Quote:
Originally Posted by tandemrudy
I have a DiSEqC 2.0 that came with my Viewsat , from what I can tell it
just looks like a Splitter for different Lnb's on my Dish. How important
is it that I need to use the DiSEqC 1.2 or 1.3 that you recommend, and
what are the differences between the Two?
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In addition to what Lumpkin said, DiseqC commands are used both for switches and to send commands to motors. I think the basic motor commands are in the DiseqC 1.2 command set. In addition, there is an additional command that includes a GOTO-X command, which is called USALS by some and it has another DiseqC name too... perhaps this is the 1.3, I'm not sure.
Relative to the switches, as far as I know, there are only two kinds, there are the basic diseqC switches that can tell a switch to use ports 1,2,3,4, etc, and there is a second type switch with a simplified type of DiseqC command that is called a tone-burst. These switches generally have ports labeled "A" and "B". There are 2 DiseqC designations for switches, an DiseqC 1.0 and DiseqC 2.0 . I don't know which is which, but I have an older switch (which works better than my newer switches), which is a DiseqC 1.0, and it is labeled tone burst/DiseqC, and my newer switches are just labeled DiseqC 2.0 .
So far, from what I have seen, my DiseqC 1.0 switch will accept commands in either the tone burst mode or the DiseqC mode (ie A,B or 1,2), and the same is true for my DiseqC 2.0 switches. So I have yet to figure out any difference between what these switches are capable of doing, except that the newer switches don't seem to be made as well, and you have a better chance of the switch coming DOA or dying quickly.
However back to the switch vs splitter thing, a splitter connects both outputs to the input, and you divide the power between the two outputs, ie lower signal level. A switch connects one of 2 inputs to a single output. In principle, there is no need for insertion loss for a switch, however most have an insertion loss. My old DiseqC 1.0 switch had very little if any insertion loss. My newer DiseqC 2.0 switches do seem to have an insertion loss for some reason, meaning you're losing a bit of signal.
There are also 22khz and 12V switches, in addition to the DiseqC switches.