Upgrading from analogue to digital - questions, questions ...

[FF99]

I have an existing system that it now nearly 20 years old: 80/90cm dish with twin LNB pointed at the German analgoue channels (Astra 19.2 degrees ??) and another satellite that used to have BBC World, lots of Italian channels etc (Hotbird ??). It did have two cables running down and has recently been re-cabled with two cables going to a distribution system but (stupidly) only one cable going from the distribution box to each room outlet (there was lots else going on and I did not spot it).

I have an oldish analogue receiver and wish to go digital at minimum cost. My objective is - if possible - to pick up both the German digital channels and Freesat. To that end I have ordered from the Screwfix website a package which had dish, LNB and digital receiver all for the princely sum of £40.

A few questions :-

1. Is the old LNB likley to give me a usable signal ?

2. If I need to change the LNB, is this something that the perfectly competent but non-specialist electrician will be able to do for me easily and without taking a lot of expensive time ?

3. Will the dish need re-aligning if the LNB is not / is changed ??

4. Is there any way of forcing the signals from two (or more) LNB's down one feeder cable ? The builder (quite savvy but again not a specilaist) told me that there is a means of feeding the two signals down one cable, although this sounds improbable to me.

Any help gratefully received.

[Robbo]

Hi,

1. You probably need to change the LNB to a Universal one, they are very cheap £10 ish or less.

2. Changing the LNB is a fairly simply operation, undo the clamp, put the new one on, and re-attach cable. The skew will need adjusting too.

3. If the dish is currently on 19.2E and you still want 19.2E, it won't need adjusting.

4. Yes, it's called a Diseqc switch, actually it doesn't force them both down the same cable, it switches between the inputs under reciever control (Diseqc1.0)

[Rick]

By twin lnb do you mean monoblock, kinda like two lnbs in one case ?
If so you will need 2 seperate lnbs to pick up 19e and freesat at 28.8e. The monoblocks normally come with 6 degree seperation for 19e and 13e. Whereas 19e and 28e are nearly 10 degrees apart. You can get universal multi lnb holders and can clamp a second 1 on to the first. Point the dish at either of the satellites and then setup the offset lnb for the other. that way you don't have to have 2 dishes

[FF99]

Originally Posted by rick1980

By twin lnb do you mean monoblock, kinda like two lnbs in one case ?

I believe so.

[Robbo]

You have two options:

1.Put a universal multi-LNB bracket on to get 13E,19E and 28E, a 80/90cm dish is sufficient.

2. Put a universal multi-LNB bracket on for just 13E and 19E, use the new dish for 28E, and then feed all three LNBs through a 4-way diseqc switch.

[FF99]

Just as a follow up :-

I guess that as the diseqc switch only costs a few pounds, the magic is in the receiver's ability to use the diseqc technology. Is this something that all STB's can do, or is it something to look out for as part of the description ?

If I have understood correctly, one feed from a universal LNB should have the ability to pick up 13 and 19E and a second universal LNB with separate feed would be required for 28E. A multi LNB bracket would then be required (which may or may not already be there depending on the existing LNB configuration ?). Could you please confirm.

Finally, I am in London NW8. How much should I expect to pay to have a professional satellite installer come and do nothing other than supply the new LNBs and bracket, fit the diseqc switch and align the dish, assuming no cabling at all is required and that the dish does not need replacing ? Any recommendations for the job (if forum rules permit - apologies if not and mods please delete) ?

[Robbo]

No, one universal LNB can pick up from only one satellite, you need three in total, 13E,19E,28E, a diseqc switch, and a suitable bracket.

[FF99]

Originally Posted by Robbo

No, one universal LNB can pick up from only one satellite, you need three in total, 13E,19E,28E, a diseqc switch, and a suitable bracket.

Thanks again. As I have only two feeds down from the dish, can the diseqc switch be placed on the roof with the dish and then combine everything down one feed (have I correctly understood how the diseqc switch works ??) , or is it better that I limit myself to 2 LNB's and have the diseqc switch inside at the indoor end of the feeds, before they split off to the different rooms ?

Any ideas on cost of each LNB, the bracket and a decent diseqc switch, and how much for installation on top ?

[nvingo]

Originally Posted by FF99

Thanks again. As I have only two feeds down from the dish, can the diseqc switch be placed on the roof with the dish and then combine everything down one feed (have I correctly understood how the diseqc switch works ??) , or is it better that I limit myself to 2 LNB's and have the diseqc switch inside at the indoor end of the feeds, before they split off to the different rooms ?

Each diseqc switch will be able to take four inputs and supply one output. So for three LNBs and one receiver, a single switch near the dish and one feed cable will suffice.
You could fit a twin-output LNB for eg. the 28.2º position and connect that to the other feed cable, then you could have a second receiver for full-time Sky/Freesat, whilst the first could select from any of the LNBs.