One satellite dish, two tv’s??

Welshyorkie

Welshyorkie

Joined
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Thorpe Willoughby - Selby
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49,061
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Since 2015
I have just finished putting an additional 3 pin plug, cig socket, sat and tv connectors box into my MH. Bought a new tv and both tv’s have built in sat and tv freeview receivers - Avtex and Snooper Air. I also have a self seeking satellite dish. I have connected both tv’s seperately, direct to the main sat feed from the dish and they both work fine.
Then i purchased a splitter and connected both tv’s, and it just didn’t work.
Somebody has said i must have a dedicated 2 way sat (only sat) splitter, but i am not sure which one to purchase??
One thing i don’t want to do, is run the tv’s on terestial tv.

Can anyone help with a suitable splitter, part number or a supplier. It would be really really, greatful. As i have just spent approx £400 on tv and cabling etc and wouldn’t like to flush it down the toilet.

My favour saying: I started off with nothing and I still have most of it left.

In advance. Many thanks
 
Whilst it's technically possible to use a splitter on a single satellite cable it isn't straightforward and it's dependent on the kit you have. You can't just buy a splitter and connect it, the LNB on your dish and the receivers you plan on using have to be suitable.

As Mike says a twin LNB and individual cables from the dish to each receiver is probably going to be the best way forwards but even that has it's problems. You would need to make sure that the twin LNB you buy is compatible with your existing satellite controller or you will lose the self seeking function.


There's some more info in this blog post. https://www.smartaerials.co.uk/blog/why-cant-you-split-a-satellite-signal-cable
 
I don't have satelite myself but I understand you can only run one TV off a siingle LNB which is why most house system have at least a double or in many cases a quad LNB. They're not expensive, a dual one is only around a tenner on ebay.
 
If you had a regular sat box then yes, two tv's via a splitter from one dish, But, whatever you are watching on one TV will also be on the second TV with no option to change.

With an inbuilt receiver it's not going to work. .

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pappajohn said:
If you had a regular sat box then yes, two tv's via a splitter from one dish, But, whatever you are watching on one TV will also be on the second TV with no option to change.

With an inbuilt receiver it's not going to work. .
Click to expand...

Even that doesn't work. You have to slave the second TV from the first receiver not split the cable from the dish.
 
If you only have single lnb you will only be able to watch one channel at a time on both tvs. If all you want is a choice of wherer to watch the easiest way is just to run an extension from one TV point to the other. A set of quick release connectors will make changeover easier.
 
Last edited:
NickNic said:
Even that doesn't work. You have to slave the second TV from the first receiver not split the cable from the dish.
Click to expand...
Split the output FROM the stand alone receiver... Its only an RF signal the same as splitting a conventional TV aerial cable
 
DP_JAY said:
If you only have single lnb you will only be able to watch one channel at a time on both tvs. If all you want is a choice of wherer to watch the easiest way is just to run an extension from one TV point to the other. A set of quick release connectors will make changeover easier.
Click to expand...
And if the TV doesn't have an RF out socket ?
 
Sorry but a lot of wrong answers here and a few correct ones.
To run two receivers or two TVs that have built in satellite receivers and to watch separate independent channels you need a twin lnb on the dish and a separate cable to each TV/ receivers... Anything else will have restrictions.
Yes you can use a splitter but one TV/ receiver will control the lnb and the second TV/ receiver will have limited choice and not full access.

(y)

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pappajohn said:
And if the TV doesn't have an RF out socket ?
Click to expand...
You simply disconnect the lead from one TV & connect it to the lead for the other. As said quick release connectors help.
 
DP_JAY said:
You simply disconnect the lead from one TV & connect it to the lead for the other. As said quick release connectors help.
Click to expand...

Or. You can fit a manual changeover switch to select one lnb to two receivers. Some do have a lot of loss and in the early days of satellite could cause an issue but now days will be fine.
 
tonka said:
Or. You can fit a manual changeover switch to select one lnb to two receivers. Some do have a lot of loss and in the early days of satellite could cause an issue but now days will be fine.
Click to expand...


Great, but my way is cheaper.
 
