4 LNBs with 4x Diseqc 4 way switches?

[Mitt055]

I'm looking for a bit of advice. At the moment I have two twin lnbs (Astra 19e and 13e) going to two 2 way diseqcs feeding two receivers ( technomate 1500 and Humax 5400).

I want to get 3 sats ( 19e,13e and 9e) and also if possible 28e to three receivers. I have a Triax 88cm dish and I'm planning to get a multi LNB holder.

My question is this: Assuming I manage to get the four sats, (or at least 3), can I run the cable from the 4 quatro LNBs into 3 separate 4 way diseqcs feeding the three receivers?

If it won't work, is there an easier way?

[Robbo]

It should work.Sometimes there could be problems, but you won't really find them out until you try, theoretically it should work OK.


You would be using QUAD LNBs though, NOT QUATROS.

An alternative, but much more expensive option would be to use a 17x4multiswitch with quattro LBS, but because of the significant cost of the switch it is best to avoid if you can.

[satelliteman]

Quattro LNb's are for multi-switch systems.

[Mitt055]

Thanks for the advice about the LNBs. I should of course be looking at quads. It will mean spending a few hundred quid so I want to make sure I get it right.

Are all 4 way disecqs more or less the same? I'll be strapping them onto the vertical pole so I need them to be watertight. Any recommendations?

Also, I'm just wondering about 13e and 9e. Will I have enough room for the LNBs, with the sats being only 4 degrees apart?

[Robbo]

You should just do it, it depends on the LNBs used. The Inverto silvertechs have pretty small heads, otherwise you'll need the Alps bullet nose LNBs

[Mitt055]

I'll get the Alps quad LNBs and give it a shot.

I notice that one of the online shops state that f you connect two or more diseqc switches to quads, they take power away from some of the outputs and they won't work.

Has anyone any experience of this?

[Robbo]

I have some experience of it working OK.

2 dishes, one on Nilesat fitted with an Inverto C120 twin, the other a zone 2 minidish on Hotbird fitted with a WNC Sky quad.

These are connected to two receivers, a TM1500 and a TM5200 through two 4-way diseqc switches ( a TM one, an an Octagon one), did not have any problems.

I'm hoping to fit another quad on an existing 28E dish and feed that in as well, at some point.

[Mitt055]

Thanks Robbo, thats good to read.

I suppose my set up will be a little bit more ambitious. At least three lnbs with three quads going to three receivers.

I'd like to hear that its can work before I go about it, in view of the doubts cast on the sat super shop.

[rolfw]

Well it can definitely work, as we have members here that have it working, but a guaranteed (and more expensive) way of doing it would be to use a 13 in multiswitch with Quattro LNBs.

[Robbo]

Yes, using the quads is certainly a cheaper way to go. If it doesn't work there are some multiswiches that take quads instead of quattros.

[Mitt055]

Cheers m8s, thats just what I was hoping for. I don't want to go the multiswitch route. Price and the amount of cabling involved having to plug it into the mains within the house would make it a nightmare for me logistics wise.

Thanks for your input.