Multiswitch and Octo LNB

Darcon

Currently have a Quattro LNB which feeds a Multiswhitch having four designated inputs: Low Vertical (LV); Low Horizontal (LH); High Vertical (HV) and High Horizontal (HH) from Astra 28.2E. I also feed to the Multiswitch a Saorview signal so that each of the 8 Multiswitch outputs has both Satellite TV signals (from Astra 28.2E) and Terrestrial TV signals.

I've bought a Technomate TM2600 H-H DiSEqC Motor so that I can also receive signals from Astra 19.2E. But, the DiSEqC Motor will not operate with a Quattro LNB. Thus, I want to replace the Quattro LNB with an Octo LNB. However, unlike the Quattro LNB which feeds LV, LH, HV and HH signals to the Multiswitch, each Octo LNB output has the full range and polarity of the satellite signals. The idea is that four of the Octo LNB outputs will feed the Multiswitch and another of the Octo LNB outputs will feed the Astra 19.2 signal (after the satellite dish has been moved by the DiSEqC Motor) directly to a dedicated receiver. The question is: Can I feed the four outputs from the Octo LNB to the Multiswitch without damaging the Multiswitch?

The Cush

Darcon wrote: »

The question is: Can I feed the four outputs from the Octo LNB to the Multiswitch without damaging the Multiswitch?

Is the multiswitch quad (octo) compatible? A quad compatible multiswitch will send the required switching signals to each output of the quad (octo) LNB while a Quattro multiswitch won't.

Darcon

It seems I have a Quattro Multiswitch as each input is labelled LV, LH, HV and HH. I was hoping that, for example, the LV input would simply ignore the other 3 signal types. I could experiment but I don't want to damage the multiswitch.

The Cush

I don't think you'll damage either but the multiswitch won't provide the polarisation switching voltage or band switching tone for the outputs to switch to the required frequency range.

Darcon

Thanks. I'll experiment and see what happens.

winston_1

Why not just connect the 19E receiver to one of the outputs of the multiswitch? Job done.

Darcon

Because there is a need to move the dish with the DiSEqC motor. As I understand it, the Multiswitch will not pass the appropriate signals to the motor. So when reception from 19E is required, the signal to move the dish from 28E to 19E is passed from the dedicated 19E receiver to the motor bypassing the Multiswitch. The same receiver can be used to cause the motor to move the dish from 19E to 28E. I've found that mounting two LNBs on the dish (one for 28E and another for 19E) to be no very satisfactory. But that may be due to my amateur ability of dish alignment!

STB.

Darcon wrote: »

The same receiver can be used to cause the motor to move the dish from 19E to 28E. I've found that mounting two LNBs on the dish (one for 28E and another for 19E) to be no very satisfactory. But that may be due to my amateur ability of dish alignment!

Using a motor for 19.2 and 28.2 is overkill. You shouldnt need to move the dish. You just need two LNBs beside each other.

Remove the motor and junction the dish with with a diseqc switch and appropriate LNB bracket.

What type dish do you have.

Thurston?

Darcon wrote: »

Because there is a need to move the dish with the DiSEqC motor. As I understand it, the Multiswitch will not pass the appropriate signals to the motor.

As was already mentioned, connect a multiswitch output - it goes to the motor's LNB-in. The motor control signals from the receiver don't go through the switch.

STB.

Thurston? wrote: »

As was already mentioned, connect a multiswitch output - it goes to the motor's LNB-in. The motor control signals from the receiver don't go through the switch.

Thurston. It still wouldnt get away from the fact that he wont have both the satellite positions available for each TV at any one time, because he has moved the dish to one position. I dont know why someone would limit their options if using a multiswitch. You'd just have it installed and then have the option at each box as to what diseqc point you wanna watch and allow both at any one time.

Darcon

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I've abandoned the DisEQc motor option and reverted back to using the Quattro LNB together with a Universal LNB on the same dish, the former tracking Astra 28.2E and the latter tracking Astra 19.2E. I've carefully set it up for optimum reception. As I only use one STB for 19.2E, it's not a problem not being able feed the other STBs used for 28.2E using the Quattro LNB and the associated multiswitch.

Gerry Wicklow

Darcon wrote: »

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I've abandoned the DisEQc motor option and reverted back to using the Quattro LNB together with a Universal LNB on the same dish, the former tracking Astra 28.2E and the latter tracking Astra 19.2E. I've carefully set it up for optimum reception. As I only use one STB for 19.2E, it's not a problem not being able feed the other STBs used for 28.2E using the Quattro LNB and the associated multiswitch.

For anyone else following this thread, it can easily be done with four DISEQC switches such as these. These allow you to watch up to 4 satellite positions from 2 different boxes (four feeds) or 3 boxes with 1 only used for recording.

Darcon

Thanks Gerry. That looks like a neat solution.

However, I have a Quattro LNB plus associated (Quattro only) multiswitch. Thus, with that, I can distribute to at least 8 inputs. The single feed from the 19.2E LNB can be used to directly feed the single dedicated associated STB. I don't believe that I can incorporate the DiSEqC switch on the upstream side of the multiswitch (between the Quattro LNB and the multiswitch) as the multiswitch will not tolerate it. (Or maybe you have a different view?)

Gerry Wicklow

That's why I aimed my comments at anyone else who may be interested in a multi-sat, multi-room setup. I know you are already committed to a certain path. But sure, isn't it all part of the fun of this hobby/addiction

Darcon

More like an addiction Gerry!!! I asume that you agree with my view that a DiSEqC will not work with the Quattro LNB/Quattro Multiswitch?

Gerry Wicklow

I don't think it will work. I went from 4 DISEQC switches to a 17 input multiswitch when I need to add more rooms.