Multiple Directv Receivers - Hook up

[Jobber8742]

I have a question about a setup. I have a system set up like this: There are 2 dishes, one for locals and one for all other channels, including HD. These two dishes are hooked up to a multiswich, a Zinwell SAM-6802. The multiswitch runs out to 4 TVs, 1 HD and 3 SD. I want to add an antenna to the system, but the switch does not have a place to plug it in. I believe I'm going to add the CM-4221 UHF antenna with no preamp. I only need the antenna for the HD tv, so will it work if I hook up a diplexer to the slot on my switch going out to the HD television and then one at the end of that cord. So for the line will go like this for the HD television: Sat->Switch->Diplexer->Cord->Diplexer->TV/Receiver. The 3 SD televisons will remain the same. If this will work, is there a difference in Diplexers, and if so, what kind would you recommend?

[Broncofan87]

Jobber
The scenario you have described will work to the best of my knowledge. I have always used Terk diplexers and been happy with them. Hope this helps.

[mhinh]

Your detailed guide was great - but I either missed it or ....
What I'm planning to do is hook 1 hdtv and several non hd tv's to a new HD rec. I will also have one spare receiver (my old one) for optional viewing (I hope) but am not sure if this is feasible. All of the wiring diagrams I'm seeing show connections to receivers and I'm not sure (but I don't think I can) if I can connect multiple hd lines out of a single hd receiver into multiple tv's. All will be watching the same show but we don't want to miss a single play!
I have an extensive wiring guide & description of my current case but I'm trying to plan for the new tv.

comments ? suggestions ?
thanks
mhinh

[rockaway1836]

Just use a Hi Def connection from the recever to your Hi Def set. Then use the coax output for the others. You just need to use spitters for the coax and other set. This is unless your receiver is an H-10. There is no coax output for that model. In that case you need an RF modulator. Use AV out from the receiver add coax out from the modulator and then split the coax.

[mhinh]

Thanks -
I don't have my hd rec yet but I wouldn't expect it to be an h-10 - It should come tomorrow. - Do you mean that I'll have 2 outputs from my hd receiver - 1 hd to the new set & 1 regular feeding all my existing wiring -
or
do you mean I'll have the hd line to hd receiver & tv only and my existing old line to my existing receiver running as it does now to all remaining tv's?.
again - great thread - I appreciate the info

[rockaway1836]

It will depend on what receiver you get as to the kind of outputs. I should have mentioned that this set up will not work with the HR10-250 if you use the HDMI output. In that case you will need to use the component output for HD and then the rest will still work. Using HDMI on that receiver disables all other outputs.

[PARTYATMARIOS]

Originally Posted by rbinck

I'm assuming the HD receivers are not DVRs and they only require a single coax. DVRs require 2 coax feeds and therefore are the equlivalent of 2 receivers which would be a different problem.

The only issue will be the need for another coax from your dish to the new receiver. If you have an HD dish now it will supply up to four HD or SD receivers without the need of a multiswitch. It may be that the installer ran the other three coax cables from your dish into your attic, but probably not.

I'd ask the installer that is comming out if they would run all 4 of the cables into your attic (or other location inside the house) for future expansion of a multiswitch. If you need to feed more than 4 receivers in the future, you will need to be able to add a multiswitch.

rbinck, I thought I would ask for your detailed experienced advice. You sound very knowledgeable in this field. Next week directtv is coming with the HDDVR receiver and appropriate 3 way antenna and the OTA ANTENNA. I currently have DVR with them as well in the living room. They are to relocate the existing DVR into the bedroom and install the HDDVR in the living room. I have a tv in the kitchen and in yet another small bedroom where I would like to receive the local channels.

What exactly is the setup for all this where I can have the HD LOCAL CHANNELS in the masterbedroom and living room and local channels in the small bedroom and kitchen? What equipment should be on the work order. As far as I know, the only equipment noted on my order is a 6 way multiswitch. Is a diplexer even necessary? I am not familiar with this stuff at all. I read many of your posts and it is slightly difficult for me to understand, but I would like to be prepared since dtv has already cancelled my installation appointment once already and I do not want them to say oh!! we do not have that piece of equipment to make it happen. Your advice is greatly appreciated.

[branfordman54]

My first post. I hope this post is appropriate for this thread.

While I've been a home theatre enthusiast since the days of the LaserDisc (still have my player and collection!), I've fallen behind the curve a bit. I'm getting ready to enter the Satellite / HD / TIVO fray and could use some advice.

While I'm converting my home office to a home theatre, I'm putting off purchasing an HD set (probably RP DLP) until end of year. But, in the meantime, I'm looking to jump in as quickly as possible with other components for existing SD sets, while being ready to plug-and-play once home theatre and new HD set are ready. Here's what I have and what I'll need:

1. Home Theatre (Completion early next year):
A. HD Set (Future purchase)
B. Want TIVO (or other DVR)
C. Want Local Channels
(D. Optional HD DVD Recorder)

2. Existing Living Room Setup
A. Has SD Set (will stay that way for awhile)
B. Want TIVO (or other DVR)
C. Want Local Channels
(D. Optional SD DVD Recorder)

3. Small Upstairs TV Room
A. Has SD Set (will stay that way for awhile)
B. TIVO (or other DVR)
C. Local Channels

I anticipate switching all three rooms to HD in future, but initial priority will be Home Theatre room. I guess I'm basically trying to determine what type of receivers/recorders to get that will get me up and running with what I have, but be as future-proof as possible as I migrate everything to HD. As a new DirecTV subscriber, I'll qualify for all sorts of free stuff, but it's almost impossible to tell from their site if I can go the HD route and also get TIVO and Locals. My goal would be to have as few boxes as possible, so the idea of a HD/TIVO integrated unit is appealing, but I also need local channels. In terms of recording HD programming to DVD, I believe my Mac will give me that ability, so I'm not too worried about that option.

