2-lines to HR20 question..Can I do it myself?

[Trendy2]

When the D* installer was here initially last week he told me I would be unable to run 2 lines to the HR20 so he ran one and told me I would be stuck having to watch what I was recording. I believe he used the existing multiswitch that Comcast was using up in the attic. I had three lines with Comcast and now have 3 lines with D* - living room, loft and master bedroom. There's also a wall plate and a line in my Dining room that is currently being used for my Comcast cable internet. I'm switching to DSL this week so I want to know if I can run the cable from that Dining room plate, through the crawlspace under the stairs and to the back of the HR20 in the Living room thereby creating a second line to the HR20. I assume the installer would have to have dropped 4 lines from the dish instead of three - is that something I can do or do I need to have D* come back out?

[Stuart Sweet]

Your installer should have used a new multiswitch if one was required. If you have the 5LNB dish you don't need a multiswitch, it has 4 outputs.

I would call DIRECTV immediately and tell them you're not satisfied with the install and tell them why.

If the existing cable is RG6, and if you can get it to the dish, you may be able to use it if you're up to doing it yourself.

[veryoldschool]

You shouldn't need to do anything to have all the features of all your equipment working.
You have a 90-day free service call and I'd call D*, explain what you got and what you want and have then come back out and do the install correctly.

[Trendy2]

It definitely appeared the 2-line thing was not something he couldn't do but, rather, something he didn't want to do. I'm probably not explaining it right either - I should look up there again to see exactly what's going on with the wiring and I'll try to take pics. I'm reluctant to make a service call because I don't want to take more time off of work and because the install went badly in other ways (2 bad HR20's right off the truck). If it's something I can do myself I would definitely prefer to try, hey I might learn something that way ;)

[Tom Robertson]

To answer your title question, yes. You may if you think you can. :) There are some places I run cables, some I won't touch.

But I agree with the esteemed fellow posters. You had a horrible installer and DIRECTV has always taken care of these situations; tho perhaps not in the quickest fashion. They are hampered by the installation companies.

Cheers,
Tom

[Tom Robertson]

It definitely appeared the 2-line thing was not something he couldn't do but, rather, something he didn't want to do. I'm probably not explaining it right either - I should look up there again to see exactly what's going on with the wiring and I'll try to take pics. I'm reluctant to make a service call because I don't want to take more time off of work and because the install went badly in other ways (2 bad HR20's right off the truck). If it's something I can do myself I would definitely prefer to try, hey I might learn something that way ;)

Well, I suspect you'll find some great advice here. :)

Depending on how your home is constructed, vis-a-vis attic, basement, location you're trying to run cable to, etc. I would most likely go to home depot (or online) and pick up some dual RG6 with solid copper core. Then I drop the line down (or come up from the basement/crawl) to the room from the central location for the switch (in my attic).

I also invested in a better than average compression tool to put ends on the cables, but I had a lot of cables to terminate. :) If both ends of the cables are indoors, you can use crimp, but compression is preferred. Less chance of stray radio frequency interference.

Cheers,
Tom

[veryoldschool]

...but compression is preferred. Less chance of stray radio frequency interference.
Cheers,
Tom
They also have an O-ring for better water exclusion down the coax too.

[Tom Robertson]

They also have an O-ring for better water exclusion down the coax too.

Most do, but not all. The ones DIRECTV uses today do, but I've seen many that don't (comcast here doesn't), and three years ago Ironwood in San Francisco did not for the internal jumpers cables.

So a good tip is to look for the O-ring. :)

Cheers,
Tom

[veryoldschool]

Another good thing to know. :D