5 DETAILS DETAILS TEST MULTISWITCH Reprinted from What Satellite & Digital TV www.wotsat.com TEST MULTISWITCH Reprinted from What Satellite & Digital TV www.wotsat.com UPGRADING AN existing one-cable-per-flat communal dish (and aerial) system to cater for two-tuner Sky+ boxes normally involves the huge turmoil, and expense, of running a second cable to each flat. These multiswitches from Italian maker, LEM solve that problem. Replace the standard multiswitch with an SCX53 series switch and each flat can continue to use the system as before, or switch to same terrestrial signal and three different satellite transponders to connected satellite tuners, down one cable. Installation and setup Because of the SCR/legacy dual-nature of the outputs, an SCX53 multiswitch can directly replace a conventional multiswitch with the same number of outputs, add on to an existing system, or be used for a new installation Installing is startlingly easy because of the unit’s automatic gain control, which means you can connect it to almost anything and cascaded units are always fed the correct signal level. Each output from the multiswitch has a three-way selector to set the gain. This can be set to 0dB for short cables runs, +6dB for medium runs or +12dB for long cables (unlikely to be required in domestic and small commercial settings). For each multiswitch output, at the receiver(s), you should use a special ‘smart’ splitter to provide the two or three LNB feeds and avoid clashes between simultaneous commands to the SCR system from different tuners. However, in practice, any DC- passing (DiSEqC compatible) splitter can be used. The multiswitch itself is powered by the connected receiver(s), but power for the LNB is from LEM’s 15V power supply (about £30, with a nifty strap-on wall bracket). If the multiswitch is connected to an existing ‘launch amplifier’, this will power the LNB. The output defaults to the legacy mode (access to the whole of one satellite sub-band) and is switched to SCR mode automatically by the Sky receiver connecting multiple satellite tuners – all without laying any more cables or even disturbing the residents. It’s down to the Single Cable Router (SCR) system (also called Unicable or Single Cable System). Instead of the LNB (or multiswitch) delivering one of the four satellite sub-bands LNB according to 0/12V and 0/22kHz signals on the IF cable, SCR sends a number of ready-tuned transponders down the cable according to tuning data sent from the receiver by DiSEqC. So, at the receiver end of the single cable, all of these pre-ordered transponders can be tuned at once (and terrestrial TV). Of course, the connected receivers have to be SCR- compatible, but as well as many independent enthusiast machines, Sky+ Digiboxes from Amstrad and Samsung and more recent Pace (but not Thomson) support SCR. In fact, Sky’s version of SCR is a little different from the EN50494 international standard, but the SCX53 range supports both, so it’s ideal for UK users. Here, we’re looking at the two-output SCX53/2, but there are also versions with four (retailing at about £260), six (£400) and eight outputs (£520) and by cascading the units, you can supply any reasonable number of outlets. Build The SCX53/2 comes in a remarkably small metal ‘can’. There’s no prettying of the unit as it’s designed to be hidden away, but it’s well made, well labelled and lugs on the top and bottom end panels are provided for wall mounting. Across the top are the five input connections, for the LNB and terrestrial aerial (with 4G filtering). The unit has to connect to a quattro LNB – it won’t generate the voltage and 22kHz signals to lock a quad LNB into a quattro configuration – and standard colour scheme input labels make it easier to connect the right input to the right quattro LNB output. These same inputs are looped through to the five output connectors across the bottom of the unit, so more SCX53 units can be cascaded from this one. You could also connect up another non-SCR multiswitch to these outputs. On one side of the multiswitch is the power input (15V for the LNB) and on the other are the outputs. Each output can act as a ‘normal’ multiswitch output, providing the terrestrial TV signal and the correct satellite sub-band demanded by a receiver, on one cable to a diplexing wall plate, or as an SCR output, providing the ‘For upgrading existing systems where cabling is tricky, they’re a godsend’ 3 connected, when that is set to SCR mode. Setting up the Digibox for SCR involves switching the LNB type to SCR in the installer’s setup menu and selecting the SCR band for the two (Sky+) or single (multi- room Digibox) tuners – LEM recommends SCR channel 11 and 14 for the Sky+ and 9 for a multi-room box. Then the box is switched off and on, and during the boot up phase it will pair with the multiswitch output