Need some help with installation.

[hodie21]

I am helping a friend install another HD receiver box for his Direct TV system.

He has a slimline dish that has one RG6 cable running from the LNB to his HD receiver box.

He bought another HD receiver box for another room. How do you go about splitting the cable for both receivers to get OTA, HD, and SD programming.

I talked with tech support and they said to use the Zinwell Mulitswitch. I used this but now all I receive are the SD channels and no HD or OTA channels.

I have never dealt with Direct TV but have run plenty of standard cable for homes in the past.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[veryoldschool]

You don't really "split" the cables.
The Slimline has four outputs, so running a cable to each receiver's input is how.
OTA should have its own coax, since the Ka-lo band channels come out in the 250-750 MHz and these will interfere with OTA.
If you need more than 4 outputs, this is where the Zinwell WB68 is needed. Four cable from the dish into the switch and you have eight outputs.

[Knowledge]

I am helping a friend install another HD receiver box for his Direct TV system.

He has a slimline dish that has one RG6 cable running from the LNB to his HD receiver box.

He bought another HD receiver box for another room. How do you go about splitting the cable for both receivers to get OTA, HD, and SD programming.

I talked with tech support and they said to use the Zinwell Mulitswitch. I used this but now all I receive are the SD channels and no HD or OTA channels.

I have never dealt with Direct TV but have run plenty of standard cable for homes in the past.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

What is the model of HD receiver? How many feet of RG6 are you using?

[hodie21]

He doesn not have another cable running out of the satellite for Local channels. He only has the one. The satelitte is a Slimline with 3 LNB's on it. Is there another output to hook to so I will just run 2 RG6 lines from Satellite to receiver boxes?

Also, do I still need the thing that attachs to the input of the receiver box between the RG6 and box?

Thanks for the help.

[veryoldschool]

He doesn not have another cable running out of the satellite for Local channels. He only has the one. The satelitte is a Slimline with 3 LNB's on it. Is there another output to hook to so I will just run 2 RG6 lines from Satellite to receiver boxes?

Also, do I still need the thing that attachs to the input of the receiver box between the RG6 and box?

Thanks for the help.
All non SWM LNBs have four outputs.
"The thing" is a BBC to upconvert Ka-lo band. These are needed for all but the H/HR23 models.

[hodie21]

All non SWM LNBs have four outputs.
"The thing" is a BBC to upconvert Ka-lo band. These are needed for all but the H/HR23 models.

How do you know if you have a SWM LNB?

As I said above. The dish and one receiver were already installed.

It has a single RG6 running from dish to receiver box with the BBC on the box.

With this he receives Local, HD, and SD channels.

So does he have a SWM dish? If so, how do you run cable to the second HD box?

Thanks for all the help. I'm a noob to the Dish world.

[carl6]

You need to (carefully) remove the LNB assembly from the end of the arm it is mounted on, slide it out a couple of inches and look at the connector(s).

If it only has one connector on it, then it is an SWiM LNB assembly and you can split the line. If it has four connectors on it, then you need to run a new coax line from the dish to the new receiver location (2 coax if it is a DVR).

To remove the LNB assembly, there are two screws with nuts on them that hold it in place. Remove those, make sure there is several inches of slack on the coax line, then gently pull the LNB assembly out from the arm. Be careful not to move the dish itself while you are doing this. When you are done, push it back into place and put the two screws back in.

[armj1978]

How do you know if you have a SWM LNB?

As I said above. The dish and one receiver were already installed.

It has a single RG6 running from dish to receiver box with the BBC on the box.

With this he receives Local, HD, and SD channels.

So does he have a SWM dish? If so, how do you run cable to the second HD box?

Thanks for all the help. I'm a noob to the Dish world.

If there is a BBC, it is not SWM. The BBC's are not used with SWM. Also when you run the new line from the dish, he will need another BBC for the new receiver unless it is an H23 which has wide band tuners built in. If it not an H23, it will not receive the HD channels without a BBC.

You had mentioned OTA earlier, but I think you are talking about the local channels. They come through the dish, not OTA. Local, HD and SD all come through the dish feed.

