New unicable installation - recommendations please

[Essexman]

We are renovating a house in Ireland from scratch and would like to future-proof it with a Unicable distribution system:

• Astra 1 (19.2E) and Astra 2 (28.2E)
• two cable runs with four wall sockets on each run, 8 user bands on each cable.
• must work with Sky boxes (Sky-Q) and generic (OpenPli/OpenVix) STBs
• plus DVB-T distribution

I want to keep it simple (and at reasonable cost), so I don't really want any fancy system where even the wall sockets need programming.

So far I have figured out that I should be using 2 wideband LNBs (10.41GHz LO) and a unicable multiswitch.
Now I am confused which multiswitch I should go for. So far I have come across Inverto, Johansson, Vision and a few others.

Any recommendations for the setup that I am looking for?

 

[homesecurity]

For a clean, reliable dual-orbital setup (28.2°E for UK/Ireland Freesat/Sky + 19.2°E for German/European FTA) combined with DVB-T/Saorview without needing programmed wall sockets, here is the exact benchmark architecture we install:

1. **The Multiswitch: Johansson 9734PL dSCR (or Inverto 5/32 dSCR)**
The **Johansson 9734PL** is the gold standard for this exact job. It accepts 4 wideband satellite inputs (2 cables for 28.2E Vertical/Horizontal + 2 cables for 19.2E Vertical/Horizontal) plus 1 active terrestrial DVB-T/Saorview input. It provides 4 dSCR/Unicable II outputs (each carrying 16 user bands). It has built-in Automatic Gain Control (AGC) on both satellite and terrestrial, which prevents tuner front-end overload on short drops while equalising long runs.
Crucially, it is 100% Sky Q certified while fully supporting both EN50494 (Unicable I) and EN50607 (Unicable II / JESS) for OpenViX/OpenPLi Enigma2 receivers.

2. **LNBs & LO Frequency**
Use two standard wideband LNBs (e.g. Inverto Pro Wideband or Triax Wideband) with the standard 10.41 GHz local oscillator. Running wideband keeps your dish cable count to just 4 trunk cables (2 per orbital slot) instead of 8 quads into the switch, which keeps roof/loft penetrations very neat.

3. **Wall Plates & Cabling (No Programming Needed)**
You do NOT need programmable smart sockets (like Axing SSDs). Standard screened, non-isolated, DC-passing TV/SAT diplexed wall plates (e.g. Global, Triax, or Vision screened plates) work perfectly. The key to avoiding collisions without programmable sockets is simply manual User Band (UB) management: assign fixed, unique UB channels and frequencies to each receiver in its tuner configuration (e.g., Sky Q defaults to UBs 3, 9, 11, etc.; give your OpenViX boxes higher UBs like UB5 1420MHz, UB6 1680MHz, UB7 2040MHz).

4. **DC Power Inserter & Cable Quality**
Make sure you power the multiswitch directly using the dedicated Johansson power supply rather than relying on phantom line power from the receivers. Also, stick strictly to CAI-benchmarked double-screened copper cable (WF100 or TX100). Never use copper-coated steel (CCS) for dSCR runs, as the higher DC loop resistance causes voltage drop issues on Unicable DiSEqC command signaling.

If you stick with the Johansson 9734PL + 2x Wideband LNBs + WF100, you will have a bulletproof system that gives you instant multi-tuner recording across 28.2E, 19.2E, and Saorview down single coax drops to each room.

 

[urie]

For a clean, reliable dual-orbital setup (28.2°E for UK/Ireland Freesat/Sky + 19.2°E for German/European FTA) combined with DVB-T/Saorview without needing programmed wall sockets, here is the exact benchmark architecture we install:

1. **The Multiswitch: Johansson 9734PL dSCR (or Inverto 5/32 dSCR)**
The **Johansson 9734PL** is the gold standard for this exact job. It accepts 4 wideband satellite inputs (2 cables for 28.2E Vertical/Horizontal + 2 cables for 19.2E Vertical/Horizontal) plus 1 active terrestrial DVB-T/Saorview input. It provides 4 dSCR/Unicable II outputs (each carrying 16 user bands). It has built-in Automatic Gain Control (AGC) on both satellite and terrestrial, which prevents tuner front-end overload on short drops while equalising long runs.
Crucially, it is 100% Sky Q certified while fully supporting both EN50494 (Unicable I) and EN50607 (Unicable II / JESS) for OpenViX/OpenPLi Enigma2 receivers.

2. **LNBs & LO Frequency**
Use two standard wideband LNBs (e.g. Inverto Pro Wideband or Triax Wideband) with the standard 10.41 GHz local oscillator. Running wideband keeps your dish cable count to just 4 trunk cables (2 per orbital slot) instead of 8 quads into the switch, which keeps roof/loft penetrations very neat.

3. **Wall Plates & Cabling (No Programming Needed)**
You do NOT need programmable smart sockets (like Axing SSDs). Standard screened, non-isolated, DC-passing TV/SAT diplexed wall plates (e.g. Global, Triax, or Vision screened plates) work perfectly. The key to avoiding collisions without programmable sockets is simply manual User Band (UB) management: assign fixed, unique UB channels and frequencies to each receiver in its tuner configuration (e.g., Sky Q defaults to UBs 3, 9, 11, etc.; give your OpenViX boxes higher UBs like UB5 1420MHz, UB6 1680MHz, UB7 2040MHz).

