Need help: How do multiswitches distribute sat signals to multiple sat tuners?

[OldBen]

Yes its either 5 core + Earth Webro, or 4 core which I think is also Webro wrapped in a sleeve. The 5 core has a white for terrestrial in addition to the 4 quattro colour coded cores, and a standard earth. They are both WF100 9mm cables I think, just sleeved in a plastic wrap.

I can see the benefit of the colour coding, but worried the big OD may be a pain to work down dish arm and into house. Plus I need 3x WF100 for TV, FM and DAB as well, so plenty of holes!

A well known online retailer seems to do the 4 core by the meter at £2.49/m so as I will only need 4-5 meters I expect it may be worth a punt for a tenner, I can always just use colour coded multiple runs of WF100 as you did if not.

Still waiting for house to be built, going by later today, they may have most of roof on which will be good if the predicted snow is coming!

 

[rolfw]

Don't bother with multicore, for your usage it is overkill and awkward to run neatly, four WF100 cables running through a 20mm hole (or slightly less) will be fine, just use coloured tape at both ends. I don't normally bother marking them, as it is quick and easy to check which is which using the spectrum, easily (but not as quickly) done using a satellite receiver.

PS. Still got a pair of red oxide painted T&K brackets in the garage if you know anyone who needs them ;)

 

[OldBen]

Thanks Rolf, 7 cables into loft space may need two holes, rather than one big one I reckon!

I think the next job may need a pair of white T&K brackets, or a pair of red ones and some more spray paint Think the red ones were 24" so not suitable anyway

PS Still have a pub lunch in my wallet, if you know anyone who needs one ;-)

 

[PaulR]

To my mind the decision on whether to use 5 or 4 core is entirely dependant on how close the TV aerial is to the dish. In France I have separate TV aerials for band III (they don't have DAB out there - yet) and band IV/V. I originally combined them on the roof and ran a single cable in but when I get back on the roof I intend to run separate cables for them, together with a cable for FM, into the house and combine them there. I prefer the idea of separate cables and keeping the combiner indoors but it's obviously more expensive in cable and you have to have the holes to run them inside! I'll probably put the two TV leads with the FM lead inside some the gaine to keep it tidy.

I didn't keep the satellite cables inside the gaine all the way. I stopped the gaine on the downward run on the wall and then ran the four cables through the dish bracketry and along the arm to the LNB keeping them tidy with plastic tie wraps. I covered the end of the gaine with tape to keep insects out.

Youn could fit a separate run of 4 core for the DAB, FM and TV aerials. It'd be a waste of one cable but it would be tidy.

 

[OldBen]

Yes I want to run TV/FM/DAB into the loft space separately, we only have one DAB radio so I may just patch the aerial direct to it with a spare feed rather than mix it in with everything else. I like the neatness of two runs of multicore, but as Rolf notes its probably overkill.

Could use some conduit, the thing with conduit is sealing the ends so its not full of water, at least it keeps the UV off the cable sheath.

 

[rolfw]

Where will the aerial be going?

 

[OldBen]

My plan was to put a 2" pole on T&K on an end wall with TV and FM above roofline, DAB somewhere, and fixed 60cm dish below roofline between the two brackets. This would be on side wall that mostly faces south, but I need to do some accurate measurements on the angles for the dish etc now they have actually built the walls of the house. The 60cm would be fixed on 28E, I may later put up a motor/dish somewhere else for experimentation.

That's the outline idea anyway at the moment. Some months away from doing anything...

 

[satelliteman]

Agree, 5 core maybe an overkill for a small domestic. If however you did choose to go down this route as antennas are mounted on the same bracketry, cut the cable sheaf back so you can cable tie the 4 feeds to the dish boom. Add a diplexer on the mast for UHF, FM / DAB and terminate your white cable to the output. This allows all feeds to enter via a 25mm hole. It's a neat option and would save time locating the correct LNb ports...but as mentioned above, running individual cables may prove a little easier for routing internally.

 

[OldBen]

Ok coming back to this planning now, as after it looked like our house sale fell through it all happened at the 11th hour and we will now be moving

New question, it seems the finish on the new house will not be traditional brick, but rendered. This means being of frugal nature the builder will have used blockwork for both skins. My experience of drilling & pugging breeze is its soft as, and you need some serious anchors compared to brick. Will standard expanding M10 bolts or the like do the business or should I be seeking something different?

Worked out the aerial business, freeview HD is the answer, have picked up a Blake DMX10A high gain group A aerial for the new house, only bought it in advance as I tried it in the loft of the existing before we move just in case can get Freeview HD but needs to be external. Will definitely need amp on TV aerial to ensure decent signal until switchover (will be pointing at Crystal Palace at some distance) but will stay away from masthead amps I think as probably not needed now, and definitely not needed 2012 onwards.

From look of local roofs near new house, seems aerial height may be important factor (new build so no aerial at moment), is it best to avoid mounting poles on chimneys in general, or would it be option to look at for best height for the TV aerial? Does dish add a lot of wind load and should be avoided on a chimney mounted pole?

Probably be after a quote in March Rolf for the whole lot if you would be interested in small domestic job as a break from commercial ones... (and I still owe you pub lunch from 2 years ago...)

 

[aceb]

I've only just come across this thread so am probably too late to contribute anything useful but if it hasn't been 1st fixed yet I'd recommend running in at least one CAT5e cable to each TV point. At the very least it gives an option to hook up a telephone line to a sat box but will also mean you'll have a LAN connection to a HTPC or an internet ready TV.
All our TV points have CAT5 sockets on and it's surprising how quickly a use can be found for them, even if you can't think of a use for one now I'd say still run them in and leave them coiled up behind a faceplate, future proofing an'all that.

 

[OldBen]

sadly not an option, the sales brochure declared a "digital home" wiring option with cat5e/6 but after we reserved the developer decided not to offer it at the last minute... retrofit to main areas will be the only option unfortunately.