Satellite Installation Question [Archive]

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TL2000

03-19-09, 03:36 PM

Shades228

03-19-09, 04:04 PM

Well you already did the work and ran 2 lines so a SWM really won't do much for you unless you wanted to use OTA as well.

You can run two 6x8's or get a x16 multiswitch either way would work.

Sorry I was talking about MDU setups prior to posting and had cascade on the brain

eakes

03-19-09, 04:11 PM

Your best solution is to run parallel Zinwell 4x8s. You do NOT want to cascade passive Zinwell multiswitches. Obtain four 2-way, satellite splitters. Connect the four lines from the antenna to the input of the four splitters. Connect the outputs of the splitters to the two Zinwells - make sure the outputs go to the same respective ports on the multiswitches, ie, one to one, two to two, etc. You will now have 16 connections for tuners.

A powered 16 port Zinwell is also an option.

You could also parallel a SWM8 with the existing Zinwell instead of using a second Zinwell.

Basically, you have several options. Take your pick.

carl6

03-19-09, 04:17 PM

And to make sure you have and use the right equipment, you want a Zinwell WB68 6x8 multiswitch (even though you are only using it as a 4x8). I'm not aware of any actual 4x8 switches that are wideband and will work with the new HD signals.

I agree, run two WB68's in parallel. Do not cascade them (one off the other).

doctrsnoop

03-19-09, 04:53 PM

Yup, since you've already run 2 lines, the cheapest bet is to run parallel WB68's (just buy another one, under 20bucks on ebay) using 4 sat splitters and matching the outputs on the wb68's.

Second best option is run a WB68 and SWM8 parallel like I've done. SWM8's are 100-150.

Third is replacing the WB68 with a WB616 - around 60-80 bucks - might look better, if you cared, but requires a powered coax line to it.

rabid_hobbit

03-19-09, 06:46 PM

I suggest the 6x16 multiswitch, it's not horribly expensive, and the fact that it is powered has some advantages.

BattleZone

03-19-09, 09:41 PM

http://www.techtoolsupply.com/ProductImages/distribution/wb616.jpg

The powered Zinwell WB616 (6x16) switch should be the most reliable solution; this switch comes with a power inserter that turns the switch into a line-locker and provides all the power for the switch and the dish's LNBs. It also makes for a neater install.

As mentioned, the other, cheaper solution is running parallel WB68s, using 4 satellite-rated splitters. Here is a diagram that is close to what you'd be doing (in the diagram, one of the WB68s has been replaced by a SWM8):

http://www.dbstalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=14181&stc=1&d=1213021417

Johnnie5000

03-19-09, 09:44 PM

Am I the only one wondering how HD signal is going through a 4x8 to two HR20's?

miketorse

03-19-09, 09:49 PM

Am I the only one wondering how HD signal is going through a 4x8 to two HR20's?

You mean in the OP? I'm sure he meant 6x8.

carl6

03-20-09, 12:37 AM

The powered Zinwell WB616 (6x16) switch should be the most reliable solution; this switch comes with a power inserter that turns the switch into a line-locker and provides all the power for the switch and the dish's LNBs.

Two WB68's in parallel with a Sonora HRPID1422 phase locker/power inserter will give you the same degree of reliability at a lower cost. However it is not as neat an installation (more wires connecting everything together).

TL2000

03-20-09, 08:44 AM

Am I the only one wondering how HD signal is going through a 4x8 to two HR20's?

I mis-spoke. I have a 6x8 (WB68) that I am currently using.

TL2000

03-20-09, 08:52 AM

Hello,

I am making some changes to my current satellite setup and wanted to get some advice about reconfiguring it. I am currently using the following:

1 Slimline Dish feeding a Zinwell 4x8 switch.

4 of the feeds go to my main tv area which has 2 HR20s
1 feed is a direct run to one of my bedrooms upstairs
1 feed is a direct run to one of my bedrooms upstairs
1 feed runs to my attic and is sitting unused right now
1 feed is not connected.

I just put new drops into each of my three bedrooms (with 2 coax in each location so that I can feed DVRs if I want) upstairs and wanted to know what would be my most efficient method to feed them. Do I need to pull one of my current bedroom direct runs into the attic to combine with the other one up there to feed a new multi-switch or do I need to look into a SWM solution? Is it possible to chain Zinwell switches?

