MultiSwitch and MPEG4???

[MikeNorman]

I am schedule Friday morning by Directv to replace my dish and install the MPEG4 dish and H20 MPEG4 receiver to be able to get local high definition channels coming to Oklahoma City early December.

Does my 5X8 power multiswitch I am currently using have to be replaced? I used it to connect my HR10-250 and other high definition and standard receivers.
Mike

[ebonovic]

Yes, your 5x8 switch will need to be replaced... with at least a WB68 (passive model).

As the 5x8 is not compatible with the two new SAT locations.

[MikeNorman]

Yes, your 5x8 switch will need to be replaced... with at least a WB68 (passive model).

As the 5x8 is not compatible with the two new SAT locations.

This multiswitch does not have input for my antenna. I looked up WB68 and other multiswitches that is supposed to work with the new KU/KA dish and did not see one that also has an antenna input.

What do you do in this case for I have to combine attic antenna with the Directv input lines because I get many local subchannels Directv will not carry? I have four rooms set up using the diplexer and multiswitch.
Mike

[Mavrick22]

You will have to run a separate line for your antenna for when Directv launches their new birds next year the signals from those will conflict with the signal from your antenna so as a result you can no longer diplex the sat and antenna signals into one line.

[MikeNorman]

You will have to run a separate line for your antenna for when Directv launches their new birds next year the signals from those will conflict with the signal from your antenna so as a result you can no longer diplex the sat and antenna signals into one line.

Thanks Mavrick22. This is a real problem for me because it is not possible to do this in two rooms due to lines being install in catherdial ceilings for these rooms. The placement of hi-def equipment prevent running underground and going through the walls. I cannot move the equipment for the rooms are all glass next to the outside walls.

I may have to cancel the installation and go with COX cable or not use the MPEG4 feature.

[jhays]

Have you tried using a cheap indoor antenna (e.g. Silver Sensor) for each of your sets? If that works, it would be an easy fix.

[JimSpence]

If one of the lines isn't going to be used for MPEG4 reception, then you could diplex the OTA onto that line.

[greywolf]

You can move the B Band converter to the output of the multiswitch from its normal place on the back of the receiver. Gender changes will be required as it won't work in reverse. Then use a diplexer in the line after the BBC before the line goes downstairs. The BBC converts the 250-750MHz band that conflicts with UHF signals to a higher frequency that won't conflict.

[myfins1]

You can move the B Band converter to the output of the multiswitch from its normal place on the back of the receiver. Gender changes will be required as it won't work in reverse. Then use a diplexer in the line after the BBC before the line goes downstairs. The BBC converts the 250-750MHz band that conflicts with UHF signals to a higher frequency that won't conflict.

You lost me at "You can..."

[texasbrit]

OK, a couple more things. If you only need OTA to "old" receivers you can connect four outputs from the new multiswitch to the four satellite inputs of the old 5x8 and connect the OTA to the fifth input of the 5x8 the same way you have it now. You will then have four outputs from the WB68 for new receivers and eight outputs from the 5x8 carrying satellite and OTA for old receivers.
You will not be able to connect any of the "new" receivers (H10 and HR20) to the 5x8 if you want them to receive signals from the new DirecTV 10 and 11 satellites which launch next year, because these transmit signals in the Ka-lo band which overlaps OTA, but it will work fine for the old receivers. I have this setup and it works perfectly - yes there are no Ka-lo signals yet but it is probable that this arrangement will continue to work even when DirecTV 10 and 11 are launched.

If you need to get OTA to a "new" receiver along with all the satellite signals then you either need to run a separate OTA line, or be creative about your use of the b-band converters which you will get with an H20, or HR20. Basically these converters take the Ka-lo signals from DirecTV 10 and 11 and move them back into the Ka-hi band so the receivers can process the signals. It's a long story why DirecTV did it this way but they did. Normally these b-band converters plug into the receivers satellite cable connections. By moving them up to the WB68 multiswitch, you convert the signals there and leave the OTA band empty of signals, so you can then add a diplexer, insert the OTA signals, and then diplex them out just before the receiver. Greywolf comments that you will need to use male-female adapters to change the connections on the b-band converters so they will plug into the multiswitch and also the cable that goes from the multiswitch to the receiver.

[MikeNorman]

I decided to keep my old satellite dish and 5 X8 multiswitch and with selective lines to all rooms and split the over the air signal with a standard splitters after the diplexer.

I hooked up four lines to the new multiswitch and moved two lines from the old switch to the new switch to handle MPEG4 for now and have lines ready when I get additional MPEG4 equipment.

I gained the additional eight outputs plus freed up two output ports on the MPEG2 5 X 8 multiswitch. I was one output short on the 5X8 multiswitch and this take care of that problem. Only real disadvantage is the second dish on the back of my roof. You cannot see the dish from the front of the house so no one other then my spouse will complain.
Thanks all
Mike

[leesweet]

Hm... this all makes me think of something, to slightly hijack this thread....

I have a maxed out 5x8 with a Phase III running two HR10s, and three R15s. (And, yes, if you count that up, it don't work. Two of the R15s only have one input. :) ).

I may want to run one MPEG4 box (shoot me). Can I get one MPEG4 MS (OTA isn't a factor, thus the hijack), run the new dish into that, run four of the outputs into the current 5x8 to the old DVRs, and then have four other outputs to run to either MPEG4 DVRs or (even) to the R15s that only have one input. (I assume a mix of old/new doesn't matter to a receiver that can't use the new bands!)

That make sense? That work? Can't see a reason to get two new MS's if I don't need them...

[patg25]

Man, how complicated is this going to get??? Time to switch to cable.

[bigpuma]

Man, how complicated is this going to get??? Time to switch to cable.

We are nowhere near that level of complexity. :)

[herdfan]

D* has plans to come out with a 1 cable solution called the FTM or Frequency Translation Module. It will basically act as a multisat wideband stacker. The HR20 already has the "destacker" built in.

As to when this will be available, reports vary, but probably before the new sats are online.

[leesweet]

That make sense? That work? Can't see a reason to get two new MS's if I don't need them... From reading elsewhere, looks like using the M4 MS as a 'front end' works just fine. I'd like to talk D* into a 16 port M4 MS, and may try to do so when they call me about an HR20.

I've registered on the D* site for one for two reasons: If I can get one free, I'd like to have one to play with, and, also, down the road, that's going to be "it", so we better get used to it, for better or worse.

Because of the promises for 'free upgrades' for HR10 users (I own two (yes, own... :) ), and also because of the issues with 6.3a, I hope to get a totally free HR20/AT9/M4 MS install package). After paying cash for 2 HR10s ($900 each) and 3 R15s ($100 each), I figure I have some credit coming! :)

None of that is really a topic for TC, but thought the details would be interesting to some. I *do* intend to keep the HR10s as 'free' OTA receivers until hell freezes over, since, why not? :)