Saorview & Freesat using 2 Coax Cables

Rataan

I currently have a Sky tv subscription, but that will be coming to an end shortly and I would like to obtain my tv for free via Saorview and Freesat.  I would like to be able to record my programmes and have live pause and rewind.  There are 2 coax cables coming into my sitting room.
Is it possible to install something that requires only 2 coax cables (running a third cable is not an option) but will give me a 7 day programme guide for both Saorview and Freesat, the ability to record and series link, and live pause/rewind?  Basically, the exact same functionality of my current Sky box, but with only the free to air channels?
I’m hoping the answer is Yes, because I see that Sky have a new box that allows 4 channels to be recorded at the same time, and I assume there would not be 4 cables running into that box?

The Cush

Yes, a basic satellite /terrestrial combiner will do this with the same at the TV point to split the signals again.

SkyQ works differently, new technology wideband LNB, the problem is the terrestrial signal can't be piggybacked the same way as described above because the SkyQ satellite signal overlaps the the terrestrial band on the down cable.

Rataan

With a combiner, would I be able to record 2 programmes at the same time, or would I have to use a stacker/de-stacker to do that?

The Cush

Combiner - http://www.freetv.ie/satellite/distribution/combiners/, for combining the 2 feeds and then splitting the 2 feeds in reverse
Splitter faceplate (if required) - http://vision-products.co.uk/v33-23plus-slim-n-fast-outlet-plate-sat-1-terr-sat-2/

The combiner is used with one satellite cable, but because the terrestrial signal and satellite down signal are at different frequencies they don't conflict. So you can record/watch as normal.
See the video here, under the video guide tab - http://www.freetv.ie/tv-aerial-and-satellite-combiner/

Rataan

The Cush wrote: »

Combiner - http://www.freetv.ie/satellite/distribution/combiners/, for combining the 2 feeds and then splitting the 2 feeds in reverse
Splitter faceplate (if required) - http://vision-products.co.uk/v33-23plus-slim-n-fast-outlet-plate-sat-1-terr-sat-2/

The combiner is used with one satellite cable, but because the terrestrial signal and satellite down signal are at different frequencies they don't conflict. So you can record/watch as normal.
See the video here, under the video guide tab - http://www.freetv.ie/tv-aerial-and-satellite-combiner/

Are there any disadvantages to using a combiner, e.g. loss of picture quality? They appear to be very affordable, almost too good to be true! Does a stacker/destacker do the same thing, and if so, why is it so much more expensive?

ShaneOC

A stacker/destacker is different. It allows two LNB feeds from the satellite dish to be fed down one cable (and then destacked). So, if you only had one cable into the living room you would use a stacker to get the required 2 satellite feeds (watch & record)

For what you are looking to do a combiner is perfect. Unless you have a really weak signal to begin with there should be no issues using the combiner.

Thurston?

Rataan wrote: »

Does a stacker/destacker do the same thing, and if so, why is it so much more expensive?

The stacker is a frequency shifter: it shifts the block of frequencies from one of the LNB outputs into a higher frequency range, so it can be 'stacked' on top of the other. The destacker uses the reverse process at the other end, so the tuner gets the correct frequencies.

The satellite & terrestrial broadcasts are already in different frequency bands, so the sat./terr. diplexer is just a passive device with filtering on its inputs.

ollielaroo

Have I got this right?

I have a Satellite dish with a Quad LNB and Terrestrial Aerial on the roof.
Two coax cables coming down from the attic to a viewing room, one from the dish and one from the aerial.

In the viewing room I want this linux box SAB Triple Tuner it has one DVB-T2 and two DVB-S2 tuners.
http://www.freetv.ie/triple-tuner

I want to watch one satellite channel and record another satellite channel mat the same time, and have the Irish terrestrial channels too.

