Need Help Understanding the Technology...

[Chetk]

Alright,

My dad is building a new house and wants to wire it for "the future."

He wants eight outlets throughout the 2-story house for OTA and the ability to put an HD PVR at each outlet.

I need to understand how many LNB's I'll need on the Sat. dish, what kind of splitter I need in the attic, how many RG-6 lines I need to drop to each of the eight locations, and what kind of diplexors/switchers/multiplexors/diplexors (or whatever) I need.

Let me make sure I understand what I'm asking for (please correct me if I'm wrong):
An LNB is the little white round thing that points at the metal dish.
A splitter can split the signal coming from the dish down to each drop. For example: From one line coming from one LNB to eight drops. The splitter also has an input from the OTA antenna and splits that into each of the eight drops. (This is the part I am not so sure on.)
Diplexors take the signal coming from the splitter and breaks it into different inputs for each receiver. (not so sure about that either.)

So how does OTA fit into the equation?

I'm on my sisters PC now, but I can make a diagram in Photoshop when I get home later tonight. I'll post that in this thread later.

Thanks for any insight.

[boba]

Alright,

My dad is building a new house and wants to wire it for "the future."

He wants eight outlets throughout the 2-story house for OTA and the ability to put an HD PVR at each outlet.

I need to understand how many LNB's I'll need on the Sat. dish, what kind of splitter I need in the attic, how many RG-6 lines I need to drop to each of the eight locations, and what kind of diplexors/switchers/multiplexors/diplexors (or whatever) I need.

Let me make sure I understand what I'm asking for (please correct me if I'm wrong):
An LNB is the little white round thing that points at the metal dish.
A splitter can split the signal coming from the dish down to each drop. For example: From one line coming from one LNB to eight drops. The splitter also has an input from the OTA antenna and splits that into each of the eight drops. (This is the part I am not so sure on.)
Diplexors take the signal coming from the splitter and breaks it into different inputs for each receiver. (not so sure about that either.)

So how does OTA fit into the equation?

I'm on my sisters PC now, but I can make a diagram in Photoshop when I get home later tonight. I'll post that in this thread later.

Thanks for any insight.I won't take the time to educate you maybe some one else will take the time. You need to do a lot of learning, I suggest you find a local dealer and start the learning process. A Directv dealer would be the best for you to start with seeing DISH has a limit of 6 receivers on 1 account.

[Chetk]

I won't take the time to educate you maybe some one else will take the time. You need to do a lot of learning, I suggest you find a local dealer and start the learning process. A Directv dealer would be the best for you to start with seeing DISH has a limit of 6 receivers on 1 account.

I've already spoken directly to DirecTV level 2 technical support and I've spoken to local dealers. Everybody gives us a different answer. The last thing we need is to do it wrong, sheetrock and then be screwed. I am aware that Dish has a 6 receiver limit, which is why I'm suggesting DirecTV to my Dad and posted in the DirecTV portion of this forum.

If anyone else has any real input, it would be appreciated.

[dvdguyjt]

There's a couple of important things to note here in your idea.

First, you CANNOT run a line from 1 LNB into a splitter and then to 8 receivers. Each receiver needs an independent line so that it can send voltage and switching information. At the bare minimum, you will need a dual LNB (if you only want to use the 101 sat) and a multiswitch. The multiswitch will act as the "splitter" allowing horizontal and vertical voltage independently to each receiver. If you are going to do HD, however, the story is different because (right now anyway) you need the Triple LNB dish to receive all channels + HD. These usually have a built in multiswitch that can feed 4 receivers. I'm not sure if there is a way to connect another multiswitch in parallel to send to 8 receivers. Someone with Directv should be able to assist you there.

One thing to note: You need AT LEAST 2 cables in each room if you want PVR's that can record more than one channel at a time (or so you can record one thing and watch something on another channel). This also causes and issue because if there is a PVR in each room, with 2 lines, you will need 16 lines from the dish (or dishes...depending on how this is done).

As for the OTA, you can use diplexors. A diplexor looks like a cable TV splitter. You connect your satellite line to one port and your OTA to the other port. The diplexor combines then into one cable lead. Inside the house, you connect the single line to another diplexor which then feed out 2 lines (1 for satellite and one for OTA).

If you are using a multiswitch, however, most have port for OTA so that it is combined with the sat signal. Then you only need the diplexor inside the house. The multiswitch does the external diplexing for you.

Hope this helps a bit.

I'd like to see your photoshop diagram if possible. maybe I can give more insight.

JT

[News Junky]

I'd also think about installing cat 5 cable in each room that feed to a central hub. Cat 5 is the current standard for computer networking. Its possislbe at some point in the future home communications including media could be sent via computer networking. It wouldn't at all surprise me if the trend in subscription TV starts heading towards an Internet delivery method especially if bandwidth is increased and compression technology is improved, both of which are a given. History has proven that once a quality Internet method becomes an option it can be offered so much more inexpensively and it changes everything:

-Email vs. snail mail
-Traditional check writing, standing in line at the bank, stamps on envelopes vs. direct deposit and online banking.
-Buying CDs vs. Itunes.

