/catalog/lnbs-coax-standard/inverto-pro-0.2db-octo-lnb-1503.html

Um. Looks as if I was mistaken then.

Curious Geroge

I've had the suggestion to go with a Quattro LNB feeding a multi-switch that would also take a UHF signal and distribute to the 8 TV points. Nice and tidy solution?

LordSutch

I am also in the middle of a FTA re-build and this is what I've done (for my requirements), your's may be different.

1/ Sky 60cm dish now fitted with a Quad LNB (plus terrestrial input) > http://www.satworld.ie/images/detailed/0/inverto-quad-terrestrial.jpg
This means that the four single cables coming off the LNB will each carry the satellite signal plus the terrestrial signal (combined) in each cable.

2/ You will then require four combiners > http://www.satworld.ie/images/detailed/0/IMG_0715.jpg
Attach to the other end of each cable in order to seperate the signal back out again for connection to the back of your box . . . .

Neat & tidy = Bingo!

Lindenblad

Curious Geroge wrote: »

I've had the suggestion to go with a Quattro LNB feeding a multi-switch that would also take a UHF signal and distribute to the 8 TV points. Nice and tidy solution?

8 TV points? Bear in mind that if you want to use a PVR, with twin satellite tuners, you will need a separate cable run to each tuner. An octo LNB feeding 8 rooms would only allow a single tuner in each room, so you would need a multiswitch to get more than 8 feeds.

There is also Unicable/SCR system that allows a single cable to carry the signal to multiple tuners, with each tuner having its own section of bandwidth & the Unicable equipment converts the selected satellite channel to this particular part of the band. Not sure how widely used this is in Ireland, or if it's easily available to consumers for self-install.

winston_1

Curious Geroge wrote: »

I've had the suggestion to go with a Quattro LNB feeding a multi-switch that would also take a UHF signal and distribute to the 8 TV points. Nice and tidy solution?

If you only want 8 points a multi switch system would be pointless when octo LNBs are available.
Multi switches have some loss at sat IF so you would need to go one dish size up to compensate. They have considerable loss at a TV frequencies so you would need an amplifier between the aerial and multi switch to compensate. Diplexed outlet plates also introduce losses.

winston_1

Lindenblad wrote: »

There is also Unicable/SCR system that allows a single cable to carry the signal to multiple tuners, with each tuner having its own section of bandwidth & the Unicable equipment converts the selected satellite channel to this particular part of the band. Not sure how widely used this is in Ireland, or if it's easily available to consumers for self-install.

Indeed, but most receivers are not compatible with Unicable systems.

Lindenblad

winston_1 wrote: »

Indeed, but most receivers are not compatible with Unicable systems.

Yes, probably fewer compatible receivers than I thought. I know the Humax Foxsat was compatible, also the Walker combi box currently available, & LG TVs with integrate sat. tuner.

There's a list of compatible receivers on Inverto site, but it might not be up to date, certainly doesn't mention Walker or LG.

gman2k

I've an octo lnb on a Sky dish, dual feed to living room, one feed to each of four bedrooms, one to study and one to kitchen. TV is sent to each of these points on separate cable from an amplifier which takes Saorview from an aerial in the attic.
I built my own house and pulled the cables myself, so didn't bother with combiners etc....