Installation Question- So Confused

RipleyK said:

We have 5 receivers: 1 HR20, 1 HR21, 1 old Tivo DVR, and 2 really old Phillips receivers that are not DVRs. Had installation done a few days ago. Tech said he could not get us 2 cables to each DVR because of how tghe house was wired by the previous owners and the only way to do so was to literally "break down the walls" in 2 spots to fish the wires.

What we ended up with is: 2 receivers work fine and all 3 DVRs only have one active tuner. Is there some way that we can get the DVRs to work w/ 2 active tuners each??

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Depends.

Really going to depend on the layout of the house and where the receivers are.

In some cases, it will be impossible to run a second line to some locations short of cutting out sections of drywall/plaster/whatever to open up a wall.

That being said, you could replace your current switch (assuming WB68) with a SWM8. That will give you dual tuner use on both your HR2x. The Tivo unit is SOL for the second tuner unless you can get another line to it. The Tivo and the old Phillips units would have to be run off the legacy outputs of the SWM.

a SWM-8 will allow the HR-20 and HR-21 to have one wire and activate two tuners.
However the HR10-250 will have to run from one legacy port and only one tuner active. The old receivers can feed from the other 2 available legacy ports.

No other good options to use exsisting equipment.

Doctor j

Can't type as fast as RobertE

Robert, Thanks for the reply. I think I get it. But how do I know if I have a WB68? Where do I look for this? The TiVO unit is much less important as it is in the guest room.

RipleyK said:

Robert, Thanks for the reply. I think I get it. But how do I know if I have a WB68? Where do I look for this? The TiVO unit is much less important as it is in the guest room.

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It will say on it.

Link. http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=WB68

Dave29 has been a great resource for getting SWM8s (among other things), drop him a PM for more info and current pricing.

RipleyK said:

We have 5 receivers: 1 HR20, 1 HR21, 1 old Tivo DVR, and 2 really old Phillips receivers that are not DVRs. Had installation done a few days ago. Tech said he could not get us 2 cables to each DVR because of how tghe house was wired by the previous owners and the only way to do so was to literally "break down the walls" in 2 spots to fish the wires.

What we ended up with is: 2 receivers work fine and all 3 DVRs only have one active tuner. Is there some way that we can get the DVRs to work w/ 2 active tuners each??

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Robert is correct. Maybe you should look at upgrading your old Tivo.

Is the switch attached to the satellite? Where do I actually look for it? I am not at home now so I can not go look? Thanks- and sorry I sound so clueless.

RipleyK said:

Is the switch attached to the satellite? Where do I actually look for it? I am not at home now so I can not go look? Thanks- and sorry I sound so clueless.

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start at the dish, follow the cables, you will find the switch

RipleyK said:

Is the switch attached to the satellite? Where do I actually look for it? I am not at home now so I can not go look? Thanks- and sorry I sound so clueless.

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It "should" be near your distribution point. Places to check are somewhere in you basement or outside near the electric meter. Hopefully not up at the dish. I have low regard for techs who put the switch at the dish.

Just follow either the lines from the dish or one of the lines from a receiver. It will be along that path.

Got it! Now I'll hvae to go into my attic. I may not get a chance for a few days but will post back and let you all know what I found.