Noob Installation questions

[montyshaw]

I'm getting a HD DVR, a reg DVR, and 2 regular tuners installed tomorrow and I have a question about the number of LNBs I will need.

If they are installing a 5LNB dish and I have 6 tuners, won't I be 1 LNB/coax short?

If there is a sticky somewhere that I have missed, please point me to it.

Thanks
]Monty[

[Fish Man]

The number of LNB's on the dish is the number of satellites it sees, not the number of outputs it has.

The 5 sat dishes have 4 outputs.

To get more than 4 outputs (you'll need 6) a "multiswitch" is used.

Since you're getting 6 total tuners, you installation work order will include the installation of a WB68 multiswitch. It has 8 outputs so you'll even have a little room for future expansion.

Any decent installer carries several of these switches on his truck by default.

Welcome to DirecTV, and these forums! :welcome_s

[falken]

There will be 4 cables comming out of your 5LNB dish. Those cables will plug into a multiswitch (it will be supplied by the installer), then the cables will run from the multiswitch to your receivers.

[montyshaw]

OK, I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Where will they install the multi-switch? At the dish? Attic? or inside somewhere?

]Monty[

[Michael D'Angelo]

OK, I see. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

Where will they install the multi-switch? At the dish? Attic? or inside somewhere?

]Monty[

:welcome_s to DBStalk

Some times they will try to install it outside. But I would not let them. I would tell them you want it inside.

[montyshaw]

:welcome_s to DBStalk

Some times they will try to install it outside. But I would not let them. I would tell them you want it inside.

OK thanks.

Here's hoping tomorrow's not a disaster. :)

Other than giving up TiVo, I'm excited about getting this.

]Monty[

[DonCorleone]

They usually install then at the central location inside in your house, like a basement in my case.

[FreakyD]

I'm going to hitch a ride on some coat-tails here...

I have an installer coming tomorrow to set up the 5LNB dish, hook up the HR20 (100? 700?) in my living room, and relocate my current Phillips DSR704 to the master bedroom (upstairs). I'm concerned about the installation for reasons below, and I'd appreciate hearing from you experienced folks about (1) how realistic my expectations are about what I'd like to see, (2) any advice you can offer on what to watch out for, and (3) anything I might overlook.

First, my cabling situation is...well, a mess. The best I can tell, the coax was run when the house was built (~ 25 yrs. ago). I'm relocating the HDTV from its current location to an outside wall because the coax currently in the inside wall is no good (I lost voltage on the line and could only pull the odd transponders on the D*TiVo -- connections were good at both ends, so it's a line fault somewhere). I figured this was as good a time as any to solve that problem.

Here's what I'd ideally like to happen during the installation:


Install the new dish on the corner of the roof opposite the location of the current dish (would be directly above the most convenient outside wall to run new lines into the house from outside)
Double coax into the LR for the new HR20
Double coax into the MBR for the existing DSR704
Actually, in a perfect world, the lines would run into the house through the attic and down inside the walls, but I don't have that kind of scratch. ;)

I know the standard D* install is "up to 125' of cable through one wall", so I'm assuming this is gonna be a custom job for the new cabling to go to both rooms and up to me to work it out with the installer. I've read elsewhere on the forum that the preferred location for the multiswitch is inside, but given the logistics I think I'll have to live with an outside mount. If so, where would that be? On the roof?

For a job like this one, how much extra would you pay the installer? I'm not looking to stiff the guy, but I also don't want to get taken for a ride, so any ballpark range on a reasonable price is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, everyone!

[RobertE]

I'm going to hitch a ride on some coat-tails here...

I have an installer coming tomorrow to set up the 5LNB dish, hook up the HR20 (100? 700?) in my living room, and relocate my current Phillips DSR704 to the master bedroom (upstairs). I'm concerned about the installation for reasons below, and I'd appreciate hearing from you experienced folks about (1) how realistic my expectations are about what I'd like to see, (2) any advice you can offer on what to watch out for, and (3) anything I might overlook.

First, my cabling situation is...well, a mess. The best I can tell, the coax was run when the house was built (~ 25 yrs. ago). I'm relocating the HDTV from its current location to an outside wall because the coax currently in the inside wall is no good (I lost voltage on the line and could only pull the odd transponders on the D*TiVo -- connections were good at both ends, so it's a line fault somewhere). I figured this was as good a time as any to solve that problem.

Here's what I'd ideally like to happen during the installation:


Install the new dish on the corner of the roof opposite the location of the current dish (would be directly above the most convenient outside wall to run new lines into the house from outside)
Double coax into the LR for the new HR20
Double coax into the MBR for the existing DSR704
Actually, in a perfect world, the lines would run into the house through the attic and down inside the walls, but I don't have that kind of scratch. ;)

I know the standard D* install is "up to 125' of cable through one wall", so I'm assuming this is gonna be a custom job for the new cabling to go to both rooms and up to me to work it out with the installer. I've read elsewhere on the forum that the preferred location for the multiswitch is inside, but given the logistics I think I'll have to live with an outside mount. If so, where would that be? On the roof?

For a job like this one, how much extra would you pay the installer? I'm not looking to stiff the guy, but I also don't want to get taken for a ride, so any ballpark range on a reasonable price is much appreciated.

Thanks in advance, everyone!

How much extra would I expect to pay? $0.00.

It's up to 125' per receiver. Not total.

If you only have the two DVRs, you won't need an external multiswitch. The Slimline has four outputs to feed the two DVRs.

Your new location sounds more convenient, but is there a good ground source nearby? If not, that may complicate things a bit.

You could also negotiate one on one with the installer for your wall fish. :grin:

[FreakyD]

How much extra would I expect to pay? $0.00.

It's up to 125' per receiver. Not total.

