DS Forums

 
 

Connecting two sattelite cables


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 25-03-2009, 17:31
Hbosch
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8

Hi, I have just obtained my Humax Foxsat-hdr unit and I note that in the manual it recommends connecting a cable to each of the lnb inputs. Can anyone advise how this is best achieved please? From what I can see the options are either a 2 way sattelite splitter or the more expensive 2 way LNB splitter. What are the pro's and con's of both? Appreciate the help, thanks
Hbosch is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 25-03-2009, 17:38
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
Hi, I have just obtained my Humax Foxsat-hdr unit and I note that in the manual it recommends connecting a cable to each of the lnb inputs. Can anyone advise how this is best achieved please? From what I can see the options are either a 2 way sattelite splitter or the more expensive 2 way LNB splitter. What are the pro's and con's of both? Appreciate the help, thanks
Neither, for full performance you need a second cable to a spare lnb. This will normally mean fitting a quad lnb unless you already have spare outputs. As a stop gap you can connect tuner 1 out to tuner 2 in using a short length of coax. You won't get full 2 tuner performance though until you fit the second cable
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 17:52
awo1949
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
Hi, I have just obtained my Humax Foxsat-hdr unit and I note that in the manual it recommends connecting a cable to each of the lnb inputs. Can anyone advise how this is best achieved please? From what I can see the options are either a 2 way sattelite splitter or the more expensive 2 way LNB splitter. What are the pro's and con's of both? Appreciate the help, thanks
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by either "a 2 way sattelite splitter" or a "2 way LNB splitter" but, in practice, you have two options.

1) Have your dish upgraded (or do it yourself). The LNB on the dish will need to be changed to one that has at least two outputs. A dual LNB will do the job but quad LNBs are a lot more common and will give you two spare outputs for posible future use. Connect your existing cable to one of the outputs and run another alongside it. With this option, the HDR will be fully functional.

2) Use your existing single connection dish connected to LNB 1 IN and connect LNB 1 OUT to LNB 2 IN with a short cable with an F connector attached to both ends. With this option, the HDR will work with limitations. When a programme is being recorded, the number of other channels that can be watched (or recorded) is much reduced.

There are other (more complex and expensive) arrangements, but these are uncommon and should (in my opinion) be regarded as a last resort. They are also outside my experience, but there are other forum members that may be able to offer advice if (1) is not possile and (2) is unacceptable.
awo1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:08
jonwisbey
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: wirral
Posts: 128
not much point in buying a £290 pvr if your not going to make the use out of it

you can use a splitter but you will only be able to record channels on the as polorisation as the on your watching and even then they both must be in the same frequency ranges.

you really do need to upgrade your satellite dish most common are quads and they will give you two extra ports if ever needed
jonwisbey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:18
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
not much point in buying a £290 pvr if your not going to make the use out of it

you can use a splitter but you will only be able to record channels on the as polorisation as the on your watching and even then they both must be in the same frequency ranges.

you really do need to upgrade your satellite dish most common are quads and they will give you two extra ports if ever needed
Why use a splitter the foxsat is designed to allow tuner 2 to be chained to tuner 1. Connected like that the epg will indicate which second channels can be recorded. Using a splitter the Foxsat won't be able to recognise impossible recording clashes.
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:25
jonwisbey
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: wirral
Posts: 128
still whats the point without a second feed
jonwisbey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:28
awo1949
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
still whats the point without a second feed
In some installations (e.g. block of flats) a single feed is all that might be available. A HDR with limitations is still better than no HDR.
awo1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:31
jonwisbey
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: wirral
Posts: 128
yes true but where on this post was the "i live in a block of flats" used also wouldnt you rather go for a freeview pvr instead

and yes i know their is a different line up of channels on the different platforms but if you knew you could never get a second feed i dont really think many people would bother.
jonwisbey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:37
awo1949
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Co. Donegal
Posts: 797
yes true but where on this post was the "i live in a block of flats"
Lurkers read these forums.

also wouldnt you rather go for a freeview pvr instead
A number of people can't get Freeview and the OP already has an HDR.
awo1949 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25-03-2009, 18:46
jonwisbey
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: wirral
Posts: 128
the fact he states he could go for the option of a new lnb i would rule out he lives in a flat and in flats as part of the spec for new build tv systems depending on which one irs or matv they all require freeview reception.

