Advice Needed Multiswitch selection advice for domestic installation

[Xiaomi]

As an aside, I was also considering getting compression F connectors for the internal wiring. Is this overkill or a fair idea? I can get the normal F connectors for £4 for 10. Or I can get the compression kit plus 20 compression connectors for £14. Waste of money?

 

[archive10]

I'll only be using sat inputs. However, as we are on the edge of the satellite footprint I want to ensure that the multiswitch causes as few issues as possible in terms of losses from the input LNB. Which one would be best in terms of this - I don't really understand the input loss/gains and return losses? I'm more concerned in performance between these two items than price. Do the dials on the sat inputs make them easier or more difficult to set up?

You can stare yourself blind in specifications.
It's not really about signal strength - it's all about signal quality.
The main thing is the ease-of-integration, and this is where i found the EMP to excel - built-in amlificattion, support for quad LNBs etc.
(The Goobay claims the latter too, but I haven't tried it).
Forgive me if I misunderstand your setting, but your location does not strike me as being on the edge of any footprint.
I am 500 kms out of official footprint for Astra 2, and I still can use either device.

So, considering we are still talking a sub-100 GBP device, I think you will be well off with either.
If you want peace-of-mind, go with the EMP. If you feel like securing a bargain, go first for the Wenntronics.

 

[archive10]

As an aside, I was also considering getting compression F connectors for the internal wiring. Is this overkill or a fair idea? I can get the normal F connectors for £4 for 10. Or I can get the compression kit plus 20 compression connectors for £14. Waste of money?

Compression all the way.
Never looked back once I had the tools and the proper connectors.
I use PCC (good Danish company), but you can use whatever you like.
Moisture-tight and RF-right connecttions in a jiffy.

 

[Archive-8]

Compression is definitely the way to go.

I have just got mine and used it straight away. Far better than the screw on types imho.

 

[Xiaomi]

Forgive me if I misunderstand your setting, but your location does not strike me as being on the edge of any footprint.
I am 500 kms out of official footprint for Astra 2, and I still can use either device.

I'm fine for Astra. However, I'm on the edge for Saorsat which is available on the EUTELSAT KA-SAT 9A and is a narrow-band satellite with a footprint on Ireland, of which I'm on the coast.

So, considering we are still talking a sub-100 GBP device, I think you will be well off with either.
If you want peace-of-mind, go with the EMP. If you feel like securing a bargain, go first for the Wenntronics.

Yes, I'm just not sure about the Goobay brand. Whether I pay £70 for it, or about another £40 for the EMP which is more recognised is causing me the dilemma. The EMP has a 4 yr warranty whereas the Goobay I believe has a 2yr warranty.

 

[archive10]

I'm fine for Astra.

Yes, I know, that's not what I meant.

However, I'm on the edge for Saorsat which is available on the EUTELSAT KA-SAT 9A and is a narrow-band satellite with a footprint on Ireland, of which I'm on the coast.

The point is that the multiswitch is unlikely to deteriorate the signal much, only dampen it slightly (at worst).
As long as the noise floor of the multiswitch is below the noise level of the signal coming from the LNB, the STB will manage compensate by amplifying the incoming signal before A/D conversion (after the tuner).
Therefore, if you have reasonable signal before inserting a multiswitch, you should have one after as well. (Unless there's something wrong with the multiswitch.)
Do you have measurements on the C/N ratio of your current reception? Do you know how "fringe" you are?
If you do have problems getting enough signal, getting a larger dish will make a much bigger improvement than trying out different multiswitches.

Yes, I'm just not sure about the Goobay brand. Whether I pay £70 for it, or about another £40 for the EMP which is more recognised is causing me the dilemma. The EMP has a 4 yr warranty whereas the Goobay I believe has a 2yr warranty.

The EMP MS9/8PIU-5 V10 is EUR 99 at satshop.tv.
Shipping is normally something like EUR10-13 from them.

EMP-Centauri PROFI CLASS Multiswitch MS9/8PIU-5 V10, 99,00 EUR - sats

(I bought mine there some years ago. You can probably find it elsewhere, but avoid Satkontor - they have their inventory mixed up sometimes and send you e.g the basic line when you order the profi line. I've had this.)