[armj1978]

You need to (carefully) remove the LNB assembly from the end of the arm it is mounted on, slide it out a couple of inches and look at the connector(s).

If it only has one connector on it, then it is an SWiM LNB assembly and you can split the line. If it has four connectors on it, then you need to run a new coax line from the dish to the new receiver location (2 coax if it is a DVR).

To remove the LNB assembly, there are two screws with nuts on them that hold it in place. Remove those, make sure there is several inches of slack on the coax line, then gently pull the LNB assembly out from the arm. Be careful not to move the dish itself while you are doing this. When you are done, push it back into place and put the two screws back in.

You can also just look for the power inserter. All SWM have a PI. It would be between the Receiver and the LNB. It is a box that has two RG6 feeds connected to it and then a cord that plugs into an outlet.

This could save some time, depending on how much has to be moved to look for the PI.

[veryoldschool]

How do you know if you have a SWM LNB?

As I said above. The dish and one receiver were already installed.

It has a single RG6 running from dish to receiver box with the BBC on the box.

With this he receives Local, HD, and SD channels.

So does he have a SWM dish? If so, how do you run cable to the second HD box?

Thanks for all the help. I'm a noob to the Dish world.
As has been pointed out, if there are BBCs, then it isn't a SWM system.
Carl has helped with how to connect another cable [or two].

[hodie21]

As has been pointed out, if there are BBCs, then it isn't a SWM system.
Carl has helped with how to connect another cable [or two].

How is he getting his local HD channels without a separate co-ax line?

Also, If it is a SWM system, what exact model of splitter do I need and where can I get it? Thanks again for the help.

[BattleScott]

Based on what you have listed (Slimline - 3 LNB, BBCs on the HD receiver), you do not have a SWM setup. You would need a "mulit-switch", not a splitter. The multi-switch requires at least 2 inputs from the dish however, so the easiest and cheapest solution is going to be to run a new coax from the dish to the new receiver location. While you're at it, I would recommend running 2 lines to the new location and an additional line to the exisiting location for future DVR usage.

OTA cannot be fed on the same coax lines as the hd due to the bbcs on the HD receivers, at least not in a way that is supported by DirecTV. Some have reported that they are able to use diplexers on the line for OTA if they move the BBC device(s) to the far end of the line past the insertion point for the OTA diplexer.

[veryoldschool]

How is he getting his local HD channels without a separate co-ax line?

Also, If it is a SWM system, what exact model of splitter do I need and where can I get it? Thanks again for the help.


Guess you need to say whether the HD locals are OTA [over the air] or coming off the SAT. My HD locals come off the SAT [3,6,10, etc.] and the OTA [3.1,6.1,10.1, etc.] come from my outdoor antenna.
If there are any BBCs being used, it isn't a SWM, but a "normal" Slimline, and you've already asked about the BBC being used, so you have a non SWM dish.

[Alabamatechguy]

I'm concerned that a caution needs to be expressed in this thread. Anytime the LNB head must be removed from the end of the "arm" of the dish and then reinstalled for any reason it is always considered standard practice by both install and service call tech.s to retest ALL the sat. transponder signal strength readings for possible need for tweeking of the dish overall aiming as the simple removing and reconnection of the LNB head might have caused a very slight shifting of the "arm" that thereby causes a resulting shifting of the dish aiming that might result in reduced signal strength. Retesting the sat. signal strength will confirm if there has been any negative effect from the LNB action.

[carl6]

I'm concerned that a caution needs to be expressed in this thread. Anytime the LNB head must be removed from the end of the "arm" of the dish and then reinstalled for any reason it is always considered standard practice by both install and service call tech.s to retest ALL the sat. transponder signal strength readings for possible need for tweeking of the dish overall aiming as the simple removing and reconnection of the LNB head might have caused a very slight shifting of the "arm" that thereby causes a resulting shifting of the dish aiming that might result in reduced signal strength. Retesting the sat. signal strength will confirm if there has been any negative effect from the LNB action.

This is good advice.

