Satellite connections inside a caravan

[Surfer]

Our 2011 Delta TI has the facility to connect the satellite dish into the TV system as there are f connectors on each TV outlet. We have found that the signal loss in quality is about 50%. A check shows that the cable enters the caravan in the battery box. It is then enters a 3 way splitter so I assume that this is where a lot of the signal is lost. All in all you now have 5 connections on the same feed with signal being lost over each connection. These are the connection on the LNB, connection in battery box, connection into splitter, connection leaving splitter, connection on outlet. IMHO very bad design. The splitter should be a powered amplifier.
Has any one else tried using the internal system for satellite? We now set up the dish the conventional way with the cable coming in through the window.

 

[NigelHutson]

I have used ours a few times (2010 Clubman SE) and it works a treat. I just connect the dish to the connedtion in the battery box, and then use one of the internal connections. Never had a problem. Perhaps you have a fault?

 

[Surfer]

I have used ours a few times (2010 Clubman SE) and it works a treat. I just connect the dish to the connedtion in the battery box, and then use one of the internal connections. Never had a problem. Perhaps you have a fault?

Normally a fault would drop out the signal altogether and as there is, I think, 12v powering the LNB, any fault would probably blow the digibox. In my opinion too many connections causing a loss of db over each connection could be to blame.

 

[RogerL]

I'm not sure they could have used amplified splitters because the satellite receiver is powering the LNB though the co-ax.
I know you shouldn't have to when you've spent that much on a new caravan but why not just replace the cable run between the battery box and your chosen position for the receiver with a single piece of cable, that way you're reducing the number of connectors and not using the connection for anything else.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I went to help a lady with a new Conqueror who could get no picture from the site TV supply via the caravan factory fitted lead in
Running the cable direct to the TV and the picture was fine
Too many connections for digital aerial or Sky are a bad thing

 

[Surfer]

A thought has just occurred to me. We generally take the Sky+HD box from home. As we will only be using one of the three outlets, maybe an idea to take the satellite splitter out of circulation by using a back to back for the one feed. This reduces the number of connections to 4 including the LNB connection.
If I then put a second coaxial feed in that goes directly to the aerial outlet I am already using via the the battery box using a back to back F connection. Then remove the "terrestrial" aerial socket and replace it with a "F" connector. This then allows me to be able to record any programs on Sky as I have have a twin input into the digibox.
I can then feed a signal from the digibox to a second TV in the bedroom by connecting it to the aerial socket previously removed. This signal then feeds back up to the splitter / amplifier where the external aerial for the caravan is located. I then locate the feed to the bedroom and using a back to back joiner take the power amp / splitter out of circulation so that the new feed by passes it.
Voila hopefully Sky signal in bedroom area. Hopefully the above is as clear as mud!

 

[Dustydog]

Surfer
I have a similar set up in the Wyoming. When I first wired it all up four years ago the signal was pretty poor. Turned to be a duff F connection that I hadn't made properly. I too use a Sky + HD box with a quad LNB. However there is no harm using a single LNB but you wont get any of the Sky+ facilities. But you knew that

I now use twin co-ax cable so I can use two outlets on the LNB and both inputs on the Sky Box. There are two joins as the cable enters the side of the caravan, then another two connections where it comes out at the rear of the sideboard wall where we keep the TV and Sky Box.
The TV in the bedroom which is just behind the sideboard is connected to the box with a HTML lead and a co-ax with a Sky "Mouse" which means we can control the box from both areas.
Both TVs work perfectly with a good satellite signal. I agree spliters always seem problematic but I suspect the problem is a poorly made joint rather the splitter itself. Do you really need the Ssplitter?

 

[Surfer]

It is not actually a splitter but a switching device that is activated when the digibox passes DC back down the cabling to the LNB. Seems removing it from the equation will make no difference. I have been reliably informed that on the single cable you can still record and have HD but if recording you cannot watch another channel at the same time.
At least running the second cable should not pose too much of a problem. We have two places where we can site the TV, one as you enter the door and the other on the chest of drawers in the front. The one site by the door is more convenient but if sitting on the nearside of the caravan difficult to view so that only leaves the Tv sockets at the front on the offside. Seems like no choice but to have it on the front chest of drawers as at least both of us can see it and we do nto have to have the volume too loud. Also makes it easier to run the second cable as the satellite input is under the front offside bunk. Although I have not looked yet, I assume it should not be too much of an effort to remove the actual TV analogue socket connection.

