Lots of Confusion - Question on Switches, install, etc.

[J Blow]

I've had DirecTV since 1996. I paid $800 for a shiny new Sony receiver. I did the install. Over the years, I did a lot of upgrading and installs. I got one of the first Ultimate TVs and had one of the first multiswitches....a lot has changed.

Now I have what I believe to be a DIRECTV AU9-SL5-SWM-B-PWS Five LNB Ka/Ku Slim Line Dish Antenna w/ Long and Short Brace and a dual lnb dish pointed at 72.5 for locals. I have a 6 x 8 Zinwell with the 6 incoming being 4 from the slimline and 2 from the 72.5 dish. I have 4 receivers - HDVR2 (2 tuners), 2 HD DVRs (HR21-700 and HR22-100, each with dual tuners) and a single tuner SD receiver.

I've done a lot of reading but there is just too much going on now for me to be completely sure. What I want to do is NOT run so many cables for each input. In one room I have 2 receivers and need 4 lines but only have 2 coming in. I thought I could hook up an old multiswitch I had and make 2 lines 4. It doesn't seem to be working so I'm assuming it's the equipment. I do get some signal but an error when I run config on the HD DVR. What do I need to split these 2 inputs into 4?

In addition, I've read that I might not need the B-band converters and they may in fact be screwing me up but can't seem to find that out for sure either.

I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks.

[J Blow]

OK, I think all I needed to do was post here and that unlocked the secret. I looked for a couple hours and as soon as I asked the question I started finding the info I needed...I think. Please tell me if I'm on the right track.

The single cable method won't work for me since I need the 72.5 dish for my locals and when it runs through the multiswitch it eliminates whatever it would do to use the single cable method. Should I run directly off my slimline then I could use the single cable method. Once my locals are HD (scheduled for this month), I can eliminate the other dish and run directly to my receivers with a single line and use dual tuners.

I'm guessing my HDVR2 now won't work with this method and I will only have 4 outputs...so how will I connect my 5th tuner (4 receivers but HDVR2 with 2 tuners)?

Thanks.

[veryoldschool]

If you have four cables coming from your SlimLine dish, it is NOT a SWM.
You have a "standard" 5 LNB dish, that with a Zinwell WB68 will combine your 72.5 dish AND use BBCs, giving you eight total outputs.

Should you want to go with a Single line system, you'd need a SWM8 to replace your WB68 and then don't need the BBCs.


Here is some more info on SWM systems: http://forums.directv.com/pe/RepositoryFileDownloadServlet/10396641/SWM%20-%20Integrated%20LNB-ModuleTraining.pdf

[J Blow]

If you have four cables coming from your SlimLine dish, it is NOT a SWM.
You have a "standard" 5 LNB dish, that with a Zinwell WB68 will combine your 72.5 dish AND use BBCs, giving you eight total outputs.

Should you want to go with a Single line system, you'd need a SWM8 to replace your WB68 and then don't need the BBCs.


OK, so any ideas why a multiswitch that I have in the house isn't working for this application? It should be OK to cascade the multiswitch isn't it? Maybe I just have a faulty switch?

Thanks.

[br408408]

What is the second multiswitch that you are trying to cascade. Old multiswitchs will not work with the new Ka satellites (the ones your HR21 and HR22 uses for high def)

[satjoe]

Just wait a few months. Direct TV is moving to a single dish, no more 72 0r 95. They are testing a new 3 LNB SWM and SLM. Some locals and internationals will be moving to the 110 and 119 and will still use the 5 LNB. With the SWM you will need only one wire to the dual tuner DVR, but it will use up two of the available channels on your new splitter. SWM a different method of sending all the available slots to your receiver.

[RobertE]

With your SD locals still coming from 72.5 you can not cascade switches. If you do, you will lose your SD locals.

As VOS points out, you will need an external SWM switch, assuming all your equipment is SWM compatable.

[RobertE]

Just wait a few months. Direct TV is moving to a single dish, no more 72 0r 95. They are testing a new 3 LNB SWM and SLM. Some locals and internationals will be moving to the 110 and 119 and will still use the 5 LNB. With the SWM you will need only one wire to the dual tuner DVR, but it will use up two of the available channels on your new splitter. SWM a different method of sending all the available slots to your receiver.

There is no evidence that any locals or the international channels will be moving to 110/119. I will say I would love to see internationals moved off the 95 to anywhere on 99/101/103/110/119.

If you have any information (other than rumor) please share.

[carl6]

One other comment I haven't seen mentioned yet - you only need one coax to the72.5 dish, connected to flexport 1 on the WB68. The second flexport is for a 95 dish.

Carl

[J Blow]

Great and thanks for all the continued info!

The switch I was trying to use inside the house is very old....mid to late 90s so that makes sense.

I guess what I'm hearing is that I have a few options for right now:

1) Run 7 cables off my existing 6x8 Zinwell switch to power my 7 tuners.

2) Wait to see what new equipment brings for change and live as it is as even an equipment upgrade (new single line switch) wouldn't allow me to combine the signals of two dishes (slimline and 72.5) and run a single wire to my existing setup.


So is there ANY way I can add equipment and make the 2 lines I have running in each entrance power 4 tuners in one place and 3 in the other?

[J Blow]

Now I'm confusing myself....if I add the SWM I can have the single line functionality AND use the SWM to combine my current 72.5 and slimline....or do I need new dishes to make that happen?

[veryoldschool]

Now I'm confusing myself....if I add the SWM I can have the single line functionality AND use the SWM to combine my current 72.5 and slimline....or do I need new dishes to make that happen?
Two types of SWM:
SWM8 Multiswitch [works with 72.5 SAT]
SWMLine dish [doesn't work]