Thanks in advance for the help

Thank you everyone, I should have been more specific. Right now upstairs I have 1 output in my guest bedroom (in the wall), 1 output in my office (in the wall), and 1 output in my attic (unattached). Yesterday, I put new drops in each room (master br, spare br, office) (2 per room for DVR compatability). These drops terminate in the attic currently.

My main DTV lines come into my basement and the Zinwell is there, feeding my two DVRs (4 lines). I have one vacant output on the Zinwell currently.

I cannot easily get new lines to the upstairs (or attic) portion of my house, so I was trying to figure out if I can do something with the three lines that I have up there already. Realistically, I can pull one of the upstairs wall outlets into the attic so that I could have 2 good connnections available there, but if I am understanding everyone correctly, that will not be enough to drive 6 connections upstairs since it would be cascaded from my current 6x8.

doctrsnoop

03-20-09, 09:45 AM

You can replace the wb68 with an SWM8 and run one or two lines to your main room (split in basement or split in room depending on what physically works out better), and run your current bedroom runs with the Legacy ports now, then later with the SWM ports when you get HD DVR's, leaving 3 legacy ports open

You can parallel a SWM8 with the WB68, leave the main room attached to the wb68's, and run Legacy to your bedrooms and run your one line to the attic and split it there to your bedrooms to run additional HD DVR's.

Somehow, I think what you want to do involves a SWM8

eakes

03-20-09, 09:49 AM

The main problem you have is that four lines from the dish are required at the input of the multiswitch or SWM module for all channels to be available to the receivers connected to that device. You could install a SWM8 in the basement in parallel with the existing Zinwell. Since you already have at least one cable from the basement to the attic, you could use a splitter on that coax in the attic to feed up to 8 tuners (DVR = 2 tuners) on the upper floor. In the basement connect that coax through the power inserter to the SWM8.

TL2000

03-22-09, 08:28 AM

Instead of running an SWM8 in parallel with my Zinwell, why wouldn't I just replace it with an SWM8 and then put a 1x8 in my attic? Am I missing something?

doctrsnoop

03-22-09, 08:55 AM

Instead of running an SWM8 in parallel with my Zinwell, why wouldn't I just replace it with an SWM8 and then put a 1x8 in my attic? Am I missing something?

How do you feed your main room currently

eakes

03-22-09, 09:36 AM

Instead of running an SWM8 in parallel with my Zinwell, why wouldn't I just replace it with an SWM8 and then put a 1x8 in my attic? Am I missing something?

Let's count the number of tuners: Four in the main viewing area plus two in each of three bedrooms. My math totals ten tuners, either now or in the future. The SWM8 provides for only 8 turners so you are two short.

You could replace the Zinwell with the SWM8, feed the four main tuners from a 2-way splitter on a coax from one of the SWM8 output ports. The other SWM8 output would be routed to the attic and a 3-way splitter used with one leg going to each bedroom. However, only four tuners would be available for use between the three rooms.

claudhenrysmoot

03-28-09, 12:32 AM

Hello - I just wanted to get some input on how I would use a SWM8 to handle my current setup. Heres what I have right now: 5 LNB dish (3 yrs old), a HR20-700 with 2 coax going into it, an HR22 with 2 coax going into it, and an HR23 with 1 coax going into it. When Dtv installed my HR23 a month ago, they used the existing coax in my bedroom and said they could run another line outside the house....I didn't want that, and it was too much trouble to do a wall drop due to the complexity of my bedroom with no attic. So, I am wanting to use a SWM8 to get my HR23 to pick up that 2nd tuner without having to run another line (right now I am only using the 1 tuner since there's only 1 coax line going into it). I have a 6X8 multi-switch that is handling the satellite inputs and outputs right now. So, my question is: Can i replace my 6X8 multi-switch with the SWM8 to enable all 3 of my HDDVRs to use only 1 coax line? Would I need any other equipment? Would I just unplug 1 of the coax lines from my HR20 and HR22? Do I leave the BBCs on the HR20 and HR22?

Thanks for any advice.

Seth