Self builder needs advice (newbie)

Pete- · 07-03-2009

Hi All

Some great posts here! I need to pick your massive brains. Just redone my place top to bottom. Got the following in:

1 normal Sky dish on end of house with 4 port LNB.
Taken 4 coaxial cables (CT100 i think) from LNB to plant room.
Got new digitial aerial on end of house with a CT100 (i think cable) going back to plant room.

From Plant room i have run in 2 coaxial cables to each room terminating to a single 1 gang face plate, with a F-type termination on cable 1 and one normal aerial push connection termination on cable 2.

My thoughts were to send Sky to the f-type termination and freeview to the other.

Questions:
1. The run from the end of house to plant room is about 21meters, will i need a maskhead booster of some kind for the digital aerial and can someone recomend one?
2. Whats the best bit of kit to distribute the free view round the house?
3. I was planning to have separate sky recievers in up to 4 rooms (as i only have a 4 port LNB), is that the best way to go? Or welcome any other thoughts?

The plant room has power and room for distribution kit.
The maximum run from plant room to other rooms is again about 25 meters.

Thanks Pete

**Robbo** · 07-03-2009

I think a multi-switch would be better in your situation, coupled to a quattro LNB. With a launch amp for the multiswitch, you will be able to distribute the terrestrial signal as well, as multiswitches have a terrestrial input. Also with this solution,youw would not be limited to 4 satellite tuners.

One of the guys who does IRS installations will be able to advise further.

Pete- · 07-03-2009

Hi Robbo, Thanks for the reply, not heard of a multiswitch before but doing a bit of web reading i see a 5in and 8 out would be good. From what i have just read the switch takes in the 4 LNB ports and 1 digital aerial feed and puts all that down one coaxial cable to a face plate that i presume has 3 connection pooints? Is that right?

Thanks Pete

**satelliteman** · 07-03-2009

I can help with some info.

The diplexed outlet plate will act as a filter to give UHF & Sat received from the single downlead.

Use a 60cm dish with quattro LNb. Anything up to 30mts using an eight way switch, and no amplification should be needed for the satellite.

UHF pre-amplication will depend on what is being received off-air. There won't be any amplification for UHf signals on the switch and if needed a pre-amplifer can be fitted; the switch will power it. Although it will possibly be an active switch your be using; there won't be much gain for uhf or 'IF'.

**Robbo** · 07-03-2009

Just in case you missed it,

SM said a quattro LNB, this is different to a quad LNB. Both have four outputs, but the quattro is for multiswitches, the quad is for feeding straight to receivers. ( some multiswitches can accept quads though, but most don't).

Pete- · 08-03-2009

Hi, Thanks again Robbo i had missed the difference between the two devices.

With the multiswitch option do i still need multiple receivers for the sky TV's?

Will do some more reading later today to try and find out.

Thanks again guys

Pete

**Robbo** · 08-03-2009

Yes the required number of satellite receivers is unchanged. The multi-switch is just a convenient way of distributing both satellite IF and a terrestrial aerial feed to multiple locations.

**satelliteman** · 08-03-2009

The receivers will work independently. This is acheived by using a multiswitch and distributing the satellite at it's Intermediate frequency (IF)

Pete- · 08-03-2009

Hi Gents, Thanks for your help with this, i think i am getting there, just check me on the below please:

I would need,
1 Quatro LNB (that fits to a sky minidish)
2 (possible) 5in 5out IF amp to help the signals get to the multiswitch, as i said the run is about 25 meters dish to multiswitch.
3 Multiswitch 5in 8out - this will then send the combined sky, digital TV and if i add it DAB, FM radio down 1 cable to the rooms.

Do i require a special front plate or will normal f-type terminations do? and i take it that whatever i plug in the front plate it will have access to all of the services?

Would i need the 5in 5 out amp?

Looking at the cost of all these bits is my other option:
Get a cheap distribution device to send the digital TV sginal to all rooms via 1 cable. The use the 4 ports on the quad LNB to supply the rooms i want with sky on the other cable to the rooms?

What are your thoughts guys?

Thanks again Pete

**satelliteman** · 08-03-2009

Originally Posted by Pete-

Looking at the cost of all these bits is my other option:
Get a cheap distribution device to send the digital TV sginal to all rooms via 1 cable. The use the 4 ports on the quad LNB to supply the rooms i want with sky on the other cable to the rooms?

This would be the simplest option

Originally Posted by Pete-

I would need,
1 Quatro LNB (that fits to a sky minidish)
2 (possible) 5in 5out IF amp to help the signals get to the multiswitch, as i said the run is about 25 meters dish to multiswitch.
3 Multiswitch 5in 8out - this will then send the combined sky, digital TV and if i add it DAB, FM radio down 1 cable to the rooms.
Do i require a special front plate or will normal f-type terminations do? and i take it that whatever i plug in the front plate it will have access to all of the services?

