Satellite Distribution Options

[ironsidebod]

Hi,

I'm currently adding network/media cabling to our property. It's been a while since I last did it and satellite/tv distribution has moved on but there seems to be a few different ways to do it.

I have 6 rooms with a TV point, probably 3 will need satellite, so 2 feeds for the living room and then at least one per other room - flexibility to add recorders here would be useful.

No plans for Sky Q (only FTA/Freesat at the moment) but it seems sensible to have a solution that is compatible or can be expanded to support later.

So, probably a multi switch in the loft but what do I need at the dish (standard Sky minidish), which multiswitch variant etc?

Also the house is currently wired in the living room for a "return" cable for the old sky boxes, is this still relevant anymore and should I look to retain when replacing the cable?

Thanks for any help

 

[Lucid]

If you're thinking about future-proofing, then there a couple of things to bare in mind.

Sky Q doesn't work from a regular Sky LNB. It requires what they call a wideband LNB. This isn't directly compatible with older Sky boxes (Sky+, Sky+HD) although there is something called a Hybrid LNB which will do for the old and new systems at the same time. However, AFAIK, Hybrids aren't compatible with multi-switches.

Q requires only one box (the main unit) with connections to the Satellite dish. The secondary boxes have no satellite socket connections. They are networked players. The connection is either wireless or wired.

For the foreseeable future, Sky are supporting the old and new systems side-by-side. Trying to force everyone to change to Q would be too much of an upheaval. However, as older systems die, then those customers are being 'encouraged' to change to the new system. I'm still hearing that if customers kick up a big enough fuss, then Sky will supply refurbed +HD boxes, but they're saying that there are no new ones available.

The bottom line for Sky is that Q is their future, and that the mini players are better served by a wired network connection. There's talk too of Sky having a completely online streamed service i.e. no dish, no satellite cables. Last I heard, that was slated for launch this year, but that could slip.

Q might not be something you're considering now, but thinking long-term, whether that's you or the next house owners, then any future-proofed system should include plenty of provision of network ports anywhere there's likely to be a screen or some sort of receiver/recorder. Wireless is fine up to a point, but the current trend for having lots of wireless devices isn't going to slow down, and so the pressure on wireless to serve all at the same time in a house is going to intensify. Diverting some of that traffic on to a wired network will pay dividends for all the devices; wired or wireless.


Freesat remains as before. A standard Sky dish LNB will run any Freesat receiver/recorder just fine with a direct connection. Where you're going to multiple receivers then you're on the right track with a Multi-switch. You should install a Quattro LNB to feed the multi-switch, and that in turn will feed all the TV points. Add an aerial for Freeview; you might as well. The cost of a decent aerial is small; you'll already be paying a TV licence for the Freesat devices; all your TVs will have Freeview receivers built-in, so what's to lose having Freeview as a back-up option.

Regarding your satellite return cable, people still use RF2 from Sky boxes to share a single box around the house. The SD quality signal can be improved though by using a HDMI to RF modulator such as an Edision or Technomate. These turn the HDMI signal from any receiver box in to an RF signal compatible with TVs that have a Freeview HD tuner. Doing this extends the usefulness of an RF distribution system.


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[OwainDIYer]

Sky Q doesn't work from a regular Sky LNB. It requires what they call a wideband LNB. This isn't directly compatible with older Sky boxes (Sky+, Sky+HD) although there is something called a Hybrid LNB which will do for the old and new systems at the same time. However, AFAIK, Hybrids aren't compatible with multi-switches.

They should be, if you get a multiswitch that works with a Quad LNB?

However there are also multiswitches that handle both SkyQ and Legacy style and can switch between the two if the set top box changes in the future

http://www.systemsat.co.uk/multiswitch/triax-tmds54c-4-way-dscr-multiswitch-skyq-multi-switch.html

 

[ironsidebod]

Thanks Lucid for taking the time for a comprehensive reply. House is currently being fully network cabled so no shortage of LAN ports, wireless will only be for portable devices and so on.

I don't think we'll use a return cable but probably worth throwing a new one in while I have the cable and everything is apart/exposed.

Owain: Thanks for the link, time to bone up on new multiswitches!

 

[ironsidebod]

The Triax units look like they'll do the job nicely, if a little pricey. They do both Q and Legacy at the same time and allow terrestrial delivery too. Units can be chained to add more options later.

Best bit is you can use a Quattro or a wideband (Sky Q) LNB (no need of a hybrid) so getting something to fit a Mk4 minidish properly is easier.

 

[Lucid]

They should be, if you get a multiswitch that works with a Quad LNB?

However there are also multiswitches that handle both SkyQ and Legacy style and can switch between the two if the set top box changes in the future

http://www.systemsat.co.uk/multiswitch/triax-tmds54c-4-way-dscr-multiswitch-skyq-multi-switch.html

The Triax switch is designed for blocks of flats. Thats where the 'MDU' bit comes in: Multiple Dwelling Units. A building with several flats is likely to have some people with Q, some with +HD boxes, and others with Freesat or Freeview.

For a single household there's not much point distributing Sky Q LNB signals other than for making things neat. However, it does help future-proofing so long as Sky are happy with the signal running through a switch and wall plates. There are stories doing the rounds of Sky's installers refusing to put in Q where it goes through wall plates and other devices. It eems they're nervous about the filtering in multiplex wall plates. Equally though, it might just be scaremongering.

 

[GoodDIYjob]

I use a return feed. I always like to design distribution like that to give you the option. Back when I used to work in the in the game anyway. Recently, came on here and tried the Edison HD Mod, on advice provided. Works pretty well for a roku streaming stick.. I used to use a sky box rf2 out for return. Also better than nothing. Ok on bedroom set. Children watch it on larger screens no problems, but for me, if adults want to watch it, and they have any quality expectation, HD dist would be the way to go....

 

[ironsidebod]

Just to come back to this as I've finally got round to sorting it. I went with the Triax Sky Q multiswitch in the end (TdSCR 508 dSCR Legacy Multiswitch), not cheap but works perfectly.

Being able to use a Sky Q LNB which fits a mk4 dish perfectly and only necessitates a single run of shotgun cable makes it a piece of cake. Each output can be Sky Q/Wideband or Legacy satellite which is auto selecting, plus the usual terrestrial/radio/DAB distribution with diplex/triplex plates.

We have a sat recorder and multiple TV's capable of satellite (Freesat quality is IMO higher for most channels over Freeview so it's the preferred choice) so it makes sense, regardless of the switch's original intended use.

Hopefully this info is useful to anyone else looking for something similar

 

[plugwash]

Afaict the outputs are not wideband but dSCR, so if you want to feed a Q box from it you will need to reconfigure the Q box and set the LNB type to SCR. On the plus side this means that the Q box only needs one feed from the multiswitch.

https://www.smartaerials.co.uk/blog/sky-q-with-one-satellite-cable-single-feed

 

[ironsidebod]

Afaict the outputs are not wideband but dSCR, so if you want to feed a Q box from it you will need to reconfigure the Q box and set the LNB type to SCR. On the plus side this means that the Q box only needs one feed from the multiswitch.

https://www.smartaerials.co.uk/blog/sky-q-with-one-satellite-cable-single-feed

Yep, details are in the manual, though it doesn't explicitly tell you to change the Q box over