Hi All,

Came across this today, and don't know if I know the answer or not...

House has been prewired with TWO Rg-6 to outside for satellite TV...

Customer would ultimately want twelve receivers....

I know in the past, before HDTV, this would be possible with a combination of STACKED LNB's and cascadable multi-switches....

NOW with the new integrated DISH/LNB/SWITCH combos from DirecTV specifically, that have four ready to go leads coming right off the dish, is there still a way to use a cascading 8-12-16 way switch INSIDE to get ALL signals to ALL receivers...or is two feeds from outside just not enough?

Thanks,

avdude

Well, as long as you have both polarities to switch you should be able to get everything the 18" round dish will pull in. I have done multiple receivers on 2 leads before. I seem to remember the "stacked" LNB's, but just barley. We used em once in an apartment complex, then dumped it into fiber, then the resident was forced to buy the other half to convert it back to cable, it forced the tenant to use the DSS service provided by the Property management company.

I know, wrong to do but he wanted to recoup the cash from the headend investment. And he got a hold back from DTV commercial!

obi...

thanks. But how about the new integrated TRIPLE LNB oval dishes? I would assume since they already have the internal switch that just cascading them in to the appropriate switch would be ok, but lately my assumtions seem to be backfiring!

avdude

Avdude:

If you are using DirectTv Just connect your two feeds into a 3x16 Spaun multiswitch and distribute from there. If you are using more than two HIDEF receivers get the 5x16 switch.

billski...

I thought so...but anything CHEAPER than the spaun? want to keep customer happy, but she'll have a cow over the spaun!

avdude

Avdude:

I'm sure there probally is but Spaun is all we ever use.

We had the same pricing issues about Spaun, and then our proud local AVAD started telling us they were having reliability issues, so they sold us Eagle Aspen...or we found them somewhere else...

Since the dishes with built-in multiswitches count on receiving 22 kHz from the receivers to indicate LNB B and C, you can use those outputs if you can send tone up when you want those signals.

Eagle Aspen has four- and five-input by four and eight (and maybe more) output multiswitches that send tone as well as voltage up the line, so they can be used with dishes that have integrated multiswitches. If the multiswitch does not send tone up to the dish, you will always get LNB A.

Just used the fourth eight-output one. Worked like a charm.

However, you have TWO cables. That means you have to use stacked outputs. I don't know if the outputs just normally come out of LNBs stacked or not, or if you will need to add stackers. Then, down below, you will have to unstack and plug the unstacked signals into a multiswitch. That is messy but doable.

12 Receivers and she wont spring for a good multiswitch?
C'mon, you can do it!

there's debate though whether the spaun is GOOD for the money...I just need to know that I can make it WORK!

Not sure, I just have to mess with you though!

it's really cold and lonley up there isn't it?

You can make it work, we have faith. We've used Spaun exclusively for years, and never had a bad piece. But even Spaun will tell you the 16-way integrated switches are only the way to go if the runs to the receivers are all relatively short. Normally they recommend the standalone amp/power supply and the cascadable switches, which costs much more. But it works.

And whether Gerald was really messing with you or not, he's right. With 12 receivers, she HAS to spring for the right distribution gear. Experimenting with cheaper solutions, especially with satellite, will cost you more in troubleshooting labor in the end.

If you can get the other 2 lines to the dish outside just buy a 3x4 multiswitch, and a 3x8 multiswitch. That will give you your 12 lines. We have used Eagle Aspen, JVI, the Eagle Aspen's look cheap but I've never been to a service call on one yet. The JVI is what we commonly use it's a bit more sturdy. The 3x4 should cost less than $20.00 the 3x8 around $50.00. Those prices are at any wholesaler. If you buy retail they will cost about $50.00 for the 3x4 and $110.00 for the 3X8

I won't use anything but the powered Spaun multiswitches regardless of cable length. The only reliability problem I have ever encountered was one that UPS lost in shipping. Outside of that they are for my $$ the best made and in the scheme of that many recievers you would be crazy not to.