If you only have the two DVRs, you won't need an external multiswitch. The Slimline has four outputs to feed the two DVRs.

Your new location sounds more convenient, but is there a good ground source nearby? If not, that may complicate things a bit.

You could also negotiate one on one with the installer for your wall fish. :grin:Robert, thanks for responding. Good news on the multiswitch, too. It's been a while since the DSR704 was installed, so I'm really behind the times and still learning from this forum all I need to know about the new HD equipment and dish.

On the ground source question, I honestly don't know. Any ideas for what makes a good ground source? (AFAIK, my current dish is grounded, but I couldn't tell you to what. :o )

[montyshaw]

Just an update on how my installation went.

We mounted the dish where there was a good line of sight and he had a signal thing he set up on the dish and aimed it in. (So well that I get 97-100 on everything, 101-119). Then we ran the 4 coaxes from there to the furnace room in the basement, installed the multiswitch, and then did runs from there to all the receivers. I just had a new AC unit installed and they put in a nice chase that runs from the basement to the attic (2 story house), so that helped tons. This guy had about every piece of equipment you could imagine for doing this. I was also lucky in that where I need two cables, he was able to pull them easily thru the wall (because of all the trick wall fishing things he had), and where I had single tuner receivers, we were able to find where the old coax came out of the walls and the cable tested fine, so we used them.

All in all I had a great install, even though it took him about 9 hrs total. I have a nice little wiring closet area in the furnace room now, ground blocks and all. And great signals on all 4 receivers. I was very pleased.

He worked for MASTEC, but did a great job, and did not charge me for the one wall fish because it was so easy, so I tipped him $40, which I practically had to force him to take. A real nice guy.

]Monty[

[RobertE]

Just an update on how my installation went.

We mounted the dish where there was a good line of sight and he had a signal thing he set up on the dish and aimed it in. (So well that I get 97-100 on everything, 101-119). Then we ran the 4 coaxes from there to the furnace room in the basement, installed the multiswitch, and then did runs from there to all the receivers. I just had a new AC unit installed and they put in a nice chase that runs from the basement to the attic (2 story house), so that helped tons. This guy had about every piece of equipment you could imagine for doing this. I was also lucky in that where I need two cables, he was able to pull them easily thru the wall (because of all the trick wall fishing things he had), and where I had single tuner receivers, we were able to find where the old coax came out of the walls and the cable tested fine, so we used them.

All in all I had a great install, even though it took him about 9 hrs total. I have a nice little wiring closet area in the furnace room now, ground blocks and all. And great signals on all 4 receivers. I was very pleased.

He worked for MASTEC, but did a great job, did not charge me for the one wall fish because it was so easy, so I tipped him $40, which I practically had to force him to take. A real nice guy.

]Monty[

Good to hear all went well! :)

and

:welcome_s

[aim2pls]

Just an update on how my installation went.

We mounted the dish where there was a good line of sight and he had a signal thing he set up on the dish and aimed it in. (So well that I get 97-100 on everything, 101-119). Then we ran the 4 coaxes from there to the furnace room in the basement, installed the multiswitch, and then did runs from there to all the receivers. I just had a new AC unit installed and they put in a nice chase that runs from the basement to the attic (2 story house), so that helped tons. This guy had about every piece of equipment you could imagine for doing this. I was also lucky in that where I need two cables, he was able to pull them easily thru the wall (because of all the trick wall fishing things he had), and where I had single tuner receivers, we were able to find where the old coax came out of the walls and the cable tested fine, so we used them.

All in all I had a great install, even though it took him about 9 hrs total. I have a nice little wiring closet area in the furnace room now, ground blocks and all. And great signals on all 4 receivers. I was very pleased.

He worked for MASTEC, but did a great job, and did not charge me for the one wall fish because it was so easy, so I tipped him $40, which I practically had to force him to take. A real nice guy.

]Monty[


congrads

[RoundSparrow]

Another nube here.

My question is on best way to order for a HDTV focused install.

I live out in the sticks north of San Antonio. We have only co-op phone and cable, so no real competition from the local company.

Basically what I want
-- Only two receivers / viewing stations. No need for future expansion.
-- Full HDTV capability, I have a 1080p resolution LCD in both bedroom and family room.
-- I probably only need DVR on one of the units (bedroom).

As a new customer, I take it I would have to pay for both receivers if I want one to be a HR20? I'm just looking to get the basic HDTV package, I don't want movie channels - mostly wanting Directv for HDTV ESPN and locals.

Should I purchase it with the free non-DVR receiver and then go to Costco and purchase the HR20? Do third party sellers offer better deals (internet sellers or Best Buy or ???)

Thanks for pointing me in right direction.

[HDTVsportsfan]

Welcome to DBStalk.

Being a new customer there is a good chance you can get the installation for free. If you only will need 2 receivers than it should be pretty straight forward as long as you have good Line of Sight to the SATS. You will not need a multi-switch. The dish has a built in multi-switch w/ 4 outputs. That will be enough for your situation.

As far as full HD as you put it (I'm assuming 1080P), there are no providers that are delivering full HD. Not cable, OTA, or SAT. Full HD as you put it will have to come from BR or HD-DVD players.

You will have a 2-year commitment when you sign up for an advance receiver and HD programming. You should be able to go thru D* directly on this. No need for third party purchases I wouldn't think.

Good Luck.

[carl6]

At most, you should only have to pay some amount toward the DVR. The other, receiver only, should be free, and installation should be free.

I would get it all from DirecTV, because the DVR requires two coax lines whereas a non-DVR receiver only requires one. If you have a non-DVR installed at both locations (and only get one coax each), then when you change to a DVR you will have to run another coax. Let DirecTV do it all from the start.

Call and discuss options with them. You will end up paying the same, or more, from another retailer than from DirecTV.

Carl