Apprentice,
A committed DiSEqC switch will typically have four inputs and one output to one receiver. The inputs are LNB 1, 2, 3 and 4. This type of switch adheres to DiSEqC 1.1 protocals.
An "UN"committed DiSEqC swith may have up to 16 inputs and one output that can be connected to either the receiver directly, or to one of the LNB ports of a "committed" DIsEqC switch. This type of switch adheres to DiSEqC 1.0 protocals.
The application of a "committed" 4x1 DiSEqC switch will allow you to connect up to four LNBFs to a single receiver. However, you can connect up to four "UN"committed 4 x 1 DiSEqC switches to each of the four LNBF ports on a "committed" DiSEqC switch which would now allow up to 16 individual LNBFs (satellites) to be accessed by one receiver.
These switches must be placed in line according to their hierarchy. The committed DiSEqC switch being closest to the receiver and the "UN"committed DiSEqC switches installed closest to the LNBF. They cannot be flip-flopped.
I am not sure how they developed the terminology of "committed" versus "uncommitted", but basically only the "committed" switch type can pass on the DiSEqC switch commands to another switch downstream. This is why the "uncommitted" switch must be last in the series.
The "uncommited" DiSEqC switch does not pass the DiSEqC switching commands forward. Those DiSEqC switching command signals dead end at such a switch.
RADAR
Gordy, You've got some of the things swapped around.
Commited, 4x1, 2x1 switches and DiSEqC 1.0 are synonymous
Uncommited, 16x1, 8x1 switches and DiSEqC 1.1 are synonymous
(Caveat: not all 8x1 switches are uncommited. Some are 2-4x1 connected and switched by some other method.)
(apparently the words are meronymy and
hyponym/hypernym but I kept synonym as most would get that better.)
The rules of thumb is generalized as:
LNB goes into a 22kHz tone then into a committed and then into an uncommitted which finally goes into a receiver.
Anole's switches simplified FAQ shows the variations that work.