Since I run my own business, I have very little free time and will most likely hire a pro installer for everything. I've had someone check reception from my roof and it's good for both satellites.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated.

[bob20544]

DON'T KNOW WHY NO ONE ANSWERED YOU. HERE IS ITEM BY ITEM IN MY OPINION.
1.A. HD SET. SONY new SXRD TECHNOLOGY-BETTER THAN PLASMA, AND MUCH SUPERIOR TO DLP. AVAILABLE LATE THIS MONTH IN 50 AND 60" MODELS AT $3999 AND $4999. i HAVE THE 70", WHICH IS FANTASTIC, BUT EXPENSIVE. B.Get the HD TIVO. DTV is offering it at $299-100 rebate, and will offer a swap next year when MPEG-4 is released.If interested, call DTV and ask for customer retention and request best deal on HD Antenna and HD TIVO. They will install all very reasonable. C.Local Channels-depends on your location whether antenna or DTV available local channels. Ask DTV for your ZIP. D.Wait until Blu Ray comes out next year.
2. and 3.Get a SD TIVO from DTV.
I have two HD TIVO's and love them. On one HD TIVO I added a 400GB Seagate HD for 83 hours HD recording time. Not expensive to have done with your HD. You can program remotes to control them separately in same location. The ultimate.

[branfordman54]

All duly noted. As soon as I get myself a little free time, I'm going track everything down.

Thanks for the response. Good to know someone cares.

[bob20544]

Glad to help. Direct TV should do you right! The info on the addition of a 400 GB HD to a HD TIVO -only costs $90 to have it installed with the linux software. The Seagate 400 HD was only $125 after rebate(Fry's).
For $215 total, HD recording increased from 30 hours to 83. Never have to worry about capacity anymore. Works perfectly.

Bob

[kelly617]

Have 3LNB Sat (101/110/119); 3 Receivers; 1 HD , 1 SD DVR/Tivo, 1 SD. Upgrading two receivers to HD DVR's...new configuration will be 2 HD DVR's, 1 SD DVR/Tivo. Have already run 2 additonal coax lines for expanded DVR service (total of six coax lines). I'm told I need a 5x8 multiswitch...in looking at some of the multiswitch manufacturer's (Terk, etc.) they require a power source.

Do all 5x8's require power? If so, how are others going about getting power to a Rooftop Sat?

[jnelaine]

I'm hoping someone can tell me what's wrong with this setup:

- Elliptical HD dish with 4 output lines
- 2 lines go to a SD DirecTiVo
- 2 lines go to a powered 3x4 multiswitch
- 2 outputs from the multiswitch go to a SD DirecTiVo
- Other 2 outputs from the multiswitch go to an HD DirecTiVo

The problem is with the HD DirecTiVo. Both tuners can pull in channels, but when you have certain combinations of channels on both tuners, one channel will go out. For example, I think channel 70 on one tuner (HBO-HD) and channel 206 (regular ESPN) on the other tuner causes a problem. But I can get both 206 and 70 in other situations when the second tuner is on a different channel.

Before I introduced the multiswitch I had one SD DirecTiVo and one HD DirecTiVo hooked up to the 4 outputs from the dish and everything worked fine. Do I need a special HD-compatible multiswitch? I'm using a powered Terk MSP-34 3x4 multiswitch.

I repeated the Guided Setup on the DirecTiVo and it came back and said that satellite 101 was fine on both tuners but that satellites 119 and 110 were not detected on either tuner. But the odd thing is that I can receive channels just fine from satellites 119 and 110. I just have a problem when certain combinations of channels are on both tuners.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[rbinck]

Right.
If you go back to the original post this part is the key:
Note when using a HD multiswitch there are the four cables from the HD dish. All four cables are required for HD operation because with HD in addition to the polarization voltages, there is a High and Low band select required. The band is selected by the receiver sending a 22khz pulse up to the LNBs to tell the LNB to change bands. Therefore to cover all of the possibilities, 4 cables are required:

1. Low band LHCP = 18vdc and no 22khz pulse
2. Low band RHCP = 14vdc and no 22khz pulse
3. High band LHCP = 18vdc and 22khz pulse
4. High band RHCP = 14vdc and 22khz pulse

Now your problem is you are trying to supply the HD DVR with only the two cables you have going into the 3x4 multiswitch, you have to have the four cables feeding any multiswitch which has a HD receiver connected to allow for all of the possibilities. Also the SD multiswitches are not set up to pass the 22kHz tone to activate the HD correctly and that is probably why it almost works.

If you run two cables from the dish multiswitch to the HD TiVo and the other two to the 3x4 multiswitch and then feed all of the SD TiVos out of the multiswitch you will be ok. Your problem is trying to feed a HD TiVo out of a SD multiswitch.

[jnelaine]

Thanks very much for your reply. I saw that section in the original post but I'm still a little confused. It says that 4 cables are required, but if I take the 3x4 multiswitch out and just run 2 cables straight to the HD TiVo, everything works fine. So dual-tuner HD obviously works on only 2 cables.

Is there such a thing as an HD 3x4 multiswitch that passes the 22khz pulse? I'm really trying to avoid installing a 5x8 multiswitch because the only place where all four lines are together in my house is on the roof. They don't even go through the attic together. I'd really like to get this to work with a 3x4 if it's possible, and the HD TiVo has to be behind the multiswitch. Is it possible? I seem SO close!