see setup pic in signature below.. that's for a SWMLine dish.. the SWM8 would look the same except 4 lines from dish to the SWM8, after that it's the same.. For your setup I would get the SWMLine dish as it will be much cleaner to wire..
Questions from potential SWM or SWMline newbie
We are moving and in our new house, it is going to be very hard to run a second line to each room for my DVRs. Currently I have 2 DVRs (HR20-100 and an older SD-DVR80). So just 4 total tuners - for now. (I know the SD-DVR80 is not SWM capable and I would replace it with HR2* series.) My new DMA (Binghamton, NY) does not get any LIL service from D*, so SWM is not something I could get from their moving service I don't think. I would have an indoor antenna (Silver Sensor) to get locals, but that would run directly to the HR20, so no need to tie that into the SWM - unless there is an easy way.
I know there is both a SWM and also a SWMline that's built right into the feedhorn on the Slimline. That's basically where my understanding of the SWM tech ends. Can someone explain to me in the most basic terms (pretend I'm a 3rd grader!) what I'd have to do to get SWM (either the separate switch or the one built into the feedhorn), what connections need to be made (are there more than just the sat coaxial lines to connect), and maybe a flow diagram of how it would all be set up (currently my diagram in my old house would be Slimline -> BBC -> HR20-100 (I have no multi switch)).
I've tried reading up on some other threads and have even posted a few times in them but am still confused. I appreciate the help. I'm hoping to be moved in and have my D* back up and running by early September for football season and the fall TV season. Thanks again!
I know there is both a SWM and also a SWMline that's built right into the feedhorn on the Slimline. That's basically where my understanding of the SWM tech ends. Can someone explain to me in the most basic terms (pretend I'm a 3rd grader!) what I'd have to do to get SWM (either the separate switch or the one built into the feedhorn), what connections need to be made (are there more than just the sat coaxial lines to connect), and maybe a flow diagram of how it would all be set up (currently my diagram in my old house would be Slimline -> BBC -> HR20-100 (I have no multi switch)).
I've tried reading up on some other threads and have even posted a few times in them but am still confused. I appreciate the help. I'm hoping to be moved in and have my D* back up and running by early September for football season and the fall TV season. Thanks again!
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I'd take the first step of calling Movers Connection and see what they will offer to get to the job. Based on your need for only 4 tuners, they'd probably not offer any flavor of SWM unless they really bought into the "only one coax available" at the location constraint you have. You can get SWM8s from Dave29. I think he can get the SWMline, too. He'll also help you with some custom cut pieces of coax if you need those.
I'll take a shot at describing the process in words vs. look at the diagram, the exercise is left to the reader.
Your OTA sounds like an indoor antenna. I don't really know for sure. With SWM, you need to connect the OTA at the SWM unit. I assume for the SWMline dish it has to be at the dish. For the SWM8, you can locate the antenna feed line in your house away from the dish where the coax lines to your rooms distribute from. My OTA line runs from my attic down to where the coax distribution was originally setup for CATV in my house. It was easy to buy a 3' longer piece of coax cable to connect it into the SWM8 OTA port.
I took the 4 coax feeds (from dish) from the grounding blocks that went to my receivers and disconnected them. I then took some 6 foot pieces of coax and connected them from the grounding blocks to the 4 satellite input ports of the SWM8. I then connected a 15 foot (min. length) coax cable from the SWM8 to the power inserter, took a 1 foot piece of coax to connect from the PI to a 4 way splitter (got that from Dave29, too), then connected the coax runs to my receivers that were originally attached to the grounding blocks to the splitter. One exception though...the coax that goes to my master bedroom is connected to a legacy port on the SWM8. The master bedroom has a D11-500 receiver attached to my crappy old Magnavox TV!
BBCs are not needed with SWM. BBC functionality is built into the SWM unit itself.
Last item....you will need diplexers to split out the OTA and satellite signals from the feed line at your receivers. Dave29 supplied me with some short pieces of coax to connect from the diplexer to the satellite and OTA ports on the receivers. What a helpful guy! If you use an indoor antenna for OTA, then you skip this step as well as attaching the OTA line into the SWM8.
