Advice on what to get (4 Sat setup)

[derchris]

Hi,

our current setup is a Sky minidish, connecting 3 receivers in the house.
We want to change this to a much bigger setup.
Here is what we've planned:

Replace the existing dish with a 80cm one.
Satellites it should receive are:
Eurobird 9A 9'
Hot Bird 13'
Astra 19'2
Sky

These 4 Satellites should all be available from all 3 receivers.
Now, I think I need a Quadro LNB, and a Multiswitch with at least 12in/3out, and some kind of MultiLNB bracket for the dish.

Is this correct, or am I totally off ?

Thanks in advance,
Christian

 

[satelliteman]

Welcome,

Given you only have 3 receivers, quad LNb's can be used with DiSEqC switches to give you reception of each feed on any receiver. The Triax dish coupled with an offset bracket should be upto the job.

 

[derchris]

Thanks satelliteman,

I heard that I would be better off with a quadro LNB, as they split lo/hi signals, and then use a multiswitch to distribute these signals to the receivers.

Is there a difference between such multiswitch and a diseqc switch?

So 80cm dish would be ok for that, or too small?

 

[Huevos]

Thanks satelliteman,

I heard that I would be better off with a quadro LNB, as they split lo/hi signals, and then use a multiswitch to distribute these signals to the receivers.

Is there a difference between such multiswitch and a diseqc switch?

So 80cm dish would be ok for that, or too small?

For three or four receivers use a quad for each satellite position. For more than four receivers use a quattro and a multiswitch. There are 8 outlet LNBs too but these are really quattros with multiswitches built in.

A diseqc switch is not the same as a multiswitch. A multiswitch is used to share a quattro LNB among multiple receivers.A diseqc switch is so several LNBs (positions) can feed one receiver.

In your case you would use a diseqc switch for each receiver and a quad LNB for each position. Each diseqc would be connected to one socket on each LNB and then one downlead would run to the receiver.

There are also multiswitches for multiple positions but they are pretty expensive. For your application you would need a 17/4 switch. See here.

 

[satelliteman]

What receivers are you using?

If you were to go multi-switch route (not recommended though), some 17 input switches default to quattro input 1 being an Astra28e feed.

 

[derchris]

Thanks so far,

we will use DM 800, 8000 and 7025 receivers.
There are currently 3 cable leads going from the current setup, which we don't want to change, and re-use them.

So, if I understood correctly, I need a 80-90cm dish, 4 quad LNBs, and 4 diseqc switches.
But how do I end up with said 3 cables running to the receivers?

Sorry if I ask these stupid questions, but it is the switch thing which I don't understand.

At the moment it looks like that I end up with 4 cables comming from the diseqc switch.
But that would mean I can only use Sat-A on Box-A, Sat-B on Box-B, ..
Am I wrong?

 

[Robbo]

Quad LNBs with Disec switches would be a far far cheaper solution, and should a switch fail, you'd only lose the signal to one receiver.

Diseqc switching is very simple.

Take one receiver as an example:-

4 satellites wanted, means 4 LNB outputs, feed these 4 ouputs into a 4-way diseqc switch, the output of which goes to the receiver.

The switch is normally put right near to the dish, as this reduces the necessary cable runs, but technically it go anywhere along the length, even at the back of the receiver.

 

[satelliteman]

Thanks so far,

we will use DM 800, 8000 and 7025 receivers.
There are currently 3 cable leads going from the current setup, which we don't want to change, and re-use them.

So, if I understood correctly, I need a 80-90cm dish, 4 quad LNBs, and 4 diseqc switches.
But how do I end up with said 3 cables running to the receivers?

Sorry if I ask these stupid questions, but it is the switch thing which I don't understand.

At the moment it looks like that I end up with 4 cables comming from the diseqc switch.
But that would mean I can only use Sat-A on Box-A, Sat-B on Box-B, ..
Am I wrong?

One cable to each receiver. LNb feeds go to the DiSEqC switch and the receiver will use DiSEqC 1.0 commands to select between satellites.

Have a little peep around the forum, plenty info

 

[Huevos]

Just a thought, if you will ever use twin tuner receivers like Sky+ or some PVR receivers you will need two down leads per receiver, so quad LNBs wouldn't be enough in that case. Better to think about this now than get caught later.

 

[derchris]

Thanks to all,

there is still something not clear for me.
I do understand that I need 4x Quad LNBs and 4x DiSEqC switch.
But how are the 4 DiSEqC switches connected?

