About Ku Band Universal LNB

First, a quick reminder: An LNB is mounted at the focus of a satellite dish. Its jobs are:

1. Amplify the weak signal reflected from the dish.

2. Convert the high Ku-band frequency (10.7-12.75 GHz) down to a lower Intermediate Frequency (IF) range (950-2150 MHz) that can travel through coaxial cable to your receiver.

3. Switch between polarizations (Horizontal and Vertical) and frequency bands (Low and High) based on commands (13/18V and 22 kHz tone) from the receiver.

A Universal LNB is the standard for Europe and many regions. It covers the full Ku-band range:

• Low Band: 10.7 - 11.7 GHz

• High Band: 11.7 - 12.75 GHz
  It uses the standard switching voltages (13V/18V) and the 22 kHz tone to switch between bands and polarities. This is what you'll encounter 95% of the time.

• Outputs: 1

• Purpose: Feeds one satellite receiver (one tuner). It's the most basic and cheapest type.

• Use Case: A single TV in one room. If your receiver has a twin tuner for recording (like Sky+ or Freesat+), a Single LNB will not work for recording one channel while watching another—you'll need at least a Twin.

• Diagram: Dish -> Single LNB -> 1 Cable -> 1 Receiver

• Outputs: 2

• Purpose: Feeds two separate satellite tuners. Each output operates completely independently.

• Use Case:

  • A single receiver with a twin tuner (for watch+record) in one room. (1 receiver uses 2 cables).

  • Two separate receivers in two different rooms (e.g., living room and bedroom).

• Diagram: Dish -> Twin LNB -> Cable 1 -> Receiver 1 (Tuner A)
.........................-> Cable 2 -> Receiver 1 (Tuner B) **OR** Receiver 2

• Outputs: 4

• Purpose: Feeds up to four separate tuners. The most common upgrade from a Twin.

• Use Case:

  • A multi-room setup: e.g., a main receiver (2 cables for record+watch) + two other rooms with basic receivers.

  • Future-proofing for adding more boxes.

• Diagram: Dish -> Quad LNB -> 4 Cables -> Can feed up to 4 separate tuners in any combination.

• Outputs: 8

• Purpose: Feeds up to eight separate tuners.

• Use Case:

  • Larger homes or apartments with many TVs (e.g., 4 rooms each with a twin-tuner receiver).

  • Small-scale communal installations (like a small apartment block sharing one dish).

• Diagram: Dish -> Octo LNB -> 8 Cables -> A complex multi-receiver setup.

• Tuner vs. Receiver: This is crucial. A modern receiver (set-top box) often contains two or more tuners (for recording, multi-view, etc.). Each tuner requires its own dedicated cable from the LNB.

  • Example: A Freesat 4K recorder needs 2 cables from a Twin/Quad/Octo LNB to function fully. An Octo LNB could therefore support four such recorders.

• dSCR / dCSS / "Unicable" LNBs: This is a modern, clever alternative to the bulky Quad/Octo LNBs.

  • Problem: A Quad/Octo LNB needs one cable per tuner. Running 8 cables from a dish is messy.

  • Solution: A Unicable LNB has a built-in multiswitch. It sends multiple channels/tuners down a single coaxial cable using different frequency slots. At the receiver end, a "Unicable" compatible receiver or a simple "JESS" splitter separates the signals.

  • Use Case: Essential for modern installations, especially in apartments with pre-existing single-cable runs. A Single Output Unicable LNB can often replace an Octo LNB in complexity.

• Monoblock LNB: A special type with two LNBs in one housing, designed to receive two satellites close together (e.g., Astra 19.2°E and Hotbird 13°E in Europe) on a single dish. These often come in Twin or Quad output configurations.

1. Count your tuners, not just receivers. How many separate channels need to be watched/recorded at the exact same time?

2. For a standard home:

   • 1 TV, no recording: Single LNB.

   • 1 TV with a PVR (record+watch): Twin LNB (2 feeds).

   • Main PVR + 1-2 other TVs: Quad LNB.

   • Multiple PVRs in several rooms: Octo LNB or, better yet, a Unicable LNB.

3. For new installations or cable management: Strongly consider Unicable (dSCR) technology. It's more future-proof and cleaner.

4. Check receiver compatibility: Ensure your receivers support the LNB type (most support Universal, but Unicable needs specific support).

In summary: The number (Single, Twin, Quad, Octo) is all about simultaneous, independent connections. The move towards Unicable technology is solving the cable clutter problem of traditional multi-output LNBs for complex setups.