Does the Zinwell WB68 cause a significant insertion loss?

[cartrivision]

Is there an insertion loss associated with signals that go through the WB68 or does it amplify the signals to overcome any insertion loss?

The signals levels are all sufficiently high now, but since all but one of my receivers only need to see the 101W satellite, I could bypass the WB68 for the HR20 hookup if it would increase my signal strength to the HR20 (and give me extra rain fade protection), and only go through an external multiswitch for the receivers that need 101W feeds.

[Canis Lupus]

Not exactly sure what you mean here, but if I understand correctly, you wouldn't want to bypass the switch with 2 cables from the dish directly into the HR.

Once the switch is in play, all 4 lines from the dish need to go through it. So you'd be best off trying to maximize signal strength with the switch in place for your whole system.

[litzdog911]

Signal loss through the WB68 should be negligable. You can't bypass it anyway if you need more than four connections for your Receivers/DVRs.

[Earl Bonovich]

You can't bypass the switch for just one feed...

All 4 feeds from the DISH must go to the WB68.... or none of the receivers that are connected to the WB68 will be able to access the content that is retrieved on the "bypassed" connection.


The only configuration I could figure is if your other boxes were all 101 only boxes... then you could send two feeds to the 101 SAT inputs of the WB68, and then the other two from the Dish to the HR20..

But it won't significantly change your signal levels on your HR20

If you are that borderline on your signal strength, you may need to consider going to a powered multiswitch: WB616 or add the Sonora Signal Locker to your current setup.

[hiker]

But couldn't the OP get a regular MS like the one here (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=SPVMS8EP) and not use the WB68? Two lines from the AT9/AU9 go to HR20 and two to the regular MS which in turn feeds SD receivers.

[litzdog911]

But couldn't the OP get a regular MS like the one here (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=SPVMS8EP) and not use the WB68? Two lines from the AT9/AU9 go to HR20 and two to the regular MS which in turn feeds SD receivers.

That will work as long as the HR20 is the ONLY HiDef piece of equipment. He'll need to rewire everything if he ever adds another HD DVR or Receiver.

[cartrivision]

You can't bypass the switch for just one feed...

All 4 feeds from the DISH must go to the WB68.... or none of the receivers that are connected to the WB68 will be able to access the content that is retrieved on the "bypassed" connection.


The only configuration I could figure is if your other boxes were all 101 only boxes... then you could send two feeds to the 101 SAT inputs of the WB68, and then the other two from the Dish to the HR20..

But it won't significantly change your signal levels on your HR20

If you are that borderline on your signal strength, you may need to consider going to a powered multiswitch: WB616 or add the Sonora Signal Locker to your current setup.


Can't 2 lines from the slimline go directly to an HR20, and the other two go directly to an SD DVR that only needs to see 101W?

If so, why can't the two lines for the SD DVR (that only need to switch between 101W 18v and 101W 13v) be fed from the slimline through a 2x8 multiswitch to feed multiple receivers that only need to see 101W?

No I'm not at the borderline of signal strength. I just thought that if it gave me some extra rain fade protection for the HD channels, that I may as well do it.

[veryoldschool]

cartrivision
How long are your cable runs?
I have about 125' and used the Zinwell without and problems.
Do you have RG6 copper core or are you using copper clad [steel center]?
I've only had rain fade when it's been hailing or in the heaviest rain and then just for a few min.

[rirwin1983]

But couldn't the OP get a regular MS like the one here (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=SPVMS8EP) and not use the WB68? Two lines from the AT9/AU9 go to HR20 and two to the regular MS which in turn feeds SD receivers.

No, any tech that rolls for an upgrade or sc will have to fix that half ass setup, and might not have that wb68 on the truck, bc dtv will allreay know it was installed prev. call and have ur dish realigned if ur that nervious about ur signal.

[hiker]

Can't 2 lines from the slimline go directly to an HR20, and the other two go directly to an SD DVR that only needs to see 101W?

If so, why can't the two lines for the SD DVR (that only need to switch between 101W 18v and 101W 13v) be fed from the slimline through a 2x8 multiswitch to feed multiple receivers that only need to see 101W?

No I'm not at the borderline of signal strength. I just thought that if it gave me some extra rain fade protection for the HD channels, that I may as well do it.Actually according to litzdog911 here (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1227838&postcount=6) you can use the WB68 for only 2 inputs and not have to get another MS. Give it a try and let us know.

[cartrivision]

cartrivision
How long are your cable runs?
I have about 125' and used the Zinwell without and problems.
Do you have RG6 copper core or are you using copper clad [steel center]?
I've only had rain fade when it's been hailing or in the heaviest rain and then just for a few min.

VOS, I'm not having any signal level problems, even during rain. I was just exploring a way of possibly giving me some extra signal strength to help in the occasional borderline rain fade situations.

[veryoldschool]

VOS, I'm not having any signal level problems, even during rain. I was just exploring a way of possibly giving me some extra signal strength to help in the occasional borderline rain fade situations.
From your location, rain fade shouldn't be an issue since it isn't a big deal for me and I live where you're getting your water from. :lol:

[cartrivision]

No, any tech that rolls for an upgrade or sc will have to fix that half ass setup, and might not have that wb68 on the truck, bc dtv will allreay know it was installed prev. call and have ur dish realigned if ur that nervious about ur signal.

There's nothing half assed about it. As others have confirmed, the WB68 is not required if you only have one DVR that needs to see more than the 101W satellite, and it's probably better practice to go through a single 2x8 multiswitch for the 101W device hookups while connecting the single HR20 directly to 2 slimline output feeds, than to cascade a 2x8 multiswitch off the WB68 for the additional 101W feed needs. The 16 output version of the WB68 would work too, but that's overkill if an existing 2x8 or 2x16 can be used by itself.

I understand that as soon as you go to two or more HD DVRs along with one or more SD receivers, you will need to use a WB68 (or better), but that's not what I originally asked about.

[cartrivision]

From your location, rain fade shouldn't be an issue since it isn't a big deal for me and I live where you're getting your water from. :lol:

Yeah, I know. I've probably had less than 5 rain fade episodes in 13 years of D* service. :smoking:

[cartrivision]

Actually according to litzdog911 here (http://www.dbstalk.com/showpost.php?p=1227838&postcount=6) you can use the WB68 for only 2 inputs and not have to get another MS. Give it a try and let us know.

I figured that that would work too. Since I already have a 2x8, I'll try it with a 2x8 and also with a WB68 for feeding the 101W devices and see if there are any signal level differences with any of the different methods of hookup.