Would i need the 5in 5 out amp?

1, Don't use a mindish for a multiswitch for one, you won't get a quattro LNb for it and two due to the added noise a switch produces, a larger dish is required for better CNR.

2, With the correct size dish, 25Mts is fine without pre-amplification for an 8 way multiswitch as there will be typically only around 2dB loss on satellite.

3,You need a triplex plate to deliver TV, Sat and FM/DAB.

SM

Pete- · 08-03-2009

Hi SM, Thanks again for the feedback,

I think for now i will do the simple option, but it good to know where i can go in the future.

One thing for interest i did find a quatro LNB that goes on a sky minidish - its called a "Titanium 0.2dB Quatro LNB with Sky mini dish fitting". Not sure what you think of these?

One last thing if i may, for the distribution of the digital TV signal to about 8 rooms whats the sort of kit i would need?

Thanks again Pete

**Robbo** · 08-03-2009

Any LNB with the right adapter can be made to fit the minidish, including the Smart Titaniums, however the feedhorn won't be matched for the dish.

Running a SINGLE sat cable to each of the 4 rooms will be a BIG mistake. You might want a twin tuner PVR in one, or Sky+.

While you're at it, you might as well run two sat cables to each room, even if you leave one of them curled up in the back box.

storm_seeker · 05-05-2009

elo. rather then start a new post, i'd thought i'd ask in this 1st as it related. i'm quite new to satellite installing.

i'm i thinking of using a multiswitch, the plan is to use terrestrial/freeview at the moment. wait for freesat DVR prices to come down and/or get a freesat intergrated tv, and freesat boxes for other rooms as we upgrade over time.
i'll put two cables in the living room (for DVR) and one to every other room.

from what i've read, it sends both satellite and terrestrial signals down the line.

i've read above about using a triplex plate to seperate the signal. but i've read elsewhere that the receiver sends commands to the multiswitch, which connects it to the most appropriate signal it requires.

so, do i need a triplex plate, will it just improve the signal quality, or do i not need one? or am i completely way off the mark mis-understanding everything including life itself!?

reguards
Rob

**PaulR** · 05-05-2009

Originally Posted by storm_seeker

i'm i thinking of using a multiswitch, the plan is to use terrestrial/freeview at the moment. wait for freesat DVR prices to come down and/or get a freesat intergrated tv, and freesat boxes for other rooms as we upgrade over time.

i'll put two cables in the living room (for DVR) and one to every other room.

from what i've read, it sends both satellite and terrestrial signals down the line.

i've read above about using a triplex plate to seperate the signal. but i've read elsewhere that the receiver sends commands to the multiswitch, which connects it to the most appropriate signal it requires.

so, do i need a triplex plate, will it just improve the signal quality, or do i not need one?

The multiswitch will have 4 inputs for the four connections to a quattro LNB (Note: not a quad LNB) and 1 input for terrestrial TV. The terrestrial TV input can also accept FM and DAB signals if you have aerials for them although you will need a combiner.

These signals are all combined together and avaialble on the outputs (either 4, 8, 12, 16 or even more). You can acually use an output from a multiswitch straight into a TV, FM radio, DAB radio or satellite receiver. The triplexer simply separates the signals out so that they are available for 3 different appliances.

Incidentally you will need a quadplexer for your living room - this is simply a tripleser with an extra ouput for your second downlead.

The satellite receiver doesn't send signals to the multiswitch as such. The 4 different outputs of the Quad LNB (low horizontal, high horizontal, low vertical, high vertical) are selected by voltage (14v or 17v) and absence or presence of a 22kHz signal. All these go "through" the triplexer without problem.

You may have read about something called DiSecQ which IS a signalling system. The 22kHz signal is modified to control moveable dishes or multiple satellite LNBs so that you can receive programmes from more than satellite. This isn't really relevant for the setup you have in mind but there are multiswitches available whch can use Disecq for two Quad LNBs for two satellites! Something for the future perhaps.

storm_seeker · 06-05-2009

thankyou for the reply.

i think i'm with you...

i COULD just put a regular coax plate on and change it to an f-socket plate when i get freesat tv/box OR i could use a tripleser/quadplexer and utilise the connections as and when i need them without having to change the plate - this option seems more logical. AND it will look more complicated/professional, thus impressing the gf and anyone else who looks at it with 'mi genius'

cheers mate.

**PaulR** · 06-05-2009

Yup, think you've got it.

It's triplexer BTW, sorry for my mispelling.

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Self builder needs advice (newbie) This section is for discussion on domestic multi-receiver systems for distribution of both terrestrial and satellite signals. Multiswitch, diplexer, triplexer, earct bonding, smart Priority switch, signal splitter, SCART doubler, video sender, remote extender, etc.

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