Receiver switch

[Captain Jack]

As I am sure many people on here do, I have a bunch of satellite receivers connected to the same dish. I say "connected" - I connect them manually whenever I switch receivers around to the LNB, rather than using a switch.

The reason for that is that I tried a bunch of switches in the past - smart priority switches, simple combiners, receiver loop throughs etc but all introduce noise, which results in lower signal levels (quality/SNR). I don't mind losing signal strength as receivers should compensate for that but not quality.

Does anyone use tried and tested switches with as little loss as possible? I have 4 receivers that I tend to switch between...

Alternatively, I am contemplating creating my own switch - just not sure the best way to do this. Whether to use signal switching ICs or relays - or just stick with manual swapping of cables.

 

[Channel Hopper]

2GHz is at the limit of mechanical contact efficiency, but tracks, power supplies and electronic components ( unless designed for a certain frequency ) in a matrix system have their own deficiencies over the 0-2GHz spectrum when fed into a 75 Ohm transfer.

Stick with a single cable direct into the tuner and swop out when needed.

 

[John]

I have about seven incommers, select whichever band feed i want , feed it into an active Global splitter which distributes to either PC cards/ Promax meter/ receivers etc.... been happy with this arrangement for many years.

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[suedschwede]

That's how I do it, too, using a Kahrein EBC14.

Kathrein EBC14

 

[dreambox1959]

what you want is an LNB output to several receivers? I had modified a 4 to 1 switch by reversing certain components but I found that there was a little attenuation.
I use a lnb with two outputs, one towards my main sf8008 the other towards the receiver to be tested

 

[Captain Jack]

what you want is an LNB output to several receivers? I had modified a 4 to 1 switch by reversing certain components but I found that there was a little attenuation.
I use a lnb with two outputs, one towards my main sf8008 the other towards the receiver to be tested

That's not a bad idea. I have a spare coax dangling by the dish, which was meant to drive the LNB changer but never got around to it.

I've tried passive splitters but the loss was too much. Not tried active ones so ordered one from flea Bay like John's.

 

[John]

>.. Not tried active ones so ordered one from flea Bay like John's. ..<
You did well to find one CJ, there a bit like rocking horse shIte to find them these days with F connectors ... the Global 8 way Active ones with F connectors are even worse to find.
The company seem to focus on the 'Professional' range now with the N connectors and are not cheap

 

[scopus]

I use a Technisat gigabyte system..basically a powered diseqc/multiswitch. Ku, Ka and CBand pass through it. Allows for a 100m run to receivers ideal for me as the dish is way down the garden. Allows various receivers to run low/high V or H without any unplugging. No noticeable loss..

 

[Channel Hopper]

what you want is an LNB output to several receivers? I had modified a 4 to 1 switch by reversing certain components but I found that there was a little attenuation.
I use a lnb with two outputs, one towards my main sf8008 the other towards the receiver to be tested

Yes, some of the better brands of dual/quad LNB have decent track design and switching components inside. The Fracarro branded twin I am currently using UX -TW has no perceptible difference between ports at any point on the 900-2200 line and performs slightly better than the Bullseye single LNB in the lower half of the band.

 

[Captain Jack]

I use a Technisat gigabyte system..basically a powered diseqc/multiswitch. Ku, Ka and CBand pass through it. Allows for a 100m run to receivers ideal for me as the dish is way down the garden. Allows various receivers to run low/high V or H without any unplugging. No noticeable loss..
View attachment 151657

I have cable envy looking at that. I assume you can use it with standard universal LNBs without having a quad with fixed bands on each port? I saw a few similar devices on fleaBay but wasn't sure whether they'd be suitable. Would be handy as my cable run is fairly long as well and be "LNB changer ready".

 

[SimonE]

I thought it might be useful to set out my way of splitting the IF to a number of receivers. My dish is a CM 1.2m on an H to H mount at waist height on a South facing patio. The cable length to the receivers is about 10m at most-WF100 I think. LNBs give out signal levels way in excess of receiver sensitivity. So no amps are needed here. Inside, the feed from the LNB goes initially into a two way splitter with one output dc isolated. That goes to my HD Ranger. The other output goes to a four way splitter with DC PASS. I then make sure I only have one receiver on at any one time. Its important to use splitters which at least go to 2.15Ghz[12.750-10.600] and mine are 5-2400mhz allowing reception of DATV from QO100.

 

[scopus]

I have cable envy looking at that. I assume you can use it with standard universal LNBs without having a quad with fixed bands on each port? I saw a few similar devices on fleaBay but wasn't sure whether they'd be suitable. Would be handy as my cable run is fairly long as well and be "LNB changer ready".

I use Quattro LNB's for Ku, so each port on the LNB has a different band/polarity..
C Band is a twin output type (V/H) on the low band inputs, and the Ka I use on the high band. (V/H) so for Ka band the receivers are set with 22Khz on the for the necessary switching at the multiswitch. So in other words C and Ka share the same diseqc port, in my case 3 or C. Some cheap good Quattro Ku LNB's now from the likes of Inverto/Technisat. The receivers use the Diseqc 1 protocol i.e ABCD or 1234 to control which LNB the receivers sees via the multiswitch..
All works well, no problems.

 

[Captain Jack]

Right that makes sense. I don't really have enough cables running back to the house, though as I am relocating rooms, this might a good opportunity to do so!

 

[Manikm909]

I use a Technisat gigabyte system..basically a powered diseqc/multiswitch. Ku, Ka and CBand pass through it. Allows for a 100m run to receivers ideal for me as the dish is way down the garden. Allows various receivers to run low/high V or H without any unplugging. No noticeable loss..
View attachment 151657

beautiful.