Next on the list to go the way of the 8-track seems to be telephone service. People are now switching to VIOP using their Internet to place and receive calls locally and long distance for a low flat fee. Plus you pick the "local calling area" of your choice without having to reside in that city. If you are from New Jersey and spend winters in Arizona, no problem. It allows you to take your local New Jersey number with you to Phoenix. If your business is in Richmond but you want a Manhattan phone number, no problem and it's cheap. Depending on how its done as little as $5 a month flat. Or you can keep it all local. Its not for everybody however. Some pleople aren't comfortable with changing technologies and seemingly would rather pay more for less choices and more restrictions.

I know, I'm on a tangent! Satellite should continue to be viabe in remote locations and mobile circumstances. I'm just talking about the medium to long term since your dad is likely to live in his new house for a some time to come.

While you're at it you might want to think about getting the TV room and maybe the master bedroom at least pre-wired for surrond sound.

[martin1]

Read this post over in tivo community it might help a little also.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=151443

[jdspencer]

This link should also be very informative.
http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=55509

[Chetk]

Thanks to everyone who replied. It sounds like, if the OTA signal is sent through the same RG-6 cable as the sat signal to a diplexor at each receiver, then there should be no need to have 3 RG-6 cables ran to each location. It would only need 2 for a PVR + OTA.

Also, we have already bought the CAT-5e to run to each location. Thanks for the tip.

And we do plan to pre-wire in the "theater" room & the living (or family) room.

I'll see about the diagram as soon as possible.

[Chetk]

I figured out exactly what I needed. Here it is:

http://www.solidsignal.com/images/products/OD1820-BX.gif

5x8 multiswitch situation:
http://www.solidsignal.com/images/5x8_install_help.gif

The only difference, is that, in our situation, I'll be dropping two RG-6 cables from the multiswitch to each diplexor/receiver for the PVR capability and one (or two) CAT-5e cables to each diplexor/receiver.

Two dual output LNBs for optimal signal strength
One Sat C LNB for addional programming
Digital-quality picture and sound
Connect to multiple receivers throughout your home

[Robert Headley]

only problem is, the HDTivo's can't record OTA High definition feeds. DirecTivos basically save the mpeg-2 stream that is already coming over the satelite. It doesn't actually Transcode the video into any other format. This is both speedy, and cost effective. If I am wrong, please correct, but I beleive that to be the case. No HD locals on your TIVO :|
You can view them find, just not record.

[urnote96]

For safety sake i would run.....3 coak's to each outlet along with a telephone jack to that same place and run all of these back to a central location.... and than where ever the dish is going to the central at least 6.....for growth or whatever...


remember at one time it was one line to the dish, than 2, now 4....what does the future hold???

[Newshawk]

only problem is, the HDTivo's can't record OTA High definition feeds. DirecTivos basically save the mpeg-2 stream that is already coming over the satelite. It doesn't actually Transcode the video into any other format. This is both speedy, and cost effective. If I am wrong, please correct, but I beleive that to be the case.

I looked in the HDTivo's owner's manual online and found this on page 48:
Record two programs at the same time with Dual Tuner! Dual tuner means your HD
DVR can record programs on two channels at the same time—two satellite channels, two
off-air channels, or one of each (depending on how you connected your HD DVR).

So it appears that the HDTivo CAN record off air local channels.

[Robert Headley]

Ok, cool. it probably has a transcoder. it aught to, it...costs...alot... kinda.

[Robert Headley]

It does only record digital OTA channels, no analog.

actually, I imagine that would make sense, one of the selling points of the HDtivo is that it functions as a OTA HD tuner, so I imagine it would make sense to be able to record over the air. Very cool.

[PHL]

For safety sake i would run.....3 coak's to each outlet along with a telephone jack to that same place and run all of these back to a central location.... and than where ever the dish is going to the central at least 6.....for growth or whatever...


remember at one time it was one line to the dish, than 2, now 4....what does the future hold???

Ditto. Whatever you do, it's a LOT cheaper to do it now, before the walls are finished.

I would do at least the 3 coax lines. Maybe even more (6-8) to your home theater location, because that is probably where you will want to put the D* Home Media Center. Then, at least two runs of Cat-5e or Cat-6 to each room. Again, consider doubling that for the home theater. The cat-5 can be used for telephone wiring (up to 4 phone lines), so no need for a separate line there. I think you could also run 100 mbit ethernet and get two phone lines on one cat-5 cable., although this is not an officially recommended implementation.

Another consideration, a wiring closet or panel will make it much easier to manage everything. You could run the coax from the dish to your panel, and there you could install your multiswitch and diplexers in a cool, easily-accessible location. It would also be a good spot to install any network hubs/routers. Make sure you have at least 2 runs of cat-5 from your telephone box (NID, ONT, etc) to your wiring closet as well. If the home is in Verizon territory, fiber-optic phone/internet may already be available or coming soon.