Question about splitting the 2 input signals

1166 Views 14 Replies 6 Participants Last post by rlj5242, Oct 12, 2007

ryjam282

Discussion Starter · Oct 12, 2007

Alright, I recently upgraded from the HR10-250 to the new HD DVR. In doing so, they simply unhooked my old receiver and installed the new one. Since the HR10 is mine, and I have a big enough TV that has 2 HD inputs how would I go about splitting the 2 lines coming in for the 1 box so that I can make it 4 inputs for the 2 boxes?

I have a Radio Shack 40-2150MHz 4 way multi-switch and when I hook that up the HR10 works fine but the new DVR has a Searching for Signal on most of the new HD channels.

Is it even possible to do what I am trying and if so, what am I NOT doing right??

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

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TonyD79

· #2 · Oct 12, 2007

You need a different multiswitch. The one you have cannot handle the new satellite signals. DirecTV should have supplied you with one, a Zinwell.

Information available on www.dbstalk.com

You will need a seperate line for each tuner from the multiswitch. Unless they give you a single wire module (SWM). In that case, a seperate line for each HR10 tuner and a single line for the HR20.

Edit: Come to think of it, if you only have the HR10 and HR20 and no other receivers, you don't need a switch at all. It is built into the dish. If you need more than 4 lines, you need a switch upgrade.

ryjam282

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 12, 2007

Thanks Tony,

No, I have a regular DVR and two HR20's, and would like to hook back up my HR10.

I believe there is a Zinwell attached to the satellite dish, no? I would need another one of those? If so, where would I split the signal, the same place I am now with the other splitter that doesn't work?

TonyD79

· #4 · Oct 12, 2007

Sounds like you have 8 tuners (2 in each DVR) so you will need a multiswitch that will support at least 8 lines out. It will take the 4 lines from the satellite (yes, there is a multiswitch built in) and switch out to 8 lines. Where you put it depends on your wiring. Probably where your current switch is now.

You keep saying split but you cannot use a splitter. Only a multiswitch. (Assuming you are not getting a single wire module....in that case you can run 1 wire to each HR20.)

fredflint

· #5 · Oct 12, 2007

Pardon my ignorance, but I think I have a similar situation.

I have 3 lines coming in now...2 from the dish and one for OTA to feed my HR10.

I want to keep my existing HR10 active in addition to adding a new HR20 but I really don't want any more lines coming in thru the exterior wall if I can help it.

Will the new multiswitch, installed inside, work? Boring more holes is not an option.

rlj5242

· #6 · Oct 12, 2007

fredflint said:
Boring more holes is not an option.

Then keeping the HR10 is not an option. You have to run all 4 lines from the dish to the switch for the switch to work correctly. Then you have to run a pair of lines from the switch to each DVR. Once D* switches to their single line technology, that will benefit all of the new receivers but the HR10 can't take advantage of it.

-Robert

ryjam282

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 12, 2007

TonyD79 said:
Sounds like you have 8 tuners (2 in each DVR) so you will need a multiswitch that will support at least 8 lines out. It will take the 4 lines from the satellite (yes, there is a multiswitch built in) and switch out to 8 lines. Where you put it depends on your wiring. Probably where your current switch is now.

You keep saying split but you cannot use a splitter. Only a multiswitch. (Assuming you are not getting a single wire module....in that case you can run 1 wire to each HR20.)

Tony, so it sounds like you are saying that the 4 that are coming directly from the satellite and going into the 8 way switch that is attached to the sattelite is the one I need to come from correct? I need to run basically 4 wires from the satellite and those 4 will need to be used for the 2 tivo's. If I split them anywhere, the signal will be deteriorated.....Right?

rlj5242

· #8 · Oct 12, 2007

ryjam282 said:
If I split them anywhere, the signal will be deteriorated.....Right?

It's not a quality issue, it how the system works issue. Split the cable and you will get a searching for satellite message sometimes. The whole right and left hand polarized frequencies and the voltages that use used to tune them in are covered in the Multiswitch sticky in the regular DirecTivo section.

