If what you are referring to is a distribution multi switch its basically 5 inputs and 8 Outputs. I assume by active or passive you mean amplified or non amplified.
Inputs
1 x Terrestrial ( UHF-DVB-T /FM/DAB ) - (ATSC in Canada instead of DVB-T)
1 x DVB-S Vertical Low
1 x DVB-S Vertical High
1 x DVB-S Horizontal Low
1 x DVB-S Horizontal High
Outputs
8 Satellite feeds with the terrestrial signal combined to each feed which can be de-combined using a sat/Tv wall plate.
As there is no Circular polarity signals broadcast into Europe i am not 100% sure how well a linear polarity multiswitch would work with a multi switch as i have never tried, although i hope to in the not to distant future. I should imagine the switch will see the L/H and R/H signal as it would a vertical or horizontal signal. I shouldn't imagine any issues with North Americas DSS satellite standard either.
The switch will basically act like an LNB. The receiver will not know any difference, as far as its concerned it is connected to an lnb.
As for what you need is a difficult one without more info. A lot of the time it is dependent on the power of the original signal from the dish and aerial signal and how far the run is from the switch to the receiver as to whether it needs amplifying or not. Too strong a signal can cause just as many issues as a weak signal.
You also need to know if you can get away with a receiver powered switch like the Triax TMPR 5x8 which takes its power from the satellite receivers connected to it or whether you need a switch that has its own individual power source like a Triax TMP 5x8
Nano