Help with multiswitch setup - upgrading to HR20/MPEG4

[tkillion]

I'm needing some on-point information regarding my upgrading from a 2 DirecTivo + 1 HR10-250, 3LNB setup to the MPEG4 5LNB dish plus an additional DirecTV HR20-700. I searched the forums, especially the "Will my multiswitch setup work with AT-9 and HR20?" thread but have become somewhat confused so need a bit of direction please.

My current setup: 3LNB dish feeding an Eagle Aspen powered DTV 4x8 multiswitch. Four outputs go underground to another building - nothing hooked up there so forget about them for purposes of this discussion. The other four outputs are routed to my A/V bay - two to the current HR10-250 and two to a Sadoun S-SN24 2x4 multiswitch, which in turn feeds the twin Sony T60's.

OTA signals are fed on separate lines to all locations so no stacking/whatever is necessary. Everything works just fine.

I can't run any additional coax lines inside the building where this is all happening so I must make do with what exists now. The coax lines from dish to boxes are less than 20 feet long so signal loss should not be an issue.

I am replacing the dish with an AU-9 Slimline 5LNB model and also replacing the DTV 4x8 with a Zinwell WB68 6x8 so that the Ka signals pass. (Or is it Ku?)

If I do nothing else I can swap in the new HR20-700 (with B-converters) for the HR10-250. The T-60's will be just as happy with their new neighbor.

BUT, with only two coax from the WB68 available for HD feed, is there any way to hook up BOTH the HR10 and HR20 in the same location? I'm thinking some kind of wide-band splitter or multiswitch that passes the tones etc.

The T-60's and the HR10-250 are fully hacked/networked/etc but even though I could remotely locate the HR10, I don't think it is possible to transfer programs (HD or not) to the new HR20-700. Besides that sound pretty cumbersome.

Any thoughts?

[kaz]

if you have 4 leads at that location you can put another WB68 there and have 8 ports available total (you'd only need 6 if i'm reading this right). Its possible to cascade/daisychain WB68's. If you only have 4 used leads outside to the building, you dont even need a switch out there, just a grounding block.

[tkillion]

if you have 4 leads at that location you can put another WB68 there and have 8 ports available total (you'd only need 6 if i'm reading this right). Its possible to cascade/daisychain WB68's. If you only have 4 used leads outside to the building, you dont even need a switch out there, just a grounding block.

So it IS possible to cascade WB68's? The (conflicting) information I found seemed to show otherwise. (But I see by your sigline that you seem to be having no trouble!)

[kaz]

I had no trouble until 103b came online, but the signal locker fixed that. I think it was a power issue on mine, but your setup seems to have shorter cable runs.

[Tom Robertson]

tkillion, welcome to the forums! :welcome_s

It is possible to cascade the wb68s, tho if all the receivers are colocated in the same location, just move the switch down to the av cabinet. If you still need the four lines to the other location, you can use power passing splitters running 4 lines to the other location and 4 to the av cabinet.

Cheers,
Tom