Satellite distribution thingie whatsit
Discussion
Brain melting again.... we're putting in lots of dual coax cable to TV points around the house, and need to hook them all up to the Satellite dish, so logic dictates I need some sort of splitter/amplifier/distribution/doodah in the loft to plug them all in to.
Inevitably google throws up a bazillion hits on such things, most of which mutter about Sky this, Sky+ that, and SKY the other. Well we don't have sky, we just use Freesat HD. Given we're renovating the whole house, I plan on putting in connections to most rooms, whether we will ultimately plug anything in to them or not. At the moment we have a legacy dish from the previous owner who did have Sky, and it seems to have around 6 cables running off it, though only two ever worked for me - I don't have a long enough ladder at the mo to get up to where the dish is and see what LNB is attached, and it's concealed behind a chimney so I can't even stand back with binocs and stare at it.
So the question is what box do I need in the loft? Some of them seem to do various forms of witchcraft and necromancy involving DAB / FM / Freeview and then you have to get specialist output wallplates which, via the medium of voodoo, somehow split the output of a single cable back to the different input forms. Others just seem to go from A-B... What I want ideally is to have all channels available at all times in all places, forever and ever, amen.
Current wiring plan is thus:
Definite rooms:
Lounge - Humax Freesat recorder, Pioneer Freesat Plasma
Kitchen - Panasonic Freesat plasma
Provision for other rooms:
Study
Bed 1
Bed 2
Bed 3
Bed 4
Bed 5
What should I be looking for, both in terms of the here and now and futureproofing? All rooms already have lots of Cat6 going to the telly spots, but no coax as yet, that's today's job. Plan is to get the cable in place today, and run them all back to a spot in the loft next to Node-0 and then slap whatever box is necessary later.
Inevitably google throws up a bazillion hits on such things, most of which mutter about Sky this, Sky+ that, and SKY the other. Well we don't have sky, we just use Freesat HD. Given we're renovating the whole house, I plan on putting in connections to most rooms, whether we will ultimately plug anything in to them or not. At the moment we have a legacy dish from the previous owner who did have Sky, and it seems to have around 6 cables running off it, though only two ever worked for me - I don't have a long enough ladder at the mo to get up to where the dish is and see what LNB is attached, and it's concealed behind a chimney so I can't even stand back with binocs and stare at it.
So the question is what box do I need in the loft? Some of them seem to do various forms of witchcraft and necromancy involving DAB / FM / Freeview and then you have to get specialist output wallplates which, via the medium of voodoo, somehow split the output of a single cable back to the different input forms. Others just seem to go from A-B... What I want ideally is to have all channels available at all times in all places, forever and ever, amen.
Current wiring plan is thus:
Definite rooms:
Lounge - Humax Freesat recorder, Pioneer Freesat Plasma
Kitchen - Panasonic Freesat plasma
Provision for other rooms:
Study
Bed 1
Bed 2
Bed 3
Bed 4
Bed 5
What should I be looking for, both in terms of the here and now and futureproofing? All rooms already have lots of Cat6 going to the telly spots, but no coax as yet, that's today's job. Plan is to get the cable in place today, and run them all back to a spot in the loft next to Node-0 and then slap whatever box is necessary later.
The simplest, most economical way, is to run all the cables to the dish position and use an Octo LNB, this will run four 'plus' boxes. Add a second dish for more.
Another way is to use a 'multi switch' this takes four feeds from the dish using a Quattro LNB (not a quad LNB, there is a difference). Most multi switches can also take a TV aerial, DAB,FM input as well. You then distribute this to your rooms and have an appropriate wall plate etc.
Personally, unless your installing a large commercial system, I'd go with option A.
Another way is to use a 'multi switch' this takes four feeds from the dish using a Quattro LNB (not a quad LNB, there is a difference). Most multi switches can also take a TV aerial, DAB,FM input as well. You then distribute this to your rooms and have an appropriate wall plate etc.
Personally, unless your installing a large commercial system, I'd go with option A.
Have a read of the technical pages on the SatCure website.
There is a good description about installing a multiswitch
There is a good description about installing a multiswitch
megaphone said:
four 'plus' boxes. Add a second dish for more.
Plus box?megaphone said:
send say the lounge Sky back to all bedrooms.
