I'm about to leap into the unknown with Satellite TV installation in Switz' and have tried to read all the various threads on this topic. I'm keen to get BBC (6 nations rugby being broadcasted in HD this year) and/or Sky through Astra 28.2, and some mainland European channels, including Swiss through Hotbird at 13 East. However, I cant work out whether I can use my Sky digibox from the UK - I've seen reference in various threads to Digiboxes not working with more than one satellite feed. Is that correct?

With regard to set-up, I'm in the boondocks and so not sure if the local satellite installer is overdoing things. I would like satellite tv connections in 2 or 3 rooms in the house, and would like to pick up programmes from both satellites in 2 of those rooms. For Astra 28 and Hotbird 13 I've been told I should should get 2 LNBs (DEK 414 - CHF 99 each) and 4 multiswitches (DKR 401T - 110 each), with the cabling running from the dish to the cellar (where presumably the mulitswitches will be) and then up into each room. Does this sound sensible?

you can locate the diseqc switch at the dish and run one cable down - caveat is that a Digibox does not handle diseqc signals.

You can get distribution amps to insert signals into your cable TV network. I have one that cost about 1300 francs for two insertions (so box + two cards).

Is that what you're after?

Thanks for a quick reply. Unfortunately we dont have a cable connection here.

If I understand previous posts correctly (I'm a bit slow with all things technical), the diseqc switch essentially allows you to have just one cable coming into the house - which presumably avoids the needs for multiswitches. I assume I could use a diseq switch for one (non-digibox) receiver in the house so that I can watch programmes on both Hotbird and Astra, and just have the Astra feed run to my digibox in another room. Would I still need the multiswitch then?

ok, the options are quattro LNBs at those two satellites into multiswitches and then feed as many boxes as you like or quad LNBs into 1/2/3/4 diseqc switches and into 1-4 standard digital satellite receivers as you see fit.

Easiest is to distribute signals from one box around the house - your place surely is wired for cable even though you don't take the feed? Downside of that is that the one channel that all connected TVs can see is the one being output by one box.

Thanks again for the response. I'll discuss the two options with the installer, but it sounds like his proposal of quad LNBs and multiswitches is not a bad one. I was just baulking at the cost - although that is something I am becoming used to.

Re cabling, we are in an old house outside of town so no cable link. I've been told that had we had cable, I could have effectively connected a number of Tvs 'in series' around the house, but with satellite, I've got to connect each TV by cabling it back to a central multiswitch unit.

yes, possibly.
Distribution amp is an option as is having multiple boxes. Doing switching off the LNB gives a lot of flexibility - but distribution of a couple of sat boxes giving two distinct channel options is another.

personally I'd get 19east Astra1 covered too - and certain boxes that accept softkeys like the Dreambox, TM1500, etc. But this means more expense....box-wise and LNB, switch, cable-wise.

You're looking at wiring anyway so the choice is prepare for distribution before or after decoding....