OTA Problems with SWM8

1832 Views 5 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Tiger62, Jul 9, 2008

JimTed

Discussion Starter · Jul 9, 2008

I purchased a SWM8 from Dave29 (great transaction and very helpful) and had the unit installed yesterday. The SWM8 seems to be working fine with Directv signals and is operating (2) HR21s and (1) HR10 with strong signals.

A non-amplified antenna used for digital HD over-the-air was wired into the SWM8 off-air input and then diplexed out at the two HR21 locations (1 into AM21 and 1 into HDTV tuner). In this configuration, the antenna signal is suffering significant loss and some channels (PBS) can not be tuned and others (ABC) have signal loss problems (pixelating). When the antenna is wired directly into the AM21 the signal is great (almost 100% on the HR21/AM21 meter). I tried using a Channel Plus DA-550 HHR before the SWM8 OTA input but this only provided slight improvements.

Any suggestions from the community on a cost effective fix to this problem? Pre-amp or amplify the antenna signal and still wire through the SWM8 and diplexers? Pre-amp or amp the antenna signal but run separate RG6 feeds to the antenna locations? I already have the wiring set up to bypass the SWM8, but I am not sure the right right pre-amp/amp to purchase.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jim

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RobertE

· #2 · Jul 9, 2008

JimTed said:
I purchased a SWM8 from Dave29 (great transaction and very helpful) and had the unit installed yesterday. The SWM8 seems to be working fine with Directv signals and is operating (2) HR21s and (1) HR10 with strong signals.

A non-amplified antenna used for digital HD over-the-air was wired into the SWM8 off-air input and then diplexed out at the two HR21 locations (1 into AM21 and 1 into HDTV tuner). In this configuration, the antenna signal is suffering significant loss and some channels (PBS) can not be tuned and others (ABC) have signal loss problems (pixelating). When the antenna is wired directly into the AM21 the signal is great (almost 100% on the HR21/AM21 meter). I tried using a Channel Plus DA-550 HHR before the SWM8 OTA input but this only provided slight improvements.

Any suggestions from the community on a cost effective fix to this problem? Pre-amp or amplify the antenna signal and still wire through the SWM8 and diplexers? Pre-amp or amp the antenna signal but run separate RG6 feeds to the antenna locations? I already have the wiring set up to bypass the SWM8, but I am not sure the right right pre-amp/amp to purchase.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jim

Your best solution is going to be to run a line just for OTA.

The built in diplexer in the SWM8 is not "top of the line"

So, if you insist on diplexing, best to use an external diplexer to bring in your OTA, then of course one to break it back out at the receiver.

From there you can start fiddling around with amps/pre-amps.

Also keep in mind that diplexing is not approved or supported by DirecTv with the SWM units (despite it being built in, wouldn't surprise me to see it removed on a later revision), your on your own support wise.

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RAD

· #3 · Jul 9, 2008

I've heard the diplexer on the SWM8 doesn't work well with the VHF low channels so if any of the channels are down in on ch 2-6 that could be part of it. Maybe try different diplexer's, I use the Channel Master 4001IFD and have no problems. But as RobertE said diplexing after the SWM is also another way to go that might fix the problem.

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JimTed

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jul 9, 2008

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I probably will use separate RG6 lines to each antenna location and avoid the potential problems with using diplexers. Can anyone recommend which pre-amp or amp I should purchase?

JimTed

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Kansas Zephyr

· #5 · Jul 9, 2008

I too had better OTA results "pre-SWM" when I diplexed after the BBCs in a weather resistant box outside. Luckily only one channel, the NBC, is no longer "locking". The PBS has only been usable about 20% of the time anyway.

But, I can't fit the SWM and two external diplexers, plus the coax into the box.

So, I just got a pre-amp to install at the antenna. I'll let you know how it works for me.

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Tiger62

· #6 · Jul 9, 2008

JimTed said:
Pre-amp or amp the antenna signal but run separate RG6 feeds to the antenna locations? I already have the wiring set up to bypass the SWM8, but I am not sure the right right pre-amp/amp to purchase.

Thanks for any suggestions,
Jim

Since your OTA signal level is already adequate, you just need a distribution amp to eliminate the attenuation presently caused by the splitter/diplexer. I'm using this one with good success. It will provide the OTA signal to 4 locations with no attenuation.

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