Quad vs Quattro LNB

ninja 12

Hi all ,

At the moment I am using a Sky Minidish mounted on the chimney with a quad LNB on it but only have two feeds connected .


I want to remove the dish from the chimney and mount a dish on the end gable wall .

I want at least 8 feeds from the dish as well as feeding Saorview around the house .

What I need -

A, 4 Sat feeds minimum + terrestrial to my server ,running MediaPortal TV server
B, two sat feeds + terrestrial to sitting room
C, 1 Sat feed + terrestrial to main bedroom
D, 1 Sat feed + terrestrial to spare bedroom


I was thinking of getting a 5x12 multiswitch .
That'll give me some spare sat feeds in case I add more tuners to my MediaPortal Server .



Is there any advantage of using a Quattro LNB over a quad , seeing as how many multiswitches can use either ?

Should I take the opportunity to replace the dish with something like a Triax or just reuse it ?


Thanks

Gerry Wicklow

Satellite Tv uses 4 different bands:-
Low Band – Horizontal Polarization
High Band – Horizontal Polarization
Low Band – Vertical Polarization
High Band – Vertical Polarization.

A normal (quad) LNB uses control signals from the tuner to select which band as required. Each LNB output can supply any band.
A quattro LNB gives 1 band per outlet. A multiswitch takes the control signal from the tuner and selects the appropriate LNB output as required. Many multiswitches can take either type of LNB. However using quattro limits your options. You would then have to use a multiswitch.

ninja 12

So there's no advantage in using a Quattro ?

Which would be more reliable ? A Quad with a multiswitch or Quattro with a multiswitch ?

I was thinking about a multiswitch like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/EMP-MS5%C2%A0Multiswitch-12PIU-Power-Supply/dp/B007TWBC8Q/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1471953800&sr=8-9&keywords=multiswitch+emp

The Cush

ninja 12 wrote: »

So there's no advantage in using a Quattro ?

Which would be more reliable ? A Quad with a multiswitch or Quattro with a multiswitch ?

Both would be reliable in my opinion. Quattro only multiswitches are probably more common.

If I was going this route I'd probably go with the Quattro LNB as each output feeds a single sub-band to the multiswitch without any switching to be done in the LNB. A quad LNB would require a switching signal from the multiswitch for each LNB output, something that might fail in future.

Gerry Wicklow

I would have thought if the multiswitch failed at least the quad would still be usable until a replacement could be sourced.

gctest50

ninja 12 wrote: »

..................

I was thinking about a multiswitch like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/EMP-MS5%C2%A0Multiswitch-12PIU-Power-Supply/dp/B007TWBC8Q/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1471953800&sr=8-9&keywords=multiswitch+emp

You could get one like this :


http://amzn.to/2c45CJa



cascadable so you could add another 12 outputs if you want and has 9 inputs, so 2 LNBs if you ever wanted to

Gerry Wicklow

Actually this would suit the OP at €33 & postage

The Cush

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

I would have thought if the multiswitch failed at least the quad would still be usable until a replacement could be sourced.

Yes it would, for a limited number of tuners by bypassing the multiswitch. I would prefer to remove the switching option, one less failure possibility. Personal choice I guess.

The Cush

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Actually this would suit the OP at €33 & postage

Quattro LNB only.

byte

ninja 12 wrote: »

So there's no advantage in using a Quattro ?

Which would be more reliable ? A Quad with a multiswitch or Quattro with a multiswitch ?

I was thinking about a multiswitch like this - https://www.amazon.co.uk/EMP-MS5%C2%A0Multiswitch-12PIU-Power-Supply/dp/B007TWBC8Q/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1471953800&sr=8-9&keywords=multiswitch+emp

I've used the EMP Profiline in the past and find it a good multiswitch.

I bought from hm-sat, where it seems to be cheaper too:
https://www.hm-sat-shop.de/multischalter/profiline/555/profiline-multischalter-5/12-p.146-up?c=271

ninja 12

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

I would have thought if the multiswitch failed at least the quad would still be usable until a replacement could be sourced.

The Cush wrote: »

Yes it would, for a limited number of tuners by bypassing the multiswitch. I would prefer to remove the switching option, one less failure possibility. Personal choice I guess.

That's kind of why I was leaning towards a quad , if something failed (multiswitch / one of the outputs on the LNB ) I could just swap a couple of cables around and get back up and running .


