[20TIL6]

Hi,

Today's news about DirecTV working with TiVo again is prompting my question. I used to be a DirecTV customer, but left when TiVo was no longer going to be offered. That seems to have changed.

I am in the process of re-wiring an existing home. I was going to wire it to support cable/OTA and my S3 and HD TiVo units. But I probably want to "wire" in a DirecTV option.

Is it like it was, two coax leads to each DirecTV/TiVo receiver? And some sort of multi-switch in between the receivers and the dish? When I last had DirecTV, it was only standard definition, oval dish. How many coax leads would I want to have in place for the dish installer? I'm assuming the new dishes use additional coax leads.

Ideally, I'd like to have one dish feeding (6-8) dual tuner enabled DirecTV/TiVo units. And along with that I would probably run separate coax for OTA.

Anyway, if anyone has some input, thanks. I'd just like to have the option to go back to DirecTV already "wired-in". I'd like to make it as easy as possible for the installer.

 

[tcusta00]

I'd run three rg6 lines to each room (2 tuners plus 1 OTA) and make them all home runs (from one location nearest the dish install). I'd also add in CAT5e or better networking cable to each location for networking features like On-Demand and possibly MRV in the future (if they go that route).

 

[20TIL6]

Thanks. Three coax and a cat5/6 to each room, that makes sense. In typical construction today, there is a central "wiring can" in some closet. Is that what you mean by home run? Sources into that can would be one coax from an OTA antenna, and however many leads to the actual DirecTV dish. If the multi-switch is in the can, and the rooms connect into that, how many source leads come from the dish? Or are multi-switches used any longer. Does the dish have 6 or 8 outputs, instead of the two I remember from my old oval SD dish?

 

[tcusta00]

Thanks. Three coax and a cat5/6 to each room, that makes sense. In typical construction today, there is a central "wiring can" in some closet. Is that what you mean by home run? Sources into that can would be one coax from an OTA antenna, and however many leads to the actual DirecTV dish. If the multi-switch is in the can, and the rooms connect into that, how many source leads come from the dish? Or are multi-switches used any longer. Does the dish have 6 or 8 outputs, instead of the two I remember from my old oval SD dish?

The most common dish today (which could change as the new dishes become more prevalent) is the Slimline, which has four wires coming out, enough for 4 tuners. What you would do is run those 4 lines from the dish to a multiswitch like this:

Which has enough outputs for 16 tuners, or 8 dual-tuner receivers. This would preferably be at a central location in your home. Then you'd run each pair to the rooms you need them in.

The other option is to use the SWM8 (Single Wire Multiswitch) which allows you to only run one wire to each tuner:



This single wire option, however, is not compatible with legacy receivers like the old Tivos, so you'd still need two independent wires if you wish to use the older receivers. If you plan on being first on board for the new Tivo that's coming out next year I'd run two satellite lines to each room - who knows if it will be SWM compatible.

On most installs you're gonna get the WB616 multiswitch. If you're in a designated test market for the SWM it's possible you'd get that. You can always buy them from a company like Solid Signal linked by the pics above, or a member here, Dave29, has access to them if you PM him.

 

[20TIL6]

Thanks a bunch. That's exactly what I am looking for.

Dish => (4) leads => (16) tuner switch => (8) dual leads to NEW HD DirecTV/TiVo units.

So I have the rooms figured out, (3) coax (2 for DirecTV, 1 for OTA) and I am going to run (2) cat5/6 to cover TiVo's and game consoles in each room. I'll bring in one coax lead to the central can for OTA, one for cable, and (4) for the pending DirecTV dish. If I stay with cable, I'll use one of the (3) coax runs for that.

Thanks, I now have a plan.