Sky? Send back?
I want to have a telly on the wall. Telly on the wall has Freesat input. I want to plug that into the dish. I want to do that for multiple rooms, and have each room be able to watch whatever they want.
I don't have, nor will have Sky.
FlossyThePig said:
Have a read of the technical pages on the SatCure website.
There is a good description about installing a multiswitch
Great! I'll give it a read.There is a good description about installing a multiswitch
PM'ed
The product you need is an Quattro LNB (the electronics on the arm) Then 4 coax cables from dish to distribution point. These carry the four different signal groups from the dish to the hub point.
Then at the hub point, an Active IRS Switch to split the signals out around the house. The reason for this is that you cant easily get all four groups (bands) down one cable, so the satellite receivers tell the LNB or Switch which Group they need for a certain channel and the LNB or in your case Switch provides it.
The product you need is an Quattro LNB (the electronics on the arm) Then 4 coax cables from dish to distribution point. These carry the four different signal groups from the dish to the hub point.
Then at the hub point, an Active IRS Switch to split the signals out around the house. The reason for this is that you cant easily get all four groups (bands) down one cable, so the satellite receivers tell the LNB or Switch which Group they need for a certain channel and the LNB or in your case Switch provides it.
RedLeicester said:
megaphone said:
four 'plus' boxes. Add a second dish for more.
Plus box?megaphone said:
send say the lounge Sky back to all bedrooms.
Sky? Send back?I want to have a telly on the wall. Telly on the wall has Freesat input. I want to plug that into the dish. I want to do that for multiple rooms, and have each room be able to watch whatever they want.
I don't have, nor will have Sky.
FlossyThePig said:
Have a read of the technical pages on the SatCure website.
There is a good description about installing a multiswitch
Great! I'll give it a read.There is a good description about installing a multiswitch
Many Sky users only have a Skybox in the main lounge, the signal is sent back/retuned to the distribution amp and watched in the other rooms. As you're never going to have Sky then it's less important. I personally would pull in the cable just in case.
Out of interest why Freesat? Why not have Freeview via aerial? Freesat TV's aren't that common and I don't think they will be manufactured for much longer.
megaphone said:
I used 'Plus Box' as a generic term for Sky+ or Humax or other recording boxes (PVRs), these require two satellite feeds to allow them to record correctly. You mentioned Humax and Sky in your OP. You will also require a single feed to any Freesat TV.
Many Sky users only have a Skybox in the main lounge, the signal is sent back/retuned to the distribution amp and watched in the other rooms. As you're never going to have Sky then it's less important. I personally would pull in the cable just in case.
Out of interest why Freesat? Why not have Freeview via aerial? Freesat TV's aren't that common and I don't think they will be manufactured for much longer.
Ah gotcha, I've never been sure if Sky+ boxes do or have to do some sort of weirdness, so I've always been wary when instructions refer to plus boxes specifically.Many Sky users only have a Skybox in the main lounge, the signal is sent back/retuned to the distribution amp and watched in the other rooms. As you're never going to have Sky then it's less important. I personally would pull in the cable just in case.
Out of interest why Freesat? Why not have Freeview via aerial? Freesat TV's aren't that common and I don't think they will be manufactured for much longer.
There's plenty of Freesat TVs out there to be fair - both my Pioneer and Panasonic plasmas have a sat input them as standard, and we can't get Freeview here, so it's Freesat or Sky, which I resent paying for. Satellite is far more common outside of the UK, so whilst they may not be as numerous as Freeview tellies, I suspect they're here to stay - after all much of the rural community would be up in wellies and arms if they suddenly stopped them all!
I agree it's worth pulling extra cables - I'd rather overdo it than plaster up and discover there's something lacking a week/month/year later!
And all the F1 Races, Practices and Quali.
In HD!
With Surround Sound!
Awesome, it is the only reason I can justify Sky, Wife and Kids love all the other features, heck I install the stuff and cant find my way around the learning remote (i programmed) quicker than them.
That shows who uses it the most!
In HD!
With Surround Sound!
Awesome, it is the only reason I can justify Sky, Wife and Kids love all the other features, heck I install the stuff and cant find my way around the learning remote (i programmed) quicker than them.
That shows who uses it the most!
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