LNB switch box - Techwatch: Satellite TV forums, FTA, Cable, Hardware, & Tech forums

dardruba · 07-01-07, 01:23 AM

If I get a new modern fixed dish with 3 LNB's is there a LNB Switch box which will take the FTA signal from all three and split it via the two existing cables, to the PC upstairs and to the TV downstairs, so that two users can both scan the available channels at the same time.
Or do you have some other way to do this?

And, would I need to buy 3 dual output new LNB's.

nanochickin · 07-01-07, 01:34 AM

I would say you need three dual output lnbs and Two 4 way DISEqC switches :?

As far as i am aware you cannot scan from two receivers at the same time from one single lnb. If one receiver is trying to scan on Horizontal polorization and the other is trying to scan vertical polorization at the same time its not going to happen

In my opinion you will need 3 dual output lnbs, two seperate DISEqC switches and 2 seperate cable runs to acheive this. :?

I may be wrong on this one but to be honest i'm pretty sure that is the only way to do it

BGonaSTICK · 07-01-07, 12:15 PM

Yes, Nano has it spot on.

dardruba · 08-01-07, 06:05 PM

When I said 'so that two users can both scan the available channels at the same time' I was thinking of the
friend doing the dish install for me and his son when doing the setup together.
In use there will only be me either on one receiver or the other. Sorry for the misleading remark.
Mike

nanochickin · 08-01-07, 07:00 PM

Use an A-B switch box. They sell them at maplins for about £7

_http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=MY03D&DOY=8m1

They are bi-directional so it should work ok.

dardruba · 09-01-07, 01:01 AM

Sorry Nano, dont understand. Where would that switch go in my proposed arrangement?
Are you suggesting this for the initial install and setup, that I mentioned, or for regular use.
Both receivers will have their own power supply and I could be using one receiver SS2 in the PC (on any of the 3 sats) and recording off the other, a new Technomate hopefully (also on any of the 3 sats).

The 'inner' output from 3 LNB's would go into a box and the single output cable would go to the SS2 in the PC.
The 'outer' output from the LNB's would go into another box and the single output cable to go downstairs.
Is there a potential problem with the diseqc switching on those two boxes?

I presume these boxes would be mounted on the wall behind the dish, are they weatherproof?
Mike

nanochickin · 09-01-07, 01:10 AM

You have the 3 outputs (1 from each lnb) going into your 4 way DISEqC switch. The output from the DISEqC switch then goes into the A-B switch with one wire going to one receiver one going to the other

When one receiver is in use you press the A switch. When the other receiver is in use you press the B Switch

This allows you to split the signal to one receiver or the other but not at the same time

The only way to do it is by having 3 dual lnbs, 2 DISEqC Switches and 2 cable runs.

Its one way or the other

dardruba · 09-01-07, 01:47 AM

Oh Boy. We have a misunderstanding, have I complicated things here?
I dont want to switch between the two single tuner receivers, as in your diagram, which are in different locations and fed by different cables.

Your first post said I could have 3 twinLNB's giving 6 lnb outputs, 3 going into one disecq switch and on to one receiver. Plus 3 into another diseqc switch and on to a second receiver.

BGonaSTICK · 09-01-07, 03:57 AM

I think Nano is saying that you can go one of two ways.

Either 3 x twins, one half of each going via a 4-way DiSEqC switch along its own cable to each receiver (as you correctly described)

OR

If you only ever want to use one receiver at a time, then you can forget the twin LNBs and go for three single LNBs feeding into a single 4-way DiSEqC switch. Once inside the house you can introduce an A/B switch as shown to isolate whichever receiver is not in use. You can't have both receivers connected simultaneously, as they would fight for control of the switch and LNBs.

This would allow both receivers to have complete control of the dish/DiSEqC switch/LNBs - but only one receiver at a time. Some switches may not allow the DiSEqC commands to pass, but the one that Nano has posted a link to most certainly does, because I use one in exactly the same way - to split between a Sky digibox and my SS2 card. The SS2 then goes into a DiSEqC motor.

I've attached a picture of my setup to show how it hangs together.

STICK

dardruba · 09-01-07, 05:12 PM

Now that makes sense, thank you.
Both my cable runs start at the dish and separate from there so that A/B switch would need to be next to the diseqc switch on the outer wall behind the dish, so I couldnt operate it manually.

So realistically if I go with my choice of 3 twin lnb's to 2 4way diseqc switches I must ensure that at any one time only one receiver is live and operating. Would that discipline be sufficient to avoid that fight for control that you described?

07-01-07, 01:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
dardruba Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 86 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	LNB switch box If I get a new modern fixed dish with 3 LNB's is there a LNB Switch box which will take the FTA signal from all three and split it via the two existing cables, to the PC upstairs and to the TV downstairs, so that two users can both scan the available channels at the same time. Or do you have some other way to do this? And, would I need to buy 3 dual output new LNB's.

