Switching from Dish to Direct and have a few ??

2757 Views 17 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Mike Greer, Apr 23, 2012

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · Apr 21, 2012

My Dish contract is up in July, and I am going to switch over to D*. Tired of Dish lack of commitment to sports. I also like the sounds of the HR34 setup compared to the Kangaroo.
A couple of questions on my setup though. Right now I have 5 T.V's. One is in an office that isn't used much, and another in a bedroom of a college student who isn't home very often. With E*, I have a 722 running 3 t.v's. the back feed is split where all of my connections are made outside of the house to run a second and third T.V. off of it. Now it is my understanding that D* doesn't do this? I also have two other HD receivers for the other T.V's
With D* I plan on getting 1 HR34, and 2 HD receivers. The HR34 will be on my main T.V. with the other two being in bedrooms. I understand that I can Mirror the 2 HD boxes to get programming on the 4th and 5th t.v when I want it. Does D* have a remote like E*, that can control the reciever from a different room? I realize that both T.V's would have to be watching the same thing, but that isn't a problem for me. Also, do they make long HDMI cables, or the other ones that are used for HD? (red,blue, green, yellow and white) I would need the cables to be about 30 feet. Running regular coax wouldn't be the end of the world, but would love to get HD to the other T.V.'s.

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RACJ2

· #2 · Apr 21, 2012

First, welcome to DBSTalk! The DIRECTV remotes can control a DVR from another room if you use the RF mode. Just make sure that they give you remotes that are RF capable when they install them. Below is a post that explains the model # on the remotes. You want to make sure it has the "R" suffix for RF.

When running multiple TV's off 1 DVR, you a couple options, You could use the HDMI output on TV1 and the Component (HD) output on TV4 and the composite (SD) output for TV5. They do make long HDMI and Component (Red, Blue, Green) cables. I use an HDMI powered splitter and have a second TV connected via cat6 and HDMI wall plates from Monoprice. Since its easier to run cat6, then it is to run HDMI or Component cables in the walls.

Also, there is no coax output on the HRxx DVR's, so that isn't an option. Unless you plan to use modulators connected via coax. If you have any questions on what I suggested or need more help, let me know.

veryoldschool said:
In the model RC6x "R" is for RF, "B" is backlit, "X" is for those that auto program with TVs.
So RC6x is IR only
RC6xR is RF
RC6xRB is RF & backlit
RC6xRBX has it all

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 21, 2012

Thanks for the quick reply. I was planning on mirroring the two HD boxes and not the DVR itself, if this is possible. They will be closest to the other T.V.'s.
Do I ask for the remotes when I order, or will the installer have them?

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 21, 2012

I think I would try and run the component cables through the walls. One will go through the attic and inside walls, so that should be pretty simple, and the other two rooms are right next to one another, so one hole through the wall should do it.
How does the HDMI splitter though? Does the cat 6 cable carry the signal to the second T.V., and then plug into an adapter to get it back to HDMI?

carl6

· #5 · Apr 21, 2012

The other option is to use an external rf modulator and feed an SD signal to your two temporary use TVs.

There are also some ethernet adapter solutions that have been discussed in some forums here from time to time, where you convert hdmi to ethernet, then back to hdmi. If the remote room is very close to one of the regular use rooms, I would probably try a long hdmi or component video cable. If it is some distance, then either an sd composite signal or some type of ethernet extension.

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 21, 2012

With the HR34 setup, can I mirror the HD boxes, or do I have to do it with the HR34?

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 21, 2012

Ok, so from what I have read, the round connection on the back of an H25 is actually the component output. It is the one that actually looks like an S-video connector. Do I get a long cable with those connectors and the adapter goes next to the T.V., or do I get long component cables with the adapter going next to the box?

cover

· #8 · Apr 21, 2012

Having been down this road myself, I'd suggest that you consider just getting a DirecTV receiver for each TV and using Whole Home DVR. It's really much easier to support and live with than trying to drive several TVs off the same box. And much less trouble to let the DTV installer deal with running coax where its needed than buying and running component video cables or alternatives yourself.

RACJ2

· #9 · Apr 21, 2012

On the question about remotes, the installer will have them on their truck. When my DVR's were installed, he gave one remote with RF and another w/o. You should get the RC65RX with your HR's, so check the model # in upper left corner of the remote.

I don't have any HD receivers, so I can't answer the question about the coax output. And I'm not sure what remote the typically give you. The setup with the cat6 that I have, has HDMI wall plates at each end. It required 2 cat6 cables runs. I get the full digital HD picture that way. I bought wall plates from Monoprice for under $20, that are similar to the ones in this [link].

