HR10-250 and SAM 4803 Multi-Switch

[JLucPicard]

OK, so after a half-hearted search (don't feel like culling through threads that are 8+ pages long), I will ask this question.

I currently have three HR20s, three HR10-250s, two SD DVR80s and a D10 and will be adding another HR20 soon - all connected to one HDTV (complete overkill, yes, but I rarely miss a recording I want! :D ).

I have a WB616 switch, using four of the outputs to feed a SAM 4803 running the SD DVRs and D10 off of that switch and the other 12 outputs on the 616 to feed the six HD DVRs.

My question: Is there any reason that feeds from the 4803 will not successfully feed an HR10-250? When I get the new HR20, I will need two of the feeds from the 616 to feed those tuners. Will the 4803 successfully pass whatever MPEG2 HD signals the HR10-250 uses to record/view the HD content?

I also have a WB68 not being used right now, but I don't think I can use that in the same way I'm using the 4803, can I (cascaded from the WB616)?

Thanks for any thoughts!

[litzdog911]

Your SAM4803 should work fine with the HR10-250.

You could also cascade the WB68 from your WB616. Or, using appropriate powered bypass spitters, you can split the four incoming cables to feed both the WB68 and WB616, providing 24 total outputs.

[Groundhog45]

Yes it should work. I initially had just a 4803 and then when I got a H20 and a HR20 I cascaded it from 4 ports on a WB68. No problem running a R10 and a HR10 from the 4803. I later got 4 splitters for the feeds from the AT-9 to the WB68 and the 4803 and finally now have 2 WB68s. I've never had a problem with signal strength.

[JLucPicard]

Thanks, guys! Wanted to cover that before I would wind up posting a "here's what I did, why doesn't it work" thread later if it wasn't going to fly. Plus, there are so many cables behind my TV that I like doing these things only once! :)

[litzdog911]

Thanks, guys! Wanted to cover that before I would wind up posting a "here's what I did, why doesn't it work" thread later if it wasn't going to fly. Plus, there are so many cables behind my TV that I like doing these things only once! :)

Good plan! Let us know how it works out.

[sonicranger001]

Well,

At this point I personally would upgrade to a SINGLE multiswitch that can handle all of my needs. You have to be getting a much lower quality signal after going through several switches as well as multiple cable changes as you have outlined.

I would be curios to see a signal strength test with and w/o some of those switches installed inline.

[JLucPicard]

I haven't checked signal strengths yet as things have been working just fine. I may do that just out of curiosity.

What I have right now is the 5 LNB dish running four cables into the WB616 switch. I've taken four of those outputs and run them to the input of a SAM 4803 (4x8) switch. This switch is connected within just a few feet of the WB616. The 4803 is feeding two SD DVRs and a D10 receiver. The other 12 outputs are feeding 6 HD DVRs. I have one more HD DVR on the way, at which point I will run two more leads off the 4803 to feed one of my HR10-250s, then feed the new HR20 with the feeds that frees up on the 616 (oops - I just realized I laid all that out in my OP).

Sounds like a lot, but it is pretty straight-forward, I feel. For what it's worth, both of those switches are powered.

Tonight I get to hook up my 5 to 1 HDMI switcher. Let's see, seven HDDVRs, two HDMI inputs on the TV plus two component inputs on the TV. Yup, I think the 5-to-1 will do me just right, with a space for my DVD player! :)