DP_JAY said:
You simply disconnect the lead from one TV & connect it to the lead for the other. As said quick release connectors help.
Click to expand...
OK.... What if the OP wants both tvs working at the same time.
To watch both tvs and different channels can only be done with a twin (or more) LNB and a dedicated coax to each TV.
To watch both tvs at the same time on the same channel needs a splitter in the sat receivers RF out lead.
As I said earlier.... FROM the sat RECEIVER it's only an RF signal, and can be split.
This will work with a standalone sat receiver.

It should also work if the TV with inbuilt sat receiver has an RF (coax) out socket but that TV will be the master and the only one to respond to channel selection.
 
Actually there is a way to run more or less as many TVs as you like from an lnb but it has to be a quad lnb that gives VL VH HL and HH outputs You then feed these 4 cables to a multiswitch which provides several individual combined satellite feeds which you then connect to your tvs, antenna controller etc. Your controller and each tv and or sky box can now be switched to whatever channels you like individually Only area where it may not work is where the control signals for the antenna are passed up one of the coax signal feeds. Its how we do it on ships and how you get multiple channels on your cruise liner TV.
 
pappajohn said:
OK.... What if the OP wants both tvs working at the same time.
To watch both tvs and different channels can only be done with a twin (or more) LNB and a dedicated coax to each TV.
To watch both tvs at the same time on the same channel needs a splitter in the sat receivers RF out lead.
As I said earlier.... FROM the sat RECEIVER it's only an RF signal, and can be split.
This will work with a standalone sat receiver.

It should also work if the TV with inbuilt sat receiver has an RF (coax) out socket but that TV will be the master and the only one to respond to channel selection.
Click to expand...
That's only if you'd be happy with the degraded signal via the RF output. Having now gone past SCART (thank God) to HDMI it's a big step back to use the RF link.
 
pappajohn said:
OK.... What if the OP wants both tvs working at the same time.
To watch both tvs and different channels can only be done with a twin (or more) LNB and a dedicated coax to each TV.
To watch both tvs at the same time on the same channel needs a splitter in the sat receivers RF out lead.
QUOTE]

I agree & made that point in my first post.
Click to expand...
 
What satellite dish do you have? My Oyster came with a twin LNB and both are connected to the Skybox. The twin LNB version cost a few pounds more than the single. I suggest you contact your Dish supplier and ask them for a twin LNB. The HDMI output is connected to 2 TVs via an active HDMI splitter so I can watch the same channel on both TVs. The stereo sound output from the Skybox is also connected to the Radio headset, so I get surround sound through that ( including additional speakers at the bed end). I have also taken individual feeds from the 2 satellite cables ( via F plug tees) to the satellite tuners on both TVs, so in theory we can watch different channels on both TVs. This is pretty unlikely though as the TVs are only a few metres apart! It also means. That if the Skybox stops working or we are wild Camping and the Inverter stops working we would, in theory be able to watch TV. To be honest though, the more we use the Motorhome, the less we watch TV - always something better to do!

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You can fit a signal switch in the cable from the LNB to manually select either receiver.. I did this in my RV but as we sometimes wanted two TVs on different channels eventually fitted a twin LNB.. which is the better solution.

This switch is used for a twin LNB to select which one goes to the receiver, I used it with A and B as the signal to each receiver, and TV out as signal in from LNB. ..

Amazon product ASIN B009T1X8M8

or
 
scotjimland said:
You can fit a signal switch in the cable from the LNB to manually select either receiver.. I did this in my RV but as we sometimes wanted two TVs on different channels eventually fitted a twin LNB.. which is the better solution.

This switch is used for a twin LNB to select which one goes to the receiver, I used it with A and B as the signal to each receiver, and TV out as signal in from LNB. ..

Amazon product ASIN B009T1X8M8

or
Click to expand...
I’ve found that a simple Tee with F connectors works as well as a switch if you are just selecting which TV is used. The tv not being used is simply not turned on.
 
"Confusing", but thanks very much to all contributors.
Personally I think I shouldn't have started this project. hopefully the next project of changing to LPG Gasit tanks is more in line with what I understand. Then ones the LPG has been installed and my daughter comes back from Canada, to look after the house and cat, we are off to France, Spain and Portugal, can't wait.
 

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