Dual LNB / freeview tv

Eyattwop

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So I bought a house that has a satellite dish with 2 LNBs. My tv has a single satellite input to tune freeview, so I spliced the feeds from both LNBs into one cable into the tv. The tv doesn't register a signal or find any channels. Not does it work with either LNB feed on their own. BUT - if I try it with one LNB feed into the tv and the other LNB feed touching the sheath of the one going into the tv, it works!! Obviously that's not a good setup to keep, so can someone in the know please explain what's going on here and how do I make this setup tidy?
Cheers, Adam
 
From what you describe, it sounds like you have one LNB pointed at Astra 2 (FreeSat) and the other pointed at a different satellite- usually Astra 1. Were the previous occupants foreign? No surprise that nothing worked when you "spliced" them. There is a thing called a DiSEqC switch to do that properly, they're not expensive.
It sounds like there is an earthing problem with one of the feeds. If you are lucky, it will be at the indoors end. The outer braid provides an earth return for both the signal from AND the power to the LNB. If you remove the F-connectors you should see some of the metal braid folded back over the outer plastic sheath of the cable. Like this:
fca.jpg
Pop the F-plug back on and one of the feeds should give you the Freesat channels.
 
Thanks for the advice Trevor, I had no idea that the braiding had an active function - should have figured that it's for conducting (and obviously not insulation!). It was an older couple I bought the house from, I think they had Sky+. If I understand correctly from what I've read, that should mean that both LNBs should be pointing at the same satellite, allowing for one feed to watch while the other records a different channel (not something my hardware can accommodate unfortunately). I know that one of the feeds works at least, and have ordered a DiSEqC switch and some F connectors from Amazon to make my dirty splice into a proper one that will power the LNB as it's supposed to - will let you know how I get on! Thanks again, Adam
 
If the wire comes from the satellite dish, you will be able to get freesat. For freeview, you need to connect the wire to an aerial.
 
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