[pablo_paul]

I'm trying to figure out loft boxes can somebody confirm if i've got this right because I'm confused

The loft box will have sat 1 and sat 2 connected to a dish it will also be connected to the UHF roof Arial.

1)Does this mean that on the combined feed I will have 2x sat and UHF?

2)Can i run a Triplex & diplex from the combined feed? I.e run the comined feed into triplex and then into the diplex?

3) The diplex requires a second feed (SAT2) I assume i take this from one of the normal outputs?

4)I use window media center could i record from SAT1 and Sat2 and UHF (2 channels) at the same time?

5)Can four TV's be watching four different freeview channels at the same time and then one tv watching SAT1 and recording from SAT2?

As i said loft boxes are confusing i've read a couple of guides but i'm still confused

cheers

[the_gavnor]

Hi there,

Specificially what "loftbox" are you looking at? A Triax DDU, Global etc... Because they all work in different ways, i.e. the Global only has one Sat input.

Also the answer to questions 4 & 5 for all will be YES as the satelite, UHF and VHF all sit on different frequencies, thus they don't interfere with one another.

If you get back to me with the model you are looking at then I will answer 1,2 & 3 answered ASAP.

Gav

[JimmyZ]

I'll try and answer so that it makes sense... which should then answer the above questions. I'm using the Labgear LoftBoxes as an example as they're the ones I've worked with.

1. Feeds into Loft Box.

Satellite (2x feeds)
UHF / FM / DAB
CCTV

Return feed from Sky Box (I'll come back to this bit )

2. Feeds OUT of Loft Box

One cable going to Sky+ / HD. This is where your ****plexing outlet comes in. You ONLY need one here.

Basically... this piece of gubbins takes the signal from your one cable down and splits it back out to the Sat 1&2, UHF (TV) and FM. The one shown here has the Return on it.

Get a shielded one!!! (as a side note... I'd recommend using CT100 Shotgun from your loftbox to this point. It's basically two aerial cables stuck together side by side)

Connect all your AV stuff to this... so Sat 1&2, UHF, and FM (if required)

3. Return Feed.

Connect your RF Out 2 to the return feed. This will distribute your Sky as if it's an extra terrestrial channel back up to the loft box.

It is important that you change the Channel number you're going to use in the Installer menu on the Sky box so that you do NOT have cross channel interference. This is going to depend on which TV transmitter you use in all honesty.

Some loftboxes allow you to insert magic eyes on the outputs, if you're going to do this... turn the RF2 power output on.

4. Connect all your other tv's up to the additional outputs from the loftbox and tune them up, including your new Channel... ie the redistributed Sky channel.


Does that help demystify it all?

[grahamlthompson]

The above threads sure have confused me. You need two cables minimum from the loft and one other (Totalling 3) if you want to distribute a sky box plus terrestrial to other TV'S using a return coax from a sky box rf2 out.

One one cable you have 1 lnb feed diplexed with the uhf/vhf terrestrial services you want to use the other has a direct connection to a second lnb and is required for twin tuner recording sat boxes eg Sky+, Freesat+ or generic fta twin tuner boxes. Without special technology you can't put two lnb feeds down a single cable. The triplexer plate at the bottom splits them out into the individual signals you need for the individual tuners.

[pablo_paul]

sorry for the rubbish replys to my own topic. I was ill last night. i will be using labgear stuff as i.m using the
ir euro face plates. i.m at work at the moment so will read the thread properly when i get home.

[MartinPickering]

There's a rather good explanation of Loft Boxes on our SatCure web site {smug}.

[pablo_paul]

Martin you do have a very good description on your site you may have an order on the way if i can figure this lot out.

And from what grahamlthompson has said I think i may understand a little better.

I have attached my diagram, it's hand drawn and my hand writing is worse than a doctor.

I have labgear modular wall plate outlets one a triplex and one a diplex (duplex?) the Triplex has an input and an output (not a return) and i had assumed this is so i can loop the output from the loft box through the triplex into the diplex? Or do i need to run another cable from one of the outputs on the loft box?

I then want to run feeds to all of the other rooms in the house (I've missed two bedrooms out) The office is a slightly special case i would want a diplex in this room but the SAT1 feed would be redundant.

I think when i get the installer to do the dish i will have to get him to move the roof ariel cable I'm a little worried about the cable length it will terminate in the garage.

Am i starting to get this or am I completely off base?

[MartinPickering]

Unfortunately, I don't understand what you are trying to achieve. It's important to follow the relevant Loft Box manufacturer's wiring diagram and use the recommended sockets (or exact equivalent).

[pablo_paul]

i.m not very good at explaining this. in my living room i want 1x sat and uhf for my tv via triplex wall plate i also want 2x sat and uhf via a diplex wall plate for my media center. all are modular labgear stuff. all of the other rooms can be feed from single drop cables for 1x sat and uhf via triplex plates.

i understand i can only be watch a max of w sat channels at any one time. is this correct?

[MartinPickering]

Originally Posted by pablo_paul

i understand i can only be watch a max of w sat channels at any one time. is this correct?

Only if w = 1 or your brain works differently from mine. I have real problems watching more than one thing at a time (as my wife will confirm).

[pablo_paul]

Ha,

W =2 wrote that one on my mobile at work. I can have only a maximum of two Sat feeds for the entire house because I only only be using 2 outputs from the LNB.

So will this work?

[pablo_paul]

Ok,

I admit defeat after lots of reading a loft box is not going to do what i want. I thought it would distribute UHF and at least the raw SAT2 signal from the dish around this house but from the way i read it this isn't how it works.

I think now i'm going to order some cable and and a DIP2. In all of the other rooms i will install individual drops for UHF back to the loft and in rooms i feel i may need Satellite in the future i will add the drops.

Thanks to Martin for trying to answer all of my stupid questions

[JimmyZ]

Err...

There is another option (and not TOO costly)

Quattro (NOT Quad) LNB on your dish, four cables from dish to a multiswitch to carry the combinations required to get the full spectrum of transponders(transmitters) and one UHF... Multiswitches can have pretty much as many outlet feeds as you need, so a house wiht 8 Sky+ boxes would have a 16 outlet multiswitch, all independant of each other. From Multiswitch... EVERY single cable dropped from there will carry it's "own" sat feed and UHF, available via triplex plates. Need 2 feeds for Sky+? Quadplex with twin F Conns.