Is there a 2 way cable adaptor, to allow me to switch between both SD sky & HD Freesat boxes?

[admin_exported]

Hi, At present i have a basic sd sky box with a single cable coming from my sky satellite dish connecting to my sky box. I would like to get HD freesat, however my kids will lose out on all their favourite sky childrens programmes if i ditch sky. Therfore is there some form of two way cable adaptor, that will let me switch between two boxes (ie) my current sky box and a HD freesat box. I will then be able to keep the sky box and switch over to HD freeesat when i want too. ( Or do i have to run a second cable from my dish, LNB's and loads of work etc. )

Grateful for advice,

Regards,

STEVE

 

[daveh75]

you need to change the lnb for 1 with extra ports i.e, a dual or quad lnb, and run an extra cable,from dish to your new box

 

[Anonymous]

Would something like this not do the trick?

G

 

[daveh75]

no, if you try and split a satellite signal with one of those, one of two things normally happens, either your get nothing at all or you'll get the vertical signal out of 1 port and the horizontals from the other, you can by multiswitch/amp set up's but are intended for commercial set up and blocks of flats, but is an expensive option, far better off just fitting a quad/octo lnb and running the cable you require,

 

[Gozaradio]

Dave, while what you say is generally technically true, I think OP only wants to use one receiver at a time, in which case, an A/B switch should do the job:

http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page1b.htm (scroll down about half way to the item named 38013 A/B manual switch)

It's just like unplugging the LNB from one receiver and plugging it into the other. You will need two coaxial patch leads to go from the switch to both receivers though and then you just press the appropriate button (A or B) on the box depending on which one you want to use. An automatic one does exist (on the same page) but one receiver must be master and the other a slave. Trouble with this is that The Sky box doesn't switch LNB supply off in standby so it can't be master, although I don't know about the Freesat boxes.

However, if OP hasn't bought freesat box yet, then a tidier option might be to buy the Grundig Freesat HD box as it has an LNB loopthrough output. This means that you connect your dish to the Grundig and then use a short lead from the Grundig to the Sky box. When you want to watch one, switch off the other and away you go. Here's a photo showing what it would look like:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_IE4Jg2oU7qs/SBn40hwLY5I/AAAAAAAAAGI/9Ye5uNDwqoM/s1600-h/FREESAT+MASTER+SKY+SLAVE.jpgAFAIK

REMEMBER - all the above options are only if you want to watch one receiver at a time - not both at the same time. If you want that, then you'll need a new LNB with 2 or more outputs and another cable.

 

[daveh75]

ok cheers, will look at those links, as for the two way splitters as pictured above, you cant use those, i also mis read the op too though,thought he meant he wanted to use both box's at once and not switch between the two

 

[Anonymous]

Many Thanks for your time in giving such excellent advice to me Re: my 2 way cable adapter query. I have only just today noticed the reply and feedback with dave75 etc! I have not yet bought a freesat receiver as yet, but will now look into getting the Grundig & do what you have said.

I bet this is "hot" information for many people like myself who would like to keep their cheapo Sky SD Box with their current package, but would also like the freeview HD as well. It is just what i would like to do - simply turn one box off and switch the HD capable one on - when i want to.

Regards & thanks again

Steve