HR20 Issues On A MFH2 System?

[Wally20]

So my building FINALLY got upgraded to an MFH2 system this week and I had the installer come today to add an HD DVR box(HR21) to my bedroom. Before the upgrade I could only have 1 (yes, only 1) HD DVR box in my entire unit. I only have one home run cable coming into my unit so I was limited in what I could do before.

So, the plan was to have the HR21 in my living room and move my HR20 to my bedroom. However, the installer said HR20's do not work on the system and he wouldn't hook up the HR20 in the bedroom no matter what I said. I told him that HR20's are compatible with the MFH2/SWM-8s and that he should give it a shot anyway. He proceeded to get pretty snippy and informed me that he did this for a living and that I should shut up. I left it alone at that point.

So, my question is are there really issues with HR20's running off of a SWM-8 in an MDU? My building is only 4 floors and has at most 4 customers in the entire building (mostly due to limitations noted earlier). They have an SWM-8 on every floor and I am the only one hooked in on my floor.

Is this more of a problem with larger buildings? I can't understand why an HR20 wouldn't work here. Since I'm hooked right into the SWM-8 I'm just going to purchase a splitter and hook the HR20 up myself but I wanted to know if this guy was blowing smoke up my ass before I tried anything.

[Mertzen]

HR20s are FTM/SWM compatible. I am sure there might be isolated issues based in specific locations but I am sure those would be unrelated.

[Wally20]

HR20s are FTM/SWM compatible. I am sure there might be isolated issues based in specific locations but I am sure those would be unrelated.


That's what I thought. He made it seem like it was more of a problem in larger buildings but it was weird that he wouldn't even try it. He was being a complete dickhead about it. I was just asking him questions and he got all pissed off. Must have been having a bad day.

Is there a difference between the HR20 and HR21 that allows the HR21 to do better with weaker signals or something? I'm just trying to understand why they refuse to install HR20s on their MFH2 systems.

Looks like I'll be picking up a splitter on the way home to work and hooking this up on my own. I'll just have to make sure I keep an eye on who's signing up for directv on my floor so we don't overpopulate the SWM-8. They labeled me as only having 1 HD-DVR box in the communications closet so it could cause problems down the line...

[Mertzen]

I'll just have to make sure I keep an eye on who's signing up for directv on my floor so we don't overpopulate the SWM-8. They labeled me as only having 1 HD-DVR box in the communications closet so it could cause problems down the line...
I'd notify the people responsible once you have it installed. Make sure you pick up a correct splitter.

[feschiver]

Just try it without the splitter it is probably split in the walls:)

[Wally20]

I'd notify the people responsible once you have it installed. Make sure you pick up a correct splitter.

Yeah, I'm just going to leave a nice note in the communications closet in the hallway attached to my line letting them know I attached an HR20 to it and that it works just fine. :)

I know I definitely need a splitter as the home run line comes into a junction box in my closet inside my unit. It connects directly to the line that heads out to my family room. There is a 4-way splitter unused sitting in the box but it's for Comcast (only rated up to 1 GHz). As far as splitters go I was just gonna stop at a radioshack and grab one. I just need one that's rated up to 2 GHz right? Does this one look like it will work?


Splitter (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103099&cp=&sr=1&kw=4+way+splitter&origkw=4+way+splitter&parentPage=search)

[Mertzen]

As far as splitters go I was just gonna stop at a radioshack and grab one. I just need one that's rated up to 2 GHz right? Does this one look like it will work?


Splitter (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103099&cp=&sr=1&kw=4+way+splitter&origkw=4+way+splitter&parentPage=search)


Well the one D* recommends is 2-2150Mhz. I would get something as close to that as possible. You'd only need a 2 way anyway. Get one for now but get the proper SWS one later to reduce the risk of issues.

[veryoldschool]

I'd stay away from "That splitter" since you need a 2.3 MHz signal to get to the SWM8. That splitter is only rated down to 40 MHz.

[Wally20]

I'd stay away from "That splitter" since you need a 2.3 MHz signal to get to the SWM8. That splitter is only rated down to 40 MHz.

Are there any retail stores that sell proper SWS splitters or do I have to order them on-line?

[Mertzen]

Are there any retail stores that sell proper SWS splitters or do I have to order them on-line?

Doubt these can be found retail. techtoolsupply and solidsignal are your best bets.

[Wally20]

Doubt these can be found retail. techtoolsupply and solidsignal are your best bets.

That's what I figured. You think I could get away with a 5-2150 MHz splitter for a few days?

[Mertzen]

That's what I figured. You think I could get away with a 5-2150 MHz splitter for a few days?

Try and see what happens, it won't be tested past 5Mhz but it might just pass it. I've seen non wideband equipment work with HD systems plenty times.

[Wally20]

Try and see what happens, it won't be tested past 5Mhz but it might just pass it. I've seen non wideband equipment work with HD systems plenty times.

I ordered the sws-2 off solid signal. I'll try and dig up a 5-2150 MHz splitter in the meantime and see what happens. Thanks for the help!

[bobnielsen]

I picked up a 2-way splitter at Circuit City when I first got my field test SWM5 (before we knew about the 2.3 MHz requirement) and it worked fine. It isn't located where I can easily find the make or model number (it wasn't a brand I recognized), but it was power-passing, which may have made a difference.

