cascading SW44 switch for 5+ tuners

[dosborne]

Originally Posted by Q

Another option you may want to consider is using a DPP44 switch

Originally Posted by walldad

I want a Bell supported install.

Then the DPP stuff is not for you as it is not supported.

[Q]

Good catch dosborne.

AFAIK the only bell supported installs for more than 4 tuners is using 4 hi frequency splitters and 2 sw44's or 2 mulit-switches and 2 sw44's.

[merve04]

Ok so if I get this right,, I cannot use a 2way splitter that is DC power pass on all ports to feed one line comming from the lnb to the two tuners of the receiver?

[kandkt]

Ok so if I get this right,, I cannot use a 2way splitter that is DC power pass on all ports to feed one line comming from the lnb to the two tuners of the receiver?

Correct. The only way you can do this is if you use DPP equipment and a seperator at the receiver. If you use legacy equipment (the one BEV supports), you will have to use 4 high frequency splitters (power pass all ports) OR 2 SW24's to feed 2 SW44's. You will then have 8 outputs.

[merve04]

Well I had a DP Quad and I got one line comming in,, I could run a second line, wanted to know if there was a way to avoid it.

[Q]

merve04,

If you upgrade to a DPP twin lnb and use a DPP separator you can connect a dual tuner receiver.

DPP twin lnb

[merve04]

Yaa i know that,, but I dont want to buy anymore equipement. I dont understand why theres 2 way splitters that are dc power pass, meant to split the signal, yet on this form you can use them to feed SW44 switches but a receiver not so much. Is it a question of length?? My dish is like 20 feet away from the receiver,, if I put a splitter (one meant for satellite) would it work?? Or is it a question of too much voltage drop from the receiver to the LNB when its split?? You'd think a dual tuner, would send to power feeds of 13~18V each.

[Stan Dev]

Originally Posted by merve04

I dont understand why theres 2 way splitters that are dc power pass, meant to split the signal, yet on this form you can use them to feed SW44 switches but a receiver not so much.

Unlike cable TV, a line from a satellite LNB (or from a satellite switch) to a receiver does not carry all available channels at the same time. Rather, a single line carries the channels from only half of the transponders (the even-numbered or odd-numbered ones) from a single orbital position (91 degrees or 82 degrees, in the case of BEV) at any one time. As you change channels on the receiver, the receiver sends a signal "upstream" on the line to the LNB or switch, identifying which block of channels (i.e., which set of transponders from which orbital location) should be placed onto that line.

[The "signal" that indicates the desired set of transponders is the voltage applied by the receiver to the line, either 13V or 18V. The signal that indicates the desired orbital location is the presence or absence of a 22 kHz tone from the receiver.]

The problem with using a splitter to feed both inputs of a dual-tuner receiver from a single line is as follows:

• The two tuners may be tuned to channels from different sets of transponders (even or odd), and/or from different orbital locations (91 or 82).
• In that case, the two tuners send different upstream signals, each requesting a different block of channels to be placed on the line.
• However, the single (split) line carries only one block of channels at a time, determined by which of the conflicting signals "wins".
• Thus, one of the tuners can fail to receive the channel to which it is tuned.

To work properly, each tuner needs to be fed by its own separate line from an LNB (for single-satellite setups only) or from a switch (for single- or dual-satellite setups).

The reason why high-frequency, DC-power-passing splitters work to feed two SW44s is as follows:

• An SW44 has four input ports, each dedicated to one of the four possible blocks of channels.
• A splitter can provide the output of a single LNB to the same port on two different SW44s (for example, the port that is dedicated to receiving channels from the even transponders at 92 degrees).
• Since those two ports require the same block of channels, both SW44s are sending the same (non-conflicting) signal upstream to the LNB, and the single (split) line can carry the required channel block to each SW44.
• A total of four splitters must be used, one for each channel block.

Does that answer your question?

[Sorry for the long-winded reply. Perhaps someone can come up with a much shorter answer to the so-frequently-asked "Why can't I just use a splitter?" question.]

[merve04]

I kinda get what you mean, so a Dual LNB must have two components in it,, the way I understand is is the receiver will send 13V to knock the lnb to feed all the odd transponders, and 18V to get the even transponders?? correct? so if theres 2 receivers, hooked to the same lnb,, and one is requestion odd, the other even,, theres almost has to be 2 like "something" in the LNB. I have found something call staked LNB for use with BEV. Would that allow you to split the signal?? sounds like it can shove both odd\even down the line at the same time.

[Stan Dev]

I kinda get what you mean, so a Dual LNB must have two components in it,, the way I understand is is the receiver will send 13V to knock the lnb to feed all the odd transponders, and 18V to get the even transponders?? correct?

Correct. (Actually, I don't remember which voltage gets the Evens and which one gets the Odds, but you have the right understanding.)

I have found something call staked LNB for use with BEV. Would that allow you to split the signal?? sounds like it can shove both odd\even down the line at the same time.

Yes, that's the DPP stuff that kandkt and Q mentioned and you dismissed. It stacks Evens and Odds on the same cable. But you still can't use any old "splitter" with that -- you would need a DPP "separator".

[impeyr]

I would not use power passing "splitters", I would strongly recommend using sw42 switches. They are about the same price on eBay (around $10), you only need two sw42 switches, (you need 4 splitters) and they work much better.

[merve04]

its ok guys, i got a DP Quad which already has a 4x4 switch in it, was just trying to avoid running another line,, but i guess thats my project for this week..

[Stan Dev]

Originally Posted by impeyr

I would not use power passing "splitters", I would strongly recommend using sw42 switches.

I think you mean SW24 (or SW34) switches. If so, I agree with your recommendation, though I wouldn't go so far as to say "they work much better". The splitter solution works just fine in most cases. It is, after all, the solution specified in the SW44 manual.

[sixpac]

Well I just tried option number 1 using two of the two way switches from Home Depot and it worked perfectly.

I have 6 receivers setup and all are working great including my 9242.

[sixpac]

Well something now went wrong. Since I last posted the cascaded switches don't work anymore. So I unplugged the 2nd SW44 and the original setup works fine.

Not sure what went wrong? Why did it work fine for 10 days and then today with the two SW44 cascaded I the test switch would fail?



Oh and I only was cascading for 91 not 82 (82 is needed only on the first SW44 for HD).