SWM/MRV Conversion Question

[oldengineer]

One of my HR21 boxes has been updated and I should be getting my swm8 multiswitch, PI, splitter and cabling in the next day or so, and I am psyched and ready to convert to SWM for MRV.

I think I can do the install OK but I have 1 question. I'm going to remove 2 wires from the Zinwell 6x8 for 1 dvr and connect 1 of them to the new SWM splitter. How can I determine which wire is active at my wall jack? I've got a good Fluke VOM so I can read the voltage but is there a better/preferred way?

[veryoldschool]

One of my HR21 boxes has been updated and I should be getting my swm8 multiswitch, PI, splitter and cabling in the next day or so, and I am psyched and ready to convert to SWM for MRV.

I think I can do the install OK but I have 1 question. I'm going to remove 2 wires from the Zinwell 6x8 for 1 dvr and connect 1 of them to the new SWM splitter. How can I determine which wire is active at my wall jack? I've got a good Fluke VOM so I can read the voltage but is there a better/preferred way?
I had to do this for/with a friend recently.
There are several ways.
1) is to have a friend short the cable while you measure it at the other end. It helps if they "make & break" the connection.
2) Another way is to use a 75Ω termination and measure the cable on the other end.
3) simple connect one and then see if you get a signal on the receiver :lol:

[JeffBowser]

I used my power inserter to put a voltage on the line when I did mine. I had to sort a lot of lines, and it was simple to just hunt for the line with 28 volts on it with my multimeter.
Another thing to do is leave one line connected to your STB, tune a channel and measure which line in the attic shows a voltage.

[veryoldschool]

I used my power inserter to put a voltage on the line when I did mine. I had to sort a lot of lines, and it was simple to just hunt for the line with 28 volts on it with my multimeter.
Another thing to do is leave one line connected to your STB, tune a channel and measure which line in the attic shows a voltage.
"Just Don't" send the voltage to a receiver, or you too can have the nickname of "SMOKE". :nono:

[JeffBowser]

I pretty much assumed that went without saying, but on second thought, remembering how some threads up here go, that wasn't a good assumption... :lol:

"Just Don't" send the voltage to a receiver, or you too can have the nickname of "SMOKE". :nono:

[veryoldschool]

I pretty much assumed that went without saying, but on second thought, remembering how some threads up here go, that wasn't a good assumption... :lol:
Kind of leads to the question:
"If I knew what I was doing, why am I here?" :lol:

[oldengineer]

I had to do this for/with a friend recently.
There are several ways.
1) is to have a friend short the cable while you measure it at the other end. It helps if they "make & break" the connection.
2) Another way is to use a 75Ω termination and measure the cable on the other end.
3) simple connect one and then see if you get a signal on the receiver :lol:

Thanks for the answers. I choose #2. I was an Missile Tech in the Navy and have an MSEE, and I may have been stupid enough to apply 29V to the receiver front end if measuring the splitter voltage didn't work.

[BattleZone]

Just a reminder: SWM is not required for MRV, and simply being on a SWM does not give you MRV.

SWM *is* required to use DirecTV's upcoming "DECA" solution for MRV, but, apparently, they will offer all needed hardware at a single flat rate to make it work, so installing a SWM today doesn't do anything to help that.