[cartrivision]

Based on what you have listed (Slimline - 3 LNB, BBCs on the HD receiver), you do not have a SWM setup. You would need a "mulit-switch", not a splitter. The multi-switch requires at least 2 inputs from the dish......

This answer is all kinds of wrong.

First, since the OP says he's hooking up HD receivers and DVR's, he can't just run one more line from the dish and then use a 2 input multiswitch to split the two lines into the 3 that he needs.

Second, since the dish has 3 more unused outputs, he will not need a multiswitch at all, but he will need to run two more lines from the dish to the new DVR.

He will only need a multiswitch if he needs more than 4 lines going to all of the receivers and DVRs, and in that case he will need to run 4 lines (not 2) to to a 6x8 multiswich, which will give him 8 outputs.

[Mike Bertelson]

This answer is all kinds of wrong.

First, since the OP says he's hooking up HD receivers and DVR's, he can't just run one more line from the dish and then use a 2 input multiswitch to split the two lines into the 3 that he needs.

Second, since the dish has 3 more unused outputs, he will not need a multiswitch at all, but he will need to run two more lines from the dish to the new DVR.

He will only need a multiswitch if he needs more than 4 lines going to all of the receivers and DVRs, and in that case he will need to run 4 lines (not 2) to to a 6x8 multiswich, which will give him 8 outputs.The OP said there’s one HD receiver and they want to add another one. I don’t see where the OP say’s anything about DVRs. Thanks for the rude post though...very helpful. :nono2:

How do you know if you have a SWM LNB?

As I said above. The dish and one receiver were already installed.

It has a single RG6 running from dish to receiver box with the BBC on the box.

With this he receives Local, HD, and SD channels.

So does he have a SWM dish? If so, how do you run cable to the second HD box?

Thanks for all the help. I'm a noob to the Dish world.If the existing receiver has a BBC then it’s NOT SWM (unless it was improperly installed).

Since that’s the case there should be three connectors unused on the LNB. As Carl6 said carefully remove the LNB, thread the RG6 up the arm, and connect to one of the unused connectors on the LNB. I don’t think it makes a difference which connector but maybe one of the installers here can correct us on this.

With non SWM systems you can’t use a splitter per se. There are multi-switches that will allow taking the four outputs from the dish and switch them among more then four receiver inputs. With a Single Wwire Multi-Switch will allow you to use certain types splitters to run the RG6 like it was cable TV. SWM will allow the use of up to eight tuners (receivers have one tuner and DVRs have two so any combination that doesn't exceed eight tuners) Here is a link that will explain SWM.

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=134597

Also with one wire currently run to a single HD receiver you can run three more from the existing LNB; any combination of tuners such as another receiver and a DVR or three stand alone receivers...for future reference. :)

Hope this helps.

Mike

[BattleScott]

This answer is all kinds of wrong.

First, since the OP says he's hooking up HD receivers and DVR's, he can't just run one more line from the dish and then use a 2 input multiswitch to split the two lines into the 3 that he needs.

Second, since the dish has 3 more unused outputs, he will not need a multiswitch at all, but he will need to run two more lines from the dish to the new DVR.

He will only need a multiswitch if he needs more than 4 lines going to all of the receivers and DVRs, and in that case he will need to run 4 lines (not 2) to to a 6x8 multiswich, which will give him 8 outputs.

#1 - No DVRs, only receivers mentioned so that would only need 2 lines.

#2 - I never said he "needed" a multi-switch. In fact I advised that he simply run new line(s) from the dish to the receiver locations.

Please read next time before you flame...

[RobertE]

This answer is all kinds of wrong.

First, since the OP says he's hooking up HD receivers and DVR's, he can't just run one more line from the dish and then use a 2 input multiswitch to split the two lines into the 3 that he needs.

Second, since the dish has 3 more unused outputs, he will not need a multiswitch at all, but he will need to run two more lines from the dish to the new DVR.

He will only need a multiswitch if he needs more than 4 lines going to all of the receivers and DVRs, and in that case he will need to run 4 lines (not 2) to to a 6x8 multiswich, which will give him 8 outputs.