TO GET FULL USE OUT OF A EXPENSIVE FREESAT+ RECIEVER ASECOND LNB FEED NEEDS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE SECOND LNB INPUT

why do people feel they need to splitt every comment someone makes
jonwisbey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26-03-2009, 09:23
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
yes true but where on this post was the "i live in a block of flats" used also wouldnt you rather go for a freeview pvr instead

and yes i know their is a different line up of channels on the different platforms but if you knew you could never get a second feed i dont really think many people would bother.
Hundreds of Foxsat-hdr users are restricted to a single cable connection. In fact the capability of the stb in this mode is surprisingly good. For most recording situations around 50% of the available channels can be recorded using the second tuner whilst the first tuner is recording.

If anyone has or is contemplating buying a Foxsat-hdr and has access to Excel download my Excel app using the following link

http://www.hummy.org.uk/forums/showp...72&postcount=1

It details what channel combinations you can record and additionally watch for both 1 cable and 2 cable setups
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26-03-2009, 09:35
jonwisbey
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: wirral
Posts: 128
well i should imagin thats because most are waiting to get the second feed installed i should imagin that most of the people wouldnt think about saving money and installing the quad and extra line them selves rather pay a satellite company to perform the install and depending which one they go for prices can between say £50 to £150

i have no doubt you can use the box on a signle feed and still record a good few channels but it still wont have 100% of its capability will it and you wouldnt buy something at that price to only use half of it unless no other root is possible. they would explore other roots first
jonwisbey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26-03-2009, 09:41
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
well i should imagin thats because most are waiting to get the second feed installed i should imagin that most of the people wouldnt think about saving money and installing the quad and extra line them selves rather pay a satellite company to perform the install and depending which one they go for prices can between say £50 to £150

i have no doubt you can use the box on a signle feed and still record a good few channels but it still wont have 100% of its capability will it and you wouldnt buy something at that price to only use half of it unless no other root is possible. they would explore other roots first
It's not normally possible (or practical) for anyone on a communal dish installation to get a second lnb feed. In these circumstances a Foxsat-hdr offers a lot more flexibility than the other alternatives (Especially a Sky HD box). For anyone wanting HD currently Sat or Cable is the only source with Sat being the only free option.
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26-03-2009, 12:54
Caz42
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,805
well i should imagin thats because most are waiting to get the second feed installed i should imagin that most of the people wouldnt think about saving money and installing the quad and extra line them selves rather pay a satellite company to perform the install and depending which one they go for prices can between say £50 to £150

i have no doubt you can use the box on a signle feed and still record a good few channels but it still wont have 100% of its capability will it and you wouldnt buy something at that price to only use half of it unless no other root is possible. they would explore other roots first
I use the Humax with one feed and I'm perfectly happy with it. I can easily get someone to install a quad lnb and 2nd feed for me but since the Humax performs so well with one, I haven't bothered. You can also get OTA updates with one feed now. So if anyone is reading this and thinks they will only get 50% functionality with one feed.......I think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how well it performs
Caz42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26-03-2009, 13:15
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
I use the Humax with one feed and I'm perfectly happy with it. I can easily get someone to install a quad lnb and 2nd feed for me but since the Humax performs so well with one, I haven't bothered. You can also get OTA updates with one feed now. So if anyone is reading this and thinks they will only get 50% functionality with one feed.......I think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how well it performs
For me the greatest downside is that you can't record BBC HD and ITV HD at the same time with only 1 cable.
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-03-2009, 13:08
Hbosch
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 8
Thanks to all for your help and information. For the time being I am working with one (looped) cable supply, then depending on how much of a pain this becomes with regards to recording, I will most likely upgrade to a quad lnb.
Hbosch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-03-2009, 14:17
davemurgatroyd
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Oxford
Posts: 12,689
It's not normally possible (or practical) for anyone on a communal dish installation to get a second lnb feed. In these circumstances a Foxsat-hdr offers a lot more flexibility than the other alternatives (Especially a Sky HD box). For anyone wanting HD currently Sat or Cable is the only source with Sat being the only free option.
No longer true for the Sky HD boxes - latest software has a single lnb option. Also latest Pace Sky+ boxes have SCR option. Just for your info
davemurgatroyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 30-03-2009, 14:24
grahamlthompson
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Redditch Worcs
Posts: 17,287
No longer true for the Sky HD boxes - latest software has a single lnb option. Also latest Pace Sky+ boxes have SCR option. Just for your info
As a point of interest does it offer the same capability as a freesat pvr ?. Under the right circumstances, record 2 and watch any 3rd with full time shifting available on the 3rd ?.
grahamlthompson is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 05:54.