[Doug Brott]

The SWM and SWMline were originally tested in the CE program .. now that both are making their way into the mainstream it seems appropriate to have that discussion here in the open forums now .. as a result, all SWM and SWMline general discussion can take place here in this thread ..

As a starter, here are some First Looks that may be of interest:

SWM - Earl Bonovich

SWM enabled Slimline Dish - smiddy

 

[doctor j]

Reviewed 1st look doc. It has regular 29 volt SWM PI.

My swm-lnb has a dedicated 24volt PI.

I've reviewed a sonora power inserter document that says the SWM can use 20 to 29 volts and the amperage draw changes.

No biggie but always worry about "cooking" the electronics with the wrong power applied.

Doctor j

 

[bwaldron]

Reviewed 1st look doc. It has regular 29 volt SWM PI.

My swm-lnb has a dedicated 24volt PI.

I've reviewed a sonora power inserter document that says the SWM can use 20 to 29 volts and the amperage draw changes.

No biggie but always worry about "cooking" the electronics with the wrong power applied.

Doctor j

Yes, early SWM-LNB assemblies came with the same 29-volt PI (PI-8) as the standalone SWM modules. Works fine.

 

[dave29]

good idea doug, as it seems like there are tons of random swm threads floating around

 

[dave29]

i think this troubleshooting link should be in here
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=94761&highlight=single+wire+multiswitch

 

[TheRatPatrol]

Any idea when Solid Signal will have the SWM LNB?

Thanks

 

[NR4P]

After six months since the CE trial, my SWMline has developed all sorts of problems.

First, one my receivers couldn't tune it.
Then lost the 99S video feeds on all other receivers although signals are good (not an aiming issue).

No need to offer suggestions or hypothesis as that's been done in another thread.

It was fun while it lasted.

 

[Kansas Zephyr]

FWIW...I've had to replace the FTM module of a SMW-8 after about six months. The PI was fine.

The new one is on a UPS, so we'll see if that helps its life expectancy.

 

[webby_s]

My Setup:

SWMLine to PI to 4-way SWS splitter to HR21, H21, and H21

My issue: One of the H21's searching for singnal every evening. Do menu reset and everything works fine. Has happened the two nights since I installed. Other H21 and HR21 in living room (5 feet away farther from dish) work perfectly.

More info:
Distance from ODU to PI: 10ft
From PI to 4-way: 2.5 feet
From 4-way to H21 in question: 16ft-18ft roughly
From 4-way to HR21 and H21: 21ft-23ft roughly

Question:
Why the having to reset bedroom H21 every evening (so far) then working fine, also working fine when I wake up in the morning 5-6 hours later, just not seem to be working later in the evening. But other HR and H21's working perfectly?

 

[northatlanta]

Hi All (Long time reader, first time poster):

I am just trying to nail down the SWM setup. I have 2 TV's but only need the SWM functionality on 1 TV (living room), since I only have 1 HR20-700.

Currently, I have the 2 lines of coax coming from the dish, then 1 line to each TV:

- Where in the line do I insert the SWM module?
A. Do I insert 1 of the coax lines from the dish to the SWM, then out to the living room HR20, leaving the other coax to go straight from the dish to the H21 upstairs?
B. Do I connect the two lines from the dish directly to the SWM, then one line to each receiver? (I think this is the correct way...)

- I was looking out on SolidSignal to order a SWM, but I notice the 8 channel is cheaper than the 5 channel....what? Should I just go ahead and order the 8?

- Does DirecTV need to install anything or can I rig this myself? Seems pretty straight forward.


Thanks for any help! I have been reading this forum for over a year now and have learned a ton from you guys.

Thanks.

 

[NR4P]

Hi All (Long time reader, first time poster):

I am just trying to nail down the SWM setup. I have 2 TV's but only need the SWM functionality on 1 TV (living room), since I only have 1 HR20-700.

Currently, I have the 2 lines of coax coming from the dish, then 1 line to each TV:

- Where in the line do I insert the SWM module?
A. Do I insert 1 of the coax lines from the dish to the SWM, then out to the living room HR20, leaving the other coax to go straight from the dish to the H21 upstairs?
B. Do I connect the two lines from the dish directly to the SWM, then one line to each receiver? (I think this is the correct way...)

- I was looking out on SolidSignal to order a SWM, but I notice the 8 channel is cheaper than the 5 channel....what? Should I just go ahead and order the 8?

- Does DirecTV need to install anything or can I rig this myself? Seems pretty straight forward.

Thanks for any help! I have been reading this forum for over a year now and have learned a ton from you guys.

Thanks.

:welcome_s northatlanta

If you have only one receiver and two lines going to it, there's little if any need for a SWM. But generally, theres four lines coming from the 5LNB dish. You connect all four to the SWM and then run single lines to each sat receiver. That gives you up to 8 tuners (4 DVRs or 3 DVRs + 2 Reg boxes etc)

You mentioned another TV and depending what sat receiver is there, will determine what output of the SWM you use (i.e. Legacy or not).

All that said, get the SWM8. SWM5 wasn't actively marketed by Directv. SWM8 is the product of choice.

 

[northatlanta]

Thanks NR4P:

I am trying to enable the dual tuners on the living room HD-DVR. I only have 1 coax to the living room TV (HD DVR) and 1 coax to the upstairs TV (regular HD box). So is the SWM overkill?

I only have 2 coax coming off of the dish....does that limit me?

