Sky quad lnb swap to unicable

frozenfrozen

I have a sky+ hd box downstairs (2 cables) and a non plus multiroom box upstairs (1 cable)

the fourth output from the lnb is going to a TBS 6909 card, all 8 tuners are able to tune through the one input but I'm missing some channels presumably due to not having all hi lo V and H from the lnb (Am I right in thinking that first of all?)



If I was to get a unicable LNB could I just keep the exact same setup as now but have proper access for the 6909 tuners while keeping the sky boxes working as they are. We are getting rid of sky subscription relatively soon so it's not a big deal if it won't work but it would be nice to be able to leave the boxes there working for FTA channels just for when the tvheadend server is down etc.

Thanks

Apogee

I'm open to correction, but AFAIK Sky use different frequency bands for their single feed technology in comparison to the broader Unicable standard. So a Sky+ box will not work with a Unicable LNB.


Sky+ typically use Sky SCR bands 11, 14, 17 and 19. As you can see below, neither the allocated bands nor frequencies match (apart from Band 3 1680MHz).

frozenfrozen

Thanks, would I get away with a unicable LNB that had legacy outputs (will only need 2 since the Sky+ box will stop being plus with no card?) or would they not work with Sky? Tried searching for this but can't see a concrete answer.

I might be better off putting a proper satellite receiver at the main TV as a fallback anyway. But at that rate I could get something unicable compatible

Apogee

A Unicable/legacy LNBF will work reasonably well. The versions I've come across support a 4x tuner Unicable feed with either 2x or 3x legacy ports.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=legacy+unicable


So you still won't get the full 100% benefit for the 8x tuner TBS card. That would probably require a Unicable II/legacy setup, and I don't think those exist.

[edit]So it turns out a proper solution does exist - 3x legacy ports with 24x Unicable II feed:
https://www.hm-sat-shop.de/lnb/unicable/4269/gt-sat-unicable-lnb-gt-s3dcss24-24ub-mit-3-legacy-ausgang-fuer-dvb-s2-4k

frozenfrozen

Apogee wrote: »

A Unicable/legacy LNBF will work reasonably well. The versions I've come across support a 4x tuner Unicable feed with either 2x or 3x legacy ports.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Delectronics&field-keywords=legacy+unicable


So you still won't get the full 100% benefit for the 8x tuner TBS card. That would probably require a Unicable II/legacy setup, and I don't think those exist.

[edit]So it turns out a proper solution does exist - 3x legacy ports with 24x Unicable II feed:
https://www.hm-sat-shop.de/lnb/unicable/4269/gt-sat-unicable-lnb-gt-s3dcss24-24ub-mit-3-legacy-ausgang-fuer-dvb-s2-4k

Thanks very much, does this look like exactly the same model? Looks it to me and I'd rather order from Amazon so I can return etc

Seems to do exactly what I need, 3 legacy outputs and the unicable 2 for the 6909

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B7VV4UQ

Johnboy1951

frozenfrozen wrote: »

I have a sky+ hd box downstairs (2 cables) and a non plus multiroom box upstairs (1 cable)

the fourth output from the lnb is going to a TBS 6909 card, all 8 tuners are able to tune through the one input but I'm missing some channels presumably due to not having all hi lo V and H from the lnb (Am I right in thinking that first of all?)



If I was to get a unicable LNB could I just keep the exact same setup as now but have proper access for the 6909 tuners while keeping the sky boxes working as they are. We are getting rid of sky subscription relatively soon so it's not a big deal if it won't work but it would be nice to be able to leave the boxes there working for FTA channels just for when the tvheadend server is down etc.

Thanks

If your dish is of sufficient size you should be able to put the legacy quad and the unicable LNBs side-by-side and get sufficient signal for them both.

Apogee

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Thanks very much, does this look like exactly the same model? Looks it to me and I'd rather order from Amazon so I can return etc

Seems to do exactly what I need, 3 legacy outputs and the unicable 2 for the 6909

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00B7VV4UQ

That looks to be it, and the supplier is the same GS-SAT.

frozenfrozen

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

If your dish is of sufficient size you should be able to put the legacy quad and the unicable LNBs side-by-side and get sufficient signal for them both.

Would a sky 55cm dish do? I believe that's the size I have. I could get a slightly cheaper single output unicable 2 lnb if that was an option. Although it might just be easier to get one with the legacy outputs

tsue921i8wljb3

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Would a sky 55cm dish do? I believe that's the size I have. I could get a slightly cheaper single output unicable 2 lnb if that was an option. Although it might just be easier to get one with the legacy outputs

You should ensure that the Unicable LNB will fit on the Sky dish before you purchase. I thought all the Sky stuff had proprietary connections. Also the Unicable LNB will have been designed for a round dish. The Sky dish is oval though the signal may be strong enough to overcome this limitation.