DirecTV New Installation Questions

[fireb0x]

Hey guys,

I have been browsing this forum for a while now researching my switch to DirecTV from cable. I am finally ready to do it and have a few questions that (despite my best searching efforts) I cannot find answers to.

Let me preface by saying that I will be running a 2 TV setup a living room set (heretofore denoted as LR) and a bedroom set (heretofore denoted as BR).

1. Sometimes I want to play video games in the LR and my wife yaps at me because she wants to watch her recorded shows. With cable, it is not possible for my wife to watch her recorded shows in the BR if she recorded them in the LR. Is this possible on DirecTV? She wants to be able to record in the LR and watch in the BR.

2. If the above is in fact possible, what equipment do I need to get? I am planning on getting an HD DVR for the LR.

3. If it is an extremely cloudy day and there is no signal, can I still watch my recorded content?

Thanks for any help! I am brand new to this forum posting wise, but hope to start posting here often once I get my setup taken care of.

PS: Any other tips I should know of for a brand new satellite setup? Also, I am looking to take advantage of the $50 referral discount if anyone is interested in getting $50 bucks. (Sorry if this type of soliciting is not allowed, please edit this part out if it is.)

[spartanstew]

1. No, you're talking about MRV (multi-room viewing). It's a highly anticipated feature that D* is working on, but as yet is not available (and no date for when it will be). There's is, however, another possibility (see question 2).

2. The most common way to currently do that would be to run lines directly from the DVR in the LR to the TV in the BR. All the outputs on the DVR's are active, so you could run HDMI from the DVR to the LR TV and component from the DVR to the BR TV (for example). Of course, this would depend upon the distance between your LR and BR and the ability to run cables between them.

You could also use a distribution system (3rd party channel modulator) to grab the DVR signal (or signals from multiple devices) and distribute it to other TV's around the house (I currently send the signal to 7 other TV's) using RG59 (or RG6) cables, but without getting into expensive options the sent signal would only be SD.

3. Yes.

[fireb0x]

2. The only way to currently do that would be to run lines directly from the DVR in the LR to the TV in the BR. All the outputs on the DVR's are active, so you could run HDMI from the DVR to the LR TV and component from the DVR to the BR TV (for example). Of course, this would depend upon the distance between your LR and BR and the ability to run cables between them.

And all it would entail is an input switch on the BR tv correct? Since they are all active on the DVR, it doesn't require an output switch on the DVR?

[houskamp]

also it will take much more than a cloudy day to take out signal.. more like a "batten down the hatches" downpour..

[spartanstew]

And all it would entail is an input switch on the BR tv correct? Since they are all active on the DVR, it doesn't require an output switch on the DVR?

Right, you'd just connect it directly to the TV.

Since it's in another room, you'd also need to use the RF remote feature.

[fireb0x]

also it will take much more than a cloudy day to take out signal.. more like a "batten down the hatches" downpour..

That's good to hear.

Right, you'd just connect it directly to the TV.

Since it's in another room, you'd also need to use the RF remote feature.

Thanks so much for the help!

[evan_s]

If you are looking for a new install i'd check out http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=116105&page=13 if you haven't already.

Another option for dealing with signal loss is to hook up an OTA antenna. You will most likely get a HR-21 which will require a AM21 module for 50$ but would let you receive OTA-hd. It would cover rain fade if you get any and allow you to receive any locals that aren't carried by DirecTV.