[Wally20]

I picked up a 2-way splitter at Circuit City when I first got my field test SWM5 (before we knew about the 2.3 MHz requirement) and it worked fine. It isn't located where I can easily find the make or model number (it wasn't a brand I recognized), but it was power-passing, which may have made a difference.

Yeah, I just picked up a $5 2-way 5-2050 MHz splitter from Best Buy and it's working like a charm right now. I'll put in the sws splitter when it comes to be on the safe side.

Going from one HD DVR with the use of one tuner to 2 HD DVRs with the use of multiple tuners is one the greatest things that's ever happened to me. I'm giddy. :D

[DirecTv Chicago]

That's what I thought. He made it seem like it was more of a problem in larger buildings but it was weird that he wouldn't even try it. He was being a complete dickhead about it. I was just asking him questions and he got all pissed off. Must have been having a bad day.

Is there a difference between the HR20 and HR21 that allows the HR21 to do better with weaker signals or something? I'm just trying to understand why they refuse to install HR20s on their MFH2 systems.

Looks like I'll be picking up a splitter on the way home to work and hooking this up on my own. I'll just have to make sure I keep an eye on who's signing up for directv on my floor so we don't overpopulate the SWM-8. They labeled me as only having 1 HD-DVR box in the communications closet so it could cause problems down the line...

The primary difference, in terms of the MFH2 signal, is that the 20 versions I believe download the software over the satellite where as the 21 versions come built in at time of manufactuering.

Have I had problems installing some 20 receivers? Yes. Depending on when they were built I have seen anywhere from 10% - 15% of the receivers not accept the MFH2 signal. As far as I know it has nothing to do with the size of the building, just how the receiver took the download.

Does that mean I am not going to install it? Not at all. I will make it aware to the customer a head of time that this should be a compatiable model but to keep in mind that there have been some issues with the 20s in the event that it does not work.

I guess its possible some companies have just taken a stance not to support the 20s based on the time required to troubleshoot them when they do not work.

[BattleZone]

It is true that a brand new (or factory-wiped refurb) HR20 won't recognize the SWM signals until its software has been updated. And it can't get a software update from a SWM system unless it has been updated (Catch-22). But an HR20 that's been in constant use on a legacy system will already have the latest software and will work just fine on a SWM system.

As always, the devil is in the details.

[Wally20]

It is true that a brand new (or factory-wiped refurb) HR20 won't recognize the SWM signals until its software has been updated. And it can't get a software update from a SWM system unless it has been updated (Catch-22). But an HR20 that's been in constant use on a legacy system will already have the latest software and will work just fine on a SWM system.

As always, the devil is in the details.


So if you were to hook up the HR20 to a legacy port on the SWM would it be able to download the necessary software before moving it over to a SWM port?

[veryoldschool]

So if you were to hook up the HR20 to a legacy port on the SWM would it be able to download the necessary software before moving it over to a SWM port?
YES, but "I think" the HR20 will boot out of the box on a SWM, while the H20 is the one that needs software to "know" what a SWM is.

[dtvmiranda]

all you have to do is reset receiver and when the very first blue screen comes up, hit 02468 on the remote control to force download. just passe yourself when entering the numbers and make sure it is as soon as you see the first blue screen that welcomes you to DirecTV... don't interrupt download....make sure line is connected to tuner 1.

[evtek]

Also, make sure that is not an HR20-600. These have been recalled by DirecTV. If you have one of these, contact your provider for a replacement or DTV if you purchased it privately.

[texasbrit]

Also, make sure that is not an HR20-600. These have been recalled by DirecTV. If you have one of these, contact your provider for a replacement or DTV if you purchased it privately.
I think you mean the H20-600. There is no HR20-600. And only certain H20-600s (those without the ECO2.0 sticker) have been recalled.

[djjolietjake]

Back when MFH 2 came out, the older HR20's ran accross were working for the most part. The signal had to be clean for it to take the download. Heck , I even had one HR20 come up at -58dbm, both tuners! All that has gone away. If certain transponders fall below -45dbm, certain channel won't come in (TWC HD comes to mind). The "newer" receivers are more forgiving for this now. Every time I get a call for a few missing channels on an HR 20, replacing the receiver will fix the problem. Just wanted to share... :)

[Random Joe]

Also, as far as acceptable tolerance for splitter ratings. I'll share my experiences.

Might seem obvious, but it should still be said. Louder signal will punch through splitters better. If you have no other choice, turning up amps will punch through them. Turning up amps is an absolute last resort in large MDUs, but it will make a splitter pass a certain frequency louder than before.

I have only once, out of hundreds of installs, isolated a problem to a 5MHz splitter. Once, that on a ~350 foot run on RG-11. I replaced with a 2MHz rated splitter and it worked like a charm.

I'm not sure if that spectrum gets crowded but I installed an additional receiver on a three way splitter that was rated 15MHz-2150MHz. It was working fine before, not terminated, only had one cable plugged into one of the outs, leaving two availabe outs. As soon as I plugged another one in, the old (previously functional) receiver was unable to reach the SWM. Replacing the splitter with a properly rated 3 way solved this instantly.

In conclusion, you can get away with murder with SWMs and splitters, but if you are ever unsure or a problem appears, that is THE first place to look. I always replace splitters in units with a properly rated splitters but I do like to entertain curiousity and see if they pass and under what conditions first.