About GeoffD

@Cavan wrote: I currently have a smart LNB feeding the Unicable port of an Explora 2 which is set up as the secondary decoder, and the two universal LNB ports feed an HD PVR2P which is set up as the primary decoder in my XV setup. It's been set up this way so that I can easily disconnect the PVR2P, which is a small and portable decoder, and take it to my holiday house which has an old LNB and use it there. I only need to change the settings to/from SatCR when I do so.   This does not make sense, The SLNB 500 has two universal ports and if configured this way you should not have to make any changes to the network settings as the 2P will always be set for Universal working?   I've now acquired an Explora 3A, and would like to use this to replace the Explora 2, and pass on the Explora 2 to my mother to replace her old decoder whose disk has died. My mother's setup doesn't have XV, but only a second TV fed by a RF cable. The Explora 3 is thus not suitable for her setup.   Can I set up the Explora 3A/PVR2P as explained below with a diplexer, but keep the 2P as the primary and the 3A as the secondary? Yes, the Explora 3A can replace the Explora 2A as a secondary decoder.  The diplexer will be required behind the Explora 3A to insert the HB from the 2P into the LNB port. The common port on the diplexer gets connected to the LNB port on the 3A. The "ANT" port is connected to the HB cable from the 2P, and the "I/O" port gets connected to the SLNB cable.   ... View more

Does not sound as if you are distributing RF around the home? Only using RF connection for HB? If so very simple, just remove one of the HD decoders and replace it with the Explora 3. That decoder will get HB via the SLNB  connection. Leave the other decoder HB  cable in place. Make sure the UB  settings are correct on each decoder and don't clash. See the diagram previously posted for the details. Or, post the settings for each and we can verify.   ... View more

Facts: 1. There are two ways to setup XtraView these days. The original called XV for identification purposes, and the new way called UniView (UV). XV requires an HB cable connection between the decoders from the RF ports on the decoders. UV feeds the HB via the SLNB cabling, thus avoiding the need for a separate HB cable. 2. NOT ALL decoders can receive or transmit HB via the LNB ports on the decoders. These are Explora 1, the HD decoder 4 series models 4U and 4S, as well as ALL the older decoders that were XV capable. 3. The Explora 2A, 3A both have internal diplexers, which means the HB can be transmitted/received via the LNB port. The 5-series HD decoders are the same. These decoders are thus fully UV capable and don't need a separate HB cable between the decoders. 4. The SLNB LMX 500 and 501 have universal ports, BUT HB cannot be transmitted through the Universal ports, only through the Unicable ports. The LMX 502Z has NO universal ports. 5. It is generally NOT a good idea to mix the two types of XtraView in one installation simply because you end up not knowing what is working and why. 6. As the Primary decoder here is an Explora 1, The HB will ONLY be available via the RF ports. As there is already an HB cable connection between two of the decoders, it makes sense that this process should simply be extended to the third decoder. ALL the decoders in the mix have RF ports and ALL can't receive HB via the LNB ports on the decoders.   All the decoders are however SATCR capable, and therefore it makes sense to connect them all to the Unicable ports on the SLNB, and NOT use the Universal port at all on the SLNB LMX 501.   Now comes the decisions. Are all the decoders in the same room?  IF no then the HB cabling becomes a challenge. That is why presumably, MC invented the UV system. BUT IF there is already a need to distribute RF to other TVs to be able to "see" any decoder anywhere, then why not use the traditional XV setup?   So what is happening here is and is not clear from your descriptions so far is that the ONLY way these decoders will work, is IF there is an RF cable connected to all three decoders providing a path for the HB signal.   You ONLY need diplexers IF you want to do away with the HB cable, AND don't need to distribute RF around the home, and the decoders are all in different rooms. THEN in this setup, a Diplexer will be required behind each decoder, and only IF all decoders are connected to the Unicable ports on the SLNB.   You won't get to the bottom of all of this confusion until you go and see or get your client to draw out ALL the connections showing very single cable connection, especially how any RF distribution is taking place.           ... View more