Labgear LDU608G / splitter / other?

[SJRSJR]

Hello

Am doing some renovation and thought I'd make the most of having access to wall and floor cavities. Reading other posts here tells me my AV knowledge is very basic so please bear with me,

Previously there was a satellite dish feeding 2 downstairs rooms (4 LNB). I don't want it on the front of the house and don't plan to subscribe to Sky, but I want to keep my options open. (I read that Freesat offers more channels than Freeview.) For now I've taken the dish down and the four coax cables are in the loft.

Meanwhile I've run shotgun cable from three upstairs bedrooms to the loft, so all in all I've got 10 coax cables in the loft and a TV aerial that picks up a decent signal (the transmitter is nearby) even indoors.

That gives me 5 rooms to feed, and because I'm not recording, I think I'll only need 5 of the 10 cables. For now. This is where I need help!

Please could you point me in the direction of something that would achieve this (and allow for expansion)? I came across a Labgear LDU608G (6 inputs 8 outputs) distributor. I thought this would do the job and allow for one satellite input down the line - is that right? It led me to look at other products on the Philex/Labgear site, although the LDU608G doesn't feature, has it been replaced? All the different products are overwhelming me! https://www.philex.com/product-category/tv-sat/

I've also read that one aerial should be enough for up to 8 TVs so do I even need to boost the signal or would a splitter be sufficient?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Lucid]

Freeview is easy to distribute. A single cable into a room can loop through a recorder box (feeding multiple tuners in the process) and then go on to connect to the TV as well. Satellite signals can't do this, or at least not without making some significant compromises. Satellite dish signals either need a direct feed from the LNB to each TV/recorder/tuner point, or passing through something called a multiswitch which is a special sort of distribution amp for sat signals that takes care of the high/low and polarity switching. The LDU devices are not this.

An LDU608 is a DVB-T/DVB-T2 distribution amp. What that means is it doesn't distribute satellite signals, only the signals that a Freeview tuner (and analogue tuner, for the sake of completeness) can pick up.

If we look at the set-up diagram, what it is showing is a situation where the TV aerial and the satellite dish signals come together in one place, say a loft (hence LDU - loft distribution unit). All the analogue and DVB-T/T2 signals are combined (multiplexed) and then added to the Sat signal (Sky+ 1) which, rather confusingly, goes to the LNB2 input. Here it's combined with the analogue and DVB-T/T2 multiplexed signal. All of that comes out of the downlink socket and is sent to wherever the Sky+/Sky+HD box lives (or lived) which would be the lounge usually.

In the lounge there's a wall plate with a device to split out the signals again. We get separated Sat, TV (analogue and digital), and then radio for FM and DAB.

The second Sky LNB feed bypasses any multiplexing. It goes via its own cable, through and out of the LDU, down a separate coax, to a separate coax in on the wall plate, and then comes out at the Sat 2 socket. That's the end of any path for LNB signals in this system. What happens next is that the older style Sky+/Sky+HD box takes the TV analogue/DVB signal and adds its own analogue RF output for whatever channel is being watched. This all comes out of the RF2 out on the back of the Sky box. That signal then goes back up to the loft and into the LDU via the UPLINK socket. This is what's then distributed to OUT 1~8.

None of the above stops you from using an LDU for distributing Freeview from a TV aerial to as many as 8 outputs, but it's overkill for that job if you don't need the FM/DAB and CCTV multiplexing. There are simpler (and cheaper) distribution units, often with remote power via the coax) that make installation neater and easier.

If you want to distribute satellite signals, that's a different thing.

FYI, the number of channels via Freesat (satellite) may be different to Freeview because satellite isn't space limited in the same way that terrestrial TV is. Freesat has more of the +1 channels, and there are more HD version of channels compared to Freeview. However, there are some channels you can only get via Freeview, and these don't appear on Freesat.

 

[Sureitsoff?]

surprised at labgear of all people using a pic of a circular omni fm aerial on that diagram as that aerial has been shown to have negative gain

 

[Lucid]

surprised at labgear of all people using a pic of a circular omni fm aerial on that diagram as that aerial has been shown to have negative gain

I guess it's because omnis are distinctive. This is the shape most readily associated with FM by the general public. It's the lowest common denominator.

This doesn't mean that an omni has to be used.

 

[SJRSJR]

Lucid, thanks very much for the comprehensive reply, I'll try to soak it all properly up later.

At first glance is it that, even if I was trying to distribute the UHF signal only, there is no direct link between the UHF In and the Outputs 1-8, I'd still need a Sat box in one room to take the combined signal in, with a Return to the Uplink on the distributor for onward distribution to the separate rooms? If so, that's annoying because I impetuously ordered one - £20 so not the end of the world...

There are two coax cables each into five rooms, can you recommend a suitable device/way that that will deliver the UHF to each room (ideally using that LDU608G )

While I don't have any immediate plans for a sat dish I might like one in the future so how would a multiswutch work?
I came across a reference to a quattro LNB and multiswitch, is that what you mean? Thanks

 

[Lucid]

Lucid, thanks very much for the comprehensive reply, I'll try to soak it all properly up later.

At first glance is it that, even if I was trying to distribute the UHF signal only, there is no direct link between the UHF In and the Outputs 1-8, I'd still need a Sat box in one room to take the combined signal in, with a Return to the Uplink on the distributor for onward distribution to the separate rooms? If so, that's annoying because I impetuously ordered one - £20 so not the end of the world...

It's a long time since I installed these for customers. Sky Q has been out ages and doesn't support RF2 Out, or any analogue RF come to that.

Anyway, from what I recall, they came with a short link cable to bridge between the Downlink and Uplink sockets. That's how the aerial signal gets to the outputs.

£20 for an LDU608 is a good price, so I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

There are two coax cables each into five rooms, can you recommend a suitable device/way that that will deliver the UHF to each room (ideally using that LDU608G )

While I don't have any immediate plans for a sat dish I might like one in the future so how would a multiswutch work?
I came across a reference to a quattro LNB and multiswitch, is that what you mean? Thanks

A multiswitch with a quattro LNB, and the signal from your Freeview aerial will cover pretty much all the bases if/when you add a dish. The multiswitch will distribute the whole lot.

 

[SJRSJR]

Thanks for taking the time to explain it, I’ve now fitted the LDU and can now get a picture in all rooms. If I get satellite down the line I’ll follow up on the multi switch etc but for now, for £20, it’s done the job