New Dish Install

[lcangler]

I am a newbie at this and would like to know what I need to buy/install and what Dish will install. Dish is running a special and I am ready to chuck my old DTV and cable. I have 4 TVs I need to hookup. This is my current set up
TV1 - DTV, cable, OTA
TV2 - DTV, cable
TV3 - cable
TV4 - DTV, cable

What I would like is:
TV1- Dish HD/DVR, OTA
TV2- Dish (maybe HD), OTA
TV3- Dish, OTA
TV4- Dish, OTA
(The special said a free 2 room DVR, so I assume one of the other TVs can be hooked up to the DVR) -How does that work wiring wise?

I can't get locals from Dish (nor DTV). My OTA ant is in the attic and probably far from where the dish will be but works good for my HD locals. I currently only have one TV wired to the antenna, but all rooms have wiring for my existing cable service. My antenna has a preamp also.

How much new wiring will need to be run. Can I use existing? How will my OTA be incorporated into system? What kind of things should I be asking/telling Dish prior to the installation. Can you buy the additional HD receivers or must you lease them? On their website it looks like the second HD receiver would cost $6 month that is why it is a maybe. I have no idea what type of specification of cable wiring I have. Pretty old house but very big with long runs of cable from one end to other. Any advice or site links appreciated. My husband left this all up to me and I don't know where to start!!

[jgurley]

I'm sure you aren't being ignored, but you've got a complicated setup. I'm putting together a response now which will at least get you started. Between your installer and the replies you get here, hopefully you'll get things setup.

With only one VIP722 you'll only get HD to your TV1. The other 3 TVs will only get SD from Dish plus any HD you can get from you OTA antenna.

More later.

[jgurley]

I am a newbie at this and would like to know what I need to buy/install and what Dish will install. Dish is running a special and I am ready to chuck my old DTV and cable. I have 4 TVs I need to hookup. This is my current set up
TV1 - DTV, cable, OTA
TV2 - DTV, cable
TV3 - cable
TV4 - DTV, cable

What I would like is:
TV1- Dish HD/DVR, OTA
TV2- Dish (maybe HD), OTA
TV3- Dish, OTA
TV4- Dish, OTA
(The special said a free 2 room DVR, so I assume one of the other TVs can be hooked up to the DVR) -How does that work wiring wise?Your VIP722/622 has 3 tuners in it, one for TV1, one for your TV2, 3 and 4, and a OTA tuner. The TV2 tuner uses your existing cable wiring to feed your other TVs. I have mine feeding 2, but I see no problem in feeding 3. However, none of those will get HD. I can't get locals from Dish (nor DTV). My OTA ant is in the attic and probably far from where the dish will be but works good for my HD locals. I currently only have one TV wired to the antenna, but all rooms have wiring for my existing cable service. My antenna has a preamp also. See my comment below.How much new wiring will need to be run.
From your Dish the installer will probably run 2 RG-6 coax cables to you VIP receiver, one for each satellite tuner. Can I use existing?
Yes, or almost certain. My house is 19 years old and we had not problem using the existing coax to feed TV2 and TV3. How will my OTA be incorporated into system?As far as TV1 is concerned, your installer should just connect it to the proper input on the VIP. Now for your other TVs, I'd be hoping that you could split you OTA antenna so you could run feeds to each of the other TVs. Not an expert in this area, so maybe someone will address this issue or maybe your installer will know.What kind of things should I be asking/telling Dish prior to the installation.How long have you been installing satellite systems?
Can you buy the additional HD receivers or must you lease them? On their website it looks like the second HD receiver would cost $6 month that is why it is a maybe.Can't help you much in this area. Sorry. I think Dish only leases it's equipment but a search on Ebay will also turn up VIP receivers. You might also ask your installer this question, or the company he works for.
I have no idea what type of specification of cable wiring I have. Pretty old house but very big with long runs of cable from one end to other.With 3 TVs running from 1 VIP you may need an amplifier. I use one, have runs of +/- 100 feet, but to tell you the truth for me I'm not sure it's really necessary. Your existing cable should be fine. Any advice or site links appreciated. My husband left this all up to me and I don't know where to start!!
Other than a couple of sites specializing in marriage counseling:lol: I can't think of one better than this. Oh! AVSforum.com is good and should have some useful info on OTA.

Hope this helps and others will jump in where I couldn't help.

[lcangler]

Your VIP722/622 has 3 tuners in it, one for TV1, one for your TV2, 3 and 4, and a OTA tuner. The TV2 tuner uses your existing cable wiring to feed your other TVs. I have mine feeding 2, but I see no problem in feeding 3. However, none of those will get HD.

I am not sure I follow but let me try. The receiver has 2 tuners that are connected via 2 lines back to satellite. One output on 722 will be HD for TV1 the other output will be SD and I can use that for TV2. The 3rd tuner is for the OTA for TV1 right? How does TV2 feed 3&4? Don't they need their own SD receiver? If I were to get a second HD receiver does it need it's own line to the sat?

Now for your other TVs, I'd be hoping that you could split you OTA antenna so you could run feeds to each of the other TVs. Not an expert in this area, so maybe someone will address this issue or maybe your installer will know.
Can't I use the coax in the other 3 rooms that I had for cable and connect it in attic to a splits from my anntena? Don't know what that does to quality but somehow it has to be split.

