Multiple LNBF's with one receiver (on a T90 dish)

[kraftwerk76]

--Hi, all. The other day I ordered a T90 toroidal dish for a friend of mine, now he wants to know how to hook up multiple LNBF's to his receiver. Exactly what kind of switch and possibly other hardware would he need to make his multi-lnb dish work? I think he is using either a Fortec Star Lifetime Classic NA, or a Fortec Star Lifetime Ultra.

--Tell me if this is what I should order him (I think he wants as many as eight LNBF's on the T90): Two of this 4x1 switch Sadoun DiSEqC Switch 4-Way SDS41C 1.0,2.0 and then, could I combine the two outputs of the two 4-way switches to this 2-way switch that accepts the two outputs from the two 4-way switches? Sadoun DiSEqC Switch 2-Way DS21 1.0,2.0

--He has several Universal LNBF's and also several Standard LNBF's. Should he only use Standard LNBFs with a DiSEqC switch?

--Anyway, I hope I have explained it well enough. Basically, he would like eight LNBFs on the dish and make it all work with his receiver. I could have overlooked it, but I did not see an 8-way switch on the Sadoun.com site. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Mr Tony]

I think he is using either a Fortec Star Lifetime Classic NA, or a Fortec Star Lifetime Ultra.

--Tell me if this is what I should order him (I think he wants as many as eight LNBF's on the T90): Two of this 4x1 switch Sadoun DiSEqC Switch 4-Way SDS41C 1.0,2.0 and then, could I combine the two outputs of the two 4-way switches to this 2-way switch that accepts the two outputs from the two 4-way switches? Sadoun DiSEqC Switch 2-Way DS21 1.0,2.0

There are 3 ways to do it

-a 4x1 diseqc and 4 22k switches. On each input of the diseqc you put a 22k switch so you can have 8 LNB's
receiver----diseqc-----22k switch off-----lnb 1
---------------------------22k switch on-----lnb 2


-2 4x1 diseqc switches and an ECODA 22k switch. The ecoda switch is magical as it passes diseqc commands so you can put it before the diseqc. This is what I do for 8 LNB's
receiver---ecoda off------diseqc----LNB's 1-4
-------------ecoda on------diseqc----LNB's 5-8

-get a 8x1 committed switch. You can hook all 8 LNB's to it but you need to set up each input as a motor option. See the review area for what I mean. Kinda cumbersome.

easiest in my opinion is an ecoda 22k switch (ebay has them cheap) and 2 4x1 diseqc switches. That is how I have mine setup

--He has several Universal LNBF's and also several Standard LNBF's. Should he only use Standard LNBFs with a DiSEqC switch?

only use standard LNB's. If you use a UNiversal you can't use a 22k switch then

 

[Anole]

Ever since I finally understood the middle answer above (with the Ecoda switch), that's been the one I plan to implement.
It's good enough for 8 LNBs, and that might be enough . . .

I see Linuxman followed the same game plan, and described it in Post #1, and Post #13 of a thread in the DVB section.

edit: few months back, JerryT came up with an idea for 16 LNBs on his T-90, but it was based on bandstacked LNBs.

 

[Mr Tony]

the 2 diseqc switches and ecoda 22k is the easiest setup and uses fewer parts than the top one

of course if you have a receiver that can do Diseqc 1.1 then there are 8x1 switches that work just fine

 

[thisBUDsforyou]

There are 3 ways to do it

-a 4 3way diseqc and 4 22k switches. On each input of the diseqc you put a 22k switch so you can have 8 LNB's
receiver----diseqc-----22k switch off-----lnb 1
---------------------------22k switch on-----lnb 2


-2 4x1 diseqc switches and an ECODA 22k switch. The ecoda switch is magical as it passes diseqc commands so you can put it before the diseqc. This is what I do for 8 LNB's
receiver---ecoda off------diseqc----LNB's 1-4
-------------ecoda on------diseqc----LNB's 5-8

-get a 8x1 committed switch. You can hook all 8 LNB's to it but you need to set up each input as a motor option. See the review area for what I mean. Kinda cumbersome.

easiest in my opinion is an ecoda 22k switch (ebay has them cheap) and 2 4x1 diseqc switches. That is how I have mine setup

In the first method, what is a 4 3way diseqc?

 

[Mr Tony]

brain fart....I meant to say a 4x1 diseqc switch...changed that in my post

 

[thisBUDsforyou]

Thanks Iceberg this is very helpful. I didn't know about ecoda switches - I thought the 4 X 1 had to go first, then the 22k switches.

 

[Anole]

downside

The down side of all the suggestions above (save one) is that they only support a single FTA receiver.
To run multiple independent receivers, you'd need LNBs with two outputs and a whole different switching array, or the bandstacked idea used above by JerryT
Jerry's drawing could support up to 4 or 8 receivers as shown, and with the proper parts 12 or more.

 

[Mr Tony]

Thanks Iceberg this is very helpful. I didn't know about ecoda switches - I thought the 4 X 1 had to go first, then the 22k switches.

that is correct unless you are using a 22k ecoda switch.

I have my Pansat 9200 set up that way

pansat 9200-----ecoda 22k---diseqc 1 has 72,74,79,87
-------------------------------------diseqc 2 has 89,91,93,123

 

[Mr Tony]

The down side of all the suggestions above (save one) is that they only support a single FTA receiver.
To run multiple independent receivers, you'd need LNBs with two outputs and a whole different switching array, or the bandstacked idea used above by JerryT

if he wants to add a 2nd reciever, he would need dual LNB's and another set of 22k switches and diseqc

 

[thisBUDsforyou]

The down side of all the suggestions above (save one) is that they only support a single FTA receiver.
To run multiple independent receivers, you'd need LNBs with two outputs and a whole different switching array, or the bandstacked idea used above by JerryT
Jerry's drawing could support up to 4 or 8 receivers as shown, and with the proper parts 12 or more.

As Iceberg said if you have dual LNB's you can duplicate the switches to feed two receivers. If you want to feed 4-8 receivers using dual-output LNB's, don't the switches need to be powered to provide some amplification? Otherwise maybe there wouldn't be enough signal to feed 8 IRD's?

 

[kraftwerk76]

--Thanks for the suggestions. I went ahead and got two of the 4x1 diseqc switch and one 22khz switch. Ecoda just happened to be the ones I purchased.

 

[Mr Tony]

As Iceberg said if you have dual LNB's you can duplicate the switches to feed two receivers. If you want to feed 4-8 receivers using dual-output LNB's, don't the switches need to be powered to provide some amplification? Otherwise maybe there wouldn't be enough signal to feed 8 IRD's?

nope. just regular 4x4 multiswitches would work fine.

4 multiswitches
4 4x1 diseqc switches
8 LNB"s to 4 receivers

 

[jerryt]

I like powered multiswitches. There help with signal strength.