• If you have more than one satellite receiver in your home for your satellite dish, you probably have a multiswitch.Satellite dish image by Scrivener from Fotolia.com
  
  If you have more than two satellite receivers in your house, you'll need a multiswitch to run the dish's feed to all of the receivers. Multiswitches come in both passive or active types, also known as unpowered or powered. Unpowered multswitches use the power from the satellite receivers to power the multiswitch and the low noise block, or LNB. The LNB is the device that converts and amplifies the satellite signal. A powered multiswitch features its own power source to perform this function.
  
  

Uses Its Own Power

• Unlike an unpowered multiswitch, a powered multiswitch uses its own power. As an additional power source for itself and the LNB, a powered multiswitch limits signal disruptions and often makes satellite response time to commands quicker since it doesn't have to take the time to pull power from other sources.
  
  

More Power

• The additional power of a powered multiswitch can free up basic functions, especially if you have a large number of receivers running to your satellite dish. A powered multiswitch doesn't cause a lag time to occur between the receiver and satellite due to power consumption from the satellite receivers.
  
  

Longer Range

• Most powered multiswitches also add range to your satellite dish. Additional power means additional signal amplification, allowing you to run longer lines from your satellite dish to your receivers without the risk of additional signal disruption. If you've always wanted to put a satellite receiver far away from your other receivers in a basement or garage, a powered multiswitch will keep your signal crisp in both the old and new locations.