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View Full Version : New install...multiswitch question


mtm
10-22-07, 11:33 AM
Hello all, I just had the slimline dish and HR20 installed at my house on Friday. My house was built 3 years ago and had all the wiring done at the time. I have 6 RG6 coax cables running from my attic down to the basement into 1 single box and then a bunch more running to different locations in the house. I currently have 2 TVs hooked up (2 DVRs so each has 2 tuners for a total of 4) so here is my question:

I had the old DirecTV (non HD) dish and my multiswitch was a 3X4 so he had to use a different switch. Before the install I had read on here that I needed either the WB68 or WB616. When he showed up he said he had neither switch but that I didn't need it and he gave me some different 4X4 switch. Anyways, he went and installed the new dish, hooked up the box, hooked up the B-band deals and the new HD channels didn't work. He went and dinked around with the wires and said the switch he gave me was hot so he disconnected it. He took the 4 feeds from the dish and connected each one directly to my 4 feeds going out to the two TVs and everything worked great after that. When he was ready to go and had me sign the paperwork, I told him I wouldn't sign until I had the proper switch. He said he would go check in his truck again to make sure he didn't have one and surprise, surprise, he did and he gave it to me.

My question to you guys is if I need or should hook up the switch because right now it is working great. Again, the 4 coax wires from the dish are hooked up directly to the 4 wires going out to my 2 TVs without any switch at all. Should I install the switch myself?

This guy didn't have to run a single wire in my house (I even went in the attic and shoved out the two extra wires he needed through a roof vent) and only had to install the dish and the one HR20 and he was at my house for 5 hours. It was very windy that day so he came back on Satruday morning to make sure the dish was tight (it wasn't) so I guess that was nice.

sacalait
10-22-07, 11:41 AM
If you are only using the 4 feeds to feed 2 tv's, you are OK. If your 2 tv's both have DVR's hooked up then at some point you will need the WB68 or WB616 to add any additional receivers.

The dish will feed up to 4 separate inputs without a multiswitch, i.e. 4 standard receivers, 2 DVR's or 1 DVR and 2 standard receivers. After that you need the swithc,.

Milominderbinder2
10-22-07, 12:01 PM
:welcome_s

You did great! I would not worry about the switch.

It sounds like you followed the Ordering Tips (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=839938#post839938)and Installation Guide (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=67769) to the letter.

Good job.

Now comes the fun!

Check out the 134 Undocumented HD DVR PLUS Tips & Tricks (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=747592) to find many features you did not know you had.

Also if you are a TiVo convert, see the TiVo Users Survival Guide (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=69404).

There are a lot more resources in the HD DVR FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=76617) on setting up OTA, networking, etc.

- Craig

mtm
10-22-07, 01:16 PM
Thanks for the responses and those links to check out. I read quite a few posts on here from people who don't like the HR20 compared to the Tivo but I actually have been pleasently surprised so far and kind of like some of the features on it. I moved my tivo to a smaller non HDTV so I still have it up and running.

After watching football games this weekend in high def it makes me wonder why the heck I waited this long!!!

mtm
10-22-07, 01:26 PM
One more question, do you guys turn your HR20 off when you aren't using it? I never turned my tivo off but the installer said he would turn it off when you aren't watching TV for some reason. He said things would still record and updates/downloads would still take place, is that correct?

Michael D'Angelo
10-22-07, 01:28 PM
One more question, do you guys turn your HR20 off when you aren't using it? I never turned my tivo off but the installer said he would turn it off when you aren't watching TV for some reason. He said things would still record and updates/downloads would still take place, is that correct?

:welcome_s to DBSTalk

Your not really turning it off. You are putting it in stand by and it does not matter if you do or not.

All it does is turn the front panel lights off and the A/V outputs off. Everything else still runs and works.