Dual LNB vs Single w/ a splitter (1 Viewer)

[ChrisClearman]

Does anyone think there is any advantage to using a dual LNB satellite dish vs using a single LNB with a coaxial splitter?

 

[GordonL]

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to be able to control two or more receivers independently, you need a dual LNB dish. With a splitter you get the same output from both receivers.

 

[Robert_J]

using a single LNB with a coaxial splitter?

It will not work all of the time. If both receivers are on channels that happen to be on odd or even transponders, then it will work. When one receiver is trying to tune in odd transponders and the other tries to tune in even, then things go haywire. You can actually damage one or both receivers since they are sending voltage through the splitter to the LNB and probably the other receiver.

If you want to run your satellite system with a single cable and splitters, it is possible with extra equipment. A $250 stacker puts both odd and even transponders on a single coax. You would need a $50 de-stacker for each receiver in your system.

-Robert

 

[ChrisClearman]

hmmm,
In the dual LNB dishes that I have seen the dual seems to refer to the two coaxial outputs from the dish. There isn't two of the the little signal capture units. I assumed they were just splitting the one signal - but you're saying there are actually two different signals/transponders being captured?

 

[ChrisClearman]

BTW, I'm just trying to use a single LNB dish for a TiVo box (that requires two coax inputs to work fully).

 

[Robert_J]

I assumed they were just splitting the one signal

No. The difference between a dual LNB and a single LNB is the number of outputs on it. The satellite receiver will send either 13V DC or 18V DC to the LNB and it will tune into either odd or even transponders. You can't split a signal because one receiver may need odd and the other may need even. If you need more than two outputs, you use a multi-switch. One input of a switch sends a constant 13V while the other sends a constant 18V. If a receiver needs odd transponders the switch will connect that output to the correct input.

-Robert