Forum Discussion

ezgoin's avatar
ezgoin
Explorer
May 02, 2014

A/B switch use on Satellite feed?

I've read where splitters are not to be used on satellite feeds (DirecTv Trav'ler dish), but is OK to use A/B switches to quickly switch inputs between the MH's cable/OTA feed and Satellite?

9 Replies

  • As my diagram above shows, I am using a single input point to provide for 3 different sources, all requiring different, mutually exclusive, devices.

    1. Cable (straight shot to video control center)
    2. 18" round antenna satellite, only satellite receiver inline
    3. vuqube 2100 satellite, with 2100 controller AND satellite receiver inline

    Without good, functioning diplexers and A/B switch, it wouldn't work, but it works well in all 3 modes.

    wa8yxm wrote:
    There is, in fact, a "Splitter" designed for that (Diplexer it is called) However I do not recommend them,,, Tried one once, not good.

    You had a bad diplexer.
  • Diplexers do work very well. I just prefer one device over 2 but that's not to say it is any less effective.
  • wa8yxm wrote:
    There is, in fact, a "Splitter" designed for that (Diplexer it is called) However I do not recommend them,,, Tried one once, not good.

    A/B switches work very well and those I do recommend.

    ON MANY (NOT ALL) Sat receivers you can wire as follows.

    Cable inlet to A/B swtich common, A to the "TV-ANT IN" on the Sat receiver, B to the LNB in (A for antenna/analog B for lnB or Binary) and TV-OUT back to the winegard wall plate cable inlet jack.

    now you need only flip the switch from Park to Bird or back. and otherwise it's as designed. (Well turn off the sat receiver for park as well).

    That said. I really like adding genuine RG-6 and ignore the factory lead.


    You may have had a bad diplexer or hooked it up wrong. Don't condemn something with a single trial. I have installed many with no problems.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    There is, in fact, a "Splitter" designed for that (Diplexer it is called) However I do not recommend them,,, Tried one once, not good.

    A/B switches work very well and those I do recommend.

    ON MANY (NOT ALL) Sat receivers you can wire as follows.

    Cable inlet to A/B swtich common, A to the "TV-ANT IN" on the Sat receiver, B to the LNB in (A for antenna/analog B for lnB or Binary) and TV-OUT back to the winegard wall plate cable inlet jack.

    now you need only flip the switch from Park to Bird or back. and otherwise it's as designed. (Well turn off the sat receiver for park as well).

    That said. I really like adding genuine RG-6 and ignore the factory lead.
  • Bill.Satellite wrote:
    You can also use an A/B switch with your satellite connection as long as it's a good quality unit. This is the one that I have installed on many systems without issue.
    Radio Shack A/B switch
    x2. They look cheesy, but are built really well with no measurable loss on the receiver at Ka
  • we have splitters for our satellite TV in the bedroom. Sats2Go in Houston TX put them in. We use the "input" function on the remote to accesss satellite or cable.
  • Splitters (actually called diplexers) and A/B switches are OK as long as they pass power. Be sure they say this. My multifunctional setup has 1 A/B switch and 2 diplexers. Here is a diagram of how mine is setup.

    The video control center selects CABLE or SATELLITE. If I select SATELLITE, the A/B switch selects round 18" dish, or Vuqube 2100 with its controller inline.

    Note that 1 diplexer and the A/B switch pass power both ways. One diplexer only passes power one way so 13v or 18v isn't backfed into the video control center.



    This diplexer passes power only one way:



    This diplexer passes power both ways: