Satellite dish / quattro LNB / receiver recommendations

[Antony2009]

I'm just about to install a free to view domestic multi-receiver system using a Labgear multiswitch that will allow viewing and recording at each individual location. I have been advised by Labgear to fit a 'round 60 - 80cm dish'. When asked which dish they would recommend, they answered 'any reasonable dish will be OK'.
Additionally, after having read a few threads I believe a motorised dish may be more suitable for my particular setup.

Never having dealt with satellite installations , I was hoping that the knowledgeable and experienced members out there could recommend a suitable dish, quattro LNB to suit and reasonable receiver (equally, any particular kit that needs to be avoided would also be worth knowing about).

Should anyone need any further info', please let me know.

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Huevos]

How many receivers in total. Also you can't use a motorised dish for a multi user system. This is because a motorised setup only receives from one position at once and it's direction is controlled by one user. With a fixed system it needs to be able to receive from each available position full time.

 

[satelliteman]

If you want a quality dish that performs and ideal for a multiswitch system, consider a FR Penta 85cm. Fracarro also do a quattro but all much of a likeness.

 

[Topper]

Not quite understanding from what has been posted why the multiswitch route is being used, a standard quad (4 outputs) 2 to watch 2 to record or octo (8 output) 4 to watch 4 to record, lnb will do what you seem to want to be wanting to do, that is working a number of independant stb's, such that each stb can view and record different channels, unless of course you are wanting to add other signals in.

By free to view I assume you mean FTA free to air channels in other words just watch channels that are unencrypted.

 

[Antony2009]

Many thanks for your replies Huevos, satelliteman & Topper.

Here’s a little bit of background that I hope fills in the gaps. I’m currently renovating a house where there will be four viewing/recording locations with quad screened outlets and am looking to add a further two similar locations at a later date, hence the need for a multiswitch and quattro setup. The house itself is an old stone built end of terrace, which unfortunately has practically north, east and west facing walls. I was planning to site the dish on the east facing wall (prompted by ease of wiring & siting of existing dishes on the street), tho’ any satellites less than 8E orbit longitude are blocked by my row of terraces.

As the house will be let on a short term basis by international, professional mature students whose nationalities are most likely to be changeable, I'd want the motorised dish option to allow me to easily change and pick up different satellites. So, the satellite will be periodically controlled and set from one location by me alone, to (hopefully) suit the majority taste. To this end (having read about the USALS and DisEqC 1.2), am I right in believing that I need a receiver that complies with the USALS standard if I’m to avoid periodic satellite finding sessions? If so, any recommendations for a suitable receiver will be greatly appreciated.

I’ll also be connecting TV, FM, DAB (and possibly CCTV) to the multiswitch using an appropriate combiner. Labgear advised me to go for a PSF310 three way combiner and then add a two way combiner when adding the CCTV. Surely there’s a four way combiner that I could use from the outset? - Any advice/recommendations for this would also be welcome.

I’ve looked on the net for the Fracarro Penta – looks neat but unfortunately they don’t do a black or brown version which I’d much prefer to fit in with the stone walls (incidentally Labgear advised me to go for a round dish).

When I get round to it, I’ll be doing the installation myself so I’ve no doubt that the ‘Motor Installation Set Up’ & ‘Quick Reference’ guides from satelliteman will come in handy – thanks again!

In the main I will be looking at unencrypted transmissions but will more than likely need to consider encrypted at some point.

Thanks in advance once again.

 

[satelliteman]

I’ve looked on the net for the Fracarro Penta – looks neat but unfortunately they don’t do a black or brown version which I’d much prefer to fit in with the stone walls (incidentally Labgear advised me to go for a round dish).

They manufacture a dark grey/black Fracarro penta. Try HD Ltd on the site sponsors page here.

 

[Robbo]

To fit a Diseqc/USALS motor whilst using a quattro LNB is going to be a tricky one.

How do you propose to arrange that?


Have you considered a fixed dish multi LNB setup? That may be more suitable for your application.

 

[Antony2009]

Thanks for the link to HD Ltd satelliteman. I've checked out their website and found they have a fracarro quattro lnb too - hope to contact them soon.

Thanks for your input Robbo. I'd appreciate being told if I'm barking up the wrong tree trying to use a quattro lnb/multiswitch setup with a motorised dish. I've already bought the multiswitch which can only be returned for credit (to a provider I'll rarely use !!). If I have to use a fixed dish then so be it, tho' I like very much the idea of USALS.

 

[Huevos]

I'd appreciate being told if I'm barking up the wrong tree trying to use a quattro lnb/multiswitch setup with a motorised dish.

A motorised dish can only point to one satellite at once. It is a one user system.

For a multi user system the aerial system must be able to receive from all desired satellites simultaneously so one user can view from one satellite while another user views from a different satellite.

 

[deleted]

i agree with above posts seeing that most students can get what they need on 13/19/28 degrees east i would go for the fixed with monoblock

motorised will not work.

will stand corrected but you will struggle with multiswitch on monoblock as 3 inputs v hi/lo/ H/hi/lo x3 = 12

 

[Robbo]

Yes, 13,19,28 would give a fair choice, possibly adding 9E on the end. You would not use a monoblock though.

The problem is though that your existing multiswitch is probably for just one satellite, it would need to be a 13 input one for 3 satellites.

I think the motorised idea would be possible, you could have a receiver just to control the motor. The LNB would be fed to another receiver.

 

[Antony2009]

Hello all. Sorry for not having replied ‘til now – been unavoidably detained.

The dish would only ever point to one satellite at any one time (for the duration of a tenancy). Should the next batch of tenants want different channels, then the dish could be re-aligned to pick up a different satellite to suit the new tenant’s tastes.

I’m awaiting a call back from STAB to see whether a motor can be used with a Quattro LNB & multiswitch setup.

In the meantime, has anyone got any comments on the TV, FM, DAB (and possibly CCTV) combiner that I’d need (see my earlier post)?

Thanks.

 

[Antony2009]

STAB's reply wasn't what I'd hoped :-per so I'll be fitting a fixed dish after all. Many thanks to Bob at Hi Sat for his input.

 

[daro2096]

Buy a 4 satellite multiswitch and 4 quattro lnb's. Then put lnb inputs for Astra 2 into satellite 1 on the multiswitch. That way people living in the house will pick up astra 2 on their Sky+/Freesat box.