Where to put inline amlifier

[momi]

Hello there,


great forum....

I have a dish with main reflector and sub-reflector with 9 LNBs, 9x1 Diseqc switch and DreamBox dm800se....so I was wondering where to put inline power amplifier:

1. after diseqc switch and before dreambox ?
2. or to use 9 inline power amplifiers after LNBs and before Diseqc switch?

My cable run is over 50 m.

Thank you!!

 

[SatelliteAV]

The best place to put an inline amplifier is in the trash... LOL! I am almost serious!!!

150 feet of good quality coax cable should not need an amplifier.

A proper dish size, good quality fittings and quad shield RG6 coax cable is all you really need. In most cases an inline amplifier will actually degrade your signal quality.

 

[momi]

Thanks dude,

but my cable run is a lot more than 150 feet, and i have some diseqc that has a significat loss...any good amplifier...? a selective one?

 

[KE4EST]

I have never got one of those in-line amps to improve anything. Most of the time it would make things worse.

 

[WTguy]

I agree, inline amps are a waste of time and money, from my experience. Also, Brian (SatellieAV) is not just some dude, he is a dealer (been in the business for quite awhile) and you can pretty much take his advice to the bank.

 

[SatelliteAV]

Thanks dude,

but my cable run is a lot more than 150 feet, and i have some diseqc that has a significat loss...any good amplifier...? a selective one?

How long of cable run? What type of coax?

What size dish and satellites that you are fixed on?

Why do you believe that the system needs amplifiers?

Inline amps are best installed near the LNBF, but I have only used for 100+ meter runs when there were little other options without significantly spend big $$$$.

Some are better than others and have cleaner amplification, but I don't think there is much difference in the cheaper ones that you find online or in local electronic retailers. Inline amps are really the last option that you should try.

Maybe consider a better switch? Some have very clean amplifiers for near zero insertion loss.

 

[oldtimer1]

I agree, inline amps are a waste of time and money. My cable run is about 310 feet I have tried all kinds amplifier. They will cause you more trouble than they will help. Just make sure you have good cables with no splices that's about the best you can get.

 

[momi]

I agree, inline amps are a waste of time and money, from my experience. Also, Brian (SatellieAV) is not just some dude, he is a dealer (been in the business for quite awhile) and you can pretty much take his advice to the bank.

I didn't mean to underestimate Brian, and I am sorry if I did that...I am from Europe and i was trying to use slang....sorry about that...

 

[SatelliteAV]

Mimi,

Absolutely no offense taken. I am a hobbyist, just like yourself. Anything we can do to help!

Tell us more about your system and maybe we can assist with getting you better reception.

Welcome to SatelliteGuys!

 

[rv1pop]

I will agree with Brian:

1. A good dish, an excellent LNBF, decent cable, 2 "good brand switches", about 150 foot cable run - marginal signal / break ups
1.a. added commercial line amp, better "signal" but total breakup - Broadcast (KOMO-TV) engr. said much higher noise floor.
2. Better dish, same LNBF, cable, switches.No amp. better signal, still some minor break up.
3. Much better dish.(new location,but not better LOS, just a larger post needed) same LNBF, one switch, 350 foot cable run, new cable, but same brand, no extra splices. Excellent signal, no break ups at all.

--- Also tried 500 foot of RG-11 instead of 350 foot of RG-6 --- better signal, but not enough better to justify cost, since near perfect picture either with RG-6 or RG-11. Engr. said I would be better off using Quad shield RG-6 rather than "normal" - or normal RG-11 since I do not need transmitting capacity or high current draw. Quad RG-11 is better than Quad RG-6 in the field.

 

[primestar31]

I ONLY use quad shield solid copper core RG-6 that's sweep tested to 3ghz. Also use the good compression connectors for it. You can buy an entire 500' reel of it, and run off what you need, when you need it. Why bother with junk, as it doesn't cost that much extra, and I HATE crawling through my crawlspace to mess with cable runs, so I also run spares! lol

 

[updatelee]

Ive only ever used a signal amp once, I had to install a dish on a casino, the only place they would let me install it is on the roof in a small dish farm they had up there. The run was 800ft and they were'nt willing to pay for RG11 so we used quad shield rg6 and put a powered inline amp at the 400ft mark.

inline amps amplify the good and that bad signal as well as add noise. So an amp does increase the signal level, it does NOT increase the SNR (signal to noise ratio). If you need a higher signal level an inline amp *may* help, if you need better signal quality, and inline will 100% NOT help. An amp no matter how good will ALWAYS lower the quality of the signal.

 

[Wescopc]

I have used amps where I had a 600 ft run of pre-installed RG6. The amp picked up the signal strength such that the settop box would lock. There is a place for them, they are worth trying when your back is to the wall. However they are not a silver bullet (panacea).
Bob

 

[momi]

Ok, this is the dish: http://www.janky.com.tw/products/products_show.php?language=_eng&pid=7&cid=12
The cable is RG6, over 50 meters.
The switch is not the quality one (only one avaible in store), 9x1
9 LNBF
dm800se receiver

 

[SatelliteAV]

Where are you located and what satellites are you trying to receive?

Why do you feel that your system needs online amplifiers?

Personally, I would first purchase a quality amplified switch and possibly consider upgrading the coax to a quad shield RG6. 50M is not that long of cable run and will not likely benefit from inline amps.

The dish looks to be of good quality, but be aware that the performance of this design is lower than a similar sized dish designed for single satellite reception. It is a neat idea, but with reduced performance.

 

[Pepper]

Agree with all that's been said so far. The best amp you can install is a bigger properly aligned dish.

 

[Anole]

"more dish" is the better answer. -

But in this case (in addition to what SatAV mentioned above), how many of your satellites need more signal?
... or maybe you just have a few weak transponders?
Have you considered one or two higher performance LNBFs?


Edit: and where is BIH ?

 

[primestar31]

"more dish" is the better answer. -

But in this case (in addition to what SatAV mentioned above), how many of your satellites need more signal?
... or maybe you just have a few weak transponders?
Have you considered one or two higher performance LNBFs?


Edit: and where is BIH ?

Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

[FaT Air]

Many different answers to different scenarios, the symptoms are really unknown here.
But here's a stab at some probable symptoms:
With the receiver close to the dish it receives the channels desired and at the other end of the long coax run they are not coming in, an amplifier may help.
If you can't receive the channels desired when the receiver is connected to the dish/switch/lnbf's with a short coax, an amplifier will not help. Only a bigger dish will help in this instance.
A 50 meter run of good quality coax should not require the use of an amplifier. I would venture to say that there's excessive loss in your switch. (good RG6 at that length would not have excessive loss) Test by bypassing the switch. If that's it, replace with a better switch.
If most satellites perform well presently but one is problematic, think a separate larger fixed dish is the answer.

 

[momi]

Where are you located and what satellites are you trying to receive?

Why do you feel that your system needs online amplifiers?

Personally, I would first purchase a quality amplified switch and possibly consider upgrading the coax to a quad shield RG6. 50M is not that long of cable run and will not likely benefit from inline amps.

The dish looks to be of good quality, but be aware that the performance of this design is lower than a similar sized dish designed for single satellite reception. It is a neat idea, but with reduced performance.

Which switch do you recommend?

I am in Bosnia, and I am aiming for ASTRA satellite's on 19.2 E, EUTELSAT on 16.0 E, HOT BIRD 13.0 E and ARABSAT on 20.0E for the begining.