As are yours. To comply with NEC grounding "rules" and local code, any additional lines coming from the ODU need to go through a ground block before continuing on to the receivers. I hope your not suggesting that the OP ignore local code and run a hot drop from the ODU straight to the receiver. Suggesting so could put the OP at risk, granted its a small risk, but an unnecessary risk nonetheless.

[cartrivision]

#1 - No DVRs, only receivers mentioned so that would only need 2 lines.
OK, so he needs one more line, not two more. That doesn't change the fact that your answer about adding a multiswitch was as I said, "all kinds of wrong".

#2 - I never said he "needed" a multi-switch. In fact I advised that he simply run new line(s) from the dish to the receiver locations.

Please read next time before you flame...
You did say that he would need a multiswitch.....
Based on what you have listed (Slimline - 3 LNB, BBCs on the HD receiver), you do not have a SWM setup. You would need a "mulit-switch", not a splitter. The multi-switch requires at least 2 inputs from the dish....
Additionally, you incorrectly advised him that adding a multiswitch would require two lines to feed it, but since he was talking about adding HD equipment, that would require 4 lines to feed a HD compatible multiswitch, not two lines.

[cartrivision]

As are yours. To comply with NEC grounding "rules" and local code, any additional lines coming from the ODU need to go through a ground block before continuing on to the receivers. I hope your not suggesting that the OP ignore local code and run a hot drop from the ODU straight to the receiver. Suggesting so could put the OP at risk, granted its a small risk, but an unnecessary risk nonetheless.

As are mine? Nothing that I said was incorrect. If you have additional advice for the OP about making sure that he grounds things properly, have at it, but that doesn't change the fact that what I told him was also correct, contrary to your assertion that my answers were as wrong as BattleScott's were. None of the additional details that you added about grounding made anything that I said wrong. What you did is the same as if I would try to claim that your advice about grounding was wrong because you didn't say to use only DirecTV approved PPC EX6L F-connectors where the cables connect to the grounding block.

[BattleScott]

Based on what you have listed (Slimline - 3 LNB, BBCs on the HD receiver), you do not have a SWM setup. You would need a "mulit-switch", not a splitter. The multi-switch requires at least 2 inputs from the dish however, so the easiest and cheapest solution is going to be to run a new coax from the dish to the new receiver location. While you're at it, I would recommend running 2 lines to the new location and an additional line to the exisiting location for future DVR usage.

OTA cannot be fed on the same coax lines as the hd due to the bbcs on the HD receivers, at least not in a way that is supported by DirecTV. Some have reported that they are able to use diplexers on the line for OTA if they move the BBC device(s) to the far end of the line past the insertion point for the OTA diplexer.

Since you like to quote out of context, I'll put the orginal back up as reminder of what I actually said, not what you want to hear.

OK, so he needs one more line, not two more. That doesn't change the fact that your answer about adding a multiswitch was as I said, "all kinds of wrong".

You did say that he would need a multiswitch.....

Since the OP's question pertained to "splitting" satellite feeds, my answer was based on that concept and what I really said was:

You would need a "mulit-switch", not a splitter.

There is nothing incorrect about that statement.


Additionally, you incorrectly advised him that adding a multiswitch would require two lines to feed it, but since he was talking about adding HD equipment, that would require 4 lines to feed a HD compatible multiswitch, not two lines.

Another nice "out of context" quote, but what I really said was:
The multi-switch requires at least 2 inputs from the dish however,

Now, to help you out, in this context I am explaining that since there is only 1 feed from the dish at this time, and that you need at least 2 lines to feed any multi-switch, he is going to need at least 1 more feed. Since that would require a new line from the dish, i said:

so the easiest and cheapest solution is going to be to run a new coax from the dish to the new receiver location.

As you correctly (wow, bet you don't hear that often) pointed out, since the mulit-sat switch equipment requires at least 4 inputs, that even further substantiates the need for lines to be run from the dish.

The only "all kinds of wrong" here is you. Apparently you have an axe to grind with me over the "plumb mast" thread. That's fine, I don't mind playing games, especially with someone who make's it as easy to win as you do.