Guide to using Unicable

A guide to the possible uses of Unicable / Unicable 2 LNBs (Unicable 2 is also known as JESS).

You don't need a special tuner

Unicable LNBs don't need specific tuners — you can use them with a "normal" receiver such as the Technomate Nano SE, VU+ Solo 2, VU+ Duo, Xtrend 8000, GigaBlue Quad or Mutant HD51.

How Unicable differs from older LNBs

In the old days, LNBs came with a single port — one receiver only. Then came Quad LNBs (four connections), Octo LNBs (eight), and switches that needed a Quattro LNB but offered many more outputs. All of these share one limitation: they need a signal wire directly between each tuner and the LNB / multi-switch — the signal can't be split. A typical layout looks like this. Quad LNB with multiple receivers.jpg

SCR channels

Unicable / 2 LNBs send the combined signal down channels usually called SCR. Unicable 1 LNBs usually come with 4 SCR (though technically capable of more); Unicable 2 LNBs usually come in 24 or 32 SCR and are better value for money.

Before you buy

  • Make sure your receiver and image support Unicable. A Freesat receiver or a TV's built-in tuner may not — in that case you'll need a Unicable LNB with legacy / universal ports.
  • Unicable LNBs have a 40 mm collar. To use one on a Sky dish you'll need an adapter, and because elliptical (Sky) dishes have squashed LNBs you'll see some signal loss compared with a non-Sky dish.
  • You need power-pass splitters (they only allow current one way). Make sure they support the frequencies in use — a 5–1000 MHz splitter won't work. Plan your installation and buy enough splitters up front; postage usually costs more than the splitters if you order later.
  • Place splitters wherever convenient — for example in the loft where coax from several rooms meets — and combine more along the circuit as needed.
  • Use good-quality cable.

Example layouts

A simple layout — this just shows you can use a Unicable LNB with a single-tuner receiver (handy if you plan to upgrade soon and the installer is already on the roof). single unicable receiver.jpg

Here someone has a twin-tuner receiver and a Unicable LNB but didn't buy splitters — only one tuner will receive signal, so there are limitations. unicable multi tuner_unused tuner.jpg

A better use of the technology: two twin-tuner receivers, four tuners in total. Unicable lets you run one signal wire from the LNB and share it as needed. unicable diseqc multi receivers_2_2.jpg

Hopefully this diagram shows what you can achieve. The key rule: every tuner must be assigned a unique SCR. unicable2 multi receivers.jpg