Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

sugarbabe · 09-08-07, 01:23 PM

I have 2 Sky boxes and I've seen a cheap and easy way of utilising them are satellite splitters rather than 2 LNB's although I've read that you can only view channels on the same polarity, how do you find the polarity of certain channels? This may suffice me for the time being but are they any good? Maplins advertise 2 of them, one for £2.99 and one for £9.99 but they look the same, are there any differences between the two? How many of the F connector plugs would be required?
Any help would be gratefully appreciated, thank you.

Gav · 09-08-07, 01:32 PM

You could buy a 'QUAD LNB' from eBay for £10.

You simply take the exisiting LNB from your Sky Dish, and slide the new one on. You then have four individual outputs. This is a much better solution than the splitters, because 1, you can only view things of the same polarity and 2, the quality will be degraded.

sugarbabe · 09-08-07, 01:48 PM

Thanks Gav, I may try that, are they good quality and simple to fit as I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject?

Jimdefruit · 09-08-07, 02:16 PM

Definitely, the quad lnb is the way to go. It means that the two receivers are completely independent.

All you do is take out the existing lnb, fit the new lnb, connect the existing cable to one of the outputs on the new lnb, run a new cable from the lnb to the second receiver and away you go.

BGonaSTICK · 09-08-07, 06:30 PM

The splitters are a seriously bad idea >

They will more than halve the signal down each 'leg'.

sugarbabe · 10-08-07, 07:10 AM

Thanks lads, a twin LNB looks the way to go then.

Gav · 10-08-07, 08:44 AM

Twin LNBs for Sky Dishes are hard to find, as sky don't/rarely use them.

You want something like eBay item number: 180147045024 or 280141220012

sugarbabe · 10-08-07, 09:31 AM

Thanks Gav, looks just the job.

09-08-07, 01:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
sugarbabe Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? I have 2 Sky boxes and I've seen a cheap and easy way of utilising them are satellite splitters rather than 2 LNB's although I've read that you can only view channels on the same polarity, how do you find the polarity of certain channels? This may suffice me for the time being but are they any good? Maplins advertise 2 of them, one for £2.99 and one for £9.99 but they look the same, are there any differences between the two? How many of the F connector plugs would be required? Any help would be gratefully appreciated, thank you.

09-08-07, 01:32 PM	#2 (permalink)
Gav Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 542 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? You could buy a 'QUAD LNB' from eBay for £10. You simply take the exisiting LNB from your Sky Dish, and slide the new one on. You then have four individual outputs. This is a much better solution than the splitters, because 1, you can only view things of the same polarity and 2, the quality will be degraded. __________________

09-08-07, 01:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
sugarbabe Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? Thanks Gav, I may try that, are they good quality and simple to fit as I'm not very knowledgeable on the subject?

09-08-07, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jimdefruit Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,858 Thanks: 20 Thanked 221 Times in 187 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? Definitely, the quad lnb is the way to go. It means that the two receivers are completely independent. All you do is take out the existing lnb, fit the new lnb, connect the existing cable to one of the outputs on the new lnb, run a new cable from the lnb to the second receiver and away you go. __________________ Dreambox 800 HD; Dreambox 7000s + VBox + Channel Master 1.2 with 36v actuator CM120 feedhorn and Invacom .3 LNB Skystar 2 PCI card with links to my Dreamboxes If you like what you see here, tell your friends.

09-08-07, 06:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
BGonaSTICK Dodgy Geezer Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Brighton Posts: 9,718 Thanks: 3 Thanked 166 Times in 60 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? The splitters are a seriously bad idea > They will more than halve the signal down each 'leg'. __________________ Dreambox 7000, Skystar2 PCI, Skystar USB, Fibo 90cm on Moteck SG2100, Triax TD110 multi-LNB. Sky + ART cards. 45.0°E - 58.0°W

10-08-07, 07:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
sugarbabe Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? Thanks lads, a twin LNB looks the way to go then.

10-08-07, 08:44 AM	#7 (permalink)
Gav Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 542 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? Twin LNBs for Sky Dishes are hard to find, as sky don't/rarely use them. You want something like eBay item number: 180147045024 or 280141220012 __________________

10-08-07, 09:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
sugarbabe Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 12 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Satellite Splitters - Are they any good? Thanks Gav, looks just the job.