Couple of MFH2 questions

[Stephen M. Smith]

We're about to finally get our MFH2 upgrade and I've been given the responsibility for overseeing it in the large 450 unit property. A couple questions:

1) Is it possible to diplex cable internet service on the same coax running from SWM8 into an individual unit? Our provider indicated that this is no problem, but I need some confirmation before I can put this in writing for 449 other residents.

2) After the MFH2 equipment is in place, when you unplug a unit's coax from the current MFH1 splitter (LMX-82?) in the comm closet and then plug into the new SWM8 module, will the receiver(s) continue to operate off the 3 MFH1 sats or display no signal at all until it is rebooted?

Thanks,
Steve

[MrMojoJojo]

Not sure about the second question, but from my understanding of things I may be able to provide some assistance with the first one.

If the tenants plan on having HD, then using a diplexer at any part of the installation will not allow for the MPEG4 frequencies to properly transfer to the receivers.

[evan_s]

Unfortunately thats not correct with SWM which is what MFH2 uses. It should be able to be diplexed with no problems. Cable, OTA, Cable internet should all work ok since SWM uses 1000mhz and higher for it's functionality.

For a MFH2 system they are likely to leave the MFH1 system in place and run both because the MFH2 only supports newer receivers and they would have to upgrade anyone with out a new receiver. Depending on how they wiring is setup you may have to be all on one system or the other per apartment. Normally they would want all receivers shut down before they disconnected anything as part of the standard install process. Either way a SWM capable receiver will need to be rebooted before it picks up the SWM.

[dave29]

We're about to finally get our MFH2 upgrade and I've been given the responsibility for overseeing it in the large 450 unit property. A couple questions:

1) Is it possible to diplex cable internet service on the same coax running from SWM8 into an individual unit? Our provider indicated that this is no problem, but I need some confirmation before I can put this in writing for 449 other residents.

2) After the MFH2 equipment is in place, when you unplug a unit's coax from the current MFH1 splitter (LMX-82?) in the comm closet and then plug into the new SWM8 module, will the receiver(s) continue to operate off the 3 MFH1 sats or display no signal at all until it is rebooted?

Thanks,
Steve



1 should work fine
2 you need to reboot all recievers and remove bbc's

[Stephen M. Smith]

Thanks for the info. Let me elaborate a little. MFH2 is being appended to our existing MFH1 system. They'll be dropping some new fiber lines down the conduits to the comm closets and then installing SWM8's on (presumably) an as needed basis. No BBC's. We have both cable and bulked DirecTv here split about 60/40 in favor of DirecTv. Our provider is not charging us anything for MFH2, so I would like to make their job easier upgrading existing D* residents and also get them more D* subscribers if possible.

1) For our cable subscribers, MFH2 means they'll get 2 or 3 times as many HD channels for half the price they currently pay (since D* is bulked). However, many require cable internet access due to the limitation of our T1 internet option, so diplexing is needed for them to switch to D*. Sounds like this should be no prob?

2) For our existing 283 D* subscribers, the question is -- if receivers continue to get same signal after being plugged into SWM8 prior to reboot required to see all 5 sats via SWM, then the sysop can do all the comm closet SWM8 work in one step vs. having to do each of the 283 D* units here on an individual basis, plugging each of unit into SWM8 and rebooting receivers at same time.

[RobertE]

Just keep in mind that diplexing OTA is not supported at all by DirecTv. So you or your operator will most likely will have to assume all responsibilty for the setup.

While some have gotten it to work, it's really hard to say how well or for how long a diplexed cable modem may work.

I'd try to find some way to keep the cable modems on a seperate line.

If at all possible, I'd look for a small group of testers to give it a shot before going all out.

[DirecTv Chicago]

Thanks for the info. Let me elaborate a little. MFH2 is being appended to our existing MFH1 system. They'll be dropping some new fiber lines down the conduits to the comm closets and then installing SWM8's on (presumably) an as needed basis. No BBC's. We have both cable and bulked DirecTv here split about 60/40 in favor of DirecTv. Our provider is not charging us anything for MFH2, so I would like to make their job easier upgrading existing D* residents and also get them more D* subscribers if possible.

1) For our cable subscribers, MFH2 means they'll get 2 or 3 times as many HD channels for half the price they currently pay (since D* is bulked). However, many require cable internet access due to the limitation of our T1 internet option, so diplexing is needed for them to switch to D*. Sounds like this should be no prob?

2) For our existing 283 D* subscribers, the question is -- if receivers continue to get same signal after being plugged into SWM8 prior to reboot required to see all 5 sats via SWM, then the sysop can do all the comm closet SWM8 work in one step vs. having to do each of the 283 D* units here on an individual basis, plugging each of unit into SWM8 and rebooting receivers at same time.

How are you going to be able to guarantee that each tenant has compatible equipment and how many tuners they have in their unit?

This is very very important when it comes to the MFH2 system. Which is why, regardless of how tech savy a tenant may be, our technicians perform all installations. All it takes is for one tenant to add their own HR21 on their own to cause other tenants to start searching for sat on some of their receivers.

General rule of thumb for our enginners is 3 tenants per SWM and 7 tuners. It is slightly more expensive but if you factor in the downtime that can be caused due to tenants adding their own receivers it is worth it in the long run. At least for us this seems to happen alot.

[Stephen M. Smith]

How are you going to be able to guarantee that each tenant has compatible equipment and how many tuners they have in their unit?

Well, I was banking on our the report our provider has of all the receivers in each unit, but I hadn't considered that after your initial install, you can change or add receivers w/o their knowledge.

This is very very important when it comes to the MFH2 system. Which is why, regardless of how tech savy a tenant may be, our technicians perform all installations. All it takes is for one tenant to add their own HR21 on their own to cause other tenants to start searching for sat on some of their receivers.

Yeah, I know a good sysop will send an installer to do something even as trivial as rebooting a receiver, just so they can be there and confirm it works. The only reason I'm bothering to ask about this is b/c, after reading other posts here about MFH2 upgrades, I'm amazed that our sysop considers MFH2 a routine maintenance upgrade and is therefore doing this for no charge at all -- to either HOA or residents.

I think maybe the right approach for this mass MFH2 upgrade is to have a couple pre-determined days across a couple weeks for the installer to be here all day, and have residents call and schedule their upgrade on one of the these days. And then any future stragglers are on their own w/installation charge at sysop's discretion.

Steve

[Stephen M. Smith]

Just keep in mind that diplexing OTA is not supported at all by DirecTv. So you or your operator will most likely will have to assume all responsibilty for the setup.

While some have gotten it to work, it's really hard to say how well or for how long a diplexed cable modem may work.

I'd try to find some way to keep the cable modems on a seperate line.

If at all possible, I'd look for a small group of testers to give it a shot before going all out.

OK, that's what I wanted to know. I do have one resident already lined up to test it, but as you point out, long term stability and reliability can't be tested in just a week or so.

I guess the answer is the comm closet. If you put the cable modem in there, you can bring in via cat5 and leave coax all to D*, but I don't know that we want all that resident property in there. A few of us, including myself, have pulled another coax to our unit (I did b/c I want my to keep my HDVR2/MFH1 and HR-21/SWM at same time) so I'll talk to maintenance about making this a paid service option for residents.

Steve