5 flats , 4 output single lnb

[Emjga]

Folks

Just moved in to a rental flat

There are 5 flats in the block
Single satellite dish with single LNB
There are 4 cables from the LNB

Each flat as 2 satellite feeds

I have humax freesat box

Connecting both satellite feeds to the humax
On setup it says only one cable found

I assume this is due to the fact the satellite dish /LNB has been somehow split ?

Is there anything I can do to get the humax to see both cables and record 2 programs at the same time ?

Thanks

Matthew

 

[Lazarus]

The LNB you describe is probably a Quattro, not a Quad. It will most likely feed a box of tricks called a Multiswitch in order to provision each user with two operational feeds.

It isn't beyond the bounds of possibility that someone has hijacked an extra feed .....

 

[Mickha]

It could be a new setup, for Sky Q receivers, which require 2 different cables, from the LNB.

 

[Lazarus]

Good point.

Any chance of a piccy of the dish?

 

[Emjga]

Good point.

Any chance of a piccy of the dish?

Sure 3 photos note sure they help

 

[Terryl]

Thats not a very professional install, letting the coax hang from the LNB like that could cause some problems, it should be strapped down to the LNB mounting arm, and then down the mast.

If thats been like that for awile, the coax could have pulled loose from one or more connectors due to wind.

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thats not a very professional install, letting the coax hang from the LNB like that could cause some problems, it should be strapped down to the LNB mounting arm, and then down the mast.

If thats been like that for awile, the coax could have pulled loose from one or more connectors due to wind.

Unlikely, if you look at the cable running up - presumably - to a terrestrial aerial, it isn't tied to the pole either. Could be some pesky varmint has used all of it for nesting material.

Best guess is it is quad LNB, so the chances are it is an individual four port installation, and whoever was last to connect up has lost out. The installer has failed to pull down the connector cap to stop the corrosion so he might be back sooner rather than later.

Can you see any earthing straps from what is up on the roof to the main metal areas somewhere in the building, it usually has green/yellow sleeving.

 

[william-1]

Looks like the dish elevation is set too high as well besides the rest of the issues mentioned in this thread,
No self-respecting installer would leave a dish set up like this,
Definitely a cowboy install I hope you get it sorted soon.

 

[Emjga]

Folks

As a tenant there is very little I can do about the dish and its installation

At the end of the day I do get 2 satellite feeds
It does not matter which one I select both give the same channels.
However the humax freesat will only record one channel not two at the same time

I suspect the issue is down to the multiplex unit but again as a tenant there is very little I can do and not sure the agent / maintenance company will take any notice of the possible installation issues.
Unless I can show there is a fault ?

 

[PaulR]

Have you done a fresh installation of the Humax? It's possible, if you haven't, that it was previously set up for a single feed and is just carrying on thinking that's the case.

By fresh install I don't mean just scan for new channels. A fresh install will ask for a postcode so that the box can be regionalised.

 

[Emjga]

Have you done a fresh installation of the Humax? It's possible, if you haven't, that it was previously set up for a single feed and is just carrying on thinking that's the case.

By fresh install I don't mean just scan for new channels. A fresh install will ask for a postcode so that the box can be regionalised.

Indeed done a factory reset but only one cable found

I took the unit to a friend's house who has same box but two feeds from a LNB
My box picked up two cables

Back to my flat , factory reset and again only one cable found

 

[PaulR]

Take it to your friend's again and get it to recognise the two inputs and then just plug it in at your flat and see if it works properly.

 

[PaulR]

What about the cables between the Humax and the wall plate? Or do you have long cables coming out of the wall?

 

[Emjga]

Take it to your friend's again and get it to recognise the two inputs and then just plug it in at your flat and see if it works properly.

Tried that , still no joy
The only difference is that the epg would allow you to record both programs but the second one would fail

 

[Emjga]

What about the cables between the Humax and the wall plate? Or do you have long cables coming out of the wall?

Brand new twin shotgun type cable
From the wall plate to the humax

There is small possibility it could be cable but does not see to make any difference if I switch the cables around from the wall , still get freesat on both cables.

 

[Lazarus]

I wonder if the two cables are connected to a splitter somewhere back along the chain?

That would be

a. Consistent with the behaviour you describe

and

b. Be consistent with the general crapness of the installation

 

[Emjga]

I wonder if the two cables are connected to a splitter somewhere back along the chain?

That would be

a. Consistent with the behaviour you describe

and

b. Be consistent with the general crapness of the installation

I suspect this is the case
As there are only 4 cables from the LNB
Each of the 5 flats has 2 satellite ports on a wall plate

So logical there must be a splitter/ multiplex unit of some sort

Would a more modem unit like a Vu Duo cope better with this ?

 

[Lazarus]

Would a more modem unit like a Vu Duo cope better with this ?

No. Each tuner needs to independently control a feed to select the desired polarisation and band for their selected channels. If there is a single split feed then that cannot happen.

 

[Emjga]

No. Each tuner needs to independently control a feed to select the desired polarisation and band for their selected channels. If there is a single split feed then that cannot happen.

Thanks

That is what I suspect is the case
Time for a talk with the agency

 

[Channel Hopper]

Thanks

That is what I suspect is the case
Time for a talk with the agency

Before you do that, what is the terrestrial reception like ?