 

[Xiaomi]

Thanks - I'm putting in a bigger dish so hopefully that should cover these issues.
I'm still tempted by the EMP purely because it is made in EU, has a 4yr warranty and has brand recognition.
There is just so little information out there on the Goobay stuff!

 

[jeallen01]

FWIW re EMP-Centauri: my (limited, it has to be said) experience with them over the last couple of years is that their products and tech support (PM me if you want the direct email address) are very good and helpful.

 

[Xiaomi]

I went to purchase the EMP-Centauri unit, but SatShop.tv are closed until 15/05 (next Tuesday).

Do any of you know about www.satking.de?

Or can recommend another seller?

 

[a33]

Or directly at emp centauri? You can ask for their pricelist via their website.

No experience with it myself, though.

 

[jeallen01]

Or directly at emp centauri? You can ask for their pricelist via their website.
No experience with it myself, though.

 

[jeallen01]

Unfortunately my post above was just a way of being able to Report that the Reply function wasn't working for me.

However, what I wanted to say about EMP-Centauri is that you certainly can (and I have) bought stuff directly from them, and you have to contact the sales dept at the email address given on the product listing pages. However, the process is not very straightforward and generally involves them manually giving you a quotation for the product and the P&P, and you then sending them a PayPal payment.

 

[Xiaomi]

Hi,

I've ended up purchasing from EMP-Centauri directly. They provided me with 6yr warranty, 3-pin plug and got some help from their tech helpline as well. It was a bit more expensive than some of the online retailers, but I was happy to pay the slightly more expensive option to get the 3-pin plug and the better warranty.

Thanks for all the help and advice offered.

 

[jeallen01]

EMP Centauri Tech Support is very good in my (limited, it has to be said) experience.

 

[archive10]

EMP Centauri Tech Support is very good in my (limited, it has to be said) experience.

Agree. My EMP gadgets always worked, performed well, and not let me down.

 

[Xiaomi]

Thanks, I appreciate that st1 has had both in operation, but when I went beyond this thread, there was little or nothign on the internet about them.
I did find one online store (SatKing.de) which was selling both. They recommended the EMP ahead of the Goobay.
I have to say that SatKing.de were very good to deal with - I only contacted EMP directly as I needed to order and Germany was on closure for Thursday and Friday due to a bank holiday for Ascension day and I remembered that jeallen bought directly. Otherwise I would probably have pulled the trigger with SatKing. They were cheaper and their tech support was good too.

 

[daro2096]

If you are living in Ireland you already get all the Irish PSB stations. You get them as standard through your Sky box. Why do you need to get them off Eutelsat 9e?

 

[jeallen01]

FWIW, I am repeating some info about buying from EMP-Centauri that was posted in another thread at the very end of last year.

I bought an S16/1PCP-W3 16x1 DiSEqC switch from an ebay seller called "sattvnoone" located in Klatovy in the Czech Republic, (which is where EMP-Centauri have their HQ!), and it was cheaper than the list price on the EMP-Centauri website (especially as it was Christmas Sale "special offer"). Current version of the same listing is here, and their ebay shop is here.

However, when it arrived here, the package was wrapped in EMP-Centauri packing tape and had one of their invoices inside! Thus it would seem that "sattvnoone" is just a "marketing" ploy for EMP-Centauri to sell their products directly to the public, and more cheaply and easily than it wants to be seen to be doing via it's own website.

OTOH, "sattvnoone" may not offer EMP-Centauri's full product (see the link above if you want to check)

 

[Xiaomi]

If you are living in Ireland you already get all the Irish PSB stations. You get them as standard through your Sky box. Why do you need to get them off Eutelsat 9e?

I'm in 6 counties, so it is a different setup.
I can get 3 of the channels on my Sky box, but not in the other rooms without Sky Multiroom which is an additional monthly charge.
Hence, all other rooms are supplied by 9E from the multiswitch.

 

[daro2096]

I'm in 6 counties, so it is a different setup.
I can get 3 of the channels on my Sky box, but not in the other rooms without Sky Multiroom which is an additional monthly charge.
Hence, all other rooms are supplied by 9E from the multiswitch.

As far as I am aware all the Ka band Irish channels are on the Irish beam so unless you live on or near the Welsh coast you won't get them.