MFH-2 up and running

[dcoelho]

I just upgraded my home (from an older Spaun based 3-LNB setup) to an MFH-2 setup as follows:

AU9S dish -> FMC-6 -> qty(3) SWM-8 -> qty(5) HR20-700, qty(2) D12-300

Got all the parts from PDI (PDI told me I was their very first order for the new MFH-2 stuff). I used SAP-104CE splitters.

Experience:
- ran into some interesting problems with the splitters, but with some trial and error got all 7 receivers up and running
- so far, this setup is rock solid. Nice to have 2 tuners for every HR20-700 available, and of course having all the HD channels is great
- the FMC-6 makes for a very clean wiring setup

[AntAltMike]

I got your message on the FMC-6, but I'm wondering, what can it do for me that spitters can't do for about one tenth the price? I already use Sonora polarity lockers for about $45 each to stabilize the AU9 dish.

[dcoelho]

I got your message on the FMC-6, but I'm wondering, what can it do for me that spitters can't do for about one tenth the price? I already use Sonora polarity lockers for about $45 each to stabilize the AU9 dish.

I think with your approach and 3 SWM-8's you need a bunch more coax patch cables, plus a tap plus a power inserter plus most likely an amplifier. The FMC-6 takes 4 coax inputs directly from the dish, and each of the SWM-8's just plugs right into the FMC-6, then you do the SWM coax run from each SWM-8 to wherever you have your receivers, in my case, 3 different locations through the house, then attach splitters near the receivers if you have more than 1 receiver for any given SWM run. In my previous cascadable Spaun setup, I had 4x coax runs going all over the house, and had to be much more careful about amplifying signals, etc...now I'm down to 1 cable run to each location from 4, and the SWM cable lengths are much more capable, don't have any amplifiers in my new setup with cable runs at 100+ ft and multiple receivers on each.

To your point, I suspect the FMC-6 is more expensive, but I suspect it is also in the long run more reliable and certainly in my case fit a tight spot better with simple clean wiring.

Also, the FMC-6 only makes sense if you have more than 1 SWM-8.

[sattec]

so you diplex out the off-air signal right before the rx, as normal? I trying to understand how the off air signal gets to the TV.

[Earl Bonovich]

The FMC-6 is definently for those that are going to be using more then two SWM8 units.....

Using splitters and stuff like that are going to leave a lot to error, with smaller cable runs... bad ends... tight corners.... the layout, ect...

So while it could be done with all the extra's to make it the same....

Sometimes it is just right to use the right part, for the right job.

[dcoelho]

so you diplex out the off-air signal right before the rx, as normal? I trying to understand how the off air signal gets to the TV.

The FMC-6 has an off-air input for each SWM-8, and I believe this gets passed down the line through the coax along with the SWM signal. So, Yes, the off-air signal is diplexed as normal before the rx. I haven't tested this, just surmizing based on the FMC-6 install instructions...