Both converter boxes have to be on???

[Madd Maxx]

Hi all, I am new here so if this has been covered I am sorry, I looked for a search function but did not find one so here is my question.

I hook-up dishes for a FTA korean network, one of my customers just put in a system that has 2 converter boxes hooked up to a single output LNB, the feed line from the LNB splits and then each one run to a box which is on its own line by its self (in other words they are NOT hooked up in series). What I found is that if one of the boxes is turned off the other box registers no signal at all, if you disconnect the line to one of the boxes again the 2ed box "looses" all signal. I was wondering if this is an anti-hacking feature where each box has to "see" the other one before they will work so someone cant order 2 boxes (the 2ed box is alot cheeper per month then the first one) and give the 2ed box to a friend? These boxes have the plastic card with the computer chip in them to un-scramble the signal.

Thanks

 

[Tron]

Except in certain circumstances (stacked or single-polarity LNBs), using splitters on LNB outputs is generally not recommended. The splitter being used may be a one-port-power-pass splitter, which would mean that the receiver hooked to the power blocked splitter port wouldn't be able to power the LNB. The correct way to use two boxes would be a dual output LNB, each receiver would then be able to operate independently.

 

[bubba108]

Single output LNB-two boxes-bad idea. The magic smoke will escape from the boxes. Then one or both boxes will not work anymore.

I had 8 single output dishes hooked to two 4x1 DiSEqC Switches and a 22KHz Switch. I figured I was safe running two boxes as long as the boxes were on different dishes. Well I figured wrong and lost a Traxis 3500.

Best to go the extra mile and use a dual output LNB.

 

[WSInternational]

Best to go the extra mile and use a dual output LNB.

:up :up​

 

[Mr Tony]

agreed. The dual output works great for more than one receiver

the only time a single LNB/2 receivers might be OK is when you want a satellite that only has one side...like G18 vertical

 

[Techfizzle]

These boxes have the plastic card with the computer chip in them to un-scramble the signal.

hacker?

 

[Mr Tony]

uh no a subscriber
There are some ethnic channels on 97W & 101W that have a access card in them

 

[B.J.]

....
I hook-up dishes for a FTA korean network, one of my customers just put in a system that has 2 converter boxes hooked up to a single output LNB, the feed line from the LNB splits and then each one run to a box which is on its own line by its self (in other words they are NOT hooked up in series). What I found is that if one of the boxes is turned off the other box registers no signal at all, if you disconnect the line to one of the boxes again the 2ed box "looses" all signal. .....

..... The splitter being used may be a one-port-power-pass splitter, which would mean that the receiver hooked to the power blocked splitter port wouldn't be able to power the LNB. ....

Since it seems that the original question has been a bit lost, I thought that I would return to it.
Tron's answer was what I was going to say, except that this would only explain signal being lost in one way, ie say turn off A, and B would lose signal, but turn off B and A would NOT lose signal. It isn't clear from OP whether this is the case or not, but I'm assuming it is..... otherwise, it a confusing symptom.

The other issue though, is that I want to clarify that there is really no problem at all attaching two receivers to a single LNB port via a splitter, as long as you either use the splitters with one power pass port as mentioned above, or if you use a regular splitter but use a DC block on all but one port. I've been doing this for over a dozen years, and have never had a problem. Essentially no way to hurt either receiver, unless the DC block fails, and there is no reason for it to fail, since it's not carrying any current.
The only issue, is that described by the OP, in that one receiver is responsible for powering the LNB, so it must stay on, and the second receiver will have no control over polarity. This also could lead to very confusing situations if used with a diseqC switch, if both receivers are trying to send signals.

 

[B.J.]

....
I had 8 single output dishes hooked to two 4x1 DiSEqC Switches and a 22KHz Switch. I figured I was safe running two boxes as long as the boxes were on different dishes. .....

How could the boxes ever be on different dishes with this setup? I don't see ANY way this could ever work, with the switches listed. Ie no way that a switch can send signal from one lnb to one receiver and the signal from another lnb to a 2nd receiver. If two receivers try to tell a DiseqC or 22khz switch to do different things, you'll either get nothing, or both receivers connecting to the same lnb.

 

[B.J.]

.....
Tron's answer was what I was going to say, except that this would only explain signal being lost in one way, ie say turn off A, and B would lose signal, but turn off B and A would NOT lose signal. It isn't clear from OP whether this is the case or not, but I'm assuming it is..... otherwise, it a confusing symptom.
......

Actually, the ink wasn't quite dry on the above, when I thought of a possible way to have turning off A or B to kill signal on the other.
IF by chance, the lnbfs being used are universal, but the receivers as set up as standard but with the 10600 LO freq. Then, if a power pass or DC block setup has say receiver A supplying power, but say receiver A has 22KHz turned off, and receiver B has 22khz turned ON. In this configuration, turning off either receiver would kill signal on the other receiver.