So, in your case, I'd talk to Movers Connection, see what they will offer up, and then figure out if you need to go get a SWMline or SWM8 if they won't spec those items for your job.
I'll take a shot at describing the process in words vs. look at the diagram, the exercise is left to the reader.
Your OTA sounds like an indoor antenna. I don't really know for sure. With SWM, you need to connect the OTA at the SWM unit. I assume for the SWMline dish it has to be at the dish. For the SWM8, you can locate the antenna feed line in your house away from the dish where the coax lines to your rooms distribute from. My OTA line runs from my attic down to where the coax distribution was originally setup for CATV in my house. It was easy to buy a 3' longer piece of coax cable to connect it into the SWM8 OTA port.
I took the 4 coax feeds (from dish) from the grounding blocks that went to my receivers and disconnected them. I then took some 6 foot pieces of coax and connected them from the grounding blocks to the 4 satellite input ports of the SWM8. I then connected a 15 foot (min. length) coax cable from the SWM8 to the power inserter, took a 1 foot piece of coax to connect from the PI to a 4 way splitter (got that from Dave29, too), then connected the coax runs to my receivers that were originally attached to the grounding blocks to the splitter. One exception though...the coax that goes to my master bedroom is connected to a legacy port on the SWM8. The master bedroom has a D11-500 receiver attached to my crappy old Magnavox TV!
BBCs are not needed with SWM. BBC functionality is built into the SWM unit itself.
Last item....you will need diplexers to split out the OTA and satellite signals from the feed line at your receivers. Dave29 supplied me with some short pieces of coax to connect from the diplexer to the satellite and OTA ports on the receivers. What a helpful guy! If you use an indoor antenna for OTA, then you skip this step as well as attaching the OTA line into the SWM8.
So, in your case, I'd talk to Movers Connection, see what they will offer up, and then figure out if you need to go get a SWMline or SWM8 if they won't spec those items for your job.
OK... my head is really spinning now after viewing that diagram and reading the written description.
Yes - I have an indoor antenna that sits on top of my entertainment center. I currently have it connected to the Ant In on my HR20-100. Can I do the same thing with either SWM solution? Or does the antenna HAVE to be connected to the SWM?
I think I may have to rethink just running 2 lines to each receiver.
Yes - I have an indoor antenna that sits on top of my entertainment center. I currently have it connected to the Ant In on my HR20-100. Can I do the same thing with either SWM solution? Or does the antenna HAVE to be connected to the SWM?
I think I may have to rethink just running 2 lines to each receiver.
The SWMLine doesn't have an "easy" way to tie in OTA.
Your setup will work just fine, with the indoor antenna connected directly to the receiver.
As far as the inside connections.... one wire to the receiver feeds two tuners. All your other connections can remain the same.
If you wanted an outdoor antenna, you could use the SWM-8, and it has an OTA input which diplexes the signal onto the same cable, and then you can undiplex behind your receiver and run 1 wire to the satellite and 1 to the antenna.
If you don't need the external antenna, though, your existing setup will be just fine.
Your setup will work just fine, with the indoor antenna connected directly to the receiver.
As far as the inside connections.... one wire to the receiver feeds two tuners. All your other connections can remain the same.
If you wanted an outdoor antenna, you could use the SWM-8, and it has an OTA input which diplexes the signal onto the same cable, and then you can undiplex behind your receiver and run 1 wire to the satellite and 1 to the antenna.
If you don't need the external antenna, though, your existing setup will be just fine.
Just leave your ant the way it is..Indiana627 said:OK... my head is really spinning now after viewing that diagram and reading the written description.
Yes - I have an indoor antenna that sits on top of my entertainment center. I currently have it connected to the Ant In on my HR20-100. Can I do the same thing with either SWM solution? Or does the antenna HAVE to be connected to the SWM?
I think I may have to rethink just running 2 lines to each receiver.
As I tried to clarify at the end of my lengthy verbal description...
