Optical LNB

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Optimistically

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My DStv signal recently failed and I was talked into replacing the LNB with an optical LNB at a cost of ~R3,000. Was I ripped off with an unnecessary up-sell, or is this now standard as the technician claimed?
 
And what is an Optical LNB?
And would the co-ax cables throughout the house have needed to be replaced with optical cables or am I just not getting this?
 
this would depend vastly on your setup, however, the standard cheapo dstv smart lnb would have sufficed
 
So to be able to answer you properly, we need a little more info please. But in the meantime, a few things are easy to answer.

1. No, it is not the standard now, it is one of the options and it depends on the decoders you have and how extensive the distribution system is in your house.
2. It is certainly a more robust system in terms of lightning protection and the removal of stray currents that might be floating around because it gets rid of a direct copper connection between devices situated at different points in the house. Especially if more than one DB is involved, or, if there is a feed to a granny flat for example.
3. It depends on the system installed. Some of them do require all the copper coax to be replaced by fibre. Others involve a fibre to copper conversion somewhere, which then allows the existing coax to be used.
 
Geoff.D said:
So to be able to answer you properly, we need a little more info please. But in the meantime, a few things are easy to answer.

1. No, it is not the standard now, it is one of the options and it depends on the decoders you have and how extensive the distribution system is in your house.
2. It is certainly a more robust system in terms of lightning protection and the removal of stray currents that might be floating around because it gets rid of a direct copper connection between devices situated at different points in the house. Especially if more than one DB is involved, or, if there is a feed to a granny flat for example.
3. It depends on the system installed. Some of them do require all the copper coax to be replaced by fibre. Others involve a fibre to copper conversion somewhere, which then allows the existing coax to be used.
Click to expand...
Ok thanks for that. It’s a very simple - in my view - setup. Dish feeds one decoder in the house and 1 decoder in the domestic helper’s flat. Perhaps I’m being unfair, but now feel ripped off.
 
Optimistically said:
Ok thanks for that. It’s a very simple - in my view - setup. Dish feeds one decoder in the house and 1 decoder in the domestic helper’s flat. Perhaps I’m being unfair, but now feel ripped off.
Click to expand...
Nope, that setup does not require a fibre system. Two decoders only it is a bit of an overkill. How long is the feed to the flat? Ie, how far away from the main decoder? Are the two decoders independent from each other or is it a XV setup?

A simple 2- port SLNB or Dual LNB would just as well do the job, with no coax replacement.

But to make you feel a bit better, you now have a Rolls Royce feeder network. And plenty of bragging rights ! :):D
 
Geoff.D said:
Nope, that setup does not require a fibre system. Two decoders only it is a bit of an overkill. How long is the feed to the flat? Ie, how far away from the main decoder? Are the two decoders independent from each other or is it a XV setup?

A simple 2- port SLNB or Dual LNB would just as well do the job, with no coax replacement.

But to make you feel a bit better, you now have a Rolls Royce feeder network. And plenty of bragging rights ! :):D
Click to expand...
Thanks. What would a reasonable/fair price be to come and replace an LNB (standard) in Joburg? R1k?
 
Optimistically said:
Thanks. What would a reasonable/fair price be to come and replace an LNB (standard) in Joburg? R1k?
Click to expand...
I have no idea. But to illustrate what is involved, I recently replaced the LNB at my sister's place (two decoders, two cables to two separate rooms). Material cost was about R300 total. It took me 3 min to replace the LNB and about 5 min to replace the portion of the cables that needed replacing. (only the outdoor sections), used in-line connectors to connect to the existing feeds. Even replacing the outdoor cables with UV-protected cables iso the normal white crap that can't handle the UV.
 
Geoff.D said:
I have no idea. But to illustrate what is involved, I recently replaced the LNB at my sister's place (two decoders, two cables to two separate rooms). Material cost was about R300 total. It took me 3 min to replace the LNB and about 5 min to replace the portion of the cables that needed replacing. (only the outdoor sections), used in-line connectors to connect to the existing feeds. Even replacing the outdoor cables with UV-protected cables iso the normal white crap that can't handle the UV.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot.
 
Optimistically said:
Thanks. What would a reasonable/fair price be to come and replace an LNB (standard) in Joburg? R1k?
Click to expand...
I can tell you what I paid recently for my new install, consisting of the following:

- 80cm alu dish and bracket supplied by installer
- smart lnb supplied by installer
- supply and run of coax to three points around the house

Total of R 2800 for all of the above.

A normal smart lnb would put you out of pocket around 600 bucks, which would have been plenty enough for your setup.. assuming no coax need replacing, it wouldn't take an installer more than a few minutes to swap out the lnb.. so add an hours labour and you shouldn't have paid much more than around 1500 for this exercise..
 
WAslayer said:
I can tell you what I paid recently for my new install, consisting of the following:

- 80cm alu dish and bracket supplied by installer
- smart lnb supplied by installer
- supply and run of coax to three points around the house

Total of R 2800 for all of the above.

A normal smart lnb would put you out of pocket around 600 bucks, which would have been plenty enough for your setup.. assuming no coax need replacing, it wouldn't take an installer more than a few minutes to swap out the lnb.. so add an hours labour and you shouldn't have paid much more than around 1500 for this exercise..
Click to expand...
Thank you for the advice.
 
he has basically future proofed your system .maybe something to look at in the near future
 
Optimistically said:
My DStv signal recently failed and I was talked into replacing the LNB with an optical LNB at a cost of ~R3,000. Was I ripped off with an unnecessary up-sell, or is this now standard as the technician claimed?
Click to expand...
R3k is cheap for an optical lnb some start at 5k .so no .not ripped off .just to calibrate a new lnb in our area is R450 plus a good basic dual channel single cable unit is at least R500 now if you add freight bank charges etc
 
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soulie said:
how do you get power to an optical lnb ? its usually over the coax cable .
Click to expand...
Separate power feed from the nearest wall socket or via a composite cable (which sort of defeats the purpose of isolating the antenna from the decoder).
 
Geoff.D said:
Separate power feed from the nearest wall socket or via a composite cable (which sort of defeats the purpose of isolating the antenna from the decoder).
Click to expand...
yes i see its still 12vdc over coax cable with an f connector .you could drive decoder and lnb then easily off a battery if you can drive your tv as well .a winner during loadshedding if you dont have a big inverter .an option to be considered if youre a big sports fan with no power
 
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