Question about switching tuners in HR10

[JeffTHX]

Hello--

I have added an HR20 to my system, which will become my primary DVR. My old HR10 will become my "backup" DVR. I have 4 lines run to the location where these two DVRs are hooked up. I am using two for the HR20, one for the sat1 input on the HR10, and one for the OTA input on the HR10. I used to have two sat inputs connected on the HR10, and I had diplexed the OTA signal on that, so that I could split it out and use all three inputs (2 sat, 1 OTA). With the new multiswitch, I can't diplex the OTA signal together with the sat signal, so I have to dedicate one of the coax runs to the OTA signal so that I can still record/view OTA broadcasts.

Since the HR10 is my backup, I don't NEED to have two sat inputs, as the majority of my recording is OTA shows, and I rarely (if ever) have conflicts with two sat shows recording at the same time. However, when I'm viewing the HR10, I liked to be able to switch back and forth between the buffers to watch two different shows. Here is where the problem comes in with my new setup.

After I redid the wiring yesterday, I went through the guided setup again on the HR10 to let it know that I was only using one sat input instead of two. When I started watching live TV, I couldn't figure out a way to go between the two live buffers (one OTA and one SAT). So I went back through guided setup and changed it back to two sat inputs (even though only one is connected). This gave me the ability to easily switch back and forth between the live buffers, but then I had the annoying message on the screen telling me that it was searching for a signal on Sat 2 (which I couldn't get to go away).

Is there any obvious workaround that I'm not thinking of to accomplish what I want to do (have two live buffers going between OTA and Sat), WITHOUT having the "searching for sat2" message on the screen?

Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to be clear about what I'm trying to do.

Thanks,
Jeff

[TyroneShoes]

One of the quirks of the HR10 is that you need to configure for 2 sat inputs to (ironically) keep both OTA paths initialized as well.

You have 4 tuners, (2 each DVB and OTA) and two record paths. Any of the 4 tuners can be routed to any of the 2 record paths, for a maximum of 2 simultaneous recordings from any of the 4. If you only activate one path, which is what folks are asked to do if they only have one sat cable, that then limits your recording options for both DVB as well as OTA.

[JeffTHX]

So this means that I can't record two things at the same time, either (OTA and Sat)? I may have to figure out a way to connect an HD antenna at the equipment rack, then. Even though it's my backup DVR, I'm still going to need the ability to record two things at once.

If I have the antenna input connected with only a single sat input (as I currently have it), will it record on two different OTA channels (since the signal is split internally)?

Thanks,
Jeff

[CrashHD]

Do you still have the old multiswitch? If so, could you stack them? Run wires from the new multiswitch to the old multiswitch, diplex in OTA here (downstream from the new multiswitch) and from there, go to the HR10?

There are some gaps in my understanding of how the multiswitches work with the multi-sat dishes, and one of those gaps probably encompasses the reason why this will/won't work.

edit, addendum:
There is a tivoapp patch for suppressing "insert access card" messages which I have noticed suppresses many other messages as well. Perhaps that patch would suppress your message?

[coachO]

I was going to do the same thing, but after using the HR20 I ended up running new lines so I could use my HR10 as my primary unit.

It is nice having 4 tuners and only having to use the HR20 when I have to. In other words, you may want to figure out how to run all lines to both units. The HR20 is not the panacea I was hoping for.

[newsposter]

here's some fun facts about the 4 tuners and why you cant record 4 things at once

http://archive2.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=259440

[JeffTHX]

Do you still have the old multiswitch? If so, could you stack them? Run wires from the new multiswitch to the old multiswitch, diplex in OTA here (downstream from the new multiswitch) and from there, go to the HR10?

There are some gaps in my understanding of how the multiswitches work with the multi-sat dishes, and one of those gaps probably encompasses the reason why this will/won't work.

edit, addendum:
There is a tivoapp patch for suppressing "insert access card" messages which I have noticed suppresses many other messages as well. Perhaps that patch would suppress your message?

Hmmm...I may try that first option. I'm getting the 6x16 Zinwell multiswitch installed this weekend when I get the new dish and an HR2x. At that point, I'll try the idea of cascading from the 6x16 to the old 5x8 that I had to see if it works. I'm guessing that it won't, but it's an interesting hypothesis. I'm going to float this idea at the DBSTalk forum to see what kind of feedback I get about this idea.

I'm not sure how to use patches on my Tivo. While I was comfortable dropping an extra hard drive in to expand my capacity, I don't know how to mess with the Tivo software. My hope is that the "Single Wire Multiswitch" option is active and enabled on the HR2x series soon. That would allow me to go back to using three of the 4 lines on the HR10, and the other one on the HR2x. I don't see an option of running another line to this location because I have a finished basement underneath this room.

jj

[CrashHD]

be sure to post back with what you find out. I'd like to know if it works or not.

[bsnelson]

I'm getting the 6x16 Zinwell multiswitch installed this weekend when I get the new dish and an HR2x. At that point, I'll try the idea of cascading from the 6x16 to the old 5x8 that I had to see if it works. I can confirm that cascading a 2x8 non-powered Spaun MS off of a 6x8 Zinwell works fine, despite doubts from my installer. I'd bet the 5x8 would work as well, but I can't say for sure, of course.

Brad

[CrashHD]

Wouldn't a 2x8 switch only carry the signal of a single sat? I believe HD units require multiple sats to get the HD channels. My experience thus far is limited to SD units that only need to see the main sat, so I don't know for certain.

[rminsk]

I can confirm that cascading a 2x8 non-powered Spaun MS off of a 6x8 Zinwell works fine, despite doubts from my installer.Any receiver hooked up to the output of the 2x8 will only be able to see the 101 satellite.

[acourvil]

You _can_ diplex a line, you just need to put the BBC before the diplexer to avoid interference.