More than two Sky+ or freesat PVR digiboxes?
Distributing your satellite TV, UHF TV, VCR and DVD around your home using the Labgear TV distribution amplifiers is quite straightforward
but if you plan to future proof your home to enable multiple freesat TVs or freesat digiboxes then the Labgear HDU681S or the Labgear HDU641S may no longer be suitable
on its own.
A single quad LNB on a freesat (or Sky) dish will allow you to have 4 freesat TVs or 2 freesat PVRs (or 2 SkyHD boxes), but more than this and you need to use a
multiswitch, which is essentially a clever splitter.
How a multiswitch works and the importance of a Quattro LNB
If you want a greater capacity than the standard Sky dish and Quad LNB permits, you will need to have a 60cm to 80cm dish installed fitted
with a Quattro LNB.
The satellite signal feed is made up of one of four components (known as High band V, High band H, Low band V, Low band H). Your Sky or freesat digibox only
requires one component at a time and sends a signal to
tell the Quad LNB which one of these 4 components it wants. This component request can change according to which channel you are watching. A Quad LNB
is powered from your Sky box and responds to this request sending the specific component demanded at any given time.
The Quattro LNB is different from the Quad LNB in that it is a passive device and outputs each one of the four components individually all the time.
Essentially the Labgear multiswitch is a matrix switch taking in these 4 components and making them available upon request at each of the 8, 12 or 16 outlets. As
with the Quad LNB the multiswitch receives the demand signal from the Sky or freesat box and sends the appropriate component signal to the particular outlet
demanding it.
Labgear Multiswitch features
The Labgear multiswitches have five inputs: the fifth input is to allow for the insertion of a terrestrial TV signal. If you also have an FM and DAB aerial,
use a Labgear PSF310 three way combiner to add these signals to the terrestrial TV signal before connecting it to the multiswitch.
All Labgear multiswitches have adjustable gain on each input so that you can balance satellite and TV reception. The unit contains an integrated high
gain amplifier to compensate for insertion loss and boosts the signal for the best possible sound and picture quality. All the inputs are completely
isolated from each other to prevent signal bleed.
These Labgear multiswitches allow you to feed the dish signal to 8 (MS581E), 12 (MS512E) or 16 (MS516E) individual freesat tuners.
You can combine these with our Labgear or HNS TV distribution amplifiers or use just the multiswitch on its own depending on what you want to achieve and you own
circumstances.
NB. Labgear multiswitches do not have Infra-Red pass through to provide a return path for IR signals in a remote room when used with
the Labgear Handylink or Global
tvLINK IR relay systems. This means that if you require central control of IR equipment you need to combine the multiswitch with a
Labgear TV distribution amplifier. This combination is the most common arrangement so we have
shown examples of these below.
Earth Bonding
As you can see from the photos Labgear multiswitches are usually fitted with earth bonding bars to obtain a good earth common to all feeds to
TV outlets. This also ensures accurate impedance matching and thus freedom from reflection or SWR ripple problems which can lead to 'inter-symbol'
interference in digital satellite systems.
Wiring schematics: basic system with freesat signal to each TV
This allows you to distribute the output from your freesat dish (and your existing TV aerial) to multiple TV points around your home. Each TV point
can support a single Sky box (not Sky Plus or SkyHD) or a freesat box such as the Humax Foxsat HD or a TV with freesat built-in such as the
Panasonic Viera TH-42PZ81.
For schematic click here.
Wiring schematics: basic new build system with two freesat signals to each TV location
This allows you to locate a SkyHD or Sky Plus or freesat Plus box at each TV point so that you can record one programme whilst watching another.
This arrangement requires two runs of co-ax cable from each TV location, so it is more suitable for new build or major refurbishment projects.
For schematic click here.
Wiring schematics: centrally located Sky Plus or SkyHD with local freesat
This shows how to add freesat to an existing TV distribution system with centrally located Sky Plus or SkyHD. Control of the Sky equipment
is achieved using Global tvLINK 'magic eyes'. By using a Global Loftbox expander combined with a Global Loftbox DIP2DC splitter existing runs of
single co-ax cable can be used, thereby avoiding the need for a second run of cable to each TV point where a freesat signal is required.
For schematic click here.
Wiring schematics: centrally located DVD player or media server and Sky Plus or SkyHD with local freesat
This is simlar to the above system but now uses an additional Global tvLINK Plus unit to relay InfraRed control signals to the centrally located
video equipment.
For schematic click here.
Wiring schematics: Two Sky Plus or SkyHD boxes in different locations with local freesat
This is simlar to the above system but now uses an additional Global tvLINK Plus unit to relay InfraRed control signals to the centrally located
video equipment.
For schematic click here.
Wiring schematics: Other options
We have shown above the most common scenarios for adding freesat to an existing TV distribution system. We recognise that these will not cover all options.
If you have two Sky Plus or SkyHD boxes, but not in a single central location and want to add freesat to remote rooms please call us. Likewise if you
can run extra runs of co-ax cable to each TV point please call. We have prepared a variety of wiring schematics to cover most situations and these
are available for you to follow. If you call we can direct you to these on our web site and explain them to you.
IR control of centrally located multiple SkyHD and Sky+ boxes
If you only require IR control of a Sky (or Sky+) digibox, then you can use a simple
devices called tvLINK. This is a modified IR target that
works directly with the Sky digibox without the need for a base unit. tvLINK will not control
other items of equipment on its own; for this you need to add Global tvLINKplus, see below.
To control more than one Sky+ or SkyHD boxes you will need a Global Super Plus Combiner,
to ensure control of all boxes individually. You will also need a tvLINK in each remote room. For wiring schematic see above.
IR control of multiple IR sources
The Global tvLINKplus works together with the Global tvLINK receivers over
the existing co-ax cable connecting the TVs to control any piece of equipment that is operated via an infrared signal using the normal Philips RC5 or RC6 codes.
Note that Bang and Olufsen IR uses a higher frequency of IR and is not compatible with this system.
The Global tvLINKplus kit consists of the unit
which sits beside the DVD/Digibox/VCR/etc and re-transmits the
IR signals to the equipment. The Sky, Sky Plus and SkyHD signals pass through the unit and control the Sky boxes directly via the co-ax connected to the RF2 output
on the Sky box. The tvLINKplus kit comes complete with its own power supply unit and a dual IR emitter on a 3.5mm mono jack plug. We normally advise that for
reliability of operation you replace the included twin IR emitter with the Xantech Twin IR blink emitter.
Outlets shown in the wiring diagrams are shown here.
Click here for a PDF file of How to fit F type satellite connectors on Co-ax cable (264Kb).
01603 660901