If you are using in indoor antenna located near your receiver, then just attach it to the OTA port of the receiver. You can skip attaching it to the SWM8/SWMline. The OTA port of the SWM is valuable for distributing OTA signals to all of your receivers, but if you don't have a roof top (or inside the attic, like mine) antenna, it's not going to be very useful for you. I use my SWM8 to distribute OTA to both of my HD DVRs.
If you are using in indoor antenna located near your receiver, then just attach it to the OTA port of the receiver. You can skip attaching it to the SWM8/SWMline. The OTA port of the SWM is valuable for distributing OTA signals to all of your receivers, but if you don't have a roof top (or inside the attic, like mine) antenna, it's not going to be very useful for you. I use my SWM8 to distribute OTA to both of my HD DVRs.
OK, I am going to want local channels on both my TVs, so I guess my options are to either get a second indoor antenna (my new house is very close to the broadcast tower so hopefully indoor models will work), or get an outdoor one and tie it in to the SWM8. Is that right?
What is this 'power inserter' mentioned? Does it simply plug in to a standard electrical outlet?
And can the entire SWM8 setup be mounted outside in the elements?
Thanks so much for the help.
What is this 'power inserter' mentioned? Does it simply plug in to a standard electrical outlet?
And can the entire SWM8 setup be mounted outside in the elements?
Thanks so much for the help.
Power inserter is block with a 5 or 6' standard power cord... It must be mounted inside..Indiana627 said:OK, I am going to want local channels on both my TVs, so I guess my options are to either get a second indoor antenna (my new house is very close to the broadcast tower so hopefully indoor models will work), or get an outdoor one and tie it in to the SWM8. Is that right?
What is this 'power inserter' mentioned? Does it simply plug in to a standard electrical outlet?
And can the entire SWM8 setup be mounted outside in the elements?
Thanks so much for the help.
Inside as opposed to outside in the elements? I was hoping to have it outside in a enclosed box next to an outlet under an overhang. This is not possible? It doesn't totally thwort my plans... just have to think it through again. I know it would never get wet as it is right below an overhang. But the fact of the matter is I have not seen any piture of setups with it on the outside.houskamp said:Power inserter ..... It must be mounted inside..
It is vented.. you can actualy see the transformer and parts in it.. I would highly reccomend it be placed inside..webby_s said:Inside as opposed to outside in the elements? I was hoping to have it outside in a enclosed box next to an outlet under an overhang. This is not possible? It doesn't totally thwort my plans... just have to think it through again. I know it would never get wet as it is right below an overhang. But the fact of the matter is I have not seen any piture of setups with it on the outside.
Whay can't you just locate it next to one of your receivers?webby_s said:Inside as opposed to outside in the elements? I was hoping to have it outside in a enclosed box next to an outlet under an overhang. This is not possible? It doesn't totally thwort my plans... just have to think it through again. I know it would never get wet as it is right below an overhang. But the fact of the matter is I have not seen any piture of setups with it on the outside.
Good question! I easily and probably should. I just want the shortest run I can possibly have. Meaning from the LNB to the PI be like 8ft. Then from the SWS be like 10ft, 15ft, 18ft. (to each of the different rooms/recievers)texasbrit said:Whay can't you just locate it next to one of your receivers?
Am I being to conservitive in thinking I need the shortest runs? As we all here LOVE our HD, I don't want to lose PQ.
Technicaly you want at least 15' pi>swm..webby_s said:Good question! I easily and probably should. I just want the shortest run I can possibly have. Meaning from the LNB to the PI be like 8ft. Then from the SWS be like 10ft, 15ft, 18ft. (to each of the different rooms/recievers)
Am I being to conservitive in thinking I need the shortest runs? As we all here LOVE our HD, I don't want to lose PQ.
True... That is what I have read. I have a couple senerios in my head that I could work with so we will see what is up in the near future. Thanks everyone for your help and you will probably see me back soon with more questions. For now I will just poke around.houskamp said:Technicaly you want at least 15' pi>swm..
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