-Robert

ryjam282

Discussion Starter · #9 · Oct 12, 2007

So, I am correct is saying the 4 wires need to be run from the switch and I can't just run 2 from the switch and then use another switch on those 2 to get 4, right?

Bob_Newhart

· #10 · Oct 12, 2007

This is all confusing me a bit and I have a very similar question.

This week I had the new HR20 installed with its new dish. Before that, I had an HR10 and a non-HD Directivo hooked up to that TV (with 4 cables coming from the multiswitch in the attic). I removed the non-HD DVR and now want to have the HR20 and HR10 hooked up to the TV.

AFter he installed my system I looked in the attic and it looks like 2 of the cables coming striaght from the dish are going directly to the HR20. The other 2 cables from the dish are going to the multiswitch (2x8 I think), and then 2 of those cables are going to my HR10.

The HR20 works fine and picks up all HD channels. The HR10 picks up all channels except the HD channels (70-79). I can go into setup on the HR10 and it shows a strong signal on all 3 satellites (101, 110, 119, if I remember right), but when you go through guided setup again, it comes back with the message that satellites 110 and 119 weren't detected.

Can you tell me what needs to happen to allow the HR10 to receive the HD channels again? Directv is coming back out Monday.

Thank you

<edit> If it matters, I believe the current multiswitch I have is an Eagle Aspen. Again, I believe it is 2x8, but may be 4x8. I can't check it at the moment.

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rlj5242

· #11 · Oct 12, 2007

ryjam282 said:
So, I am correct is saying the 4 wires need to be run from the switch and I can't just run 2 from the switch and then use another switch on those 2 to get 4, right?

100% correct.

-Robert

rlj5242

· #12 · Oct 12, 2007

Bob_Newhart said:
AFter he installed my system I looked in the attic and it looks like 2 of the cables coming striaght from the dish are going directly to the HR20. The other 2 cables from the dish are going to the multiswitch (2x8 I think), and then 2 of those cables are going to my HR10.

You had an installer that was not trained properly in installing the new dish.

Bob_Newhart said:
The HR20 works fine and picks up all HD channels. The HR10 picks up all channels except the HD channels (70-79). I can go into setup on the HR10 and it shows a strong signal on all 3 satellites (101, 110, 119, if I remember right), but when you go through guided setup again, it comes back with the message that satellites 110 and 119 weren't detected.

The communication between the receiver and dish (or switch) is one way. The receiver is sending the signal to the switch to connect to the 110/199 sat feed. The switch doesn't understand the signal and just allows the 101 feed to pass through. So your receiver is getting a strong signal from 101 when it is expecting 110/119. There's nothing in the transport stream and/or software to determine which feed it is reading the strength from. You should always use the test channels in the 490s to make sure you are getting signals from 101/110/119.

Bob_Newhart said:
Can you tell me what needs to happen to allow the HR10 to receive the HD channels again? Directv is coming back out Monday.

Remove the multi-switch and replace it with 2 barrel connectors. It should take you 30 seconds. No need for DirecTV to come out.

-Robert

Bob_Newhart

· #13 · Oct 12, 2007

rlj5242 said:
Remove the multi-switch and replace it with 2 barrel connectors. It should take you 30 seconds. No need for DirecTV to come out.

-Robert

One question. I also have 2 other non-HD Directivos in my house, and each of them have 2 cables going into them that are coming from the multiswitch. If I remove the multiswitch, how will I send a signal to those 2 boxes?

Thanks for your help so far, BTW.

JimSpence

· #14 · Oct 12, 2007

Now you need to replace the 2x4 multiswitch with a 6x8 (WB68). Connect all four lines from the dish to the 6x8 and then on to your receivers.

rlj5242

· #15 · Oct 12, 2007

Bob_Newhart said:
One question. I also have 2 other non-HD Directivos in my house, and each of them have 2 cables going into them that are coming from the multiswitch. If I remove the multiswitch, how will I send a signal to those 2 boxes?

Thanks for your help so far, BTW.

You didn't state that in your post and I quoted it just to make sure. If you had, I would have answered exactly like Jim answered.

You should have gotten that switch in the first place.

-Robert

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