Is this setup possible?

[pokin]

Just got the approval from my landlord to get DirecTV! I live in a four family house and his only requirement is that I use the same dish as my upstairs neighbor. Turns out they have had DirecTV for 6 years or so (if I had known that I would have been pushing for DirecTV for myself a lot sooner).

So the setup I need is for my apartment to have 2 receivers (1 HD DVR and one reg receiver) and my neighbor to have I believe 2 receivers and have them all operate off of the same dish and each have separate billing. Is this even possible?

I called DirecTV and asked the rep on the phone who put me on hold so she could ask. She came back and said it would be no problem and she would just put a "note" on my order to let them know. I kinda felt like she wasn't really sure and was just saying it would be ok to get me to sign up. I can just imagine the installer looking at me like I'm crazy when he shows up and somehow there is no "note" and I tell him what I'm trying to do. The rep didn't ask me for any of my neighbors information either which makes me wonder. I don't know how old their setup is but I assume they will have to replace the dish and she may need new receivers to have it work.

Anyone tried to do this before? Any advice? Is it too much of a hassle and I should just try and convince my landlord to let me have my own dish?

Thanks for your help.

Pete

By the way, awesome forum!

[veryoldschool]

:welcome_s to DBSTalk.
Yes you can share a dish.
Yes for the new HD channels the dish needs to be upgraded to the 5 LNB dish.
No the neighbor doesn't need to change any equipment.
No there is no account information needed from them. It's the receivers that are connected to the accounts.
What needs to be added besides a new dish is a WB68 multi-switch so there will be enough outputs for everybody.
Really it's quite simple to do what you were told.

[Michael D'Angelo]

Welcome to DBSTalk

It should not be a problem as long as your neighbor is okay with it. Also I would let them know that their service will be out up to a hour while the dish is being replaced and everything is being setup.

You will need to have the dish upgraded to a 5 LNB dish which will be free and you will need a Zinwell WB68 multi-switch to be able to handle all 4 receivers and DVR/'s and that is free.

Your neighbors receivers will work fine with the new dish and multi-switch. They will not need to be upgraded but if they do want to upgrade to new MPEG4 HD equipment all they will need to do is swap their receivers for HR20/21 or H20/21 and they will be good.

Then you will have the 4 lines from the dish to the multi-switch. Then your neighbors lines the install would just connect them to the multi-switch and they will be back up and running. Then he would run lines from the multi-switch to your DVR and receiver and you will be up and running.

[Bertrude]

I can see one possible problem: the multiswitch. It technically isn't required to install the two receivers you've ordered, and he's not gonna have your neighbor's receivers on his work order.

[davring]

I can see one possible problem: the multiswitch. It technically isn't required to install the two receivers you've ordered, and he's not gonna have your neighbor's receivers on his work order.

Good point. You might want to call the installation company to ensure it is on the workorder, if not call D* and have it added so there won't be any delays.

[pokin]

Wow, guys. Thanks for the quick replies! Sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult.

I can see one possible problem: the multiswitch. It technically isn't required to install the two receivers you've ordered, and he's not gonna have your neighbor's receivers on his work order.

Hopefully this is what the note would be for, or I could get the rep to add it to the work order when I call. Good point though. I'll have to figure that out.

Thanks again for your help! Any other advice you'd give to someone getting ready to get DTV for the first time?

Pete

[RobertE]

Another snag that may arise with one dish is service calls. Who gets to pony up for the service call if something goes wrong up to the the distribution point (multiswitch)? You or your neighbors? Be it a LNB, alignment, switch or whatever, someone will need to pay for that call.

From an installers point of view, makes my life easier with one dish. Like an itty bitty MDU. :grin:

[pokin]

Another snag that may arise with one dish is service calls. Who gets to pony up for the service call if something goes wrong up to the the distribution point (multiswitch)? You or your neighbors? Be it a LNB, alignment, switch or whatever, someone will need to pay for that call.

From an installers point of view, makes my life easier with one dish. Like an itty bitty MDU. :grin:

I'm planning on having the protection plan or whatever it is called. Would this cover service calls for the dish?

[carl6]

Yes, the service plan will cover service calls for the dish.

You might talk to your neighbor, explain what you are doing, mention that there will be a short interruption of service when they replace the dish, and also mention that you are getting the dish needed for hi-def in case they are considering upgrading.

Carl

[Bertrude]

Another snag that may arise with one dish is service calls. Who gets to pony up for the service call if something goes wrong up to the the distribution point (multiswitch)? You or your neighbors? Be it a LNB, alignment, switch or whatever, someone will need to pay for that call.Since the landlord is forcing them to share a dish, he should pay for the service calls. I'm sure he wouldn't mind. :lol:

[joe diamond]

Ya know........

There are companies that wire apartment buildings (MDUs) for satellite reception (SMAT =system master antenna). Your landlord could make a little change running the system and adding a wire charge for keeping all working. He could have the monthly service charge on the dish & wire maintenance. Tennants could pick CATV, DISH or DTV and have choices for DSL & long distance servive etc..

A thought.

Joe