Multiple Zinwell WB68's - Confused

[Doc Ox]

Over the holiday weekend I had my MPG2-based equipment upgraded to the MPG4 technology. Prior to this upgrade I perused this forum and found the sticky regarding the use of multiple Zinwell WB68 multi-switches. I used the diagrams in this sticky to construct a schematic for my own house. When I showed the schematic to the DirecTV installer, however, he said it was incorrect.

The forum sticky said to split the 4 lines from the dish into 8 and then route these to the two Zinwell multi-switches. The installer, however, said that this will not work. He said that I would instead need to take four lines from the first Zinwell and route these to the second Zinwell for it to work properly.

Who is correct? Has anyone used multiple Zinwells with success? If so, which method did you use? I come to the experts for much needed advice. Thanks in advance!

[Jim Bob Jones]

I 'm not quite sure why you didn't the installer hook this stuff up while on the premises. What's up with that?

[WestDC]

Originally Posted by Doc Ox

Over the holiday weekend I had my MPG2-based equipment upgraded to the MPG4 technology. Prior to this upgrade I perused this forum and found the sticky regarding the use of multiple Zinwell WB68 multi-switches. I used the diagrams in this sticky to construct a schematic for my own house. When I showed the schematic to the DirecTV installer, however, he said it was incorrect.

The forum sticky said to split the 4 lines from the dish into 8 and then route these to the two Zinwell multi-switches. The installer, however, said that this will not work. He said that I would instead need to take four lines from the first Zinwell and route these to the second Zinwell for it to work properly.

Who is correct? Has anyone used multiple Zinwells with success? If so, which method did you use? I come to the experts for much needed advice. Thanks in advance!

If you showed him this picture then the reason he said "It won't work" is
1.he did not have the required splitters do split the four inputs
2. to go get them would not be cost effective for him
3. he did not want to do the job anyway

I'm just guessing at his thought or reasons, but whatever he told you was good enough becaues he got to leave and go to his next job.

[starsky]

My installer actually came back the next day on his own time with the right splitters and hooked them up for me. It took him 5 minutes to hook it up the right way. He did not have the splitters on hand when he did the original install. Your installer probably did not have the splitters, and did not want to go get them. Your installer is wasting 4 outputs by daisy chaining 4 outputs into 4 inputs. I'm surprised my installer took the time and came back to do it right, I sent a great review to his boss.

[texasbrit]

Originally Posted by Doc Ox

Over the holiday weekend I had my MPG2-based equipment upgraded to the MPG4 technology. Prior to this upgrade I perused this forum and found the sticky regarding the use of multiple Zinwell WB68 multi-switches. I used the diagrams in this sticky to construct a schematic for my own house. When I showed the schematic to the DirecTV installer, however, he said it was incorrect.

The forum sticky said to split the 4 lines from the dish into 8 and then route these to the two Zinwell multi-switches. The installer, however, said that this will not work. He said that I would instead need to take four lines from the first Zinwell and route these to the second Zinwell for it to work properly.

Who is correct? Has anyone used multiple Zinwells with success? If so, which method did you use? I come to the experts for much needed advice. Thanks in advance!

You can use ONLY the splitter approach with two Zinwell WB68s, the cascading approach the tech suggested is specifically not recommended for the WB68 because the multiswitches are unpowered and with this configuration you can't gurantee reliable powering of the LNBs. Using four broad-band splitters, power-pass on both ports, to drive two WB68s as recommended on this forum works fine.
Of course the correct way to do this is to use a WB616!

[Doc Ox]

Originally Posted by texasbrit

You can use ONLY the splitter approach with two Zinwell WB68s, the cascading approach the tech suggested is specifically not recommended for the WB68 because the multiswitches are unpowered and with this configuration you can't gurantee reliable powering of the LNBs. Using four broad-band splitters, power-pass on both ports, to drive two WB68s as recommended on this forum works fine.
Of course the correct way to do this is to use a WB616!

Thanks for the info Texasbrit. Your concern about the reliability of cascading two non-powered Zinwell multiswitches sounds logical. Can you recommend a specific broad-band splitter (x4) to split the four co-ax lines that are shown on the schematic in the sticky? Should it be amplified or passive? Also, I'm not sure what you mean by 'power-pass on both ports.' I apologize for my ignorance. Thanks again.

[texasbrit]

Originally Posted by Doc Ox

Thanks for the info Texasbrit. Your concern about the reliability of cascading two non-powered Zinwell multiswitches sounds logical. Can you recommend a specific broad-band splitter (x4) to split the four co-ax lines that are shown on the schematic in the sticky? Should it be amplified or passive? Also, I'm not sure what you mean by 'power-pass on both ports.' I apologize for my ignorance. Thanks again.

You need four regular, unamplified splitters that will pass the frequency band of at least 250-2150Mhz. Most of them seem to be up to 2300Mhz.
Power-pass on both ports means that if there is power on either of the ports connected to the WB68s, it will be passed to the dish. This is critical because the LNBs in the dish get satellite selection signalling from the receivers, and are also powered by the receivers. If power coming through a WB68 is blocked by the splitter, you won't get the correct channel from the dish.

