Hoping to convert to SWM and re-use wires for antenna

[umfan866]

Hi,

Last weekend I had DirectTV upgrade me to HD.

Original installation (from 3 years ago):
1 Directivo
1 Eagle Aspen Dish & LNB
2 lines running from the Dish to the Directivo.

Current installation (as of last weekend):
1 new HD DVR model HR22 with 2 BBC filters
1 new HD DVR model HR21-700 with 2 BBC filters
1 new AM21 (on its way)
1 new Directv Dish (Oval, with "Slimline" written on it)
1 new LNB (WNC model SL3PIG-WNC) with 4 ouputs
4 lines, 2 running to each of the 2 HD-DVRS.

Additional Information:
When the installer came to my house, the plan was to add the new free HR22at a new location, and keep my old (legacy) Directivo. However the installer had a leftover HR21-700 from a customer that went bankrupt before the install, and he sold that to me for $100 and installed it (at the end of the visit).

I want/need to watch local HD subchannels from my UHF antenna (in particular Qubo- which my kid loves) so I was able to get DirectTV to give me an AM21 which is in the mail. I want to put an antenna on the roof near the dish, and feed the AM21 with local antenna signals.

My questions are:

(1) First of all, can I remove these bulky & ugly long rectangular filters from behind the HD DVRs? Do I really need them? The installer said definately NO, because I would then lose the HD channels.

(2) Several years ago I was able to combine 1 antenna feed into one of the 2 wires of the satellite feed by using this inserter (& un-inserter) from Radio Shack. I still have it-- can I use this now? The installer said definately NO -- that used to work but is no longer possible.

(3) Can I consider this a "slim dish" & "slim LNB" installation, and therefore run each DVR off the first incoming cable only? Then I could hijack the 2nd sat cable run and re-use it for antenna.

Thanks for your help. I've been out of the loop for a while on satellite stuff, so this knowledge will be very helpful.

Marvin

[houskamp]

(1) First of all, can I remove these bulky & ugly long rectangular filters from behind the HD DVRs? Do I really need them? The installer said definately NO, because I would then lose the HD channels.

With your current setup you have to have the BBCs..

(2) Several years ago I was able to combine 1 antenna feed into one of the 2 wires of the satellite feed by using this inserter (& un-inserter) from Radio Shack. I still have it-- can I use this now? The installer said definately NO -- that used to work but is no longer possible.

possible but not the best choice (you would have to move the bbcs out by your dish)

(3) Can I consider this a "slim dish" & "slim LNB" installation, and therefore run each DVR off the first incoming cable only? Then I could hijack the 2nd sat cable run and re-use it for antenna.

Best solution: SWM LNB ("head" on dish).. this would let you run one wire to each DVR and leave the second free for OTA use.. plenty of info on SWMLine setups here.. You can buy the SWM LNB, power inserter (PI), and splitter online and install yourself quite easy..

[clb4g9]

(3) Can I consider this a "slim dish" & "slim LNB" installation, and therefore run each DVR off the first incoming cable only? Then I could hijack the 2nd sat cable run and re-use it for antenna.



As the poster above stated, you can do this but not with your current equipment. There is a difference between a slimline dish (which is what 99% of people getting HD content have) and a SWM setup. A SWM setup (single-wire multiswitch) doesn't have anything to do with the dish, but rather the LNB that powers the receivers (or an external multiswitch, but no need to get into that with your setup). When you activate a D* account you are given either a non-SWM setup (as you were) or a SWM-setup, depending on how many receivers you buy, what equipment you get, etc.

The good news is that the SWM-lnb looks almost identical to the LNB you have, and will fit on your dish just like the other one does. You just need to buy a SWM-lnb on ebay/solidsignal/wherever, and then you (after following some of the excellent instructions available here) can use 1 wire from the dish to run up to 8 tuners (you are using 4 right now) using specific splitters and a power inserter. This would allow you to use your second wire that has already been run for your OTA HD.


And the best part? You get to remove those BBC's that you seem to hate so much.

[Mertzen]

Hi,
However the installer had a leftover HR21-700 from a customer that went bankrupt before the install, and he sold that to me for $100 and installed it (at the end of the visit).


Not sure if he could even do that. I'd call in to D* and ask if everything is ok with your account. Techs can not sell any IRDs.

[umfan866]

Thanks guys. I am most likely going to leave the system as installed, since it is going to be easier and no-cost for me to run a seperate antenna line, than to buy this extra equipment. I am curious about the best prices that can be opbtained on the SWM LNB, power inserter (PI), and splitter.

[jimmyv2000]

www.solidsignal.com

They have it all in stock:D

[umfan866]

OK this looks like the equipment I would need, right? (From Solid Signal website)

SL3-SWM LNB
($79.99)

DIRECTV PI-21 21V 1.5A Power Inserter for SWimLine dish (PI-21)
($18.99)

DIRECTV SWS-2 Satellite 2-Way Wide Band (2 -2150 MHz) Splitter (SWS-2)
($5.99)

This power inserter is new to me... I was worried I would need a plug outside near the dish, but it appears it has a really, really long cord
on it, so I could plug it in somewhere in my garage..

Thanks Marvin.

[houskamp]

OK this looks like the equipment I would need, right? (From Solid Signal website)

SL3-SWM LNB
($79.99)

DIRECTV PI-21 21V 1.5A Power Inserter for SWimLine dish (PI-21)
($18.99)

DIRECTV SWS-2 Satellite 2-Way Wide Band (2 -2150 MHz) Splitter (SWS-2)
($5.99)

This power inserter is new to me... I was worried I would need a plug outside near the dish, but it appears it has a really, really long cord
on it, so I could plug it in somewhere in my garage..

Thanks Marvin.
PI can go pretty much anywhere in the line from the dish to recievers.. most have it near a reciever...

[Mertzen]

OK this looks like the equipment I would need, right? (From Solid Signal website)

SL3-SWM LNB
($79.99)

DIRECTV PI-21 21V 1.5A Power Inserter for SWimLine dish (PI-21)
($18.99)

DIRECTV SWS-2 Satellite 2-Way Wide Band (2 -2150 MHz) Splitter (SWS-2)
($5.99)

This power inserter is new to me... I was worried I would need a plug outside near the dish, but it appears it has a really, really long cord
on it, so I could plug it in somewhere in my garage..

Thanks Marvin.

1] Make sure you're in a 3LNB market
2] There are way better prices to be had on that equipment