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 22, 2012

I was checking out a picture of the H25's, which I believe are the HD receivers that you get with the whole home dvr setup. I noticed that it didn't have any component outputs. When looking into it, the round connection on the back of the box is for component. there is a special cable for it. In the pictures it looks a lot like an s-video connection, but here is a link for the cable.http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=H2510PIN&d=DIRECTV-H2510PIN-10-Pin-to-Component-Dongle-for-DIRECTV-H25-(H2510PIN)-18-94A1CS-008-01
I'm thinking my best and cheapest way to do this is just run component cables to the second T.V's. I will need this cable, and I guss some type of component connectors or a female to male component cables. (if they make them)

MrShowtime

· #11 · Apr 22, 2012

rapidturtle said:
I was checking out a picture of the H25's, which I believe are the HD receivers that you get with the whole home dvr setup. I noticed that it didn't have any component outputs. When looking into it, the round connection on the back of the box is for component. there is a special cable for it. In the pictures it looks a lot like an s-video connection, but here is a link for the cable.http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?p=H2510PIN&d=DIRECTV-H2510PIN-10-Pin-to-Component-Dongle-for-DIRECTV-H25-(H2510PIN)-18-94A1CS-008-01
I'm thinking my best and cheapest way to do this is just run component cables to the second T.V's. I will need this cable, and I guss some type of component connectors or a female to male component cables. (if they make them)

yeah, every bit of this is correct.

And as for rf remotes, get a note put on the work order about wanting rf because the h25s REQUIRE an rf remote dongle to go rf (not just the remote like the hrs). The remotes come separate now and you may get ir's if you aren't specific

link to dongle here: http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...F-Remote-Dongle-Adapter-for-the-H25-(H25RFANT)

Mike Greer

· #12 · Apr 22, 2012

Also know that you can't use IR and RF remotes at the same time. If you have anything that controls your equipment using IR (like a slingbox) you won't be able to use both. That screwed me when I switched.

Also be prepared for a drop in response using DirecTV. When I had Dish and 622s they were faster to respond in EVERYTHING. I received HR22s from DirecTV and was in shock at how painful they were to navigate the guide etc. I now have HR24s and until the latest software they were generally quick and much easier to use but where still noticeably slower than the 4 or 5 year old 622 from Dish.

Also don't bother with a modulator etc - DirecTVs are meant to run one TV. They recently essentially made the 'standard' outputs useless if you are using the satellite receiver in HD mode. No guide etc output on the standard outputs. If you are going to 'distribute' the signal only do it with HD and remember using the RF remotes disables the IR remotes...

RACJ2

· #13 · Apr 23, 2012

Mike Greer said:
Also know that you can't use IR and RF remotes at the same time. If you have anything that controls your equipment using IR (like a slingbox) you won't be able to use both. That screwed me when I switched... ...If you are going to 'distribute' the signal only do it with HD and remember using the RF remotes disables the IR remotes...

I just went through that exercise with my HR34. I have an AR remote that is DIRECTV RF capable, so I decided to try RF. I knew that once you switch, the IR wouldn't work. Just forgot about my Slingbox, so the first time I tried it, of course it didn't work. I run 2 TV's off of the HR34, so I had to switch 2 DIRECTV remotes and my AR remote back to IR.

inf0z

· #14 · Apr 23, 2012

One thing that I just wanted to point out here is that having multiple connections hooked up to the back of the receiver will cause resolution issues and possibly HDCP issues. If you have coax or RCA cables connected to the receiver you will have to change the resolution to 480 (Meaning you won't be viewing your programming in HD on the HD TV that it's connected to). So I would recommend that each TV have it's own receiver.
EDIT - After thought.

You can do this with component cables as you mentioned, however I would not recommend using HDMI cables to a splitter, as this will for sure cause HDCP issues.

Beerstalker

· #15 · Apr 23, 2012

Using one receiver for more than one TV is becoming more and more of a issue in my opinion. Between the resolution nags and the new HDCP protection on premium movie channels I think that it is best to just plan on having a receiver at every TV from now on.

1 HR34 and 4 RVU clients would probably be a good fit for the OP if DirecTV ever gets around to releasing one and doesn't charge $6 for each of them.

rapidturtle

Discussion Starter · #16 · Apr 23, 2012

Beerstalker said:
Using one receiver for more than one TV is becoming more and more of a issue in my opinion. Between the resolution nags and the new HDCP protection on premium movie channels I think that it is best to just plan on having a receiver at every TV from now on.

1 HR34 and 4 RVU clients would probably be a good fit for the OP if DirecTV ever gets around to releasing one and doesn't charge $6 for each of them.

I take it that RVU client means that it would simply use a tuner from the HR34? If that is the case, that would work great. Like I said, the T.V's in 2 of the rooms get used very little, so to pay $12 a month for receivers in these rooms seems like a waste. If I could get away with 3 receivers, that would work out perfect.

Beerstalker

· #17 · Apr 23, 2012

Yes RVU clients use the tuners in the HR34 to watch live TV, or can watch existing recordings off the HR34 without taking up a tuner. Right now the only RVU clients available are some Samsung Smart TVs, DirecTV is supposed to be working on a small client box but we haven't heard much about it in a while.

I'm assuming none of the other TVs you want DirecTV on are newer model Samsung Smart TVs. If they are let us know as you might be able to use them without a receiver at all.

Mike Greer

· #18 · Apr 23, 2012

rapidturtle said:
I take it that RVU client means that it would simply use a tuner from the HR34? If that is the case, that would work great. Like I said, the T.V's in 2 of the rooms get used very little, so to pay $12 a month for receivers in these rooms seems like a waste. If I could get away with 3 receivers, that would work out perfect.

There is still a 'mirroring' fee or whatever you want to call it on RVU clients so they are not free.

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