Advice Needed One For The Switch Men

moonbase

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Hi,

Would anyone please be able to advise me if there is a non DiSEqC switch that I can use to get three or possibly four dishes connected to a twin tuner receiver? My first thought was to use a couple of A/B switches in reverse mode with what is normally the A/B switch input source acting as an output going to the receiver.

As far as I know the A/B switches are simply a mechanical push button routing of the signal so it might work. However, I am not sure if I will get signal bleed over that might mess things up or some other type of interference. Has anyone tried using an A/B switch in reverse mode with 2 dishes into a single receiver?

Alternatively, if anyone knows of any other non DiSEqC option I would be grateful for the heads up. I am aware there are some coroprate grade units such as a Distribution RF Matrix but they seem to be overkill for the job if there is a cheaper and simpler option.
 

Lazarus

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Hi,

Would anyone please be able to advise me if there is a non DiSEqC switch that I can use to get three or possibly four dishes connected to a twin tuner receiver? My first thought was to use a couple of A/B switches in reverse mode with what is normally the A/B switch input source acting as an output going to the receiver.

As far as I know the A/B switches are simply a mechanical push button routing of the signal so it might work. However, I am not sure if I will get signal bleed over that might mess things up or some other type of interference. Has anyone tried using an A/B switch in reverse mode with 2 dishes into a single receiver?

Alternatively, if anyone knows of any other non DiSEqC option I would be grateful for the heads up. I am aware there are some coroprate grade units such as a Distribution RF Matrix but they seem to be overkill for the job if there is a cheaper and simpler option.


Yes, I've used A/B switches in that mode without issue. The isolation between Ports is solid - I couldn't quantify it, but I'd suggest it's as good or better than any electromechanical or electronic switch. Ditto for Insertion Loss.
 

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Some A/B switches are better than others, in terms of positive contact once pressed (for DC throughput), isolation and shielding.

I created a thread somewhere on the switch internals I have here for distributing HF / VHF around the house
 

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IIRC, in the early 90's there were some 3-4 port switches that were operated by a form of tone-burst control - I had a couple until a few years ago but them I ditched them in a clearout as I couldn't think of uses for them. Can't remember the brand name - but may have had the letter "F somewhere in it! - and they were made by a small UK company that used to advertise in Wot Sat, which also tested several of them.
 

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Hi,

Would anyone please be able to advise me if there is a non DiSEqC switch that I can use to get three or possibly four dishes connected to a twin tuner receiver? My first thought was to use a couple of A/B switches in reverse mode with what is normally the A/B switch input source acting as an output going to the receiver.

As far as I know the A/B switches are simply a mechanical push button routing of the signal so it might work. However, I am not sure if I will get signal bleed over that might mess things up or some other type of interference. Has anyone tried using an A/B switch in reverse mode with 2 dishes into a single receiver?

Alternatively, if anyone knows of any other non DiSEqC option I would be grateful for the heads up. I am aware there are some coroprate grade units such as a Distribution RF Matrix but they seem to be overkill for the job if there is a cheaper and simpler option.


Yes .. Agree with Lazarus you should have no issues with A/B switches whichever way you use them ... its the only type of switch i use on my setup these days - have 6 or 7 in use currently for shifting signal from various dishes to various receivers.
 

moonbase

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Thank you for the quick replies.

I have pasted below a link to the type of switch I was thinking of using. It seems to be quite a common one and cheap enough.

 

Lazarus

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Thank you for the quick replies.

I have pasted below a link to the type of switch I was thinking of using. It seems to be quite a common one and cheap enough.



Yep. Those are the same as mine. Clunk-click, every trip.
 

jeallen01

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Another option is the SPAUN SAR-12 F which is a 2-way antenna switch controlled by a simple 12V ON/OFF signal - 0V = position A & 12V = position B.

One of these switches the input to the lounge SX88X between the feeds from the steerable Gibby and the 16-way DiSEqC switch for the fixed dishes down the garden. Then there's another one for the lounge TM5402 to switch between the feeds from the steerable TD110 and the 16-way DiSEqC switch - with a Smart Priority Switch in the feed to the DiSEqC switch to "decide" which of the SX88X or the TM gets access to it!

Took it a stage further by adding 12V relays for each of the SPAUN switches and which are controlled by RF transmitters stuck to the backs of the SX88X & TM R/Cs - all the feed switching can now be done from the sofa by pressing a button or two :)
 

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Two of the three matrixes here, HF on the left (three in/two out) and VHF/2m/70cm on the right (three in/three out). On the other panel near the roof is Band V and 2GHz stuff attached to the rotator
 

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Lazarus

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And the great advantage of these switches is they are idiot proof - SWMBO knows that if she has no signal on her chosen Satellite, all she has to do is push a button!
 

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I use coaxial A/B relays on my ham setup, you can get some that will cover up to 5 GHz, you can configure them almost any way you want.
 

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There's also 0/12V switches, and of course 0/22kHz switches.
Or you could modify a 4/1 diseqc switch, to not react to diseqc signals, but to control it with a 4position switch, but needing a power supply.

Edit, ah, others posted in the mean time....

But, what is the problem that you don't want a diseqc switch?

greetz,
A33
 

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

and, of course, the Ph in Philex sounds like an F, so @jeallen01 should be well satisfied too.
 

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And the great advantage of these switches is they are idiot proof - SWMBO knows that if she has no signal on her chosen Satellite, all she has to do is push a button!
I'm assuming she wasn't looking over your shoulder when you wrote that!:-rofl2o_O
 

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Last edited:

Lazarus

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I'm assuming she wasn't looking over your shoulder when you wrote that!:-rofl2o_O

No, she was puzzling over exactly which of two buttons she should press.
 

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moonbase

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...But, what is the problem that you don't want a diseqc switch?

greetz,
A33


The receiver does not support DiSEqC, hence the need for an alternative option
 

moonbase

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Another option is the SPAUN SAR-12 F which is a 2-way antenna switch controlled by a simple 12V ON/OFF signal - 0V = position A & 12V = position B. ...


That looks to be an interesting option, what are you using as the source of the 12 volts?
 
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