Does anyone know what type of technology setup hotels use to get DirecTV???

20 receivers and 20 adjacent channel modulators work just fine.

Add a distribution amp, some coax and splitters and you're there.

 

you forgot the combiner!

 

Though the thread was discussing nursing home solutions at the time, these systems can be and likely are used for hotels too which do not want a receiver in every room.

See the thread here for a fuller discussion;
http://www.dbstalk.com/topic/201302-directv-feed-in-a-nursing-home-question/?hl=%2Bcodeplus#entry3071622

In particular note BattleZone's photos in post # 15

However, hotels I understand nowadays mostly do want systems with receivers in every room and which can duplicate the home experience somewhat. So DIRECTV has developed a new solution called "Directv Residential Experience" (DRE) for the hotel market.

Read a description of it recently from an installer of one system on the Solid Signal Blog. Impressive and reasonably cost.

 

About six months ago I stayed at a hotel with the "In home" (or whatever) experience, and there was a receiver right behind the TV. Worked fine, but very limited selection. My question, hypothetical as it's against the ToS I bet, is what might happen if one took a receiver or DVR with them on a trip and hooked it up to a hotel's system?

 

From the description I read on it, the receivers used on the system (only the H25 and HR24 models at present) need to run special FW in "DRE mode" used to communicate over their internal DECAs with a central UNIX server that controls their authorization, allowed channels, VOD choices and billing tally, etc.

 

One shouldn't ignore any advice that DIRECTV's own MDU division has to offer:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/mdu/owners/overview?topnavtype=2

 

I'm qualified to answer whatever questions you have in this arena.

There are three systems used in hotels. One is a generic headend. This is essentially a bunch o' receivers and either an RF modulator for SD systems or an edge QAM for HD. Either way, each receiver is tuned to a single channel and feeds into that system, which then puts everything out on a single wire. This can be a very versatile system that includes pay-per-view and electronic billing.

The next step up is the COM1000 system which is a single rack-mount device with up to 24 HD or 36 SD channels. It can be configured to deliver HD over a coax or over ethernet, and it's built by Technicolor who makes the -100 series receivers. The advantages here are easy management (through a web interface) small size and a rudimentary guide (like the TV Guide channel of yore.) It doesn't include pay-per-view and won't ever include it.

The really desirable system is DIRECTV Residential Experience. Here you're putting a receiver or DVR in every room, usually strapped to the back of the TV or otherwise bolted down. You get every channel that the hotel pays for, and it's done in packages so you're going to get a lot of channels. You don't get pay-per-view but that's coming in another upgrade.

There are two flavors of DRE -- unmanaged DRE is just a bunch of receivers, but DRE plus lets the front desk manage parental controls for you, gives you the ability to use DVRs, and connects every receiver via ethernet for management.

As to whether you could theoretically bring a receiver from home, I'm not saying it's impossible but if you did this (and assuming there were no security connectors on the RG6 cables) then it would through up some big red flags in a managed DRE system. The IT people would know quite quickly.

The receivers themselves are stock hardware but run a custom software load that lets them work with the RC70H hotel remote (which has different codes than the regular remote) and enables the reporting features while disabling some of the advanced setup features.

 

Hey Stuart , I am as well looking for a system similar to this.

I just bought a fairly good sized Bed and Breakfast hotel which has 10 rooms I need to serve, as well as separate sweet 3 cottages, and I'm as well shooting in the dark.

What is the most cost effective way to serve these rooms, without a receiver in every room? And what are the type of channels lineups?

I want some HD to every room if possible, But again I don't need everything like in Premium pack.
I was thinking something on the lines of just entertainment pack, But NFL and MLB, HBO East, the locals would be a must. Do they do different options packages for Hotels.
Our Local cable offers a set up that includes really random channels which is kind of what i'm looking for. but no HD yet.

I've started to build a 2nd dwelling on site, which will be a bar/ restaurant as well as 10 other rooms, so I'm looking at a good size set up when I'm done . My plan is to serve about 21-25 tvs at first and 35-40 by winter of 2014.

Any help would be great.

 

There are options that can work for you. I'll send you a PM.

 

Do hotel bars need there own accounts? At one time directv has give out free HD boxes for the bar with some of the in room plans.

 

Yes, things need to be set up differently for bars than for guest rooms. It's because a bar is considered "public viewing" and therefore the pricing is based on the occupancy of the bar.

 

I have also been to hotels where the public viewing tv where just hooked up to the same system as the other TV's.

 

I'm not saying it doesn't happen... only that it shouldn't.

 

Say Stuart;

Briefly, is the managed DRE (or "DRE Plus") system the same as I read on it from an early installer's experience a while ago posted on the Solid Signal Blog for its discussion?

Basically;

VPN router (optional, for remote control and monitoring of system) <-----> UNIX (Linux) server (for system administration and control) <-----> ethernet switch (large enterprise type) <-----> large number of CCKs <-----> OTA/SWM Satellite diplexers (to combine DECA networking signals with SWiM satellite signals) <------> 4/8-way SWiM splitters <-----> To various hotel room receivers (H25s or HR24s).

NOTE: The SWiM satellite signals of this particular installation were provided by SWiM-32s cascaded or fed by intervening taps and amplifiers where necessary.

EDIT: Forgot to add SWIM splitters to signal flow chain and made arrows bi-directional to indicate data signals can take place either direction,

 

Yes, that's DRE Plus, also known as Managed DRE. The DIRECTV hardware is stock, as I said, but the IT infrastructure is all custom. It runs a very specific build of Ubuntu, the hardware is all very specific and it's configured very precisely for minimum support issues.

With regard to the SWiM-32s, just as in any other install you can cascade one SWiM-32 off another but no more than that. The ideal system has IDF closets (intermediate closets) on every floor to keep the home runs off the SWM under 250' so the network signals don't have issues.

 

Well, if I ever buy a hotel, SS is the first guy I'd e-mail!

 

I'm lucky enough to have gotten all the certifications required for DRE, and I'm happy to share any info I can.