I assume a better dish than the Sky minidish would be required for a Quattro + multiswitch ?

gctest50 wrote: »

You could get one like this :
http://amzn.to/2c45CJa
cascadable so you could add another 12 outputs if you want and has 9 inputs, so 2 LNBs if you ever wanted to

Thanks , but a bit on the pricey side for me , hoping to keep the multiswitch under 120Euros

byte wrote: »

I've used the EMP Profiline in the past and find it a good multiswitch.

I bought from hm-sat, where it seems to be cheaper too:
https://www.hm-sat-shop.de/multischalter/profiline/555/profiline-multischalter-5/12-p.146-up?c=271

Thanks ,
Only 5 Euros postage as well

winston_1

You cannot get quatros that are matched to the sky minidish. End of story unless you change to a conventional dish.

Gerry Wicklow

The Cush wrote: »

Quattro LNB only.

Yeah but €33 against £268

The Cush

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Yeah but €33 against £268

As we can see from byte's post there are cheaper quad/Quattro switches if the OP wants that flexibility.

gctest50

winston_1 wrote: »

You cannot get quatros that are matched to the sky minidish. End of story unless you change to a conventional dish.

Even if you had a round dish, you'd need to go "up a size" if you're changing to a quattro/switch setup afaik

Johnboy1951

Considering the cost of extra tuner cards, or replacement cards with more tuners to fill the available slots in the motherboard, I wondered if you had considered an alternative like
https://www.satshop.tv/Inverto-IDLI-8CHE20-OOPOE-OSP-8-Sender-SATIP-LNB-mit-PoE-Adapter

I have never used MediaPortal, but it appears to manage everything and output IPTV over the LAN.
Using the above would remove the requirement for tuner cards, and probably be comparable with the full cost of extra/replacement multiple tuner cards.
If you have to change the dish, as has been suggested, then maybe something like this would suit
https://www.satshop.tv/Inverto-IDLI-8CHE20-OOPOE-OSP-8-Sender-SATIP-LNB-mit-PoE-Adapter

As you are making basic changes to your system to expand it, now might be the time to consider alternative set ups.
Just something else in the mix to confuse things

ninja 12

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

Considering the cost of extra tuner cards, or replacement cards with more tuners to fill the available slots in the motherboard, I wondered if you had considered an alternative like
https://www.satshop.tv/Inverto-IDLI-8CHE20-OOPOE-OSP-8-Sender-SATIP-LNB-mit-PoE-Adapter

I have never used MediaPortal, but it appears to manage everything and output IPTV over the LAN.
Using the above would remove the requirement for tuner cards, and probably be comparable with the full cost of extra/replacement multiple tuner cards.
If you have to change the dish, as has been suggested, then maybe something like this would suit
https://www.satshop.tv/Inverto-IDLI-8CHE20-OOPOE-OSP-8-Sender-SATIP-LNB-mit-PoE-Adapter

As you are making basic changes to your system to expand it, now might be the time to consider alternative set ups.
Just something else in the mix to confuse things

I'll stick with a standard quattro + multiswitch for the moment .

I have a dual DVB-S2 , a single DVB-S2 , a single DVB-S and a DVB-T tuner in my MediaPortal Server .(only the dual DVB-S2 and DVB-T cards connected at the moment- hence the need to upgrade to a multiswitch )

MediaPortal allows recording of multiple stream on a single transponder using a single card , so that should be enough tuners for the moment ( eg. recording BBC1 HD and BBC2 HD at the same time will only use one tuner )


By installing a multiswitch , it allows me to install more TV cards if I ever need them , and still have the TV in the sitting room connected at the same time (just in case my server acts up , I can still watch TV in the sitting room, it has freesat built in)

At the moment , all TV is fed from MediaPortal TV Server over my home network .(Server feeding client in sitting room and main bedroom)

ninja 12

Right so , how's this for a potential shopping list , using the site linked by byte .

Multiswitch

Triax 78cm dish

Smart Titanium Quattro LNB

Mounting bracket

Cable


Comes to €192.70 with free shipping .




Is the 78cm dish ok / too small / overkill just for freesat ?

hm-sat have 64 , 78 and 88 cm versions available .

It's aluminium , is that a good choice ?

Johnboy1951

I have a dual DVB-S2 , a single DVB-S2 , a single DVB-S and a DVB-T tuner in my MediaPortal Server .(only the dual DVB-S2 and DVB-T cards connected at the moment- hence the need to upgrade to a multiswitch )

I don't get this reasoning; connect four cables from a quad LNB to the four SAT tuners and you're done. If you want to expand the number of tuners in the future you get a multiswitch then.

