C band splitter

[dssnosher]

Looking to split a line into two as Norsat LNBs only have single output and with dual LNBs on market i have either no signal or on the edge of pixelation. Bought a 2x8 passive switch but there seems to be great amount of signal loss. I understand that any splitter will result in signal loss but are there any good proper splitters that minimize signal loss?

 

[Channel Hopper]

It is - virtually - impossible without phase locked LNBs to combine signals from more than one dish

What are you trying to receive on your system and how far short of the signal are you with one dish ?

 

[PaulR]

What about amplifying the signal before it goes into the splitter?

I've no connection with EMP-Centauri but a quick search has produced these two amplifiers. The first has 15dB gain and the second has 30dB gain. Both need an external power supply.

EMP-Centauri - Amplifier A1/1PEU15dB-1 (P.181-M)
EMP-Centauri - Amplifier A1/1PET30dB-1 (P.180-M V2)

 

[archive10]

It is - virtually - impossible without phase locked LNBs to combine signals from more than one dish

What are you trying to receive on your system and how far short of the signal are you with one dish ?

I think the OP wants to send the output from a single LNB to two receivers.

As the splitters operate in the intermediate frequency band after the first downconversion, I don't think there should be anything special about C-Band.
The passive splitters I have used for Ku do take away up to 6 dB of signal strength, but they normally do not take any of the quality.
The impact is ususally only felt if the gain circuitry in the reciever does not provide same effeciency across the gain.

In general, I would concurr with PaulR: An inline amplifier before a passive splitter may be what you need.

Can you post some more details:
- what dish, feedhorn etc do you have?
- what sats and transponders are you aiming at?
- what receivers are you using?

 

[Channel Hopper]

I think the OP wants to send the output from a single LNB to two receivers.

As the splitters operate in the intermediate frequency band after the first downconversion, I don't think there should be anything special about C-Band.
The passive splitters I have used for Ku do take away up to 6 dB of signal strength, but they normally do not take any of the quality.
The impact is ususally only felt if the gain circuitry in the reciever does not provide same effeciency across the gain.

In general, I would concurr with PaulR: An inline amplifier before a passive splitter may be what you need.

Can you post some more details:
- what dish, feedhorn etc do you have?
- what sats and transponders are you aiming at?
- what receivers are you using?

Cband is very susceptible to unwanted noise pick up from external cabling and additional components/inline junctions on the way to the receiver tuner. Amplificaton may be a solution, but if the noise is already in the system then this will be of no use.

This is why I did ask at the beginning on signal figures and the purpose.

 

[dssnosher]

400cm dish, i am not sure what brand it is, no marking on any of the parts. It does look like it was made in the 80s or 90s
Using 2x Norsat 3220 LNBs for V and H polarities via what seems to be Chaparral Dual C band feedhorn(no markings but it looks like Chaparral to me)
The dish is pointed at Paksat 38e, outside of theoretical beam coverage

 

[Terryl]

Ohh no weather dome over the LNB's??

If you use a two way splitter get a good one and one that will work up to 2 GHz as the LO signals from the LNB's are in the 900 MHz to 2 GHz band.

Also be sure that one side has a power path to run the LNB's.

 

[dssnosher]

Ohh no weather dome over the LNB's??

If you use a two way splitter get a good one and one that will work up to 2 GHz as the LO signals from the LNB's are in the 900 MHz to 2 GHz band.

Also be sure that one side has a power path to run the LNB's.

Can't find a weather dome that will fit. The Chinese mesh came with a black one but because of the feed horn and two lnbs it doesn't fit. Any recommendations on a good two way splitter? I was thinking to try the previously mentioned EMP amp.

Basically a two way splitter with either side power path? No wonder this 2x8 switch isnt performing well, has no power path.

 

[Channel Hopper]

That looks like a very shallow dish, with a good chance of pickup from outside the main beam. Other satellites on the arc nearby may be throwing in unwanted signals.

Height as well, does the dish need to be where it is to lock onto this satellite ?

Take some images of the dish from the rear.

 

[Terryl]

Can't find a weather dome that will fit. The Chinese mesh came with a black one but because of the feed horn and two lnbs it doesn't fit. Any recommendations on a good two way splitter? I was thinking to try the previously mentioned EMP amp.

Basically a two way splitter with either side power path? No wonder this 2x8 switch isnt performing well, has no power path.

Only one side needs to have a DC power path, if you use a dual side power path you may run into problems with two receivers being online at the same time, the DC power outputs may be different voltages and one receiver may drag down the other, in this setup the main receiver needs to be on or the secondary receiver will get nothing.

In the secondary receiver the LNB power can be set to off in the setup menus.

 

[Terryl]

And as far as a weather shield, any plastic can or container that will fit over the LNB's will work, I have seen some use a Tupperware container.

 

[archive10]

And as far as a weather shield, any plastic can or container that will fit over the LNB's will work, I have seen some use a Tupperware container.

In fact, you can well use plastic containers from sprinkler fluid and similar with the bottom cut off to protect against the weather...
Same shape comes with oil and other substances in them, but I find that the sprinkler stuff is the easiest to clean out for re-use on sensitive electronics.