Another Sky/freesat question!

TheFlyingGerbil

If I have just got a freesat+ box and a sky box. If If I only have two satellite lines coming into my room I want to get maximum flexibility from my freesat+ so will be putting them both in there. My question is could I use the loop through on the freesat box into the sky box? would it make the freesat box think it is using loopthrough and limit the recording functionality? I don't really want a third line coming in, but I don't want to hobble by freesat recording ability.

Joe

Unstoppable_2

No you can't use the loopthrough without limiting the twin tuner functionality of the Freesat box. Each satellite receiver needs a dedicated feed to the LNB.

gjchester

TheFlyingGerbil wrote: »

If I have just got a freesat+ box and a sky box. If If I only have two satellite lines coming into my room I want to get maximum flexibility from my freesat+ so will be putting them both in there. My question is could I use the loop through on the freesat box into the sky box? would it make the freesat box think it is using loopthrough and limit the recording functionality? I don't really want a third line coming in, but I don't want to hobble by freesat recording ability.

Joe

Blimey you managed to get hold of a Humax box... I'm still looking for one...

Anyway...
The way satellite recievers work is they not only recieve the signal as a set channel but the signal is alo polorised either horizontally or verticaly so to try and minimise interference with the next channel.
The decoder sends a signal up the lead to the reciever stuck on the dish (called a LNB) to set it to either horizontal or vertical polorisation. In you loop the signal out of one reciever into another then the second reciever will be unable to change that polorisation, so you'll only get everything on the horizontal OR Vertical polorisation depending on what the first box is set to.
You won't restrict the Freesats ability to record, but you will limit what channels you can watch on the Sky box. You'll only be able to see channels on the same polorisation. Of course you can change the recorder box but not whilst it's recording.
Quad LNB's are not too much (£10 or less on ebay) but you'll need to install more wiring.

TheFlyingGerbil

Thanks for the providing so much information so clearly - It was the extra wiring I was trying to avoid so I've ended up moving the sky box rarely used room which is kind of a waste, and the box is bigger than the TV it's plugged into, but never mind!

Joe