According to this thread it seems like I can use either of the following scenarios:

a) Cheap:
In the attic join one satellite cable and the aerial cable with a Combiner (http://www.freetv.ie/tv-aerial-and-satellite-combiner)
Connect one of the existing cables in the attic that go down to the viewing room to the output of the Combiner.
Both signals go down to the viewing room inside that cable and are split in the viewing room using another Combiner in reverse.
The second cable coming from the attic down to the viewing room will be the second satellite cable.

b) Expensive:
Put the first box from a Stacker/Destacker in the attic (http://www.freetv.ie/global-stacker-destacker) and connect two satellite cables into it.
Connect one of the existing cables coming from the attic down to the viewing room to the output of the Stacker/Destacker.
At the other end of that cable in the viewing room it is split into two satellite cables using the second box of the Stacker/Destacker.
The second cable coming from the attic down to the viewing room will be the terrestrial cable.

Am I correct?

STB.

ollielaroo wrote: »

.

In the viewing room I want this linux box SAB Triple Tuner it has one DVB-T2 and two DVB-S2 tuners.

You dont want that box.

ollielaroo

but what if I do?

dubrov

Option a) is definitely the way to go.
Option b) is more expensive and less reliable. The stackers also need to be powered.

The choice of box is a separate decision.

Gerry Wicklow

ollielaroo wrote: »

but what if I do?

There are far better boxes for similar money

ollielaroo

Dubrov,
Thanks for that, at least i now know that both scenarios would work.

"to watch one satellite channel and record another satellite channel at the same time, and have the Irish terrestrial channels too"

I've also been looking at a 5/8 Multiplexer switch with Quad LNB compatibility should i need to expand similar provisions to other rooms.

Gerry,
I've already put in the order for the SAB Tripler Tuner.... and i know some of the features can be a bit stupid.
But where are these so called better boxes??

dubrov

Of you are thinking about changing your LNB and cabling, have a look at unicable Ii. It would be much easier to distribute the satellite signal to multiple rooms. Your receivers might need to be compatible as well.

I'm only looking at it myself at the moment

STB.

ollielaroo wrote: »

Gerry,
I've already put in the order for the SAB Tripler Tuner.... and i know some of the features can be a bit stupid.
But where are these so called better boxes??

That Sab box is over 4 years old. They are just about running a patched version of Enigma2. The processor trying to hold it all together runs @450Megs.

I just looked up the price, They are €140! :eek: FFS.

Sorry ollie thats a mad price for such a low spec box. There are 2 1.3ghz MIPS (actual Enigma 2 boxes) on World of Satellite for around £100 (Formuler f1 and Tiviar).

Probably cannot help you now but for anyone else who is thinking of getting Amiko, SAB, or Zgemma, make them the first thing you discount from your list.

ollielaroo

Ultimately I want a good triple tuner with Enigma2 and I don't mind if I have to spend between €200 and €300 (my max limit is €300).

Now I see freetv.ie have a Technomate™ TM-Nano 3T
1300MHz Broadcom Dual Core MIPS Processor, 256MB Flash, 1GB DDR3 RAM
http://www.freetv.ie/technomate-nano-3t

Because of the way their website is designed I didn't see this box before I ordered the SAB Triple Tuner.
They have a video comparing this Technomate and Amiko, see below.

"Compare Technomate TM Nano 3T Vs Amiko Alien 2+ Triple Tuners"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az6kXKSJfZM

I appreciate what STB is saying after seeing this.

STB.

ollielaroo wrote: »

Ultimately I want a good triple tuner with Enigma2 and I don't mind if I have to spend between €200 and €300 (my max limit is €300).

Wasnt aware that someone had went to the bother of doing a boot comparison. Bear in mind that video was up in 2015, but boxes have moved on. As boxes move on some become unsold and then someone discovers that they will run another operating system. So they get sold off on the cheap.

You can pay silly money for a box unnecessarily.

Like buying a car its all whats under the hood.

There are genuine bargains to be had though. There are 2 boxes with high spec CPU, Flash and RAM for little or nothing on WOS.