 

[carper2]

I have a Clubman ES and use the connection in the Battery box then the internal connection into the sky box. We have never had a problem, in England or France.

Les

 

[Dustydog]

I see why you need the two outlets now as the TV can be in different places.
Just a thought. If you opted for a quad LNB, which I did and then used tow lengths of twin co-ax, one to the sideboard and one by the chest that may solve the problem. Once it's all wired in connecting up doesn't take long.
However I am mindful of your arthritis and even I have to struggle sometimes doing up the F connectors to the screw sockets.

http://www.aerialshack.com/webro-wf65-twin-satellite-cable-metre-p-648.html
http://www.aerialshack.com/triax-quad-satellite-p-1336.html

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I see why you need the two outlets now as the TV can be in different places.
Just a thought. If you opted for a quad LNB, which I did and then used tow lengths of twin co-ax, one to the sideboard and one by the chest that may solve the problem. Once it's all wired in connecting up doesn't take long.
However I am mindful of your arthritis and even I have to struggle sometimes doing up the F connectors to the screw sockets.

http://www.aerialshack.com/webro-wf65-twin-satellite-cable-metre-p-648.html
http://www.aerialshack.com/triax-quad-satellite-p-1336.html

I use these push fit adapters for my Sky+ box in the house and in the caravan
Its much easier than cross threaded F connectors

http://www.ccsukltd.co.uk/product16759/F-Plug-to-Jack-Push-Fit-Adaptor.aspx

 

[Sproket]

I have three connection's for the signal to degrade & to get round this i have put one of these in line amplifier between the last connection to the satellite box.
I only use one LNB, but i have fitted push-on F adaptors to the amplifier & the back of the box & satellite inlet into the van

Before the amplifier was fitted the signal strength was just over half way

After I put the amplifier in line it goes full strength..........

The other TV just runs off of the status 530 on freeview ........

 

[RogerL]

I have three connection's for the signal to degrade & to get round this i have put one of these in line amplifier between the last connection to the satellite box.
I only use one LNB, but i have fitted push-on F adaptors to the amplifier & the back of the box & satellite inlet into the van

Before the amplifier was fitted the signal strength was just over half way

After I put the amplifier in line it goes full strength..........

The other TV just runs off of the status 530 on freeview ........

Not susprisingly, the signal quality remains unchanged - digital is more dependent on quality than strength whether it's terrestrial tv or satellite.

 

[Sproket]

The readings on the photos shown are from using my 40cm multimo dish.
If i tweak it the signal quality will come in better......
The one on the house shows about the same signal quality & that's on a 60cm dish but you can see the signal strength fluctuate......

 

[RogerL]

The readings on the photos shown are from using my 40cm multimo dish.
If i tweak it the signal quality will come in better......
The one on the house shows about the same signal quality & that's on a 60cm dish but you can see the signal strength fluctuate......

I'd expect any permanently mounted dish to give 100% quality and signal - assuming the right size is fitted and aligned properly.

 

[Sproket]

The readings on the photos shown are from using my 40cm multimo dish.
If i tweak it the signal quality will come in better......
The one on the house shows about the same signal quality & that's on a 60cm dish but you can see the signal strength fluctuate......

I'd expect any permanently mounted dish to give 100% quality and signal - assuming the right size is fitted and aligned properly.

Signal Quality will tell you that a recieved satellite signal is present and being decoded (if the parameters on the receiver are set properly). The higher the Signal Quality, the more data is being received without having to use data correction methods (better signal). The lower the Signal Quality, the more data correction methods are used to maintain a picture. Of course, there comes a point that the Signal Quality is so low (amount of good data received) that the receiver can't correct all the data errors and the picture suffers.
Signal Level tells you there is an LNB connected and working.

 

[Surfer]

Signal quality is based on a calculation of the inverse of the Bit Error Ratio but can't be relied upon to give meaningful information. Likewise the signal strength is based on the averaged signal level coming from the tuner, at the default transponder frequency (unless you are looking at the Manual Tuning menu). The tuner has Automatic Gain Control (AGC) which means that the signal coming out may already have been "turned down" - especially if a very strong signal is swamping the tuner. A too-strong signal can even cause an indication of weak signal strength.

Both indications are inaccurate and you'll see different readings from two identical Digiboxes. You'll even see different readings from the tuners in a Sky+ Digibox.

 

[Sproket]

I have two boxes & both give out different readings.............
As long as it works when we are away ..........
I can quite easily remove the amplifier if there appears to be a problem.......