automatically. FTA boxes are set up in a similar way. Performance You could say a good multiswitch should do nothing to the signal, and reveal its presence only by the multitude of outlets provided. The LEM SCX53/2 achieves this with flawless signals delivered in legacy and SCR modes. It slots seamlessly into an existing multiswitch system and provides unadulterated legacy and SCR outputs. Thanks to the AGC and selectable output gain, it’s a doddle to get working efficiently n Geoff Bains Verdict The whole SCX53 range is expensive compared to standard domestic multiswitches. However, one of these (or several in cascade) will save time, money and major disruption. For upgrading existing systems or even installing a new system where cabling is tricky, they’re a godsend. LEM SCX53 Upgrade an existing communal dish and aerial system for Sky+ without extra cables using these multiswitches from LEM SCX53 multiswitches (with two, four or six outputs) can be cascaded to provide any number of outputs, each of which can be either a normal (legacy) multiswitch outlet for one tuner or an SCR outlet to feed up to three tuners Inputs: 4x satellite sub-bands, 1x terrestrial Loopthrough: All 5 inputs Outputs: 2x legacy/SCR (4, 6, 8 output available) SCR channels: 9; 11; 14 Input gain: AGC Output gain: Selectable 0dB, 6dB, 12dB Input level: 50-100dBμV SCR Output level: 80/86/92 dBμV Legacy Output level: 70/76/82 dBμV LNB power: External 15V DC Power consumption: 14V, 160mA FEATURES PLUS n Backwards compatible n Automatic gain n Automatic legacy/ SCR switching MINUS n Expensive n Not quad LNB compatible Build hhhhhhhhhh Setup hhhhhhhhhh Performance hhhhhhhhhh Features hhhhhhhhhh Value hhhhhhhhhh Overall RATINGS 86 % LEM SCX53 www.lemelectronics.co.uk • 07946 508128 • FROM £150 SCR mode legacy mode splitter aerial quattro LNB SCX53/2 SCX53/4 further SCX or legacy multiswitch There are a number of versions available in the multiswitch family varying from two to eight inputs and ranging in price from £150 to £520 each. Fully Sky compatible they’re both flexible and easy to set up
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TEST MULTISWITCH
Reprinted from What Satellite & Digital TV Reprinted from What Satellite & Digital TVwww.wotsat.comwww.wotsat.com
TEST MULTISWITCH
Reprinted from What Satellite & Digital TV Reprinted from What Satellite & Digital TVwww.wotsat.comwww.wotsat.com
UPGRADING AN existing one-cable-per-flat communal dish (and
aerial) system to cater for two-tuner Sky+ boxes normally involves the huge turmoil, and expense, of running a second cable to each flat.
These multiswitches from Italian maker, LEM solve that problem. Replace the standard multiswitch with an SCX53 series switch and each flat can continue to use the system as before, or switch to
same terrestrial signal and three different satellite transponders to connected satellite tuners, down one cable.
Installation and setupBecause of the SCR/legacy dual-nature of the outputs, an SCX53 multiswitch can directly replace a conventional multiswitch with the same number of outputs, add on to an existing system, or be used for a new installation
Installing is startlingly easy because of the unit’s automatic gain control, which means you can connect it to almost anything and cascaded units are always fed the correct signal level.
Each output from the multiswitch has a three-way selector to set the gain. This can be set to 0dB for short cables runs, +6dB for medium runs or +12dB for long cables (unlikely to be required in domestic and small commercial settings).
For each multiswitch output, at the receiver(s), you should use a special ‘smart’ splitter to provide the two or three LNB feeds and avoid clashes between simultaneous commands to the SCR system from different tuners. However, in practice, any DC-passing (DiSEqC compatible) splitter can be used.
The multiswitch itself is powered by the connected receiver(s), but power for the LNB is from LEM’s 15V power supply (about £30, with a nifty strap-on wall bracket). If the multiswitch is connected to an existing ‘launch amplifier’, this will power the LNB.
The output defaults to the legacy mode (access to the whole of one satellite sub-band) and is switched to SCR mode automatically by the Sky receiver
connecting multiple satellite tuners – all without laying any more cables or even disturbing the residents.
It’s down to the Single Cable Router (SCR) system (also called Unicable or Single Cable System). Instead of the LNB (or multiswitch) delivering one of the four satellite sub-bands LNB according to 0/12V and 0/22kHz signals on the IF cable, SCR sends a number of ready-tuned transponders down the cable according to tuning data
sent from the receiver by DiSEqC. So, at the receiver end of the single cable, all of these pre-ordered transponders can be tuned at once (and terrestrial TV).
