Need some help understanding the 921

[CF Kaekel]

I have a 921 on order. I understand from reading posts here that
the 921 *requires* two input cables and will not operate properly if
you feed it with just one cable. Is this correct?

If so, it seems pretty bizzare. How may people have two cables from
their dishes to every room? I certainly don't and running cables
thru attics just to get and HD DRV seems like a strange requirement
to place on such a neat product. It really won't operate with just one
cable feeding it?!

Be that as it may, I have a SW64 with two dishes attached, a dual LNB looking at the 110/119 and a single LNB looking at the 148 satellite feeding 3 Dish recievers one of which is a 6000 with the OTA upgrade. The whole point of the SW64 (I thought) is to multiplex the 3 satellites onto one cable, and indeed it does and everything is working fine. I plan to replace the one of my older receivers with the 921, so I will continue to have just 3 receivers.

So if I understand what I am reading here I will need to run another cable
from the unused SW64 output to the location where I plan to install the 921.
Is this a viable option or must I install an MPP44 which will require an upgrade to new satellite dishes and/or LNBs?

Any help or pointers to where I can get some info on this would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

CFK

[SimpleSimon]

Yes, that's correct. The 921 requires 2 separate but identical satellite feeds. It won't do anything without both feeds.

It has 2 tuners, so 2 separate cable feeds is somewhat obvious. Not knowing how much you know about DBS, I won't explain why unless you ask. :) Just think of it as 2 separate receivers.

The fact that they have to be identical is (probably) a software limitation. Understandable - it would definitely complicate the design otherwise.

I believe you are correct. Just string another cable from the SW64 to the 921. I'm not directly familiar with the SW64, so I'm not 100% positive, however, I doubt the MPP44 and associated stuff is needed.

I'm running a Dish500 which has integrated switches and 2 outputs. Then I have a Dish300 which also has 2 outputs. I used a pair of SW21's to tie the Dish300 to the Dish500 twice. Then I ran some new dual RG-6. I got the dual RG-6 for cheap from the retailer I bought the 921 from. He's also a Direcway installer, and so has a lot of it due to Direcway's ordering deals. :)

This leaves me an unused single RG-6 in case I ever hook up my old PVR 501 again - although that would require more outdoor hardware. I'd probably just add another Dish500 - it's cheaper than the fancy switches.

[Mark Lamutt]

Moving to the Dish DVR forum.

You must have 2 lines connected to the 921, and both lines must be attached so that they see exactly the same satellites. The 921 will not work without this condition met.

I beieve you are referring to the DPP44 switch which will allow you to run one line out from it and use a DPP splitter to split one line to the 2 tuners. But neither device is available yet, and probably won't be until around the May timeframe.

[CF Kaekel]

Moving to the Dish DVR forum.

You must have 2 lines connected to the 921, and both lines must be attached so that they see exactly the same satellites. The 921 will not work without this condition met.

I beieve you are referring to the DPP44 switch which will allow you to run one line out from it and use a DPP splitter to split one line to the 2 tuners. But neither device is available yet, and probably won't be until around the May timeframe.


Thanks to all for the help. Given that one absolutely needs two lines into
the 921, am I correct to assume that running the unused output of the
SW64 to the 921 will work?

I still find it strange BTW that when you order this unit no one warns you
of this requirement. I don't remember seeing anything about this on the
Dish site or in their literature either.

[Mark Lamutt]

Yes, running another line from an unused port on your SW64 will work just fine.

[dbronstein]

It has 2 tuners, so 2 separate cable feeds is somewhat obvious.

It's really not that obvious to vast majority of customers. Most people don't understand how satellite works (and don't care) and they think it's just like cable where you can take one line coming into your house and split it to wherever you want.

Dennis

[David_Levin]

A TiVo can operation just fine with 1 tuner connected. 921 could too, IF the programmers made it so.

Thing is, they are way to busy fixing random reboots and misfiring timers to deal with all the extra edge cases).

[amielp]

So where are people buying the 921 from?? I've been unable to find any for sale? But here's my real question. Is this unit too advanced for someone who's doesn't have a PHD in electrical engineering. I can use a vcr, and I managed to hook up the satellite, vcr, dvd player and tv running through my Denon receiver (but just barely). I really have no idea how to do the tweaks etc that I've been reading about in this forum and for that matter have a hard time even understanding the threads. Should I stick with a basic PVR?? What I really need is a DVR for my main TV a 36" Sony XBR400 so I can record tv shows for viewing later. While I'm at it I thought it would be nice to get a HD receiver since my tv is "HD ready". But the TV is 4x3 and if there's only 6 channels in HD (for which I have to pay $10/mo) am I getting in over my head and buying a bunch of headaches for the occasional HD TV show??
*********************************

I have a 921 on order. I understand from reading posts here that
the 921 *requires* two input cables and will not operate properly if
you feed it with just one cable. Is this correct?

If so, it seems pretty bizzare. How may people have two cables from
their dishes to every room? I certainly don't and running cables
thru attics just to get and HD DRV seems like a strange requirement
to place on such a neat product. It really won't operate with just one
cable feeding it?!

Be that as it may, I have a SW64 with two dishes attached, a dual LNB looking at the 110/119 and a single LNB looking at the 148 satellite feeding 3 Dish recievers one of which is a 6000 with the OTA upgrade. The whole point of the SW64 (I thought) is to multiplex the 3 satellites onto one cable, and indeed it does and everything is working fine. I plan to replace the one of my older receivers with the 921, so I will continue to have just 3 receivers.

