For background information, when I first got into this so-called hobby back in May of 2006, I bought universal LNBs at first, not knowing (or even imagining) that in about six months time I'd have three dishes and eight LNBs. As I needed more space on my DiSEqC switch, I'd replace a universal LNB with two standard LNBs and a 22KHz switch. Recently, I replaced a standard LNB with a circular LNB to get GOLTV. So, I ended up with three "retired" universal LNBs, and one "retired" standard LNB.
After doing some research looking at the possibility of adding these LNBs back into the mix (including Labgate's website), I decided to get an EMP Centauri GOTO nn S.168 8 x 1 switch and bought one for $31.99 (Canadian) plus shipping. (NOTE: If you are thinking of getting one of these switches, shop around, as I have seen it range (in Canada) from $31.99 up to $140.00!!!)
Basically, the switch can use DiSEqC 1.1 (committed/uncommitted settings) or DiSEqC 1.2 where it emulates a motor positioner for each of its eight ports (the GOTO nn reference). With my Pansat 3500SD, I had to use DiSEqC 1.2 and pretend to have a motor. In the instructions that came with the switch it said to continuously hold the button for motor rotation until the signal quality came in, but this did not work with my Pansat. What I found was that small "movements", then a short second or two wait (not unlike moving a dish) was the only way to get the signal to come in, and once it was in, if you continued to move it you could lose the signal quality with only a couple of moves. I did notice that when getting close to the correct position the signal level (yes, level) increased slightly, and if you went past it the signal level decreased slightly and eventually dropped to 20%.
Once a signal came in, I saved that as a reference, and then for the LNB that was on the same 22KHz switch, went to that reference and the signal would appear. Then I went to the next LNB/port, and did the same (saving as a new reference each port).
I only had time to mount two of the "retired" LNBs (it was cold, windy, and threatening snow) and still need to peak both and add the other two (when the weather is a bit better, but hopefully sometime this week). Anyhow, I now have 10 LNBs running into my system!
Switching between channels/satellites is no different than when I was using the standard DiSEqC 4 x 1 switch, it is just as fast, though occasionally it displays a "setting positioner!" information bar for a split second.
The only drawback (and a fairly important one) is that you must already have a signal from the satellite you want to add. The easy workaround for this was to use one of the LNBs (or its coax) already in the system to setup the new LNB.
As well, before I began to add any of the LNBs I made sure that the transponder I used to get the signal was unique to that satellite (otherwise it may find the wrong one first). For example, for the two circular LNBs I used a transponder that was not active (for me) on the other one, so for Echostar 7 I used 12268 H 20000, and for Echostar 8 I used 12223 V 20000.
All in all I am extremely pleased with the switch, and since I have not found any posts or websites anywhere (and I searched extensively) detailing how anyone set up their switch, or their experience with it, I thought I'd post my two cents.
After doing some research looking at the possibility of adding these LNBs back into the mix (including Labgate's website), I decided to get an EMP Centauri GOTO nn S.168 8 x 1 switch and bought one for $31.99 (Canadian) plus shipping. (NOTE: If you are thinking of getting one of these switches, shop around, as I have seen it range (in Canada) from $31.99 up to $140.00!!!)
Basically, the switch can use DiSEqC 1.1 (committed/uncommitted settings) or DiSEqC 1.2 where it emulates a motor positioner for each of its eight ports (the GOTO nn reference). With my Pansat 3500SD, I had to use DiSEqC 1.2 and pretend to have a motor. In the instructions that came with the switch it said to continuously hold the button for motor rotation until the signal quality came in, but this did not work with my Pansat. What I found was that small "movements", then a short second or two wait (not unlike moving a dish) was the only way to get the signal to come in, and once it was in, if you continued to move it you could lose the signal quality with only a couple of moves. I did notice that when getting close to the correct position the signal level (yes, level) increased slightly, and if you went past it the signal level decreased slightly and eventually dropped to 20%.
Once a signal came in, I saved that as a reference, and then for the LNB that was on the same 22KHz switch, went to that reference and the signal would appear. Then I went to the next LNB/port, and did the same (saving as a new reference each port).
I only had time to mount two of the "retired" LNBs (it was cold, windy, and threatening snow) and still need to peak both and add the other two (when the weather is a bit better, but hopefully sometime this week). Anyhow, I now have 10 LNBs running into my system!
Switching between channels/satellites is no different than when I was using the standard DiSEqC 4 x 1 switch, it is just as fast, though occasionally it displays a "setting positioner!" information bar for a split second.
The only drawback (and a fairly important one) is that you must already have a signal from the satellite you want to add. The easy workaround for this was to use one of the LNBs (or its coax) already in the system to setup the new LNB.
As well, before I began to add any of the LNBs I made sure that the transponder I used to get the signal was unique to that satellite (otherwise it may find the wrong one first). For example, for the two circular LNBs I used a transponder that was not active (for me) on the other one, so for Echostar 7 I used 12268 H 20000, and for Echostar 8 I used 12223 V 20000.
All in all I am extremely pleased with the switch, and since I have not found any posts or websites anywhere (and I searched extensively) detailing how anyone set up their switch, or their experience with it, I thought I'd post my two cents.
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