Please have a look at this hifi diagram

LNB1 -> 4 cables into DiSEqC -> DiSEqC has one output -> ? 
LNB2 -> 4 cables into DiSEqC -> DiSEqC has one output -> ?
LNB3 -> 4 cables into DiSEqC -> DiSEqC has one output -> ?
LNB4 -> 4 cables into DiSEqC -> DiSEqC has one output -> ?

So far I end up with 4 outputs coming from each DiSEqC.
I somehow have to combine them into 1 signal, and distribute this via the 3 cables going to the receivers.

Do I need some kind of special DiSEqC switch, with 16in/3out ?

Sorry again

 

[Huevos]

how do I end up with said 3 cables running to the receivers?

Just for a minute imagine there is only 1 receiver:
1 receiver >> 1 down lead >> one 4:1 diseqc switch >> four single port LNBs
For 3 receivers that is:
3 receivers >> 3 down leads >> three 4:1 diseqc switches >> four quad port LNBs

The diseqc switch is located by the dish.

 

[derchris]

Ah, sorry, I think I understood now.
Each DiSEqC switch has a connection from EACH LNB.
I thought all 4 Quad connections are going into the same.
So I only need 3 DiSEqC switches, as I only have 3 receivers, correct?

 

[Robbo]

Yep, that is correct, just three diseqc switches needed.

 

[derchris]

Can anyone rate on the stuff I'm about to order:

1x WAVE FRONTIER 90CM TOROIDAL DISH
3x Octagon 4 in 1 DiSEqC Switch
4x ICECRYPT 0.1db Universal Quad LNB

Also, are there any shops who are selling ready made small lenght cables?
I would only need cables to connect the LNBs and DiSEqC switch, so most likely in the range of 50cm-1m.

 

[Huevos]

1x WAVE FRONTIER 90CM TOROIDAL DISH

That dish is bigger in width than 1 metre so is subject to planning permission.

 

[Robbo]

Can anyone rate on the stuff I'm about to order:

1x WAVE FRONTIER 90CM TOROIDAL DISH
3x Octagon 4 in 1 DiSEqC Switch
4x ICECRYPT 0.1db Universal Quad LNB

Also, are there any shops who are selling ready made small lenght cables?
I would only need cables to connect the LNBs and DiSEqC switch, so most likely in the range of 50cm-1m.

A Wave Frontier T90 is not necessary for those 4 sats, a Triax TD88 would do it, but the Wavefrontier would be better I think, if you are able to.


I have used th Octagon switches afew times, they seem OK, no probs yet.

If you can't be bothered to make the cables yourself, have a look on ebay, at least one of the forum sponsors (cdtronix I think) was selling short lengths on there.

 

[rolfw]

Well it's 8cm too wide, but less than a metre high, unlikely that it'd get checked, although there is the smallest of chances.

All of the equipment should do the job, best to make your own cables, very easy and generally better quality than pre-made leads.

 

[satelliteman]

Can anyone rate on the stuff I'm about to order:

1x WAVE FRONTIER 90CM TOROIDAL DISH
3x Octagon 4 in 1 DiSEqC Switch
4x ICECRYPT 0.1db Universal Quad LNB

Also, are there any shops who are selling ready made small lenght cables?
I would only need cables to connect the LNBs and DiSEqC switch, so most likely in the range of 50cm-1m.

Should get the satellites you require from a Triax dish with an offset bracket though.. saying that, the T90 is a high quality dish at an expense.

Better to buy a drum of cable and make the fly leads up cut to length.

 

[derchris]

Thanks for the advice.
I had a look for some parts the last few hours, and are now able to get a dish, 4 LNBs, 3 Diseqc and all cables for more then £120 cheaper.
And thats delivered from Germany.

I wasn't aware that the T90 requires planning permission.
Is that for all 90cm dishes?

At the moment I would stick with the stuff coming from Germany:

12x 50cm F-Plug coax
4x Smart Titanium Edition Quad TQS, 0,1dB
3x Switch Master DiSEqC Relais 4/1 - SDS 411, DiSEqC 2.0
1x Multifocus 90cm dish with multifeed included.

 

[rolfw]

I wasn't aware that the T90 requires planning permission.
Is that for all 90cm dishes?

It is dishes which have a dimension over 1m, the T90 is slightly wider than 1m.