Need help...

[Rob Grim]

Well, I've decided that beings I have off Wednesday - Monday of next week I'm thinking of getting rid of basic analog cable in the bedrooms and adding Directv to all the bedrooms upstairs. I currently have the 5 LNB, Slimline dish installed and I'm running just the living room upstairs and the H/T room downstairs off the dish now.

So, here is my question, which multi-switch must I purchase to run 5 seperate satellite boxes off of? I'm going to have to run three new lines from the bedrooms to the dish, this I know, but my question is, the only multi-switches I've seen need to be powered, well I have no power outlet near my dish so this can only mean one thing, the switch will have to be installed inside in the laundry room (only room that isn't finished).

Well, just want some clarification on this before I start. My dish is installed on a mast, near the front of my house and my laundry room is about mid way down the back of my house. Does this mean that I'm going to have to run 4 seperate cables to the laundry room to the multiswitch, then from the multi-switch to all the tv's or is there a multi-switch that doesn't require having to power the switch that I just don't know about? Thanks in advance.

[davring]

I think if you upgrade D* will provide the WB68 Zinwell multi==switch and may even run the lines for you. The WB68 is an unpowered switch, works well.

[BudShark]

What is coming out of the slimline now?

davring is correct, you need a Zinwell 6x8 - but it sounds like you've already "upgraded" if you have the slimline. But I would still discuss it with D*. Since its unpowered, its much easier.

It'll be 4 wires from the slimline to the WB68 (which can be indoors or out) and then the feeds to the receivers (based on what wiring you have now).

What wiring do you have available now and what types of receivers are you adding? Is it just a daisy chained single coax, or is it all homerunned to a box somewhere?

Chris

[mazter]

ditto

[Rob Grim]

BudShark, I currently have (2) two H20's installed and I'll probaly end up purchasing 3 (three) D11's or something along that line, tv's in the bedrooms are not HD tv's. As far as the runs, the new lines I have to run will be just like the existing runs I have in the living room and the H/T room, they will be straight runs from the bedrooms to wherever the switch can be installed.

[Rob Grim]

The other question I have is, the kids bedrooms DO NOT have phone lines installed. Is this something I need to add to my list of things I need to pick up also, phone line or can I get away without having phone lines in there rooms? Thanks again.

[Michael D'Angelo]

The other question I have is, the kids bedrooms DO NOT have phone lines installed. Is this something I need to add to my list of things I need to pick up also, phone line or can I get away without having phone lines in there rooms? Thanks again.

You don't need phone lines connected. I have 7 receiver's and only one receiver is connected to a phone line.

[veryoldschool]

I'd make the move to HD DVRs. You will never go back after you play with one. You may not think you need/want one, but from someone that thought that way, you do.
Picture this: you're watching something [one of those few things thats is actually good]. Then someone walks in and starts talking to you.
Option #1: you tell them to ______ you're watching TV.
Option #2: you press pause and sound as if you really care about what they're saying [your option here]. After this is over, you press rewind and go back to where you remember what you were watching. You have 90 min rewind.
Next thought is why you can't pause, rewind, or fast forward whoever it was the came in talking in the first place.
Monthly fees: minimal.
Pausing live TV: priceless.

[Rob Grim]

Okay, just got off the phone with *D, first off they want to charge me like $69 plus tax and shipping for a box I can pick up at Best Buy for $49 plus tax. Then when I asked the tech. dept. about the switch you guys are telling me about, said they have never heard of a non-powered multi-switch. So, with that being said, can you guys tell me the best place to purchase this multi-switch you guys are talking about and try to get it by this Friday. I have approx. 500 ft of RG-6 coax in the shed, all my compressed style ends with all tools needed. All I need to do is purchase this switch and the boxes with a few other accesories and I'm hoping to get it done by this weekend.

[Michael D'Angelo]

Okay, just got off the phone with *D, first off they want to charge me like $69 plus tax and shipping for a box I can pick up at Best Buy for $49 plus tax. Then when I asked the tech. dept. about the switch you guys are telling me about, said they have never heard of a non-powered multi-switch. So, with that being said, can you guys tell me the best place to purchase this multi-switch you guys are talking about and try to get it by this Friday. I have approx. 500 ft of RG-6 coax in the shed, all my compressed style ends with all tools needed. All I need to do is purchase this switch and the boxes with a few other accesories and I'm hoping to get it done by this weekend.

ebay and solidsignal.com has the Zinwell WB68 but I would try to call Directv again because they should supply you with it for free.

[Rob Grim]

Okay, my WB68 came inn today so I'm going out this afternoon to pick up 2 more satellite boxes for my upcoming install this weekend. My question is, I have an old Hughes E86 HD receiver I had planned on using in the master bedroom, will this box work with the Slimline dish and the WB68. Not interested in HD channels in the bedroom due to the fact that the tv in the master bedroom is non-HD. Second question, will all of the new *D satellite boxes work with this setup as well before I go out and purchase new satellite receivers? Finally, last question, is this install just a matter of running 2 more cables from the LNB (2 are already installed) to the WB68, total of 4 cables into the WB68, and then running a total of 5 cables from the WB68 to the 5 satellite boxes which are/will be direct runs from the WB68 to the boxes themselves and then just calling to activate the boxes? Just want to make sure I'm not bitting off more than I can chew. Thanks a million.

[Michael D'Angelo]

Okay, my WB68 came inn today so I'm going out this afternoon to pick up 2 more satellite boxes for my upcoming install this weekend. My question is, I have an old Hughes E86 HD receiver I had planned on using in the master bedroom, will this box work with the Slimline dish and the WB68. Not interested in HD channels in the bedroom due to the fact that the tv in the master bedroom is non-HD. Second question, will all of the new *D satellite boxes work with this setup as well before I go out and purchase new satellite receivers? Finally, last question, is this install just a matter of running 2 more cables from the LNB (2 are already installed) to the WB68, total of 4 cables into the WB68, and then running a total of 5 cables from the WB68 to the 5 satellite boxes which are/will be direct runs from the WB68 to the boxes themselves and then just calling to activate the boxes? Just want to make sure I'm not bitting off more than I can chew. Thanks a million.

Any receiver will work with the 5 LNB dish and WB68 multi-switch. Yes you will have 4 lines from the dish to the WB68 and then lines from the MS to all of your receivers.

[Rob Grim]

One more question, 2 of my runs may be more like 50-75 feet long, should I add an in-line amplifier to strengthen the signal or should I be okay with those length of runs?

[Michael D'Angelo]

One more question, 2 of my runs may be more like 50-75 feet long, should I add an in-line amplifier to strengthen the signal or should I be okay with those length of runs?

You should be fine.

[Rob Grim]

Thanks for the help guys, my install is complete and up and running.

[Skip Towne]

Thanks for the help guys, my install is complete and up and running.

Just curious. How much was the WB68?

[Rob Grim]

Right around $50.