SWM8 Configuration with my current setup

[claudhenrysmoot]

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

[doctrsnoop]

Yes you would replace the switch with the swm8. You unplug the second lines and the bbc's. You need a power-passing splitter, probably a 4-way. You also need a power inserter if the kit doesn't already come with it. The cheaper place to get them is eBay but I was more comfortable buying from weaknees.com. They also have some nice diagrams there(there are here too but it's an overwhelming amount of posts to sort through)

[kokishin]

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

Can i replace my 6X8 multi-switch with the SWM8 to enable all 3 of my HDDVRs to use only 1 coax line?

Yes. One coax run per HR2x.

Would I need any other equipment?

An appropriate splitter such as http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=SWS-4

There is a power inserter that comes with the SWM-8 that is connected to SWM-1 input of the SWM-8.

Would I just unplug 1 of the coax lines from my HR20 and HR22?

Yes, but make sure you disconnect the appropriate one. On the HR20, FTM1 needs to be connected and however the HR22 and HR23 are labeled for their SWM connection.

Do I leave the BBCs on the HR20 and HR22?

No. Remove all BBCs.

[claudhenrysmoot]

Thanks Kokishin....

[randyk47]

Here's a link to the DirecTV installation guide for SWM, both the SWM LNB and the SWM-8. Follow the wiring charts, I used the one on page 30, and you'll be fine. It's pretty easy. http://forums.directv.com/pe/RepositoryFileDownloadServlet/10396641/SWM%20-%20Integrated%20LNB-ModuleTraining.pdf

[claudhenrysmoot]

Thanks!

[claudhenrysmoot]

I installed the SWM8 last night and my 2 out of 3 of my HDDVRs are working fine, as Im able to record 2 shows at the same time, using 1 coax for each HDDVR. But, for some reason, my HR23 in my master bedroom, even though the picture is coming through fine, I can only record 1 show at a time. I looked into the satellite setup and it says Tuner 1: SAT, Record......Tuner 2: SAT

So, Tuner 2 doesn't say Record after it like Tuner 1 does.....would that have anything to do with it?

When I test the signal, Tuner 2 isn't picking up anything.

My HR23 was setup by Dtv as a single tuner since I only had 1 coax in my bedroom and I didn't want to run a line outside....hence, my reason for getting the SWM in the first place.

I restarted my HR23 several times, I reset defaults, unplugged it, etc. I plan on trying to hook up my HR20 to the coax in my master bedroom to see if it works. If it does, then I'll know theres something going on with the HR23 receiver.

Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks

[David MacLeod]

you need to rerun satellite setup for this unit.

[robq391]

Try a couple simple things first that you may have overlooked.

Is the coax running to your HR23 attached to the input that is labeled SWM? This might not be the same input as your other two IRDs if you assumed it was.

Also, you need to do a systematic power cycle. Unplug everything. Start by plugging your SWM in first & give it a couple of minutes to boot. Then start booting your IRDs, one at a time, allowing each one to fully finish before moving to the next. Time consuming but needs to happen for everything to play well together!

[LameLefty]

Also, you need to do a systematic power cycle. Unplug everything. Start by plugging your SWM in first & give it a couple of minutes to boot. Then start booting your IRDs, one at a time, allowing each one to fully finish before moving to the next. Time consuming but needs to happen for everything to play well together!

That's not actually true. I've never done that for any of the four DVRs on my SWM8. I think that's in an installation manual somewhere and is the "common wisdom" but the systems are smarter than that and don't really require it.

I think David is right - the box that was setup for single-tuner operation needs to have satellite setup re-run, that's all.

[randyk47]

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be "operator head-space error" on my part. The whole reason I upgraded to SWM-8 was to provide dual tuner capability to an HR20 located in a place where I couldn't get a second line run. The HR20 had been up and running for a couple of months with just one tuner enabled and I thought, since I went through the whole power down, unplug, plug and power up sequence it would automatically bring the second tuner up. It didn't and I went through the whole sequence again, actually three times, and still no second tuner. What I discovered was that on initial install of the HR20 it had set itself, or maybe I did and I didn't remember, to single tuner. All the restarts, reboots, etc., didn't change that setting. I had to go into the menu and find the "switch" to dual tuners and it worked right away. Actually felt a little brain dead that I hadn't thought of that earlier as I was getting pretty frustrated with this unit and it was the only one giving me trouble.

[claudhenrysmoot]

Thanks....do you know what the path is in the menu to get to the screen where I can select to siwtch to dual tuner?

Thanks

[randyk47]

It's been several months since I upgraded so I don't remember exactly but I'm pretty sure I had to go through the menu reset option and redo the whole satellite setup routine. It was one of the very early choices that came up and I remember kind of hitting my forehead in a "duh" moment. I don't think you can get to the choice through any of the other options but maybe somebody knows better than I.

[veryoldschool]

Thanks....do you know what the path is in the menu to get to the screen where I can select to siwtch to dual tuner?

Thanks
Menu/ Parent, fav, setup/ setup, then Sat/Ant [second down from top] then rerun Sat setup.

[claudhenrysmoot]

Thanks....I'll try it tonight.

[RobertE]

That's not actually true. I've never done that for any of the four DVRs on my SWM8. I think that's in an installation manual somewhere and is the "common wisdom" but the systems are smarter than that and don't really require it.

I think David is right - the box that was setup for single-tuner operation needs to have satellite setup re-run, that's all.

At one point it was true. However, that info became obsolete when the sat setup screens changed a short time ago.

[claudhenrysmoot]

The tuner setup worked......Thanks.

[robq391]

That's not actually true. I've never done that for any of the four DVRs on my SWM8. I think that's in an installation manual somewhere and is the "common wisdom" but the systems are smarter than that and don't really require it.

I think David is right - the box that was setup for single-tuner operation needs to have satellite setup re-run, that's all.


When I've had quirky problems in the past (signals dropping from 90's to 0 on a clear day as I was watching the screen), this has solved the problem. This is after resetting the IRD in question & checking everything under the sun to no avail.

[LameLefty]

When I've had quirky problems in the past (signals dropping from 90's to 0 on a clear day as I was watching the screen), this has solved the problem. This is after resetting the IRD in question & checking everything under the sun to no avail.

Signal strengths dropping has never happened to my system, in two years of running on a regular mechanical switch or in the 6 months since I've been on an SWM so I can't speak to that. It sounds to me that if signals are dropping out like that, it's more likely to be a flaky tuner in a receiver, a flaky cable, or an LNB issue. Resetting a receiver could easily "de-glitch" a situation like that.

But if the SWM IS the culprit, resetting the receiver is masking the problem.