On 26/05/2017 15:40, Dave Liquorice wrote:
Starting to think I really ought to tidy up the coils of cable in the
wiring cupboard. Had a brief look around at multiswiches but don't
really know which are good or bad makes or even a decent place to buy
from.

I can't really advise you with any authority because I've been retired
years now and although Paul deals with such things we never seem to
discuss it.

OK hang on a minute...

He says he's happy to use Vision and Triax.


The multiswitch needs to do DSAT (and if it outputs the relevant
voltages/tones for a quad LNB that is already installed and working
all the better),


Hang on, one of his kids is screaming because he can't get Netflicks to
work.

Ahh...


You'll need to check on that yourself. It isn't a thing we would do.
Makes replacement of the switch a slight problem because usually they go
wrong at funny hours and you have to use what's in the van, and to only
stock that type would be limiting.

Be very convenient if it also distributed, Band II,
DAB (might get a signal with a loft aerial) and whats left of Band IV
and V for DTTV.

Oh yes you want that. They all do it. Some choice of input config but I
always used to use one-input ones and add my choice of
diplexers/filters/attenuators.

There are 24 coax's in the cupboard but 7 of those
are DSAT and terrestial aerials. So a 16 output unit will be just
over full, but it's unlikely that all distribution drops will ever be
used at the same time, so 12 outputs will probably do.

Oh get one that covers everything. It isn't worth giving yourself the
hassle of mucking about changing cables over (if they're labelled the
labels will all be wrong). And when switches go wrong, quite often it's
individual outputs that die so it's good to have spares.

Even though this isn't a "shared dwelling" I assume the hefty earth
bonding of the distribution cables is still a good idea.

I agree.


The plug-in
modules seem like a very neat solution and less time consuming than
the stand alone strips (and two less joints). Comments?

Either way really.


Would have tweakable input levels be an advantage bearing in mind any
test gear is just the signal level/quality indication of consumer
equipment. I do have a basic "adjust dish for maximum" satellite
meter.

Not really. You won't overload the switch with satellite signal. Lots of
head room. Just blast it with everything the LNB can give it.

For UHF and VHF use external attenuators (or pre-amps).


The output drops probably vary from about 10 m to 25 m (ish) so I
don't think I really need to worry too much about variation of signal
level across drops.

No, because normally everything is at a much higher level than the
receivers need.

However I have to say that doing this job without proper test equipment
is a bit hazardous. You're OK unless something oddball happens, then it
becomes a bit annoying.

Bill and Paul