Installing 5 X 8 multiswitch tomorrow and have couple questions please...

1638 Views 13 Replies 7 Participants Last post by HDTVsportsfan, Jan 29, 2006

gores95

Discussion Starter · Jan 27, 2006

Tomorrow is the big day and I have never wired Sats before so I have a few questions. I have a Direct TV triple LNB oval dish with the built in multiswitch so currently four outputs. Wth the help of this forum I purchased an Eagle Aspen S-4180-GX+ 5 X 8 multiswitch. I know I could have gotten away with a 4 X 8 but I figured the extra input couldn't hurt!

My current setup is one two tuner TiVo, one standard receiver and another TiVo using only one tuner...the goal for now is to add a second tuner to the one TiVo.

Let me know if this is correct:

I plan on bringing all four outputs from the dish and builit in multiswitch to my basement and hooking them up to the four inputs of the new multiswitch. Then hook up two outputs each to the two TiVo's and the other output to my receiver. I would obviously still have three outputs left for future expansion!

Questions....

1. Is it as easy as it seems? I will have two multiswitches hooked up (counting the builit in one) and hope this does not present a problem. I understand I should not bypass the built in MS when hooking up to the new MS...true?
2. Any order the inputs need to be connected to the new multiswitch....they have different labels: 18V/22KHz Sat B; 18V/0KHz Sat A; 13V/22KHz Sat B; 13V/0KHz Sat A? Does it matter where the inputs are hooked into the new multiswitch?
3. Can I use standard cable TV wire for these hookups?

I will have to drill a few more holes from the Dish into my basement but the multiswitch will actually be only about 10 feet from the dish. Any other advice for a wiring newbie???

Thanks!

Marc

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dishrich

· #2 · Jan 28, 2006

gores95 said:
1. Is it as easy as it seems? I will have two multiswitches hooked up (counting the builit in one) and hope this does not present a problem. I understand I should not bypass the built in MS when hooking up to the new MS...true?

Nope, just leave it as is

2. Any order the inputs need to be connected to the new multiswitch....they have different labels: 18V/22KHz Sat B; 18V/0KHz Sat A; 13V/22KHz Sat B; 13V/0KHz Sat A? Does it matter where the inputs are hooked into the new multiswitch?

NO difference whatsoever - all 4 outs from the oval are identical

3. Can I use standard cable TV wire for these hookups?

As long as it is decent quality RG-6, it should be fine. (technically, it's supposed to be swept to at least 1.5ghz, but most RG-6 cable is manufactured to these specs anyway) If it's a name brand such as Belden or Comscope, you should be good to go

I will have to drill a few more holes from the Dish into my basement but the multiswitch will actually be only about 10 feet from the dish. Any other advice for a wiring newbie???

Yes, DON'T use those stupid "twist on" coax connectors that don't require tools that I see so many people use - at minimum, use connectors that require a hex crimp, or compression fittings. (even better)

Sounds like you have everything together - good luck.

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JWThiers

· #3 · Jan 28, 2006

Just one addition to DISHRICH, If your house was prewired with RG59 instead of RG6 (common situation) go ahead and try it anyway. The addional signal loss usually isn't noticable unless you have very long cable runs (over 100').

It is just that easy.

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gores95

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 28, 2006

Thanks guys...I will report back!

Any advice on a good crimper for the wire/connectors? I have one of those hex crimper tools and follow the instructions to the letter and I can still easily pull the connector off the wire!

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Lee L

· #5 · Jan 28, 2006

Well, you should also make sure you have the right connectors. The ones for RG59 ar different than RG6. I think there are also some RG6Q connectors as well and they might not fit as well. The compression tools people are talking about cost like $60 so unless they are really lose, you might want to chance it since your connections are inside.