Of course, the connected receivers have to be SCR-compatible, but as well as many independent enthusiast machines, Sky+ Digiboxes from Amstrad and Samsung and more recent Pace (but not Thomson) support SCR.
In fact, Sky’s version of SCR is a little different from the EN50494
international standard, but the SCX53 range supports both, so it’s ideal for UK users.
Here, we’re looking at the two-output SCX53/2, but there are also versions with four (retailing at about £260), six (£400) and eight outputs (£520) and by cascading the units, you can supply any reasonable number of outlets.
BuildThe SCX53/2 comes in a remarkably small metal ‘can’. There’s no prettying of the unit as it’s designed to be hidden away, but it’s well made, well labelled and lugs on the top and bottom end panels are provided for wall mounting.
Across the top are the five input connections, for the LNB and terrestrial aerial (with 4G filtering). The unit has to connect to a quattro LNB – it won’t generate the voltage and 22kHz signals to lock a quad LNB into a quattro configuration – and standard colour scheme input labels make it easier to connect the right input to the right quattro LNB output.
These same inputs are looped through to the five output connectors across the bottom of the unit, so more SCX53 units can be cascaded from this one. You could also connect up another non-SCR multiswitch to these outputs.
On one side of the multiswitch is the power input (15V for the LNB) and on the other are the outputs. Each output can act as a ‘normal’ multiswitch output, providing the terrestrial TV signal and the correct satellite sub-band demanded by a receiver, on one cable to a diplexing wall plate, or as an SCR output, providing the
‘For upgrading existing systems where cabling is tricky, they’re a godsend’
3
connected, when that is set to SCR mode.
Setting up the Digibox for SCR involves switching the LNB type to SCR in the installer’s setup menu and selecting the SCR band for the two (Sky+) or single (multi-room Digibox) tuners – LEM recommends SCR channel 11 and 14 for the Sky+ and 9 for a multi-room box.
Then the box is switched off and on, and during the boot up phase it will pair with the multiswitch output automatically. FTA boxes are set up in a similar way.
PerformanceYou could say a good multiswitch should do nothing to the signal, and reveal its presence only by the multitude of outlets provided. The LEM SCX53/2 achieves this with flawless signals delivered in legacy and SCR modes.
It slots seamlessly into an existing multiswitch system and provides unadulterated legacy and SCR outputs. Thanks to the AGC and selectable output gain, it’s a doddle to get working efficientlyn Geoff Bains
VerdictThe whole SCX53 range is expensive compared to standard domestic multiswitches. However, one of these (or several in cascade) will save time, money and major disruption. For upgrading existing systems or even installing a new system where cabling is tricky, they’re a godsend.
leM SCX53Upgrade an existing communal dish and aerial system for Sky+ without extra cables using these multiswitches from LEM
SCX53 multiswitches (with two, four or six outputs) can be cascaded to provide any number of outputs, each of which can be either a normal (legacy) multiswitch outlet for one tuner or an SCR outlet to feed up to three tuners
Inputs: 4x satellite sub-bands, 1x terrestrialLoopthrough: All 5 inputsOutputs: 2x legacy/SCR (4, 6, 8 output available)SCR channels: 9; 11; 14Input gain: AGCOutput gain: Selectable 0dB, 6dB, 12dBInput level: 50-100dBμVSCR Output level: 80/86/92 dBμVLegacy Output level: 70/76/82 dBμVLNB power: External 15V DCPower consumption: 14V, 160mA
Features
PLUSn Backwards compatiblen Automatic gainn Automatic legacy/ SCR switching
MINUSn Expensiven Not quad LNB compatible
Build hhhhhhhhhhSetup hhhhhhhhhhPerformance hhhhhhhhhhFeatures hhhhhhhhhhValue hhhhhhhhhh Overall
ratings
86%
LEM SCX53 www.lemelectronics.co.uk • 07946 508128 • FROM £150
SCR modelegacy mode
splitteraerial
quattro LNB
SCX53/2SCX53/4further SCX or legacy multiswitch
There are a number of versions available in the multiswitch family varying from two to eight inputs and ranging in price from £150 to £520 each. Fully Sky compatible they’re both flexible and easy to set up
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