Why can't you spilt the Signal from your Dish

Nero

I know that this has probably been asked before but can anyone give me a technical answer as to why you can't spilt the signal coming from your Sky Digital dish? Thanks.

chernobyl

You can using a Diseq switch but that alone is not enough for completely independant viewing.
you would need a Quad Lnb and dual boxes with dual viewing cards or CAMs and programmed cards.

Doctúir

To maximise use of the spectrum, half of the signals are on vertical polarisation and half are horizontally polarised (a small few use circular polarisation - right and left). So if you have four channels:

1. 10.5 GHz, V
2. 10.5 GHz, H
3. 11.2 GHz, V
4. 11.2 GHz, H

it would be possible to use the one LNB between two receivers and they could display channels 1 and 3 respectively (or at least you could on analogue, not so sure how fussy digital boxes are). However, you couldn't watch channels 1 and 2 simultaneously because they are not the same polarisation.

Things are further complicated by the fact that digital receivers now use Universal LNBs, such that when no tone is sent to the LNB, the receiver can tune to channels in the freq range 10.7-11.8 GHz, and when a 22KHz tone is sent the freq range is changed to 11.6 - 12.7 GHz.

byte

You could use the new quattro LNB (not to be confused with quad LNB) which has 4 independent outputs and is used for Sky+ in UK or for extra receivers.

HTH

chernobyl

is that a "Quad LNb" by another name?

Doctúir

The different types of LNBs are described here:
http://www.satcure.co.uk/tech/lnb.htm

The most suitable LNBs for use with multiple receivers and one dish are the "Twin Output (Universal)" and "Quad Universal" depending on your budget and number of receivers (2 or 4).

Avoid the Quattro - it's only meant for distributing signals amongst a large number of receivers.

Nero

Good reply Doctúir, Thanks !!!

byte

Quattro LNB is the kind supplied with Sky+. 2 downleads for the Sky+ digibox and 2 for other rooms. All 4 outputs are independant and can do all the necessary switching, etc. Maybe Tony can elaborate here...

BTW, Tony, did ya get my PM?

b20uvkft6m5xwg

Does anyone know when this quattro splitter arrangement will be available in Ireland- for instance when the thing is being installed.

And would it work for me given this situation....

Currently have 6 TV's in the house all running off the one decoder
(very complex setup of co-ax hidden around the house I know:))
At least 4 would have to be independant viewing.

The main reason we still pay for Sky Sports & the movies is because if we got the minidish we wouldn't have independant viewing around the house.

Any thoughts!!??

Tony

Originally posted by irishblimp
BTW, Tony, did ya get my PM?

Sorry Will whats a PM?

Thanks Tony

b20uvkft6m5xwg

Tony
Its a Personal Message....an new option on vbulletin.

if you dont have alerts set-up-ie that it will notify you at your e-mail address then check your user control panel (cp) to see if the msg is there for you:)