Would like advice before Installation

[BillinSc]

My home is currently wired for Charter cable. The current setup includes two televisions downstairs (with one cable going from Charter's outside box to each room with televisions) and five outlets upstairs in four rooms (one line from Charter's outside box to a splitter in the attic).

From research I've done here on the forums, I uderstand that each DirecTV receiver needs a dedicated line (and the HDDVR that I've ordered requires two).

My question revolves primarily around the upstairs wiring. I ran RG6 quad shield in the upstairs rooms a few years ago; however, it all terminates at the splitter. Can I connect to that wiring using some type of female-to-female adapter, or will those rooms require new wiring all the way from the dish LNB? I'm considering getting the wiring in place before the installers(Mastec) visit.

Thanks for all the great information!
Bill

[mjones73]

You'll need new runs from the multiswitch location to where your splitter is, you can then use barrel connections to connect the new lines to the existing ones.

In your case if you need more then 4 tuners fed, you'll have 4 runs from the dish going to a multiswitch then they will branch out from there.

[Canis Lupus]

Hey Bill,
1st question is, which if those rooms that you're describing will have the HD-DVR?

How many total DVRs will you put in, and how many Non-DVRs and where?

These answers will point to where you have to run 2 lines, and also whether you'll be using a multiswitch.

Also - where will your local HDs come from? The SAT or OTA.

[BillinSc]

Thanks for your responses.

The DVR will be in one of the two downstairs rooms and all remaining receivers (two up and one down) will be standard for now. As I understand it, I'll need a multiswitch, correct? Best I can tell, the Sat will provide all locals.

Where would be the best place to mount the multiswitch? Near the dish (an old dish from a previous owner is installed on a pole in the ground near the cablevision box on the outside of the house-if possible, I was thinking that same wall would be a good place) in a box the DirecTV installer will provide? Or does it need to be inside the house or attic (I have a crawl space).

If it's in the attic, I'll have to run the four cable runs up the side of the house into the attic and then three back downstairs for the one standard unit and the DVR. That surely can't be the best method. :-)

Thanks again!

[cantrellswire]

Yes, you will need a multiswitch. Best location would be in the attic, as outdoors they are susceptible to weather. Depending on the dish, if you're getting the triple sat dish that switch may need to be powered. As for the box on the outside of your home provided my D, good luck. Out of the 15 or so techs out of my office I am the only one who carries those and by no means are they "provided". Nothing but the boxes, switches and dishes are provided. From what I can tell, mind you, I am not at your home, your tech will have to run 4 lines to a ground block on the outside of your home to your "services" panel, then back up into your attic to meet with all of your existing cable. Your install sounds pretty straight forward so you shouldn't have too much trouble. Keep this in mind though, installers these days aren't very well compensated. If you want a professional install, don't argue reasonable and necessary custom work. Tips help too. Good luck!

[Canis Lupus]

OK cool. You've got a couple of things to deal with:

1. yes you will need a switch and it's a Zinwell WB68. As part of your order from D*, did you directly describe how many receivers etc? You'll want to make sure the work order is correct so the installer brings the switch.

2. You can use the existing pole mount there, however the size of the pole for the new dish is 2". It's likely the old pole mount is too small in diameter. There are posts on here about an adapter you can get, or you can try to describe the installation further with D* or the installer to make sure either they provide it, or you have to.

3. the switch can be outside, although there are varying opinions on it. I have mine tucked under an eave for better weather resistance, so if up that wall a bit you could tuck it, that'd be better. so 4 lines would go from the dish to the switch.

4. sounds like you'll need to run 2 more lines than you have right now. 1 new line needs to go from the switch to the new DVR, as you need 2 total lines for that.
Another new line needs to run from the switch to one of the upstairs receivers.
You can use the existing line that runs to that splitter, remove that splitter, then add a female-female barrel to it and extend that line to the 2nd receiver upstairs.

5. as mentioned above as well, it should be pretty straightforward, but standard installs do not include wall fishing etc. all lines installed have to come from an exterior wall into a location, unless you want to pay extra.

[BillinSc]

Do multiple female-to-female barrell connectors on a run of line cause problems? I've got one run around 50'-75' that I'd like to install a second outlet on a different wall of a bedroom. Instead of running another full run, I was thinking I could fish a new line into the wall and, since I'll only be using one or the other, just connect one of them to the old line with a barrel connector. A second will be installed by DirecTV when they patch into the line where the old cable splitter was. Will this degrade the signal signficantly?

Thanks again!

[K4SMX]

A couple of barrel connectors probably wouldn't be a problem. They're supposed to be rated for Ka satellite frequencies, and the DirecTV installer will have this type, which has a blue-colored center dialectric material. If you're planning on doing the inside work yourself prior to his arrival, I've had good experience for Ka satellite use with the F81 barrel connector which Radio Shack sells, Model 278-213. They're not specifically rated for Ka satellite frequencies, but I've never had a problem with them. You might want to consider just moving that specific run of coax and letting the DirecTV guy install all the connectors (and adapters) with his compression fitting tool.

You can by a large plastic electrical box at a home improvement store for housing the WB68 multi-switch outside, so you don't have to run all for dish cables up to the attic and back down for the downstairs receivers.

[carl6]

As long as only one of the locations has an active receiver on it at any given time, you could even use a dual port power passing splitter and feed the two locations off the splitter. That way you wouldn't even need to connect the barrel when you opt for the other location.

I have had as many as a dozen barrel connectors in a 400 foot line (for testing) and it worked just fine.

Carl

[Milominderbinder2]

Here are some resources for you. You are on step 5 of the Ordering Tips. The last steps are the most important.

From the HD DVR FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=817199#post817199): What do I need to know about HD DVR ordering and installation?
→ Ordering Tips (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=839938#post839938)
→ Installation Guide (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=67769)

Why is it so important to have a battery backup for my satellite receiver?
→ UPS: Protect against lost recordings (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=942513#post942513)

Is your dish properly installed and grounded?
→ Satellite Dish FAQ (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=942518#post942518)

How can I be sure I will get an HR20 instead of an HR21? I want all of my local channels!
→ How to get an HR20 instead of HR21 (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1270572#post1270572) (Thanks to Hasan)

What will I be asked to sign once the installation is complete?
→ Installation Checklist (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1030383#post1030383) ● Agreement (http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/global/contentPageNR.jsp?assetId=P400042)

Is there an easy way to get started?
→ 5-Minute Quick Start (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=1030380#post1030380) ● 144 Undocumented HD DVR PLUS Tips & Tricks (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?p=747592)

What can help me transition from TiVo? How do I get Suggestions?
→ TiVo Users Survival Guide (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=69404) ● Better Suggestions than TiVo! (http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=109588)

- Craig