cascading internal multiswitch?

[mnassour]

Here's the question folks....I've currently got one of the second edition three LNB DirecTV dishes, the Winnegard with the internal multiswitch. There are three LNBs, the middle for, of course, coming HDTV. The four outputs are going to two Ultimate TV units.

Tomorrow I plan on installing a DirecTivo, which, of course, needs two more inputs. I plan on installing a 5x8 multiswitch. The question is, do I run the existing four outputs to the multiswitch, or do I need to remove the dish's internal switch and run the LNB outputs directly the the 5x8? Of course, this means using that special combiner for the middle (110 degree) LNB.

Thanks! mn

[dishrich]

(in case you didn't see on the other board)

First of all, are you SURE that that internal switch CAN be removed? Since you said you have a 2nd edition oval dish, you should know that the 2nd edition (Phase II) dishes had the switch integrated in the feed arm, with 4 coax tails exiting out of the back of the dish arm. There is NO way to bypass this type of switch. (unless you plan on basically tearing the guts of the arm out...) Also, you DON'T need the external 110 combiner with this type of switch; you just plug the 110 sat C LNB into the switch arm. You will need to make sure the 5x8 switch is the kind that CAN be cascaded with an internal switch.

Here's a few of the models of cascadable 5x8 I could find:

Eagle Aspen S4180GX+ (note, there is a model just like it, that does NOT have the + at the end - IT is NOT cascadable)
Zinwell SAM4803
JVI 35TRDTV48 (note this is a 4x8 & does NOT have an off-air/cable ant input on the switch)

There may be a couple others, but these are the most common.

OTOH, if you DON'T have this type of dish, then you must have a Phase I dish w/the external switch. (typically mounted on the back of the dish, but can be put indoors as well) Just remove this switch & ANY 5x8 switch will then work fine. You will still need to use the external combiner for your 110 sat C LNB w/one of the 119 outputs, prior to going into the external switch. (note the output of your 110 combiner MUST go into the 18V Sat B input of your new switch, or it will NOT work properly)

[mnassour]

Yes, thanks for the reply.

First of all, yes, this is a phase II dish with an internal switch. It's actually rather easy to get the internal switch out, I've had it in and out a couple of times as I've changed the system around.

An even better coincidence is that my multiswitch is the JVI that you previously mentioned. For once, the fates seem to be with me. The only headache is that when I mount the HDTV antenna I'll need to get an external diplexer, but that shouldn't be a big deal.

Since there's no reason to tear the internal switch out, I may as well leave it in. Thanks once again for the info, It looks like I do indeed have another weekend project! :D

Mike Nassour