[Doc Ox]

Originally Posted by texasbrit

You need four regular, unamplified splitters that will pass the frequency band of at least 250-2150Mhz. Most of them seem to be up to 2300Mhz.
Power-pass on both ports means that if there is power on either of the ports connected to the WB68s, it will be passed to the dish. This is critical because the LNBs in the dish get satellite selection signalling from the receivers, and are also powered by the receivers. If power coming through a WB68 is blocked by the splitter, you won't get the correct channel from the dish.

After a quick search on the internet I found these splitters/diplexers at a satellite supply store for $10/ea or $30/4. They have an operating frequency range of 5-3000MHz and both ports are power passing. I think I'll order a 4-pack of them this evening. Now all I need is a ton of RG-6 cable and connectors....and time, of course. Thanks again for your assistance. I certainly would not have known which splitter/diplexer to order -- given how many different types are available -- if not for your help.

[deadhead68]

Originally Posted by Doc Ox

After a quick search on the internet I found these splitters/diplexers at a satellite supply store for $10/ea or $30/4. They have an operating frequency range of 5-3000MHz and both ports are power passing. I think I'll order a 4-pack of them this evening. Now all I need is a ton of RG-6 cable and connectors....and time, of course. Thanks again for your assistance. I certainly would not have known which splitter/diplexer to order -- given how many different types are available -- if not for your help.

A splitter/diplexer is not the same thing as a multiswitch.

DeadHead68

[texasbrit]

Originally Posted by deadhead68

A splitter/diplexer is not the same thing as a multiswitch.

DeadHead68

The OP does not need a multiswitch, just four splitters. But a diplexer is not the same thing as a splitter - DocOx, what's the manufacturer/model number?

[Doc Ox]

Originally Posted by texasbrit

The OP does not need a multiswitch, just four splitters. But a diplexer is not the same thing as a splitter - DocOx, what's the manufacturer/model number?

I realized that diplexers and splitters were not equivalent to multiswitches, but I did assume that the terms 'diplexer' and 'splitter' could be used rather interchangably. I have two WB68 Zinwell multiswitches and I planned to order:
-(4) High Frequency 2-Way Digital Signal Splitters with All Port Power Pass ($29.99 total). I'm not sure of the brand, but the model number on the photo from the web satellite supply store is 'CS-202 HP.' I plan to use these splitters to split the 4 incoming coax lines from the dish and then take the 8 resulting coax lines to the two multiswitches.
-(2) 2-Way and (1) 3-Way UHF/VHF 75 Ohm 5-1000 MHz Signal Splitters ($3.49 total). Again not sure of the brand, but I had planned to use one of these in each floor of the house to have the ability to share the output of each floor's primary satellite receiver with other rooms on that floor. I've discovered that the new MPG4 receivers do not have coax output, so I've already purchased rf modulators to convert the composite cable output (Y+R&W) to coax. I will then run coax through through the attic, basement, etc. to each respective wall plate.

I hope this clarifies my planned installation procedure. Please confirm or refute my strategies so I can proceed with the order. Thanks again for your help.

[texasbrit]

Originally Posted by Doc Ox

I realized that diplexers and splitters were not equivalent to multiswitches, but I did assume that the terms 'diplexer' and 'splitter' could be used rather interchangably. I have two WB68 Zinwell multiswitches and I planned to order:
-(4) High Frequency 2-Way Digital Signal Splitters with All Port Power Pass ($29.99 total). I'm not sure of the brand, but the model number on the photo from the web satellite supply store is 'CS-202 HP.' I plan to use these splitters to split the 4 incoming coax lines from the dish and then take the 8 resulting coax lines to the two multiswitches.
-(2) 2-Way and (1) 3-Way UHF/VHF 75 Ohm 5-1000 MHz Signal Splitters ($3.49 total). Again not sure of the brand, but I had planned to use one of these in each floor of the house to have the ability to share the output of each floor's primary satellite receiver with other rooms on that floor. I've discovered that the new MPG4 receivers do not have coax output, so I've already purchased rf modulators to convert the composite cable output (Y+R&W) to coax. I will then run coax through through the attic, basement, etc. to each respective wall plate.

I hope this clarifies my planned installation procedure. Please confirm or refute my strategies so I can proceed with the order. Thanks again for your help.

That looks OK to me.
One thing you need to think about. Although all the outputs are active at the same time on the DirecTV receivers, you can only specify one TV type. So if you have a mixture of 16:9 and 4:3 TVs, and set the receiver to 16:9, the picture from the modulators will be stretched in height on any 4:3 TVs. And if you have a 16:9 and a 4:3 TV connected to the same modulator, there is really no way around this (nothing the receiver could ever do about this). Some 4:3 TVs will allow you to stretch the picture so it maintains fairly good linearity but many won't. The only way around this is to have only 16:9 TVs or only 4:3 TVs attached to each receiver.