Advice Needed Suggested install - help needed!!!

[Broste1980]

Hi everyone I'm a newbie to this site so firstly thank you for any/all replies secondly sorry for quite long post, just trying to make sure you guys have all the info you need to help, your help is massively appreciated.

I'm seeking advise for a suggested install, we are in the process of having our house re-wired so are taking the opportunity to install various other cables e.g networking,CCTV, TV etc my original plan was to have 2 cables (TV) to each room and connect this via a splitter box in the loft and twin wall plates in each room. I'm attempting to future proof as much as possible so thought of installing cable for satellite too. To do this I was going to get an octo lnb and run those cables as well 4 cables per room in total 2 TV 2 satellite.

After a bit more reading I came across multiswitch's my understanding is that I can feed this with FM/DAB/TV and Satellite feeds and run a single cable to each room and split the signal in the room with a triplexer wall plate. From reading around it appears that each break in the cable after being connected to the aerial introduces an amount of loss in signal with that in mind and whilst the scaffolding is still up my thoughts are to replace our current aerial a mini log periodic (8db) with a 36 element log periodic (12db) aerial and incorporate a variable masthead amplifier albeit set low the idea being that this can be adjusted by ladder if needed in the future. My question is really this from the diagrams/coverage information do you think this is the right way to connect everything up? should I swap the aerials and/or does anyone have any advice to improve this or any alternative ways of achieving this and does anyone one have any explanation of signal/db i assumed that 8db was twice as good as 4db but from reading online this does not appear to be the case, can anyone explain this in simple terms?

I've included my results from www.digitaluk.co.uk's coverage checker and wolfsbane.net's reception predictor as well as my connection diagram.

My parts list for the equipment I was going to use is below:
All cable to be web WF100

TV aerial: vision V10-36L
Multiswitch: 5 x 16 Optima Quad/Quattro
Masthead amp: Wolsey wfav25
Triplexer: Vision V24-3160) (FM/DAB/UHF).
Quadplex wall plate: to match new electric sockets switches when installed.

digitaluk.co.uk results:

wolfsbane results:

Diagram:

Once again many thanks for taking the time to read this post and any replies you make.

 

[RimaNTSS]

Hi @Broste1980 , welcome to the forum! You better upload pictures to the forum instead of using external site to store them. I have no possibility to see them, and maybe others as well. There is a screenshot of the part of your message as I see
Your basic question: Perhaps you go too deep now speaking about octo LNBs, splitters, multiswitches etc. What you need at this moment of time is to lay enough coax cables from the loft to each room. I would say, if possible, just lay plastic pipes in the walls wide enoung that it will be possible to put many cables through them later.

 

[Topper]

Hello Broste1980, welcome to the forum, it is actually a forum rule that you upload to our server for the very reason that everyone is now experiencing, no pictures to view, please note there is a size limitation of 1MB per picture when uploading otherwise it will fail

 

[Broste1980]

Digitaluk results:


Wolfbane:



Diagram:

Thanks for the heads up regarding images I've included these in this post now.

Rimantss

Thanks for the suggestion for we are currently in the process of running the cables for this, the main reason for asked by if this setup would work is so I know how many cables to run. The idea is that we want to feed 2 TV feeds and 2 satalite feeds to each room to allow for twin tuners/satalite recorders but (from my understanding) using a multiswitch means running 2 rather than 4 cables. So meaning less work, less cost in cable etc.

It's sort of pre-emptive planning since the means of connecting is still to be decided e.g multiswitch or multiple output amp (hence the post, to get advice) but that will be at the point when carpets/flooring etc is laid so won't have easy access to putting extra cables in if needed and I'd rather not have twice as many cables in the loft to try and work out which ones to connect since there will be 16 feeds to the loft if 2 cables are run and double for 4 cables. I'm just trying to get it right in my head so that all the work that can be done before then has been done. Don't want to get to that stage and be lifting carpets/floor boards etc. Equally don't want to get up on a ladder to change the aerial of if needed fit a mast amp hence the request for advice of changing aerial etc in my original post.

Many thanks

 

[RimaNTSS]

It does not matter how many cables you will lay down, after some time, usually, some more needed . That is why I suggest, if possible, to have empty pipes in the walls so then you can add number of cables inside them. If it is not possible- lay 4-6 coax cables to each room (just in case).

 

[Broste1980]

It does not matter how many cables you will lay down, after some time, usually, some more needed . That is why I suggest, if possible, to have empty pipes in the walls so then you can add number of cables inside them. If it is not possible- lay 4-6 coax cables to each room (just in case).

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I guess I was thinking short term but guess having spare cables is better than having to mess about afterwards, think we'll put 4 each room.

So you have any advice regarding the proposed install (diagram)? It would seem we are in a good signal area will the mini log periodic (8db gain) be adequate or should I install the 36 element log periodic (12db gain)? I am a little confused with the db loss via cables/connections is the loss cumulative e.g start with 12db and after 4 connections (say 3sb loss) signal will be 0db or is it 12db per cable So remaining signal would be 9db?

 

[RimaNTSS]

@Broste1980 Do not worry so much about those dB and signal loss. For the terrestrial television install one antenna on the roof and use splitters to have signal in each room. So, one of the 4 coax cables in each room will represent terrestrial TV. I would not advise to mix terrestrial and satellite signals in some kind of mixers (multisvithes, Diseqcs etc.). For satellite TV install one antenna with 4 OCTO LNBs and take 8 pieces of 1x4 Diseqc. The diagram will look similar to this, only LNBs will be with 8 exits and not 4 but 8 Diseqc. Besides, on the loft you can do some rewiring and get number of needed connections in the rooms. So, your system will be flexible enough to accommodate your future needs (which you do not know now). Use P2P CCTV cameras, so the picture from them will be available via internet (local and also broadband) on any PC or phone in the hose or even outside the house.

 

[a33]

I'm attempting to future proof as much as possible so thought of installing cable for satellite too. To do this I was going to get an octo lnb and run those cables as well 4 cables per room in total 2 TV 2 satellite.

For future proofness: you might also want to consider to use the Unicable(SatCR) system for satellite reception.
That would mean less cabling, but the need of Unicable-able receivers, and other equipment at the dish (Unicable LNB, or quatro LNB plus unicable multiswitch), and other splitters/wall connection boxes.

Might well be, that unicable will be the future standard for multi-user satellite reception.
If I would start over with new equipment, and have 5 or more independent tuners to feed, I would probably consider a unicable setup.

But of course, the choice is all yours. Too many cables is worse than too few cables....;)


By the way: octo LNBs don't have too good a reputation, alas....

Greetz,
A33

 

[Archive7]

I agree with A33 regarding using unicable LNB and splitters.
I have recently upgraded my setup and got rid of an old Quattro LNB and a multiswitch in favour of a quad Inverto Unicable LNB that came with two legacy LNB outputs. The unicable output only needs one cable run to where my receivers (tuners) are located.
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00GKPK4AK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B000KPWKRQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
As mentioned before, just make sure the tuners can support unicable LNBs and the specific model you intend to use.

 

[a33]

But of course, the choice is all yours. Too many cables is worse than too few cables....;)

I meant it the other way round.
Better a few cables too many, than too few.

(I hit the post-button too early -- my mind still busy with something else. Sorry!

Greetz,
A33