New HD Setup Help Needed

[TDog22]

Hi everyone. I have been reading posts for the past week and I think I have a good idea of what all I need to do the installation, but would like some confirmation to make sure I got all my bases covered. I am trying to upgrade everything to be compatible for HD.

Current Setup:

The 3 LNB dish is mounted on a gazebo in the backyard and two cables (unknown type) are routed through the attic to two receivers - both SD non-DVR.

Intended Setup:
Purchase Slimline Dish, support braces, and HR21 Receiver (ebay most likely). Mount the Slimline on the gazebo as well to utilize existing cabling/mast(if possible). Upgrade all cables from the dish to the attic to RG6. Drop another line to the room with the HR21 receiver.

Extra Questions:
1. Do I need a signal meter or will the D* signal be sufficient?
2. Can the Slimline use the current mast for the 3 LNB dish?
3. If only connecting two receivers, is a Zinwell 6x8 switch needed?
4. Does all of the cabling need to be RG6 or just the cabling from the dish to the switch? I would like to keep the existing cabling that has been dropped, rather than replacing 100's of feet of cabling.

Hope these questions arent too annoying, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

[harleylay1]

You will not need a zinwell switch for two recievers.

[raoul5788]

Hi everyone. I have been reading posts for the past week and I think I have a good idea of what all I need to do the installation, but would like some confirmation to make sure I got all my bases covered. I am trying to upgrade everything to be compatible for HD.

Current Setup:

The 3 LNB dish is mounted on a gazebo in the backyard and two cables (unknown type) are routed through the attic to two receivers - both SD non-DVR.

Intended Setup:
Purchase Slimline Dish, support braces, and HR21 Receiver (ebay most likely). Mount the Slimline on the gazebo as well to utilize existing cabling/mast(if possible). Upgrade all cables from the dish to the attic to RG6. Drop another line to the room with the HR21 receiver.

Extra Questions:
1. Do I need a signal meter or will the D* signal be sufficient?
2. Can the Slimline use the current mast for the 3 LNB dish?
3. If only connecting two receivers, is a Zinwell 6x8 switch needed?
4. Does all of the cabling need to be RG6 or just the cabling from the dish to the switch? I would like to keep the existing cabling that has been dropped, rather than replacing 100's of feet of cabling.

Hope these questions arent too annoying, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. You may be able to align the dish with the receiver.
2. Some people have used a sleeve of pvc to make the mast 2".
3. No.
4. It should all be RG6, but you can get away with RG59 for short runs.
Try what you have, it might work.

[gulfwarvet]

1. Do I need a signal meter or will the D* signal be sufficient?
2. Can the Slimline use the current mast for the 3 LNB dish?
3. If only connecting two receivers, is a Zinwell 6x8 switch needed?
4. Does all of the cabling need to be RG6 or just the cabling from the dish to the switch? I would like to keep the existing cabling that has been dropped, rather than replacing 100's of feet of cabling.

Hope these questions arent too annoying, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

1) i used the DirecTV signal meter to align the slimline and achieved very high readings.
the most easiest method with using the receiver is take a small TV out and have the
receiver right beside you.
2) not sure but as it was stated there is sleeves that can be used. i think Solid signal might
have them?
3) no you won't need a WB68 for just two receivers, the dish has a built in 4x4 multi switch allowing you to have 4 tuners. ( like 2 DVR's, or 4 signal receivers.
4) all the coax needs to be RG6, if it's already have it installed. you'll be fine.


and no worries about you question, were all glad to help answer them :)

[lukep10]

1. Do I need a signal meter or will the D* signal be sufficient?
A meter is best but if you don't mind using a compass and yelling back and forth from the house with someone you could do it this way but it would be a pain.
2. Can the Slimline use the current mast for the 3 LNB dish?
it's not sturdy enough in windy enviroments (i had to put on the struts as well b/c of lake winds in my area) also the mast is the wrong size so you'd have to have an adapter on there you could make or buy one if you have to.
3. If only connecting two receivers, is a Zinwell 6x8 switch needed?
nope there are 4 ports free on the dish
4. Does all of the cabling need to be RG6 or just the cabling from the dish to the switch? I would like to keep the existing cabling that has been dropped, rather than replacing 100's of feet of cabling. any HD signal will need a solid copper RG6 run preferably but any RG6 swept to 3Ghz should work as long as your longest run is no farther than 150ft otherwise you may need an inline amp.