Edit: I found a kit at Parts Express for $89. It does inclued a stripper tool and a decent amount of connectors as well so it is probably not a horrible deal, but if you look around you can still get soemthign cheaper I'm sure. http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=360-047

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texasbrit

· #6 · Jan 28, 2006

Just a warning. The new MPEG-4 5-LNB satellite dish requires a new type of multiswitch - currently there seeme to be only one available, the Zinwell 6x8 (for most people this is actually a 4x8). And you won't be able to diplex the OTA antenna signal onto the satellite cables like you can with the 3-LNB dish and a 5x8 multiswitch.

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dishrich

· #7 · Jan 28, 2006

JWThiers said:
Just one addition to DISHRICH, If your house was prewired with RG59 instead of RG6 (common situation) go ahead and try it anyway. The addional signal loss usually isn't noticable unless you have very long cable runs (over 100').

All true - unfortunately, this will NOT most likely be the case with the new AT9 HD dish, as they are now stacking much highers frequencies on the cables, which RG-59 will have a hard time passing. (well, maybe if it's ONY a few feet... )

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ironchef

· #8 · Jan 28, 2006

This is kind of after the fact, but why can't he just bypass the 4x4 switch and run his lines directly to the 5x8? For the cost of 4 couplers he could eliminate a whole loss level in his lines and a failure point in his system. When tied to the 5x8 the 4x4 stops actually behaving as a switch anyway.

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JWThiers

· #9 · Jan 28, 2006

ironchef said:
This is kind of after the fact, but why can't he just bypass the 4x4 switch and run his lines directly to the 5x8? For the cost of 4 couplers he could eliminate a whole loss level in his lines and a failure point in his system. When tied to the 5x8 the 4x4 stops actually behaving as a switch anyway.

I don't think you can bypass the MS, Unless I misunderstood his configuration. I thought he was talking about the MS built into the LNB and need to add a MS to get at least 3 DVR's (needs 6 feeds)

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gores95

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 28, 2006

JWThiers said:
I don't think you can bypass the MS, Unless I misunderstood his configuration. I thought he was talking about the MS built into the LNB and need to add a MS to get at least 3 DVR's (needs 6 feeds)

Yes that is correct. I am in the midst of the install and I do have a triple LNB with a built in MS (four outputs). I am running those four outputs directly into the inputs of a 5 X 8 MS and then out to the DVR's and receivers. I did not bypass the built in MS.

Marc

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dishrich

· #11 · Jan 28, 2006

ironchef said:
This is kind of after the fact, but why can't he just bypass the 4x4 switch and run his lines directly to the 5x8? For the cost of 4 couplers he could eliminate a whole loss level in his lines and a failure point in his system. When tied to the 5x8 the 4x4 stops actually behaving as a switch anyway.

True, but the ONLY oval dish where you can bypass the 4x4 was the phase I oval, as the 4x4 was REALLY a separate switch. For your reasons above, & particulary if it will be serving more than 4 receivers, I'd just as soon use those dishes. (which is what I have at my own place)

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gores95

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 29, 2006

OK final update...I'm done!!! Everything went well and MS works perfectly. Believe it or not the hardest part was getting the wire connectors to stay on the wires! I have a hex crimper and needed to use double the amount of connectors I should have used because they kept falling off.

One final question...with another MS should there be a noticable difference when watching TV? How about strength of satellite signal?

I didn't notice any dropoff but I was just curious.

Thanks for all the help guys! :up:

Marc

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dishrich

· #13 · Jan 29, 2006

gores95 said:
One final question...with another MS should there be a noticable difference when watching TV? How about strength of satellite signal?

As long as you have adequate signal going into the switch, & the switch is not defective, there should be NO difference on your TV pictures. It might be normal for your signal meter readings to be down a few points, but again, this will not have any affect on your pictures.

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HDTVsportsfan

· #14 · Jan 29, 2006

gores95 said:
Believe it or not the hardest part was getting the wire connectors to stay on the wires! I have a hex crimper and needed to use double the amount of connectors I should have used because they kept falling off.

Marc

There are two "flavors" of RG6 cable. "Regular" RG6 and RG6 Quad. If you are using RG6 quad connectors on "regular" RG6 cable they will not crimp properly. RG6 Quad as an extra layer of braids hence the two different connector requirements.

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