Cable TV combined w/Satelite via Diplexor

bleduc · 10-05-02, 08:38 AM

Tried asking this at DBSForums and got no takers, so I thought I would try here.

Can analog cable be combined with a DirecTV signal via diplexors?

My previous residence combined an OTA antenna with DirecTV via diplexors and worked fine. My new residence does not lend itself to an OTA antenna, so I have opted for basic lifeline cable for my OTA channels.

When combined via diplexors, my OTA channels come in very poory.....some are not viewable, others while viewable are quite fuzzy.

Fed directly to a TV, and they are crystal clear, so I suspect that either the diplexor is not compatible with cable, or perhaps I have a bad diplexor (one is known good, the other newly purchased).

One possible extenuating circumstance: I also have cable modem service on the same feed, so that too could be causing grief for the diplexor.

Any advice/help will be appreciated.

Best Regards,

Brian

Richssat · 10-05-02, 09:54 AM

Brian,
Yes, analog cable can be combined with satellite. As can digital cable and cable modem service.
Make sure your satellite receivers is turned off or change inputs on the sat receiver (if you are passing the cable signal thru the sat receiver) when trying to watch cable. Sounds silly but we get tons of service calls for exactly that.

HTH

RR

Bob Haller · 10-05-02, 10:54 PM

Locally cable and diplexor caused troubles. It depends on the frequencies and harmonics the cable system sends out. My advice for best everythuing always run 2 cables...

Cheaper diplexors are offenders for less sat signal strength and thus more rainfade.

One or two points of signal strength may be the difference between watching tv and seeing acqiuiring sat please wait. Think about it the next time rainfade hits.

bleduc · 10-06-02, 10:24 AM

Thanks for all the replies thus far. Good news is it "should work". My fear was it flat out would NOT work.

Next step is for some basic t-shooting to try to determine why I am loosing signal. I have an older RS diplexor at the sat box (about the size of an audio cassette, taken from my old home), and the new RS unit outside (a small sucker, the same size as a "normal" RF splitter). Perhaps a pair of better quality units will be worth trying.

I have not done an A-B (with and without diplexors) to see how it is effecting my satellite signal strength....I have not noted any problems yet with satellite, but where I live we do not see much rain.

I do have a contingency plan in place for the second run (at least to the main HT room), but I am trying to do a whole house set-up with RF and satellite in each room (the install is not done yet, but I have an oval dish with 3 LNBs plus a built in 4 output multi-switch).

The installer said that to go whole house (there is a central distribution point), I would need to run 4 coaxs from the dish to the central distribution point, and then mount the 4in/8out switch, which also has an RF input (so he said. I have not seen the switch yet).

This would all be for not if DirectTV would just offer locals in my city (Albuquerque).

Thanks for the advise thus far.

BL

jannlinder · 10-06-02, 01:21 PM

Just so **I** know for the future

: (my mom has a cable modem **AND** E*...) I am reading this thread as saying that I **CAN** Diplex her cable modem over the ANT input on the diplexer and the E* feed over the SAT input on the Diplexor. ..just so you know the cable modem is DOCSIS 1.1 over ATT BROADBAND in California.

Please verify that I can do this.

Jann

Bob Haller · 10-06-02, 02:31 PM

Not to start the D vs E business but with the new E dishpro LNB you would need just TWO cables from the dish to a indoor switch.

One from 119 and one from 110 if that would help.

Richssat · 10-06-02, 06:02 PM

Yes. I have done it with both Time Warner and Cox here in San Diego. The first time I did it I called the customer back a few weeks later to see if their was any issues that came up. Nothing to report.

RR

jannlinder · 10-06-02, 07:55 PM

What are the best brand of Diplexers? Does anyone know?

Jann

**Mark Lamutt** · 10-07-02, 09:03 AM

ChannelMaster and Eagle Aspen have the reputation of being the best diplexors, but you will pay for that.

bleduc · 10-07-02, 12:14 PM

Problem solved, for now.

It appears that I was losing a ton of signal by running the coax through a Panamax surge/lightening protector. The Panamax was on the single coax BEFORE the indoor diplexor.

In testing, I had taken the diplexors out of the circuit, and gone straight shot to the TV with the cable TV run. The picture was still poor (although marginally better).

At that point, I thought I had a bad piece of coax between the wall outlet and the TV, but it was still going through the Panamax. Once I bypassed that, it was very good.

This has me a bit puzzled, because I was running through the Panamax at my previous residence before I moved. Not sure what has changed, but for now, the Panamax is out of the circuit, the diplexors are back in, and the cable channels are quite good, while the satellite channels are excellent as they always have been.

Thanks everyone for you help.

BL