How to combine freesat & freeview distribution?

On 17/05/2012 20:10, wrote:

(*) As the OP has gone for an octo LNB and cables he is probably
aware of this rqeuirement but IMHO a multiswitch offers a neater
solution. Only 4 cables from LNB to it and the abilty to combine and
distribute FM/DAB/UHF/Sat all in the one box.

OK - I think I've finally understood the difference between a quad and a quattro LNB.

(a quattro *must* be fed into a multiswitch, but then provides as-many-as-outputs satellite feeds)

Yup.

IIUC there are some multi-switches that can also generate the line
voltage and tone signal required to control a quad LNB in the same way
as a receiver does. Hence allowing it to permanently command each of the
four outputs into the required state.

(cross posting this to uk.tech.digital-tv since I am sure there will be
folks there than can recommend a brand that does this)

FYI the last one I used was a Triax switch - and that could not work
with a quad, and needed a quatro.

It looks like I want to change my octo for a quatrro - and buy a 5-input (quattro + UHF/VHF), 12-output multiswitch, and suitable decombining 3 and 4 way faceplates.

Yes, although you might get away without a LNB change if you can find a
suitable switch.


--
Cheers,

John.

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On Thu, 17 May 2012 21:12:52 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

IIUC there are some multi-switches that can also generate the line
voltage and tone signal required to control a quad LNB in the same way
as a receiver does. Hence allowing it to permanently command each of the
four outputs into the required state.

Which has the side effect of making it almost idiot proof. No
requirement to ensure that the Lo-Band Vertical output of the LNB is
connected to the Lo-Band Vertical input of the multiswitch etc.
Simply connect four cables between the multiswitch and a quad LNB and
it "just works".

When I get round to fitting a multiswitch here the feature to control
an LNB will be one I look for but won't be a show stopper.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 17 May 2012 21:12:52 +0100, John Rumm wrote:

IIUC there are some multi-switches that can also generate the line
voltage and tone signal required to control a quad LNB in the same way
as a receiver does. Hence allowing it to permanently command each of the
four outputs into the required state.

Which has the side effect of making it almost idiot proof. No
requirement to ensure that the Lo-Band Vertical output of the LNB is
connected to the Lo-Band Vertical input of the multiswitch etc.
Simply connect four cables between the multiswitch and a quad LNB and
it "just works".
Ridiculous.


When I get round to fitting a multiswitch here the feature to control
an LNB will be one I look for but won't be a show stopper.
Why bother? Just connect it up properly.

Bill

On Thu, 17 May 2012 22:22:38 +0100, Bill Wright wrote:

IIUC there are some multi-switches that can also generate the
line
voltage and tone signal required to control a quad LNB in the
same way
as a receiver does. Hence allowing it to permanently command each
of
the four outputs into the required state.

Which has the side effect of making it almost idiot proof. No
requirement to ensure that the Lo-Band Vertical output of the LNB
is
connected to the Lo-Band Vertical input of the multiswitch etc.
Simply connect four cables between the multiswitch and a quad LNB
and
it "just works".

Ridiculous.

I agree it's solveinga problem that doesn't exist if you know what
you are doing... I think you will agree that there a rather more
"professionals" out there who don't really understand what they are
doing. If they did you wouldn't have your "rogues gallery". B-)

When I get round to fitting a multiswitch here the feature to
control
an LNB will be one I look for but won't be a show stopper.

Why bother? Just connect it up properly.

Given two otherwise identical multiswitches one with the LNB control
feature and one without I'll probably go for the easy option and have
the one with the control feature. Saves having to faff about
identifying the, already installed, cables from the wok to the
services cupboard. Just terminate and plug 'em in...

--
Cheers
Dave.

On 17/05/2012 22:43, Dave Liquorice wrote:
On Thu, 17 May 2012 22:22:38 +0100, Bill Wright wrote:

IIUC there are some multi-switches that can also generate the
line
voltage and tone signal required to control a quad LNB in the
same way
as a receiver does. Hence allowing it to permanently command each
of
the four outputs into the required state.

