Directv in second room- How

[spryguy]

:hi: Elliptical dish w/ local channels..how to add 2nd room?

I want to extended my Directv programming to my bedroom. I have an elliptical dish with local programming. I believe my dish is a RCA DTC 100 - HDTV dish (although I do not have a HDTV).
It has dual LNB's and some rectangular box in the back with two wires per LNB running into it. On this box is what appears to be 4 outs. Only one is being use, which I image is to my living room.
Oh, My bedroom is already prewired.

I just don't get the receiver stuff. I see them for sale on Ebay with HU and P4 cards. What is the difference? Do I need another receiver and pay for a second receiver through Directv? Is there a better place to buy them. The only real option I would like to have on the receiver is dolby 5.1.

Thanks for the help,
DJ Spry

[Karl Foster]

I wouldn't bother buying a used receiver off EBay. You can find new receivers fairly inexpensive at Best Buy or Circuit City. People selling receivers on EBay are often just selling them for the cards and hackers buy them up. If you buy one off EBay, you will need to buy a separate card from Directv for $20. Keep that in mind.

Here is a link to a good dealer (American Satellite) who offers additional room receivers for a good deal. http://www.americansatellite.com/products/list.asp?SID=QJOXVG5637646WKTW1QUMVKMMVO3TP360&CAT=11100 If you buy a new receiver from them or Best Buy, etc. you will not need to buy a new card. A standard receiver with Dolby Digital output is around $100 - $150.

As far as the wiring, your dish has a built-in multiswitch. All you have to do is run a RG-6 coax from the multiswitch to your wherever the coax from your bedroom terminates and hook it up.

[spryguy]

Karl,
Thanks for the great advice. I will avoid Ebay then. The wiring seems easy enough. Will I need to tell Directv that I have another receiver?

[spanishannouncetable]

Directv will have to activate the smartcard and add the receiver to your bill by some means.

You can either call their toll-free number or go to your account online at www.directv.com and activate it yourself.