07-01-07, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
nanochickin Satellite Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Today i'll be mostly cleaning up the forum Posts: 3,591 Thanks: 16 Thanked 144 Times in 127 Posts	Re: LNB switch box I would say you need three dual output lnbs and Two 4 way DISEqC switches :? As far as i am aware you cannot scan from two receivers at the same time from one single lnb. If one receiver is trying to scan on Horizontal polorization and the other is trying to scan vertical polorization at the same time its not going to happen In my opinion you will need 3 dual output lnbs, two seperate DISEqC switches and 2 seperate cable runs to acheive this. :? I may be wrong on this one but to be honest i'm pretty sure that is the only way to do it __________________ Dreambox 7020Si, 1m Orbital Dish, Triax Quad 0.2dB lnb, Technomate SG2200 Motor. Dreambox 600PVR & Technomate TM9100 Super I'm a Sat mod I know knob all about cable. Please don't PM me to ask about cable Keys

07-01-07, 12:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Super Murderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 10,633 Thanks: 3 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Re: LNB switch box Yes, Nano has it spot on. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

08-01-07, 06:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
dardruba Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 86 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: LNB switch box When I said 'so that two users can both scan the available channels at the same time' I was thinking of the friend doing the dish install for me and his son when doing the setup together. In use there will only be me either on one receiver or the other. Sorry for the misleading remark. Mike

08-01-07, 07:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
nanochickin Satellite Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Today i'll be mostly cleaning up the forum Posts: 3,591 Thanks: 16 Thanked 144 Times in 127 Posts	Re: LNB switch box Use an A-B switch box. They sell them at maplins for about £7 _http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=MY03D&DOY=8m1 They are bi-directional so it should work ok. __________________ Dreambox 7020Si, 1m Orbital Dish, Triax Quad 0.2dB lnb, Technomate SG2200 Motor. Dreambox 600PVR & Technomate TM9100 Super I'm a Sat mod I know knob all about cable. Please don't PM me to ask about cable Keys


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09-01-07, 01:01 AM	#6 (permalink)
dardruba Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 86 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: LNB switch box Sorry Nano, dont understand. Where would that switch go in my proposed arrangement? Are you suggesting this for the initial install and setup, that I mentioned, or for regular use. Both receivers will have their own power supply and I could be using one receiver SS2 in the PC (on any of the 3 sats) and recording off the other, a new Technomate hopefully (also on any of the 3 sats). The 'inner' output from 3 LNB's would go into a box and the single output cable would go to the SS2 in the PC. The 'outer' output from the LNB's would go into another box and the single output cable to go downstairs. Is there a potential problem with the diseqc switching on those two boxes? I presume these boxes would be mounted on the wall behind the dish, are they weatherproof? Mike

09-01-07, 01:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
nanochickin Satellite Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Today i'll be mostly cleaning up the forum Posts: 3,591 Thanks: 16 Thanked 144 Times in 127 Posts	Re: LNB switch box You have the 3 outputs (1 from each lnb) going into your 4 way DISEqC switch. The output from the DISEqC switch then goes into the A-B switch with one wire going to one receiver one going to the other When one receiver is in use you press the A switch. When the other receiver is in use you press the B Switch This allows you to split the signal to one receiver or the other but not at the same time The only way to do it is by having 3 dual lnbs, 2 DISEqC Switches and 2 cable runs. Its one way or the other __________________ Dreambox 7020Si, 1m Orbital Dish, Triax Quad 0.2dB lnb, Technomate SG2200 Motor. Dreambox 600PVR & Technomate TM9100 Super I'm a Sat mod I know knob all about cable. Please don't PM me to ask about cable Keys

09-01-07, 01:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
dardruba Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 86 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: LNB switch box Oh Boy. We have a misunderstanding, have I complicated things here? I dont want to switch between the two single tuner receivers, as in your diagram, which are in different locations and fed by different cables. Your first post said I could have 3 twinLNB's giving 6 lnb outputs, 3 going into one disecq switch and on to one receiver. Plus 3 into another diseqc switch and on to a second receiver.

09-01-07, 03:57 AM	#9 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Super Murderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 10,633 Thanks: 3 Thanked 64 Times in 37 Posts	Re: LNB switch box I think Nano is saying that you can go one of two ways. Either 3 x twins, one half of each going via a 4-way DiSEqC switch along its own cable to each receiver (as you correctly described) OR If you only ever want to use one receiver at a time, then you can forget the twin LNBs and go for three single LNBs feeding into a single 4-way DiSEqC switch. Once inside the house you can introduce an A/B switch as shown to isolate whichever receiver is not in use. You can't have both receivers connected simultaneously, as they would fight for control of the switch and LNBs. This would allow both receivers to have complete control of the dish/DiSEqC switch/LNBs - but only one receiver at a time. Some switches may not allow the DiSEqC commands to pass, but the one that Nano has posted a link to most certainly does, because I use one in exactly the same way - to split between a Sky digibox and my SS2 card. The SS2 then goes into a DiSEqC motor. I've attached a picture of my setup to show how it hangs together. STICK __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

09-01-07, 05:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
dardruba Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 86 Thanks: 3 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: LNB switch box Now that makes sense, thank you. Both my cable runs start at the dish and separate from there so that A/B switch would need to be next to the diseqc switch on the outer wall behind the dish, so I couldnt operate it manually. So realistically if I go with my choice of 3 twin lnb's to 2 4way diseqc switches I must ensure that at any one time only one receiver is live and operating. Would that discipline be sufficient to avoid that fight for control that you described?