Wanted 5 in 8 out multiswitch

PaulR

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My little used (about 8 months or so) Labgear MS581E multiswitch has stopped passing terrestrial signals through. It may have been installed recently but I bought it quite some years ago and so it's way out of warranty and Labgear do not offer any repairs (I asked) so I need a replacement.

Before venturing into Ebayworld I thought I'd ask in case someone has one to sell. It doesn't have to be Labgear but it does need to have (or come with) a power supply and the terrestrial signal has to be amplified, not just passed through.

Anyone?
 

jeallen01

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Not an offer but you might want to check out the stuff from EMP-Centauri because they have some good kit - but do check my posts about their "alternative" ebay seller name (will clarify tomorrow!) which has lower prices than you will find on the main EMP-Centauri website.

PS: best to buy before Brexit - when/if that happens - if you buy from your GB location! :D
 

PaulR

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I've used their stuff before in the past (from their alternative supplier as I think I posted in your thread), including a 9-in 8-out multiswitch a few years ago. The problem was that the terrestrial input wasn't amplified and I had to buy a separate amplifier to boost the terrestrial signal enough for the 8 outputs. At the time it wasn't very expensive but I enquired again at the beginning of this year for another and this one item had gone up to silly money.
 

rolfw

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jeallen01

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I've used their stuff before in the past (from their alternative supplier as I think I posted in your thread), including a 9-in 8-out multiswitch a few years ago. The problem was that the terrestrial input wasn't amplified and I had to buy a separate amplifier to boost the terrestrial signal enough for the 8 outputs. At the time it wasn't very expensive but I enquired again at the beginning of this year for another and this one item had gone up to silly money.
EMP-Centauri's "alter ego" seller's name is "sattvnoone" and the products are here Items for sale by sattvnoone | eBay
When I bought the 16-1 switch last Xmas, it was substantially cheaper from there than it was directly from the EMP-Centauri website.
 

PaulR

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John - I looked at sattvnoone's page to start off with but neither of their 5x8 multiswitches amplify the terrestrial signal which is, as I said to start of with, a prime requirement.

Rolf - thanks for that but those are a touch on the expensive side for me!
 

jeallen01

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@PaulR

Would there not be an option to add an pre-amp to the terrestrial feed before it goes into the switch?
 

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I had this one recently from Amazon, good quality even comes with screw on F connectors and Edision Quatttro LNB. Only use it for satellite, so can't comment on the terrestrial gain.
the satellite side is excellent though...

 

PaulR

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Would there not be an option to add an pre-amp to the terrestrial feed before it goes into the switch?
Yes but as I said they had increased the price to silly money.

I bought a preamplifier A2/2PCU-15dB from them in late 2016 and it cost 7,43€. The quote from them in December 2018 was 23,40€.
 

PaulR

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@scopus

The Amazon item includes things (F plugs, LNB ) that I don't need and is also relatively expensive as a result. Crucially, however, there is no information about gain on the terrestrial signal - or the satellite one come to that.

Thanks anyway. I think I've found what I want on the bay of Evil.
 

PaulR

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Went for this one in the end.


I managed to bargain him down by £6 as well.
 

rolfw

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That one doesn't have terrestrial amplification though Paul, just attenuation.
 

PaulR

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Are you sure? The second photograph shows a label saying Input Gain Control of 15dB for terrestrial (10dB for satellite).
 

rolfw

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Are you sure? The second photograph shows a label saying Input Gain Control of 15dB for terrestrial (10dB for satellite).
Yes, insertion loss is the one which gives you the gain or loss figure, you then have variable attenuation for both satellite and terrestrial signal inputs, it ought to read variable attenuation and is often required when fed by a 5 wire amplifier.

Having said that, you got it so cheaply that you can afford to pay £15 for a reasonable masthead amp which can be powered by the multiswitch, so no separate PSU required, don't touch the Philex ones, they're crap, the Labgear at £14.95 is of acceptable quality.:)
 
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Channel Hopper

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I - might - have a Delta eight way jobbie or two in the shed. They are used (taken from site after three months to update to 16 ways), though I will have to check on the terrestrial gain specification.
 

PaulR

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Multswitch has just arrived.

I'm not yet convinced that there's no amplification on the terrestrial signal.
 

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Channel Hopper

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The specifications do mention '15dB terrestrial gain control', not 15dB gain above input.

You can test by connecting your average TV signal through it when powered and with the trimmer set to maximum, and include a 12-16 dB attenuator on the input of the TV, see if you get the same level of signal on a channel search
 
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