DiSEqC Switch Question

[JFOK]

Hi All,

Winter cold has finally loosened its grip in my area and I'm again working on my dish.
I wanted to replace the DiSEqC switch I've had for 16 years, but find that 2X1 switches are either in short supply or priced ridiculously high. One ebay seller has priced ONE switch at $535.99...really ?? Its not a bulk purchase either that's for ONE switch. It might be cheaper for me to get a 4X1 switch as they are more plentiful and cheaper when you figure in free shipping. I'll just cover the connections I'm not using, if they don't come with caps.
My question...I've seen several vendors selling 2X1 tone switches and advertising them as more reliable than the DiSEqC. Is the tone switch a replacement for the DiSEqC, or to be used in addition to ?
My feedhorn is an older ADL/Precision and it uses a servo motor.
Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

[Magic Static]

Actually 22khz (tone) switch came first. I would replace the switch with a 4 x 1 DiSEqC 1.0 switch. As you noticed they are definitely cheap. But reading your post again I think you may have a C/Ku setup. In this case I would prefer the tone switch. you could use a L.O. of 5150-10750 and the switching is automatic.

 

[JFOK]

Magic,

Yes I have a C/Ku setup.
How is the switching automatic, compared to the DiSEqC ?
Not sure I understand.
Thanks.

 

[Titanium]

If your receiver has an Installation Menu setting for LNB Type: Universal and the LNB LO selection for 5150/10750, you can use a 22KHz switch to automatically switch between C-Band and KU-band frequencies using a single satellite. No need to have a KU satellite and a C satellite in the list. Only one satellite is needed in the receiver list to receive both C and KU bands.

The C-band would be connected to the 22KHz-OFF port of the switch and the KU-band LNB is connected to the 22KHz-ON port.

 

[Magic Static]

If the receiver offers a dual L.O. when a channel in the higher L.O. range is selected the tone 22khz is applied. In your case anytime a Ku channel is selected the tone comes on. So you connect the Ku lnb to the tone port and the C band to the other. With my setups I can have both C and Ku on one satellite. No need to make seperate C and Ku band satellite lists.

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

Thanks for your input.
To answer your question, I have a microHD receiver.
So if I understand correctly...one 22 Khz switch would take care of my C/Ku switching needs ?

 

[Magic Static]

Yes. I also use a microHD and a tone switch does it just fine

 

[JFOK]

Hi All,

I really appreciate all the help.
I have another question that I should have asked in my previous post.
I am slaving my 4DTV receiver (now a dish mover) to my microHD. Since I'm replacing the DiSEqC switch with a 22khz tone switch, I will still need two, 2 way (1 port pass) splitters from each LNB to the tone switch right ?
A diagram might be helpful if possible.
Thanks

 

[JFOK]

I looked again today, at my last post from yesterday and now realize it was kind of a dopey question to ask.
Too much work and not enough sleep I guess.
I now realize that I WILL need those 2 way splitters also.
I'll just follow the diagram I used when I did my initial 4DTV slave set up 16 years ago, just substituting the tone switch for the DiSEqC switch.