Which has the side effect of making it almost idiot proof. No
requirement to ensure that the Lo-Band Vertical output of the LNB
is
connected to the Lo-Band Vertical input of the multiswitch etc.
Simply connect four cables between the multiswitch and a quad LNB
and
it "just works".

Ridiculous.

I agree it's solveinga problem that doesn't exist if you know what
you are doing... I think you will agree that there a rather more
"professionals" out there who don't really understand what they are
doing. If they did you wouldn't have your "rogues gallery". B-)

When I get round to fitting a multiswitch here the feature to
control
an LNB will be one I look for but won't be a show stopper.

Why bother? Just connect it up properly.

Given two otherwise identical multiswitches one with the LNB control
feature and one without I'll probably go for the easy option and have
the one with the control feature. Saves having to faff about
identifying the, already installed, cables from the wok to the
services cupboard. Just terminate and plug 'em in...


I've installed 3 multiswitches now. I am by no means a professional
aerial or dish rigger, merely an enthusiast/hobbyist. As long as you
RTFM and have an eye for detail, you can't go wrong.

I use ordinary Ct100 cable to connect the quattro LNB's to the
multiswitch rather than use that 5 x CT100 plus earth compound cable.
(too expensive) I use coloured insulation tape for both ends of the
CT100 cables so I can connect the Quattro LNB to the multiswitch properly.

One of the multiswitches is a 17x16 version, this means that it accepts
up to 4 quattro LNBs pointing at four different orbital positions. I had
to write the birds name on the respective coloured tapes for each of the
4 quattro LNBs. That involved 16 CT100 cables.... plus the 17th carrying
DTT, DAB and FM via a pair of Televes Avants.

I would have used Optical LNBs had it not been for the cost, hence the16
CT100 cables....

Stephen.

Dave Liquorice wrote:

Simply connect four cables between the multiswitch and a quad LNB
and
it "just works".
Ridiculous.

I agree it's solveinga problem that doesn't exist if you know what
you are doing...
The outputs of the LNB are colour coded red yellow blue green. The cable
used is often colour coded the same. The switch input is colour coded.
It's hard to go wrong.

Given two otherwise identical multiswitches one with the LNB control
feature and one without I'll probably go for the easy option and have
the one with the control feature. Saves having to faff about
identifying the, already installed, cables from the wok to the
services cupboard. Just terminate and plug 'em in...
Vision decided some time back to stop making switches that generated
tone/voltage. Too many reliability issues I was told.

Bill

On 18/05/2012 01:57, Bill Wright wrote:
Dave Liquorice wrote:

Simply connect four cables between the multiswitch and a quad LNB
and
it "just works".
Ridiculous.

I agree it's solveinga problem that doesn't exist if you know what
you are doing...
The outputs of the LNB are colour coded red yellow blue green. The cable
used is often colour coded the same. The switch input is colour coded.
It's hard to go wrong.

Red and green being a poor choice if the installer is colour blind. ;-)


--
Cheers,

John.

/================================================== ===============\
| Internode Ltd - http://www.internode.co.uk |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|
| John Rumm - john(at)internode(dot)co(dot)uk |
\================================================= ================/

In article ,
John Rumm wrote:

Red and green being a poor choice if the installer is colour blind. ;-)

Installing electrical equipment is a poor choice of career if you're
colour blind!

-- Richard

In article , Richard Tobin
writes
In article ,
John Rumm wrote:

Red and green being a poor choice if the installer is colour blind. ;-)

Installing electrical equipment is a poor choice of career if you're
colour blind!

I once worked with an electronics technician who had a degree of colour
blindness. He had managed to hide it all through his apprenticeship and
was in his late twenties before he confided the weakness to me. He was
never without a DMM for checking resistor values.
--
fred
it's a ba-na-na . . . .

In article , fred wrote:

Installing electrical equipment is a poor choice of career if you're
colour blind!

I once worked with an electronics technician who had a degree of colour
blindness. He had managed to hide it all through his apprenticeship and
was in his late twenties before he confided the weakness to me. He was
never without a DMM for checking resistor values.

I think it was here that we had a discussion about this a while ago
where I suggested the colour-blind person should carry a red (or
green) filter.

-- Richard