Direct tv HD receiver install

twinsfan#1 · 04-02-09, 12:10 PM

Please be advised I'm not only new to this site, but do not have all of the correct verbage down...
I have had direct tv for 6 years...we have 3 tvs hooked up...one to a hughes Tivo, one to a DTV DVR and the other to an older hughes receiver (non dvr).

Our end goal is still have three tv hooked up...(we will cancel the old hughes receiver)...the installer said that he has to run two cables from the new dish to our junction box...is this correct? Can he not use the exisisting coaxial cable? Our basement is finished...I'm skeptical on how it will be "fished-wire" through the ceiling...what are my options? Is there anything else that can be done? What's the deal w/ the single multi switch...is this an option for me? How good are the installers at fish-wiring? Thanks for the help

jpitlick · 04-02-09, 12:35 PM

How many coax cables are currently running into your house? You need one cable from the dish for each tuner unless you go SWM. If you go SWM, you have one cable from either the LNB or SWM-8 switch to each receiver via a power passing splitter and a power supply on the proper splitter port.

My understanding is that D* will not install a SWM LNB on an upgrade, so you will have to buy it yourself. Also, D* does not supply SWM-8. If you are upgrading all of your receivers, it is probably best for you to buy a SWM LNB and have the installer put it on when you get the new dish installed. The advantage to having the SWM-8 is it has legacy ports for older receivers, but you would still need multiple coax runs from the SWM-8 location.

I have never had a D* installer fish cable for me, so I would have to say that it would depend on the construction of your house. As they say, YMMV.

Mertzen · 04-02-09, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpitlick

If you are upgrading all of your receivers, it is probably best for you to buy a SWM LNB and have the installer put it on when you get the new dish installed.

No SWM LNB for those two legacy DVRs.
To the OP yes. Your current setup will have two wires to the multiswitch but for the HD signals to be distributed to all your boxes you'll need 4 wires to the switch location.

jpitlick · 04-02-09, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mertzen

No SWM LNB for those two legacy DVRs.

That's why I said, "If you are upgrading all of your receivers,..." and mentioned the legacy support on the SWM-8.

twinsfan#1 · 04-02-09, 01:09 PM

First of all, thanks for the response...sorry guys, I'm not understanding all that was said or the abbreviations...what are my options? Do I have any other options besides running two additional cables from the dish to the junction box or is that the only way I can receive HD? There is a multi-switch in my junction box...I think it has 8 ports...

jpitlick · 04-02-09, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinsfan#1

First of all, thanks for the response...sorry guys, I'm not understanding all that was said or the abbreviations...what are my options? Do I have any other options besides running two additional cables from the dish to the junction box or is that the only way I can receive HD? There is a multi-switch in my junction box...I think it has 8 ports...

Here are your options:

1. Run two more cables to your multiswitch
2. Run two more cables to your junction box, replace multiswitch with SWM-8/power inserter/power passing splitter, connect HD receiver(s)/DVR(s) to SWM-8/splitter, connect legacy receivers to legacy ports on SWM-8.
3. Get a SWM LNB/power inserter/power passing splitter (Caveat, you have to upgrade all of your receivers to current hardware that supports SWM)

Search the forums for SWM info. There is a lot of it out there and there are some good links to solidsignal.com and weeknees.com.

Mertzen · 04-02-09, 01:22 PM

What is your model # of the D* DVR.

harsh · 04-02-09, 01:30 PM

You have no options as long as you hang on to most of the old equipment.

Of course to know what options are available, you'll have to give us one more specific about what you want to end up with. Specifically, we need to know how many of the TVs will be served by HD receivers.

Iff (if and only if) you're doing a wholesale replacement of all of your receivers, you can hope for "Single Wire Multiswitch" dish. This is the only sure-fire way to reasonably avoid not having to run more cables.

Adding an SWM-8 will require four runs to the switch and depending on how many of the old receivers you keep, one for each of up to three tuners so jockeying the switch location around probably isn't going to help unless you off the legacy receivers.

Installers don't fish for free unless it is from one side of a wall to the other (and sometimes not even then).

twinsfan#1 · 04-02-09, 01:32 PM

I'm at work and therefore cannot tell you what the serial number is...thanks for the responses...yesterday the installer was there, of course we got a blizzard here and my wife was at home w/ the installer who was wishy-washy about the whole install, he did mention something about upgrading new receivers and then we would not have to run additional cable, I may look into this. Thanks again.

twinsfan#1 · 04-02-09, 01:34 PM

Harsh---the end result that I was hoping for was just one tv w/ HD...the other two tv's will have a hughes tivo and the direct tv DVR.

Mertzen · 04-02-09, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twinsfan#1

he did mention something about upgrading new receivers and then we would not have to run additional cable, I may look into this.

Would be the easiest option but most def not free unless the tech does something shady.