getting HR 20 installed, is multiswitch needed?

[rld37]

Newbie getting 10-250 replaced with HR 20 in a couple of days. Also replacing old receiver only with new receiver only (Have old Tivo standalone to work there). Should the new receiver only also be HD?
Only getting 2 units now, but have 5 rooms wired to distribution point with 2 rg 6 cables each. Probably will never use but 4 of them. Will I need a 5 x 8 Multiswitch now for use by 4 locations in the future? Will direct provide the multiswitch?
With only two rg 6 currently run to each room can I get 2 tuners plus OTA by using diplexers or something? If so will direct provide the diplexers?
Thanks for any help!

[Michael D'Angelo]

Newbie getting 10-250 replaced with HR 20 in a couple of days. Also replacing old receiver only with new receiver only (Have old Tivo standalone to work there). Should the new receiver only also be HD?
Only getting 2 units now, but have 5 rooms wired to distribution point with 2 rg 6 cables each. Probably will never use but 4 of them. Will I need a 5 x 8 Multiswitch now for use by 4 locations in the future? Will direct provide the multiswitch?
With only two rg 6 currently run to each room can I get 2 tuners plus OTA by using diplexers or something? If so will direct provide the diplexers?
Thanks for any help!

:welcome_s to DBSTalk

As of right now it sounds like you will only have two receiver's. If that is correct you will not need a multi-switch and DirecTV will probably not provide one for free to you at this time.

If you add more receiver's through DirecTV down the road they will supply a free multi-switch. The multi-switch you will need is a Zinwell WB68 multi-switch if you are only going to hooked up four rooms with 8 total lines (tuners). If you hook up more rooms and need more lines then the 8 that the WB68 will supply you then DirecTV can setup a 2nd WB68 with the other one in a parallel setup. Or you could buy a Zinwell WB616 powered multi-switch. That would give you a total of 16 outputs on one multi-switch. That multi-switch is not supplied by DirecTV. You would need to buy that one on your own. The cheapest I have seen it is for a $130 at solidsignal.com. You may be able to get DirecTV to give you some kind of credit for it but not sure. You would have to call and ask.

You will not be able to diplexe any of the SAT lines without a SWM (Single Wire Multi-switch). The SWM's are not available yet but they should be later this year or at the latest early next year. You will be able to use one line to each room and it would control both tuners on the HR20 and allow you to use a OTA on the same line. If you do a search for SWM you will find a lot of information on it and what units it will be able to work with when it comes out.

At this point even if you don't have a multi-switch installed right now I would still make sure you have the four lines from the dish at the same point coming into the house so you will be able to add it in later. You need all four lines from the dish connected to any of the three units I mention above for them to work.