4. **DC Power Inserter & Cable Quality**
Make sure you power the multiswitch directly using the dedicated Johansson power supply rather than relying on phantom line power from the receivers. Also, stick strictly to CAI-benchmarked double-screened copper cable (WF100 or TX100). Never use copper-coated steel (CCS) for dSCR runs, as the higher DC loop resistance causes voltage drop issues on Unicable DiSEqC command signaling.

If you stick with the Johansson 9734PL + 2x Wideband LNBs + WF100, you will have a bulletproof system that gives you instant multi-tuner recording across 28.2E, 19.2E, and Saorview down single coax drops to each room.

Nice first post hopefully some more replies, Without what seems AI.

 

[abu baniaz]

The requirement for Sky-Q and multiple positions on one switch complicate things for you. As you are running two cables to each room, it will simplify things/reduces costs if you segregate the orbital positions and have "two systems" from your central location. Some switches will allow multiple orbital positions, but they will cost significantly more. Some unicable switches will take quattro LNBs, some will take wideband, some will take quad and some will take anything. The quattro ones will probably be more readily available. The only effect is whether you have two or four cables from the LNB.

I would suggest you do the following:

System 1
19.2E with Quattro LNB,
Depending on switch, have a Terrestrial input.

System 2
28.2E with whatever LNB the Sky Q switch takes,
Depending on switch, have a Terrestrial input.

As you are in ROI, the shipping costs will be different to those of us in the UK. Search for unicable, dscr, dcss and buy what is suitable for you. Unitron, Whyte, Triax, Televes. A third co-ax cable will add redundancy and flexibility. For example, you could have the Sky Q on two cables and have the unicable stuff on the other cable.

The above is for switches, but you could also have programmable LNBS and spliteres. The programmer is expensive, so may be better if you could ask retailer to program the LNB. Again, the Sky Q requirement is a complication. You could mix/match the two if you wanted.

System 1.
Unicable LNB for 19.2 with a splitter. It will go to all rooms.

System 2
28.2E with whatever LNB the Sky Q switch takes, Switch must have DVB-T.


Dont forget, you can stream from one central receiver.

 

[Essexman]

Thanks @homesecurity @abu baniaz for your suggestions.
Just to clarify the requirements:

• I want to run one cable from top to bottom floor on the west side of the house and another one on the east side, each cable feeding four wall sockets.
• I don't know in advance whether there will be a Sky Q box or generic STB connected in each of the rooms (we will have lodgers and they may bring one or the other depending on their viewing preferences)
• I don know that we want both orbital positions in each of the rooms (not least in our own living room, we zap between Astra 1 and Astra 2 channels all the time)
• There should be enough User Bands available to allow Twin Tuners to be used in each room (for simultaneous watching and recording).

So, for now the Johansson 9734PL seems to be a good candidate (at a reasonable price) but happy to look at other suggestions as well.

 

[homesecurity]

@Essexman Since you are renovating the house from scratch right now with walls open, there is a critical technical factor you need to plan for with lodgers and Sky Q before pulling that cable:
1. The Sky Q User Band Hardcoding Trap
Unlike OpenViX / Enigma2 where you can freely assign custom SCR / User Bands (UB1 to UB16/UB32) in Tuner Configuration, Sky Q firmware does not allow manual User Band assignment. In dSCR mode, a Sky Q main box automatically grabs fixed default factory bands (typically UB3 1680MHz and UB4 1790MHz).
If you run a single looped/tapped cable down the 4 rooms and two different lodgers happen to plug in Sky Q boxes, they will both attempt to control the exact same user bands simultaneously. They will collide, cause IF frequency contention, and drop channels continuously.
The only way around this on a shared looped cable is fitting programmable Unicable wall sockets (e.g. Axing SSD 5-xx series programmed with specific UB band-pass masks using a programmer tool) — but even then, Sky Q will only ever work in the single room programmed with Sky's fixed default frequencies.
2. Sky Q DiSEqC Limitation
Sky Q has no DiSEqC 1.0 / 2.0 switching capability. It only speaks standard Sky dSCR protocol locked to 28.2°E. While your OpenViX box will happily switch between 28.2°E and 19.2°E using Unicable II (EN 50607 / JESS) position A/B commands, a Sky Q box on that same line will only ever see 28.2°E.
3. The Renovation Recommendation: Home-Run Star Topology
Because the property is stripped back right now, running a single daisy-chained or tapped cable down through multiple lodgers' rooms is a massive operational risk. If any tenant accidentally introduces a DC short on an F-connector, connects a non-isolated splitter, or connects an old legacy 13V/18V FTA box, it will take down the entire vertical trunk for all 4 rooms.
The cleanest, bulletproof way to do this during a renovation:
- Pull individual home-run solid copper WF100 cables from each room back to a central comms point (loft or utility cupboard).
- At the central node, feed your wideband LNBs (2 cables for 28.2°E + 2 cables for 19.2°E + 1 terrestrial DVB-T aerial feed) into a multi-output dSCR multiswitch (or cascade two Johansson 9734PL units, giving you 8 independent dSCR/Legacy auto-sensing outputs).
By giving each room its own home-run port:
- Every room gets its own completely isolated dSCR feed with zero cross-tenant interference.
- Your own living room Enigma2 box gets a dedicated port with up to 16 User Bands covering both 28.2°E and 19.2°E for endless FBC simultaneous recording and watching.
- Any lodger can plug in Sky Q, Freesat 4K, or an Enigma2 box on their own room's port, and the switch's auto-sensing port will handle it independently without ever colliding with their neighbours.