Split DSTV signal for free-to-air decoder

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Kratos8051

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Hi guys,

I have an issue and I'm hoping you can help to give me some answers. My dad bought a third party decoder so that he can watch free-to-air channels without having to set them up constantly on the DSTV decoder (for some reason the DSTV decoder keeps deleting the settings for these channels). However, he only has a SD decoder (DSD 1101 if I remember correctly) and single LNB. Now, in order to get this free-to-air decoder to work, I need to "split" the LNB cable to both decoders. Initially I simply tried a splitter with DC pass on both channels to split the signal cable to two and to connect each to the decoders. However, I misunderstood the concept of DC pass, and as you can imagine, this didn't work. So I read up on how to split the cable and from all the guidelines, it seemed like I could simply connect RFout on the DSTV decoder to Signal In of the third party, but this didn't work. I tried numerous things, and in the end I just gave up and went back to the original setup of splitting the LNB into two using the splitter. The idea was to have a manual switch between the two cables. If my dad wants to watch DSTV, he just disconnects the cable to the free-to-air box and vice versa. However, like a miracle, this time it worked. Both decoders were receiving the signal fine. However, the free-to-air box loses the signal sometimes.

Now my questions: I know both decoders try to control the LNB. Is this the reason the free-to-air keeps losing the signal? Is there better way to split the signal into two for both decoders? The current setup is working, but I can't help to feel like it is a fluke.
 
You cannot split the one cable, because the services are on different polarities. Only one polarity, on one cable, at a time. Get a twin LNB and run a second cable.
 
Thanks for the reply Quantum. I get what you are saying, but do you have any idea why is it working now?
 
Both can never work at the same time... It is impossible. You must be checking it wrong, or something.
 
It is definitely working. I can switch between the two decoders and the channels on both are working. But like I've said, sometimes the free-to-air decoder loses signal, but comes back after a while.
 
Yes. Not possible...

Which FTA channel and which DStv channel are you watching at the same time?
 
The FTA channel my dad watches most is Kruiskyk, so the FTA decoder is mostly on that. I haven't really checked on which DSTV channel the other decoder is when the FTA decoder is working. Are you thinking that maybe both are working if the polarities of both channels are the same? If I change the channel on the DSTV, the FTA decoder might stop working?
 
Kruiskyk is actually one of the few FTA channels on the vertical low band and not the high bands. This means that if you are watching DStv services on the vertical low band (MNet, SS1 etc), both will work. As soon as you switch to a horizontal DStv channel (Animal Planet, BBCK, E! etc), you will either loose signal on the DStv or the FTA, depending on the type of splitter and the way it is connected...
 
Awesome! Thanks Quantum! So we learn something new everyday. On the topic of splitters. You said that "depending on the type of splitter and the way it is connected". In what other way can I connect it? And if I cannot split the signal, where are splitters normally used?
 
Firstly, you get RF splitters (up to 950MHz) and satellite splitters (up to 2150MHz). You need to use a satellite splitter... If you use an RF splitter to split satellite signals, it will severely degrade the quality of the signal. Secondly you get sat splitters with DC bypass on one leg and other with DC bypass on both legs. In your setup, if it is DC on both legs, both decoders will compete to switch the polarity and the highest voltage will always win. If it has DC bypass only on one leg, the decoder connected to that leg will have full control over the LNB.

We use splitters extensively in our commercial and communal DStv distribution systems.
 
I see...Thanks Quantum. One last question. Can RF out be used in a setup such as mine? I found a document on Multichoice's website detailing splitting of the signal, but it shows RF out being used in conjunction with TVlink to connect two decoders to the same signal.
 
Kratos8051 said:
I see...Thanks Quantum. One last question. Can RF out be used in a setup such as mine? I found a document on Multichoice's website detailing splitting of the signal, but it shows RF out being used in conjunction with TVlink to connect two decoders to the same signal.
Click to expand...

that's xtraview - (2 multi choice decoders) not what you are doing

The best thing for you is what quantum suggested earlier get a twin LNB
 
Hi isie,

Thanks! I'm aware that Xtraview uses these ports. If I'm not mistaking, this port can also be used to connect a second decoder to the first without the need to connect a dish. This allows multiple TVs to connect to the primary decoder, but contrary to Xtraview, all TVs will show the channel selected on the primary decoder. Based on the assumption that it simply replicates the RF signal, I would've thought that I could use this port to connect the FTA decoder as well.

I'm by no means an expert and since I tried using this port without success, it seems like the previous assumption was wrong. So is this port only used for Xtraview?
 
Your assumption is wrong. Satellite signal between LNB and LNB inputs... RF between decoders and TV's. RF link between different DStv decoders is for the heartbeat signal, so they can share one subscription. Both decoders however have to be connected to an LNB or multiswitch to receive sat signal.
 
Hi, I would like to know if I can have two TV's running on the one Decorder. I mean having tv1 in the bedroom and tv2 in the lounge running on the same Decorder ?
 
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