Sky+ HD and SCR LNB

D

DragonSat

Regular Member
My Satellite Setup
Sky+HD (DRX890C with 2TB Drive) connected to a boring basic sky dish
BFBS - Not yet connected
AFN - Not yet connected
Sky ITA - Not yet connected
My Location
York
Hi all,
Has anyone sucessfully used the SCR feature in the LNB menu.

I have tested with a Sky Italia HD LNB that has 1 universal (Alignment) and 1 SCR Quad output. Works fine with Sky Italia, so thought I would try this ona Sky UK box, so we can have + features with 1 cable

I am thinking the options are there in software, but hardware is missing.

If so, any brand of HD+ box has the SCR parts working.

Thanks

The reason for asking is a friend wanks Sky+HD but only has 1 cable with no option to install another. Can use stacker destacker, but expensive if SCR will work
 
I am wondering if this would work too.

My understanding is that UK Sky boxes are only designed to work with a normal LNB or this:
_http://www.globalinvacom.com/products/scr.php
which now seems to be unavailable and discontinued.

My understanding is also that a Sky Italia SCR is different to a normal SCR in so far as Sky Italia seem to use a special different setup.

From what I understand no-one in the UK is using a normal SCR with Sky UK. I don't know if the Sky italia SCR would work on a UK box and if so then why is no-one doing it?

It might be that the UK boxes are all set up for the global SCR only, and that it is in some way different to a normal SCR.

Can you test the UK sky box in Italy on an "Sky italy" SCR and a normal SCR?
 
Yes Ive tested Sky UK with an SCR bought here in Italy. Nothing at all. Also tested Sky Italia with SCR bought in the UK (Black Ultra Quad SCR) that works. I think maybe the Sky UK box although has the software to do SCR, it has no hardware for it. And required a different box for an SCR installation.
 
The BSkyB SCR capable receivers require a smart splitter, don't the Sky Italia boxes use standard Unicable?
 
rolfw said:
The BSkyB SCR capable receivers require a smart splitter, don't the Sky Italia boxes use standard Unicable?
Click to expand...

Well based on the above tests, it does seem Italian boxes have special software and they use standard SCR.

I have done some research on this and here are my findings (not tested on boxes)

Sky UK seems to be using a non standard SCR (I will call it bSkyB SCR) which is incompatable with any other system.

The reason they have done this is that is possibly because they wanted to upgrade apartments to work with SCR but ONLY with bSkyb's SCR so they could not be be used for Freesat. Basically it seems as if they wanted to create an incompatable systems for apartments.

In conjunction they created a system with global. This was a bit of a flop, and it is no longer available from them.

_http://www.globalinvacom.com/products/scr.php

This needs to be connected to a quattro LNB or a multiswitch.

The same unit is also available under the vision brand
_http://www.vision-products.co.uk/assets/products/datasheets/V70-400SCR.pdf

It seems to be for sale here: , which gives an idea of the price. Note the discounted price, seems to not be a big seller. (UK£99)

_http://www.satelliteandaerialsupplies.com/product/?s=vision-v70-400-scra-single-cable-router-adaptor-clearance-price

However two crowds have recently created a universal SCR that does not only bSkyb's but other standards too. This would be much better for apartment blocks, as Freesat boxes may work too. (assuming they have SCR option)

_http://teldis.co.uk/Satellite-Channel-Router-Multiswitches/scr583-satellite-channel-router-5-wire-cascade-8-user-ports-legacy-or-scr
It specifically mentions Sky's propriatory SCR protocol.

_http://www.johansson.be/en/products/mdu/dst/ms/9742.html

This product seems to have just been launched (some suppliers do not even have it yet)

One place has it at £400

No-one seems to be making an SCR LNB that is compatable with the bSkyb protocol. More worrying is that neither johansson nor teldis sell LNB's so it is less likely they will come up with an LNB version in the future.

However the good news is there is a better solution for apartments, which is fairly reasonable, considers the problems in recabling old apartments.

More interesting is that it seems as if Sky UK may be making a change to their box to allow standards SCRs

_http://www.satellitesuperstore.com/advice-page-2.htm

"Update 30th March 12. We understand Sky TV is now putting
unicable software into Sky Digiboxes / Sky + HD."

I would caution against waiting for this. I checked my box the other day and no new option has appeared yet. Also their SCR LNB may be bSkyb protocol only and way overpriced to begin with.

I would prefer open standards, but Sky has always tried to use closed standards to create a monopoly and kill competition.

Moderation Note

Please remember - no live links to outside sites. Forum Rules.
 
Good afternoon. I have just joined your forum and would like to ask the following question: I live in the UK and have had Italian Sky HD for several years, utilising my family address in Italy.

I have requested an upgrade to Mysky HD and will get a new box installed this week end. I have been reading on various sites recently regarding the LNBs used by Sky Italia being different to the ones used here. When I come back and install the box here, what LNB can I use? Universal twin or SCR? If the latter, what are the advantages/differences between them and an equivalent 'Sky UK' Lnb.

Many thanks for any advice you can give me.
 
Sky Italia use Open Source SCR. Such as the Black Ultra Quad SCR. I have installed many of these and all work perfectly with Sky Italia.

If your having your box upgraded in Italy, and Sky come and do it, they will excangel the LNB as part of the job. Just ship the Box and LNB from Italy back to you in the UK.

Once you have the parcel, simply swap the LNB you have now and replace it with the SCR.

Go in the the setup of the decoder and set SCR as the LNB type, if its the 1st time ever done, you will need to manually set the ports, 1 and 2 seem the norm.

If you cant get at the new LNB or they just post you the decoder, this LNB works fine

h**p://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Inverto-Unicable-Quad-LNB-SCR-Single-Cable-Router-4-Satellite-Feeds-One-Cable-/280863315681?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Satellite_LNBs&hash=item4164c216e1

If you already have 2 cables from the dish to the decoder, a regulat Universal Twin will work fine. Just set the LNB type to Universal
 
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