With 3 TVs running from 1 VIP you may need an amplifier.
By this do you mean (accepting I don't get a second HD receiver) that TV2,3,4 will be running out of the TV2 output from the receiver and split to the 3 rooms. They won't need a separate line back to the satellite or their own SD receivers? Will all channels then be independent so we don't have to watch the same shows with your setup?

Other than a couple of sites specializing in marriage counseling:lol: I can't think of one better than this.

Yes, this project is mine to coordinate until something goes wrong, then we really need the counseling!!

[jgurley]

Glad you got back with your very good questions. Problem is it's late, I need to go to bed and will be out until late tomorrow evening.

Maybe someone else can answer your questions, but I'll check here when I have time.

[lcangler]

Thanks for your help. No one else seems interested in helping. Surely someone else has a similar setup with 4 TVs and Dish. Appreciate any help.

[zlensman]

I am not sure I follow but let me try. The receiver has 2 tuners that are connected via 2 lines back to satellite. One output on 722 will be HD for TV1 the other output will be SD and I can use that for TV2. The 3rd tuner is for the OTA for TV1 right? How does TV2 feed 3&4? Don't they need their own SD receiver? If I were to get a second HD receiver does it need it's own line to the sat?

I like to separate inputs, tuners, and outputs. There are 3 inputs on the 722; 2 satellite inputs and 1 OTA antenna input. There are 3 tuners inside the 722; 2 satellite tuners that can decode HD and SD content from any connected satellites on all LNBs, and 1 ATSC tuner that can only decode the OTA antenna input. There are 2 outputs on the 722, labeled TV1 and TV2. The TV1 output is intended for a monitor that sits next to the satellite receiver box and can be connected by HDMI, component video, S-video, or even (yuck!) composite video. The TV2 output is a modulated RF coax connector intended for driving a distant TV monitor with a long run of coax. That remote TV will need an NTSC tuner to decode the modulated signal.

On TV1, you can watch HD and SD programs from the satellite or the OTA antenna. On TV2, HD content is downconverted to SD, but you can watch satellite and OTA broadcasts that originate in HD or SD. You can watch a sat channel on one TV and another sat program (or OTA channel) on the other TV. You can't watch 2 different OTA channels on the 2 TVs because there is only one OTA tuner. You can watch different recordings on the 2 TVs at any time. There are lots of combinations here -- I think you get the idea.

If you drive a 3rd and 4th television with the TV2 output, they will only be able to see the same program that is on the 2nd TV. There is only 1 TV2 remote and whatever it is tuned to will be sent to all monitors connected to the TV2 output. I don't think this is what you want for your 3rd and 4th TV, so I would suggest that you get another dual output receiver to drive 3 and 4, assuming you want to be able to watch up to 4 different channels on the 4 sets and all this is within your budget.

No one else seems interested in helping.

Forums, by their very nature are asynchronous and not for fast responses. This is a friendly, helpful forum but folks get busy. Keep asking questions and you will...eventually...get good answers. :grin:

[lcangler]

Thank-you, I actually think I understand. So if I were to get a second dual output receiver (or two separate receivers) for 3&4 do they have to have a separate line back to the satellite? If not, what hooks to their inputs? Also if I don't have a DVR for 3&4 and my TV's have their own ATSC tuner, can't I just hook my OTA straight to that for each one and then be able to watch separate channels? I have also heard about diplexing. I don't know what that is or if the installer will be using them. Can you explain that? I know I got lots of questions, but this is hard!

[zlensman]

Thank-you, I actually think I understand. So if I were to get a second dual output receiver (or two separate receivers) for 3&4 do they have to have a separate line back to the satellite? If not, what hooks to their inputs? Also if I don't have a DVR for 3&4 and my TV's have their own ATSC tuner, can't I just hook my OTA straight to that for each one and then be able to watch separate channels? I have also heard about diplexing. I don't know what that is or if the installer will be using them. Can you explain that? I know I got lots of questions, but this is hard!

Yes, the 2nd and 3rd receivers would each need a line back to the satellite.

Yes, you can hook a TV only to the OTA antenna if it has an ATSC tuner. You won't be able to watch satellite TV or record, but you can watch all your OTA locals live.

Diplexing puts two satellite signals on 1 cable for the run from the satellite to the receiver. Then another device, that looks like a splitter, breaks out the 1 cable into 2 just before the receiver for the 2 inputs. They would almost certainly use a diplexer in your situation.

You strike me as a smart shopper since you are asking lots of pre-sale questions. Let me suggest some other resources:

1) Go to dishnetwork.com and start the sign-up procedure. You don't have to finish, but you will get to their DishBuilder applet which will let you try out different HW configurations and program packages to investigate prices.
2) Call Dish while you are in the builder and ask them any pre-sale questions that crop up.

Be sure to read, or ask, about dishDVR advantage which gives you a break on the DVR fee. Keep in mind that Dish will probably not help with OTA questions.

[lcangler]

I have already been to the builder site and built my 4 TV system. It just doesn't tell you how much new wiring has to be run and that is a consideration in my house. I like having my HD locals...free. So I would like as much flexibility to keep these independent while watching something else on the other sets. AT least two sets with Dish HD would be great. I just hope the installer will help getting my OTA to my receivers. I would gladly pay extra to someone to do this. Thanks so much.