 

[doctor j]

​

Hi All (Long time reader, first time poster):

I am just trying to nail down the SWM setup. I have 2 TV's but only need the SWM functionality on 1 TV (living room), since I only have 1 HR20-700.

Currently, I have the 2 lines of coax coming from the dish, then 1 line to each TV:

- Where in the line do I insert the SWM module?
A. Do I insert 1 of the coax lines from the dish to the SWM, then out to the living room HR20, leaving the other coax to go straight from the dish to the H21 upstairs?
B. Do I connect the two lines from the dish directly to the SWM, then one line to each receiver? (I think this is the correct way...)

- I was looking out on SolidSignal to order a SWM, but I notice the 8 channel is cheaper than the 5 channel....what? Should I just go ahead and order the 8?

- Does DirecTV need to install anything or can I rig this myself? Seems pretty straight forward.

Thanks for any help! I have been reading this forum for over a year now and have learned a ton from you guys.

Thanks.

1) What is your 2nd receiver.

2) Must have all 4 lines from dish to SWM-8 for anything to work.

SWM can be at dish but will have to have all four lines.

3) SWM-5 are old(and discontinued) therefore the usual price drop of electronics over time not in effect.

Doctor j

 

[NR4P]

As doctor j stated, you need four lines from the dish.

 

[northatlanta]

Living Room Receiver = HR20
2nd receiver upstairs = H21

Ok, so I need to get all four lines from the dish for a SWM to work.

 

[NR4P]

My Setup:

SWMLine to PI to 4-way SWS splitter to HR21, H21, and H21

My issue: One of the H21's searching for singnal every evening. Do menu reset and everything works fine. Has happened the two nights since I installed. Other H21 and HR21 in living room (5 feet away farther from dish) work perfectly.

More info:
Distance from ODU to PI: 10ft
From PI to 4-way: 2.5 feet
From 4-way to H21 in question: 16ft-18ft roughly
From 4-way to HR21 and H21: 21ft-23ft roughly

Question:
Why the having to reset bedroom H21 every evening (so far) then working fine, also working fine when I wake up in the morning 5-6 hours later, just not seem to be working later in the evening. But other HR and H21's working perfectly?

On the problem H21, go into the Sat setup screens and look at the signal strengths on each SAT and both tuners. Then compare to the other H21.

Also after all the SAT screens, there is a SWM signal strength screen. Compare the two H21's.

These may give you a clue on a line or splitter problem.

Speaking of splitters, look at the first look report by Smiddy at top of the thread. Its' great (yes I'm biased since I contributed). In it are a list of tested and recommended splitters. Try to use those.

 

[webby_s]

On the problem H21, go into the Sat setup screens and look at the signal strengths on each SAT and both tuners. Then compare to the other H21.

Also after all the SAT screens, there is a SWM signal strength screen. Compare the two H21's.

These may give you a clue on a line or splitter problem.

Speaking of splitters, look at the first look report by Smiddy at top of the thread. Its' great (yes I'm biased since I contributed). In it are a list of tested and recommended splitters. Try to use those.

Thanks! I will report back when I get home from work and check it all out.

Sad to see your SWMLine failed. What was the cause excatly? Was it a PI issue? What should I look out for in the future to make sure it doesn't happen to me?
Thanks!

 

[NR4P]

Thanks! I will report back when I get home from work and check it all out.

Sad to see your SWMLine failed. What was the cause excatly? Was it a PI issue? What should I look out for in the future to make sure it doesn't happen to me?
Thanks!

My cause is unknown.
Immediately after a software download, the HR20 would no longer communicate with the SWM. Thought it was the HR20.
Within a week, I lost video/audio on any 99 Spot beam MPEG4 signal on all receivers. But the signals were there on the test screens and there wasn't any 771 etc. Put old LNB back and all was well again. Probably a component that didn't stay in spec which would account for slow marginal performance degrades.

It could be the PI or the SWMline but since I cannot get either replaced by Directv, may never know which piece failed. Others have solid performance so mine is not typical.

Over the next week, I have some major work to do in the home to relocate equipment and/or run another RG6 line to support the changes I made a few months back. And does my attic get hot here in Florida. Hoping for a long rainy day.

Let us know how you make out.

 

[houskamp]

Living Room Receiver = HR20
2nd receiver upstairs = H21

Ok, so I need to get all four lines from the dish for a SWM to work.

dish>4 lines>swm(can be mounted at dish)>1line>PI>splitter>lines to recievers..
or better yet would be the SWMLine LNB (should be availible in a month or 2)..
SWMLine>1 cable>pi>splitter>cable to each reciever..

 

[webby_s]

Question:
Why the having to reset bedroom H21 every evening (so far) then working fine, also working fine when I wake up in the morning 5-6 hours later, just not seem to be working later in the evening. But other HR and H21's working perfectly?

My follow up:
So I looked at the firmware for the SWM in the info on the 'working' H21 and HR21 and they have 1.0.11 with the SWM library at 1.0.8

Went to the H21 in question and it had zeros on both. I did a menu reset, didn't change anything, did a reset again and forced a software check. It found something to download then reset it self (obviously). Now the Firmware and Library have the same version as the other two. So now hopefully it will not happen. I'll keep you updated.

Update 8-1-08:
So That was short lived. After about 4 hours I went to bed, turned on the TV and sure enough, searching for signal:nono2: Now what to do? The others work great. Why the difficulties with this H21?