Gerry Wicklow

Multiswitch is an easy way to add terrestrial to each sat coax feed.

ninja 12

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

I don't get this reasoning; connect four cables from a quad LNB to the four SAT tuners and you're done. If you want to expand the number of tuners in the future you get a multiswitch then.

Because I want to connect 2 feeds to the TV in the sitting room at the same time , as well as connect a TV in the spare room.

That's 7 feeds from the sat, and I also want to run a spare feed to the main bedroom .That makes 8 feeds , not including any future additions to the MediaPortal server.

Gerry Wicklow wrote: »

Multiswitch is an easy way to add terrestrial to each sat coax feed.

This as well.

amdaley28

ninja 12 wrote: »

Because I want to connect 2 feeds to the TV in the sitting room at the same time , as well as connect a TV in the spare room.

That's 7 feeds from the sat, and I also want to run a spare feed to the main bedroom .That makes 8 feeds , not including any future additions to the MediaPortal server.

Why don't you use this http://www.freetv.ie/octo-lnb.html

ninja 12

amdaley28 wrote: »

Why don't you use this http://www.freetv.ie/octo-lnb.html

A multiswitch will give me more than 8 feeds from the dish , as well as combining the terrestrial feed on the cables .

Johnboy1951

ninja 12 wrote: »

Because I want to connect 2 feeds to the TV in the sitting room at the same time , as well as connect a TV in the spare room.

Ah, so you are not using the IPTV output for those two TVs!
I dispensed with all co-ax to TVs and use only IPTV feeds to TVs now.

ninja 12

I finally got around to setting up the new dish,multiswitch etc the other day .

I'm getting 90% for signal strength and 85% signal quality (according to MediaPortal TV Server )

Is it worth it to fiddle with it some more to improve on these figures or should I just leave it alone ?
Is it possible to achieve 100% ?

(first time setting up a dish by myself )

byte

What setup did you go with in the end? Did you just order the stuff you linked above from hm-sat?

If all the channels are working OK, I probably wouldn't bother messing with it. Does it still operate on all channels OK during rain, etc? I'm not familiar with MediaPortal, or how it measures signal %.

ninja 12

byte wrote: »

What setup did you go with in the end? Did you just order the stuff you linked above from hm-sat?

If all the channels are working OK, I probably wouldn't bother messing with it. Does it still operate on all channels OK during rain, etc? I'm not familiar with MediaPortal, or how it measures signal %.

Hi ,

I ordered the items listed above from hm-sat.

Hooked up the dish and multiswitch to the sat meter and an old Sky box .

Got the signal as high as I could and adjusted the attenuation on the multiswitch slowly and carefully until the signal strength/quality wouldn't go any higher .

Disconnected the Sky box , connected my MediaPortal TV Server and checked signal strength/quality .



There hasn't been any heavy rain here since I connected everything .

Signal strength/quality seems to be a consistent 90/84 % (not 85 as I thought) on all channels except some of the CBS/True Entertainment channels when the quality drops to 80% .

Picture is still perfect

.


I actually forgot to see what levels I was getting with the old Sky dish , but it's too late now

Dave..M

ninja 12 wrote: »

Hi ,

I ordered the items listed above from hm-sat.

Hooked up the dish and multiswitch to the sat meter and an old Sky box .

Got the signal as high as I could and adjusted the attenuation on the multiswitch slowly and carefully until the signal strength/quality wouldn't go any higher .

Disconnected the Sky box , connected my MediaPortal TV Server and checked signal strength/quality .



There hasn't been any heavy rain here since I connected everything .

Signal strength/quality seems to be a consistent 90/84 % (not 85 as I thought) on all channels except some of the CBS/True Entertainment channels when the quality drops to 80% .

Picture is still perfect

.


I actually forgot to see what levels I was getting with the old Sky dish , but it's too late now

It's highly unlikely you will see any issues with those measurements, rain hail or shine. I had pretty abysmal strength and quality in the latter days of the old eutelsat bird on Horror channel (circa 60/60) and never once was Tom Baker pixelated !

Gerry Wicklow

Dave..M wrote: »

................and never once was Tom Baker pixelated !

If the Daleks couldn't do it to him, Hotbird certainly couldn't