Sky Angel Tech Installation Question

[kn6vv]

I'm new to this forum and never used dish equipment before.

We are looking at installing Sky Angel. We have no cable service or antenna at this time so our TV viewing is from a VCR/DVD combo. I had a question about the install process.

Our home was wired with standard TV cable when built in 1994. Does the cable from the dish to the receiver require its own unique cable? Can the receiver output then be used to tap into the exsisting cable in the home walls that are unused at this time? This would I assume allow me to hook several TVs to the one receiver in the house? I'm thinking to keep as little (if any) extra cables from being run around the house that would be visible.

Are there any recommended receiver brands or models I should purchase or models to avoid? Any input would be appreciated! I know NOTHING about satellite systems and the local dish folks know nothing about Sky Angel and are not willing to discuss tech stuff. Thank you in advance!

Tom in Colorado

[rcwilcox]

I'm new to this forum and never used dish equipment before.

We are looking at installing Sky Angel. We have no cable service or antenna at this time so our TV viewing is from a VCR/DVD combo. I had a question about the install process.

Our home was wired with standard TV cable when built in 1994. Does the cable from the dish to the receiver require its own unique cable? Can the receiver output then be used to tap into the exsisting cable in the home walls that are unused at this time? This would I assume allow me to hook several TVs to the one receiver in the house? I'm thinking to keep as little (if any) extra cables from being run around the house that would be visible.

Are there any recommended receiver brands or models I should purchase or models to avoid? Any input would be appreciated! I know NOTHING about satellite systems and the local dish folks know nothing about Sky Angel and are not willing to discuss tech stuff. Thank you in advance!

Tom in Colorado

You might could use the same wire as the house was wired with. RG6 is reccomended and 1994 may be rg59. A seperate run of rg6 would be best. Yes you might could output from the receiver to the rest of the house. It sould require a splitter to be wired at the main junction point. As for a receiver I would reccomend a 508. The problem is you can buy a 508 new. (they don't make em anymore so that is an isssue. You have to be very careful on used receivers as any unpaid balance to Dish from the previous owner will have to be paid before you can use the receiver. You need a dish either a dish 300 or 500 with a dual lnb pointed at the 61.5 satellite. Email me direct if you need more help. rcwilcox@bellsouth.net

[TNGTony]

RG59 will work for short runs especially for a single satellite location and a short run (no more than 50 feet - before anyone posts to tell me I'm wrong, I invite you to my house to look for yourself where I have 35 feet of RG-6 coupled with a barrel connector to a 50' length of RG59 hooked up to a Dish 1000. Been working for 8 years). However it must good quality. I did have an issue with a bad RG59 cable on my 7200 receiver. But that one was hooked up to a power inserter powering up an SW64! I would recommend a you use RG6 cable to avoid any problems.

One thing is very important, though. You must have a straight run of cable from the satellite to the receiver. There cannot be any splitters in line.

See ya
Tony

[rcwilcox]

RG59 will work for short runs especially for a single satellite location and a short run (no more than 50 feet - before anyone posts to tell me I'm wrong, I invite you to my house to look for yourself where I have 35 feet of RG-6 coupled with a barrel connector to a 50' length of RG59 hooked up to a Dish 1000. Been working for 8 years). However it must good quality. I did have an issue with a bad RG59 cable on my 7200 receiver. But that one was hooked up to a power inserter powering up an SW64! I would recommend a you use RG6 cable to avoid any problems.

One thing is very important, though. You must have a straight run of cable from the satellite to the receiver. There cannot be any splitters in line.

See ya
Tony
great points Tony. I am using 60 feet or more of RG59 at my Dad's house so yes it will work but Tony is absolutely right a splitter will kill it dead.

[kn6vv]

Just want to say thank you folks for your input. Being new here I was later able to find on the other forums info on the RG-6 vs RG-59 stuff. Perhaps I should have looked more before posting my questions.

My thoughts were to have the dish to receiver as new RG-6 (included with the basic install) then the receiver output put into the house cable (probably RG-59) so I could feed the various outputs in the house for the remote TVs. My concern was when one dish installer who was willing to talk to me told me that the problems were not so much the RG-59 as much as that the dish signals were not able to go through the standard cable "T" fittings in the walls where the house cable was split into different areas of the house. He said the signal loss was "excessive". I guess I won't know until I try.

Again thanks to all who replied! I appreciate it greatly!

Tom in Colorado

[TNGTony]

Okay Tom,

No problem with what you have planned! I would hook up your TV next to the receiver with the A/V jacks to get the best picture quality to that TV. Just in case you don't know, most TVs have red, white and yellow jacks on the back and many have a round S-Video jack. Your absolute best Picture quality would come by using the S-Video hook up and the red and white jacks for sound.

Then I would take the RF output from the receiver and hook it up to the cable system. If your PQ on the other TVs is fuzzy, you may need an RF distribution amp available at your local electronics store. If you get nothing at all, try hitting the TV/Video button on the receiver's remote while in the SAT mode.

Good luck! I've done this myself in the past. It works, but the PQ is not the greatest. It's good. Not great.

See ya
Tony