Multiswitch and Dual-Tuners

[ErEkoSuave]

Please forgive my ignorance and if this has been covered elsewhere.

I just recently upgraded to an HR20 and a 5-LNB Slimline dish about a month ago. The installer told me that in order to use both tuners, I'd need a second coax run up to the dish. I'm getting the impression from other posts that I can use the dual-tuners (i.e. record one show; watch another) with a multiswitch. First of all, is this correct? And if so, should it have been provided by the installer, and if so, should I call D* and request one, or should I just get one myself?

I argued with the installer for a few minutes because I never remember the D* ordering site saying anything about needing multiple cable runs to the dish. Ironically, they do mention, multiple times, that a phone line is required, which I always found humorous :)

Much thanks in advance. Me loves this forum, even though I have little to contribute...other than questions of my own. :)

[litzdog911]

Installers are supposed to connect both HR20 tuners. How many other Receivers and DVRs do you have? Your dish has four satellite outputs, enough to feed 2 dual tuner DVRs or 4 single tuner Receivers. If you need more than those four connections, your installer should provide a Zinwell WB68 4-input 8-output multiswitch.

[ErEkoSuave]

Installers are supposed to connect both HR20 tuners. How many other Receivers and DVRs do you have? Your dish has four satellite outputs, enough to feed 2 dual tuner DVRs or 4 single tuner Receivers. If you need more than those four connections, your installer should provide a Zinwell WB68 4-input 8-output multiswitch.

I only have the one receiver. The installer stated that I needed two coax connections in the wall (out to the junction box, then to the satellite) to connect the two tuners on the HR20. He offered to run this cable for me at $120/hour. I decided to do it myself, if a run is in fact necessary. But that's the question, is it, in fact, necessary to run another cable to the junction box outside (he did run an additional cable from the dish to the junction box, which is nothing more than a 10 foot run with a female coax end on it), or can I get away with using a multiswitch instead, to get two tuner inputs out of one physical connection to the dish?

[carl6]

The installer was supposed to run the second line at no cost to you. That is a normal install. He did not do his job. Call DirecTV and get the installer back out to complete the installation.

You need two coax lines from the dish to your HR20, one for each satellite input. There is no way to "split" a single coax into two. A multiswitch requires four coax lines from the dish to it's inputs, then you need two lines from the multiswitch to your HR20, so you gain nothing by adding a multiswitch in your case.

Carl

[iancaterina]

Installers are supposed to connect both HR20 tuners. How many other Receivers and DVRs do you have? Your dish has four satellite outputs, enough to feed 2 dual tuner DVRs or 4 single tuner Receivers. If you need more than those four connections, your installer should provide a Zinwell WB68 4-input 8-output multiswitch.


I will be getting the HR20 and I also have a SD Tivo. I'll be using both tuners on the HR20 and only one of the SD Tivo's. There are currently two lines running from my 3LNB dish to a 4x8 multiswitch. The HR20 will be replacing my HD Tivo, which is currently using both tuners, the SD Tivo will continue to use just the one line hooked up to it. The installer was out yesterday to try and set up the new 5LNB dish, but said he couldn't get LOS over some trees, so he'll be back out after I set up a pole to mount the dish on. Anyway, I asked him if it would be necessary for him to run 4 lines from the new 5LNB dish to the multiswitch (which I realize the multiswitch needs to be replaced regardless). He said no, but from what I've read around here I'm not sure he's correct. Can someone confirm for me exactly what I'll need as far as # of lines from the 5LNB dish to the new (Zinwell?) multiswitch in order to watch 2 lines on the HR20 and 1 line on the SD Tivo?

Thanks,
Ian