Sky and multiswitch problem

Bacon2002

Hi,

I was hoping someone could help shed some light on a problem I'm having with a multiswitch set up:-

Chess CMS - 9/8 multiswitch (from the DVB shop)
2 Satellite dishes both with universal Platinum edition 0.2db Quattro LNBs (Triax dishes, LNBs from the DVB shop)
Sky+ box
Sky box
2 x PCs with Satellite TV Cards

The disk aligned to Astra is the connected to the first set of Satellite inputs on the multiswitch so that the sky boxes can access the correct satellite.

The Astra dish appears to be lined up correctly, it works fine when tested without the multiswitch and with a quad LNB on the sky boxes.

My problem starts when I use the Quattro LNB and multiswitch connected to the Astra aligned dish and sky boxes. The sky boxes do not show any signal unless I turn off the 22khz option (from within the sky box options).

When the 22khz option is turned off the sky boxes work fine with some channels although other channels have no signal (Ch 4, Sky 1 etc show as no satellite signal although BBC1 BBC2, ITV, Ch5 work fine).

Have I set this up wrongly or used the wrong stuff, is it possible the LNB is faulty? I have not swapped the Quattro LNBs around to check if the fault is on the LNB.

Is it possible the Multiswitch is not compatible with Sky boxes?

Any help would be greatfully received.

Many thanks,

David

rolfw

The first question is are you sure that you have the Ports connected correctly, so that H/H is to H/H etc?

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Bacon2002

Hi,
I checked the ports (using a DMM) and then double checked again.
Thanks,
David

rolfw

A Digital Multimeter, did you short them one at a time to identify each one, or connect them one at a time and check for voltage?

The only difference between a Sky digibox and a standard receiver is the lack of DiseqC, does the standard box work on all of the Sky channels (the Free To Air ones)?

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Bacon2002

Hi,
I checked the outputs by connecting them one at a time and checking for resistance on each one. Is it possible this could have damaged the LNB?
The other (non sky) dish and LNB (also Quattro) works fine when connected to a PC (with Satellite card) and pointed at Astra. That is to say the PC can pick up Sky 1, Ch 4 etc.
For information I followed the same process for checking both LNB ports.
Hope this helps,
Thanks,
David

Bacon2002

Hi,
I do not have a non sky satellite box other than the PCs so I can not check other than with the PC and Satellite card set up.
Thanks,
David

andyw37

Same as Rolf, can you confirm if you have checked each port with a satellite meter for quality?

ie Low Band Vertical
High Band Vertical
Low BAnd Horizontal
High BAnd Horizontal

If you have a meter and all is OK at LNB end, then the switch looks to be at fault.

If you do not have a meter to read C/N or BER then bypass the switch ( like you did with the quad) and run a cable from the High Band Outputs of the LNB ( should be marked as V/H & H/H or by leaflet )to a receiver.

On that receiver put the digibox menu as it should be ( ie 22khz switch on ) then:
select SKY NEWS - this is a Vertical HIGH BAND
make sure cable from dish is on V/H out, if you get pictures LNB V/H is OK.

then

swap cable over to H/H then select:
CHANNEL 5 - this is a HORIZONTAL HIGH BAND, again if you get pictures LNB is OK.

If pictures are non existent then the LNB is at fault.( The dialectric resistor is not reading the 22khz switch )

My money is on the lnb. PS get a cheap meter.

rolfw

What I mean is, when using DiseqC port A through the multiswitch, does the PC card obtain the FTA channels on Astra 2, or does that have problems as well?

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Bacon2002

Hi,

I have a satellite meter for aligning the dish, it has a needle and a dial for adjusting the meters sensativity (it also makes a high pitched noise) is this the type of meter you are referring to? I will check the VH and HH outputs tomorrow morning.

If I set the PC to the same DiseqC address (A) then the PC is able to receive Ch4 and the other freeview channels. This made me think that the problem was with the LNB so I swapped the two Quattro LNBs around but the sky box still had the same problem. Now I'm thinking that the LNBs are both OK but some how the PC is able to use this set up whilst the sky boxes are not?

Is it possible the Multiswitch or the LNB are not compatible with the Sky boxes?

Thanks,

David

Topper

Channels 4 and five are not freeview they are FTV thus require an NDS stb unless I am mistaken i.e. a Sky digibox

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Bacon2002

Hi,
That may well be correct however I use my PC with a CAM that is NDS compatible therefore when used with a valid sky card it works fine.
Does your comment have any bearing on my problem?
Thanks,
David

Bacon2002

Hi,

Is anyone is interested,

As it turns out the MultiSwitch is knackered.

Cheers,

David

rolfw

Thanks for keeping us up to date David, was one of those problems which could have had several causes. Glad you got it sorted.

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