So if I understand what I am reading here I will need to run another cable
from the unused SW64 output to the location where I plan to install the 921.
Is this a viable option or must I install an MPP44 which will require an upgrade to new satellite dishes and/or LNBs?

Any help or pointers to where I can get some info on this would be appreciated.

Thanks in Advance

CFK

[Bogney]

am I correct to assume that running the unused output of the SW64 to the 921 will work?
Yes

[AppliedAggression]

So where are people buying the 921 from?? I've been unable to find any for sale? But here's my real question. Is this unit too advanced for someone who's doesn't have a PHD in electrical engineering. I can use a vcr, and I managed to hook up the satellite, vcr, dvd player and tv running through my Denon receiver (but just barely). I really have no idea how to do the tweaks etc that I've been reading about in this forum and for that matter have a hard time even understanding the threads. Should I stick with a basic PVR?? What I really need is a DVR for my main TV a 36" Sony XBR400 so I can record tv shows for viewing later. While I'm at it I thought it would be nice to get a HD receiver since my tv is "HD ready". But the TV is 4x3 and if there's only 6 channels in HD (for which I have to pay $10/mo) am I getting in over my head and buying a bunch of headaches for the occasional HD TV show??
*********************************


Not at all. I don't own a 921, but when most bugs are fixed it'll be just as simple to operate as any other PVR. Believe me, if you can use a VCR, you can use the 921 or any other Dish PVR.

[Jim Parker]

Is this unit too advanced for someone who's doesn't have a PHD in electrical engineering.

Not at all. I only have a BS in electrical engineering, and I understand it enough to make it work most of the time. :D

There are some bugs that make it more difficult to use, but by the time they are widely available, the worst of them should be worked out. Other fixes and improvements will come over time. This is intended to the flagship product for Dish, so I am opimistic that they will continue to improve it.

True there are not very many HD channels now, but that will also improve over time. Pardon me while I put on my flame retardent suit now. OK Dish bashers, fire away! :lol:

Not many of the people with 921s have 4x3 TVs, but I think that there was a discussion on the aspect ratios for 4x3 in the middle of some other thread. If you have not seen it, you might want to search for it.

[Mike123abc]

In a couple months you will only have to run one cable to the 921. Currently you have to run 2 lines from the switch to the 921. A new switch, the DishPlusPro44 switch is in testing now and it can use one cable to send both signals down a single cable, you just put a special splitter at the 921 to feed it into both inputs.

This will really save a lot of problems. Of course the switch has been delayed a long time, but supposedly a few now have been shipped out to dealers and testers in the field, so they probably will make it to customers in a couple months.

[tnsprin]

A TiVo can operation just fine with 1 tuner connected. 921 could too, IF the programmers made it so.

Thing is, they are way to busy fixing random reboots and misfiring timers to deal with all the extra edge cases).
And you know this because you have a HD TIVO?

[David_Levin]

And you know this because you have a HD TIVO?

No, I should have said a standard TiVo (it was a while before they even had two tuners working). It's all in the software. It's not like whey were going to suddenly make a TiVo with 1 feed stop working (when the dual tuner support was added).

I wouldn't be surprised if the HD TiVo supports 1 tuner as well.

My point is that with the proper software, the 921 COULD be made to work with 1 tuner (this was mentioned on a tech chat ...don't want to deal with the extra edge cases...). Personally, I'm fine the way it is. The upcoming Pro44 switch will render the problem moot (except maybe for a small number of people with coax that can't handle 2000 Mhz).

[CF Kaekel]

It's really not that obvious to vast majority of customers. Most people don't understand how satellite works (and don't care) and they think it's just like cable where you can take one line coming into your house and split it to wherever you want.

Dennis

I agree and would add that the fact that the unit apparently will not operate
with a single input is something that DISH ought to warn their prospective
customers about before they buy the unit and have an unpleasant suprise.

It is also surprising to me that it doesn't have a single input mode that is
selectable in the setup menu. DISH if your listening you *really* need to
operate with one input line even if PIP and recording/watching features
go away when you do.

[CF Kaekel]

In a couple months you will only have to run one cable to the 921. Currently you have to run 2 lines from the switch to the 921. A new switch, the DishPlusPro44 switch is in testing now and it can use one cable to send both signals down a single cable, you just put a special splitter at the 921 to feed it into both inputs.

This will really save a lot of problems. Of course the switch has been delayed a long time, but supposedly a few now have been shipped out to dealers and testers in the field, so they probably will make it to customers in a couple months.

"DishPlusPro44" that's what "DPP44" stands for. How do I volunteer for a
beta test unit?

[Mike123abc]

"DishPlusPro44" that's what "DPP44" stands for. How do I volunteer for a
beta test unit?

Yes Dish Pro Plus 44 Switch is often stated as DPP44 or DP+44. You might try to volunteer via ceo@echostar, but the beta units are probably all in test right now.

[jlhugh]

If so, it seems pretty bizzare. How may people have two cables from
their dishes to every room?CFK

I got 3 cables to every receiver or room that will get a receiver. 1 for the dish, 1 for the antenna and 1 for a loop back to another room that doesn't have a receiver.