HDTV and long distance to dish question

[BoonetheAiredale]

I've read several threads about long lines to dishes and Direct TV. Most of the technical stuff I couldn't understand. Sorry about that.

So I guess I'll have to ask my question.

DirectTV says that I can't get HDTV if my dish is over 125 feet away from the receiver in the house. I called the technical people with DTV and they said the same thing.

Can I get a custom installation to hook me up with the equipment to get hdtv from DirectTV at a dish distance of 180 to 200 feet. Just one tv and one hd-dvr.

Can I do it myself even if I have no experience with this stuff.

How do I find a custom installer?

Any help with this issue would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

[litzdog911]

Welcome to DBSTalk!

DirecTV's "standard installation" limits these distances, but it will certainly work at more than 125-ft. You might be able to pay extra to a DirecTV installer. Or find a custom installer in your area (check out local Home Theater and Custom Media Room installers). Or you can do the wiring yourself.

[K4SMX]

The simplest solution is two runs of RG11, e.g., Belden 7731a, in PVC conduit. You can shop around on-line for that. Probably the cheapest thing is to buy a 500' roll. This coax requires fittings/adapters for conversion to standard RG6 at each end, which you can buy from Solid Signal (http://www.solidsignal.com/).

At just under 200', you could probably slide by with top quality RG-6, e.g., Belden 1694a, but you're right on the edge of maximum distance for RG6. Plus, there may be more cabling to get to the actual TV location. I wouldn't do it unless I already owned the RG6 and could "try it for free."

I assume you are planning on a pole mount at the other end. That should be specified in the work order, and is supposed to be included at no extra charge in your Advanced Receiver installation if you have no LOS from the house structure. Be prepared to pay $50-$100 extra for this, however, and make it a 2 day installation, so the concrete is thoroughly set before you put a 35lb, unbalanced load on the pole. If you were also considering doing that yourself, it needs to be perfectly plumb and exactly 2" OD. 2" OD is very hard to find, although you can use a 1 5/8" fence post and buy a 2" adapter on eBay.

You can review line-of-sight issues at Dishpointer.com (http://www.dishpointer.com). Input your exact address and separately select the 99W and the 119W satellites to see the full range-of-view required to receive all 5 satellite locations. (The dish is actually to be aimed at the 101W satellite.)

[Tiger62]

You can review line-of-sight issues at Dishpointer.com (http://www.dishpointer.com). Input your exact address and separately select the 99W and the 119W satellites to see the full range-of-view required to receive all 5 satellite locations. (The dish is actually to be aimed at the 101W satellite.)

I went to Dishpointer and the only satellite I see at 99W is NOT a Directv satellite, it's the Galaxy 16. Is that the one that should be selected?

[veryoldschool]

I went to Dishpointer and the only satellite I see at 99W is NOT a Directv satellite, it's the Galaxy 16. Is that the one that should be selected?
Scroll down to this setting: DirecTV 5LNB (99, 101, 103, 110, 119W)

[Tiger62]

Scroll down to this setting: DirecTV 5LNB (99, 101, 103, 110, 119W)

I already knew to do that.:) I was referring to the post by K4SMX that pertained to seeing what the full angular view of all five satellites would be.

[veryoldschool]

I already knew to do that.:) I was referring to the post by K4SMX that pertained to seeing what the full angular view of all five satellites would be.
Maybe I'm missing something then. I went there and can find each SAT [one by one] and then have what I need to take my compass out and "see" where will get me what.

[Tiger62]

Maybe I'm missing something then.

Well, ONE of us is missing something!:lol: If you scroll through the individual satellites, 99, 101, 103, 110, and 119, all of them refer to a "Directv" satellite except 99, which shows to be Galaxy 16.

[RobertE]

Well, ONE of us is missing something!:lol: If you scroll through the individual satellites, 99, 101, 103, 110, and 119, all of them refer to a "Directv" satellite except 99, which shows to be Galaxy 16.

It's in the "same" position (99w), so it does not matter what it's called.

[K4SMX]

Spaceway2, which shows in your receiver as 99(b) or 99(s) and will be near the position of the new DirecTV11 satellite at 99.25, is at ~99W. 99 is 99, so use the Galaxy 16. Close enough for AZ LOS estimation.

[Tiger62]

It's in the "same" position (99w), so it does not matter what it's called.

That's what I figured. Thanks for answering my ORIGINAL question! :)

[BoonetheAiredale]

Thanks for the info K4SMX. If I am seeing the prices right it looks as if 500 feet of R11 would cost over $700. Is that correct?

If I get that line would a Direct TV technician install the hdtv stuff? Or would I still need to do a custom installation.

And does doing a custom installation mean that I have to buy a dish and a receiver along with the wire?

[CrazyforYeshua]

As a new HD customer, you "lease" the receiver (either $99 or $199 up front, depending on whether you want a plain receiver or DVR) and they bring the dish. It's $0.
Or, you could check Costco, Best Buy, or Circuit City for the DVR's, they have them there alittle cheaper. (Still a lease tho).

[K4SMX]

Thanks for the info K4SMX. If I am seeing the prices right it looks as if 500 feet of R11 would cost over $700. Is that correct?

If I get that line would a Direct TV technician install the hdtv stuff? Or would I still need to do a custom installation.

And does doing a custom installation mean that I have to buy a dish and a receiver along with the wire?
That's list price. How about $455 from Westlake Electronics (http://www.westlake-electronic.com/cgi-bin/store.php?search=Search&search_sent=1&keywords=Belden+7731a&and=1&available_only=&category=&SUBCAT=). That's just one place; I didn't do a thorough search.

If you pre-install the long cable runs in PVC and put the F-connector female adapters on the ends, I'm sure the regular installers would be able to complete a "free" installation, although I'd run your own RG-6 from outside to the receiver location, if you're particular about how it's done. The pole issue may have to be negotiated.

The other two alternatives are to buy the dish and receiver yourself and align your own dish on your own pole, or you can possibly find a local DirecTV authorized dealer to do the rest of the work at a negotiated price, and you may be successful in getting credits from DirecTV to offset some or most of that expense.

[west99999]

Thanks for the info K4SMX. If I am seeing the prices right it looks as if 500 feet of R11 would cost over $700. Is that correct?

If I get that line would a Direct TV technician install the hdtv stuff? Or would I still need to do a custom installation.

And does doing a custom installation mean that I have to buy a dish and a receiver along with the wire?

IF THE RUN IS NO MORE THAN 200FT IT WILL WORK WITH THE RG6 NO NEED FOR THE RG11 UNLESS YOU JUST GOT THE MONEY TO BURN BECAUSE IT WILL REDUCE RAIN FADE BUT IF YOU ASK ME NOT ENOUGH TO SPEND THE KIND OF MONEY YOU WILL BUYING A SPOOL OF RG11:eek2:

[glennb]

IF THE RUN IS NO MORE THAN 200FT IT WILL WORK WITH THE RG6 NO NEED FOR THE RG11 UNLESS YOU JUST GOT THE MONEY TO BURN BECAUSE IT WILL REDUCE RAIN FADE BUT IF YOU ASK ME NOT ENOUGH TO SPEND THE KIND OF MONEY YOU WILL BUYING A SPOOL OF RG11:eek2:

CAPS LOCK STUCK ?:eek2:

[veryoldschool]

CAPS LOCK STUCK ?:eek2:
I think they are still trying to recover from the cost of RG 11. :lol: