I have always wondered this question maybe someone can help.

Lots of people shell good money on a nice LCD/Plasma, a nice component, good cables (sometimes even Monster!), etc. Yet seem to overlook the actual wire that runs from the satellite through the home to the actual room.

When Direct TV installs your satellite, I'm assuming they are not using exactly the most premium wire. So my question is: my HT is almost complete (only the TV is left, have BD/DVD, HD radio/Internet radio, VCR, power management, HD Direct tv receiver, 6.1 set up and cables)... Should I invest in changing the cable that runs through my house to improve the HD signal from the satellite? Or does it not matter much?

I'm going to call the Direct TV technician anyways, as I want them to add some sort of splitter so I can toggle from satellite to my cable feed (it comes with the homeowners fee), as the cable subscription has some channels not available on Direct TV (they are, but not in my package).

thanks.

"Should I invest in changing the cable that runs through my house to improve the HD signal from the satellite? Or does it not matter much?"

It's digital data, as long as all of the data gets from the dish to your receiver, PQ will always be the same, swapping out the RG-6 for something better won't make a difference.

"I'm going to call the Direct TV technician anyways, as I want them to add some sort of splitter so I can toggle from satellite to my cable feed (it comes with the homeowners fee), as the cable subscription has some channels not available on Direct TV (they are, but not in my package)."

Directv doesn't have anything to allow you to toggle between cable and Directv. You need a separate cable run to your TV location and then either use the tuner in the TV or get a separate cable box hooked to the TV via another available input.

I have a 20 foot top-quality HDMI cable running from my DirecTv HR23-700 to my Sammy PN50A550 and think I have a weak signal.

- Every time I change channels, I get a brief "searching for signal" message on the tv before the picture comes up.

- When I try to add a HDMI "L" adaptor between the HDMI cable and the tv's back-panel HDMI input (so that my cord can fit into the narrow area better), the tv says I have no signal.

Are these indications of a weak signal?
How do I measure my signal, and what should it be?
What equipment is needed to amplify this signal?

(Note: I'm receiving all transponders at 95 or better with 98% on both HR23 tuners. Ran a HR23 System Test and that is fine.)

I have a 20 foot top-quality HDMI cable running from my DirecTv HR23-700 to my Sammy PN50A550 and think I have a weak signal.

- Every time I change channels, I get a brief "searching for signal" message on the tv before the picture comes up.

- When I try to add a HDMI "L" adaptor between the HDMI cable and the tv's back-panel HDMI input (so that my cord can fit into the narrow area better), the tv says I have no signal.

Are these indications of a weak signal?
How do I measure my signal, and what should it be?
What equipment is needed to amplify this signal?

(Note: I'm receiving all transponders at 95 or better with 98% on both HR23 tuners. Ran a HR23 System Test and that is fine.)

If you're getting a 95 or better on all transponders, signal from the dish isn't your problem. Sounds like it's not liking the 20 foot HDMI cable between the HR23 and your set.

...Directv doesn't have anything to allow you to toggle between cable and Directv. You need a separate cable run to your TV location and then either use the tuner in the TV or get a separate cable box hooked to the TV via another available input....
Sure they do. I'm not that up on sat. technology but they have di-plexers and or multiswitches that allow multiple signal types to harmoniously co-exist within a single coax cable.

I'm a direcTV tech. There can not be a single line running to you DVR unless you have our SWM system. We no longer use diplexers and splitters. There's no way for us to toggle our system with a cable input.

We use ONLY Solid Copper RG6 3.0GHZ cable. So we use the BEST cable you can possibly use.

This is a note to everyone that is doing a prewire for their directv system. You MUST install SOLID COPPER rg6 3ghz cable (not copper clad) otherwise when we install we're going to have to rewire that receiver. If you're getting a DVR then make sure to run 2 lines to that location.

I'm a direcTV tech. There can not be a single line running to you DVR unless you have our SWM system. We no longer use diplexers and splitters. There's no way for us to toggle our system with a cable input.

We use ONLY Solid Copper RG6 3.0GHZ cable. So we use the BEST cable you can possibly use.

This is a note to everyone that is doing a prewire for their directv system. You MUST install SOLID COPPER rg6 3ghz cable (not copper clad) otherwise when we install we're going to have to rewire that receiver. If you're getting a DVR then make sure to run 2 lines to that location.
I had a new Directv install in the fall of 2003. I then dropped Directv in the fall of 2005. I am considering returning to Directv. Would the wire used by Directv for the 2003 be solid copper?

I have a 20 foot top-quality HDMI cable running from my DirecTv HR23-700 to my Sammy PN50A550 and think I have a weak signal.

- Every time I change channels, I get a brief "searching for signal" message on the tv before the picture comes up.

- When I try to add a HDMI "L" adaptor between the HDMI cable and the tv's back-panel HDMI input (so that my cord can fit into the narrow area better), the tv says I have no signal.

Are these indications of a weak signal?
How do I measure my signal, and what should it be?
What equipment is needed to amplify this signal?

(Note: I'm receiving all transponders at 95 or better with 98% on both HR23 tuners. Ran a HR23 System Test and that is fine.)

You need to change a setting on the Direct TV box. What is happening is the TV is scanning for the signal. Go to the HDTV settings in the system menu and change the Native setting to OFF. Then the TV won't have to rescan everytime you change channels.

I'm a direcTV tech. There can not be a single line running to you DVR unless you have our SWM system. We no longer use diplexers and splitters. There's no way for us to toggle our system with a cable input.

We use ONLY Solid Copper RG6 3.0GHZ cable. So we use the BEST cable you can possibly use.

This is a note to everyone that is doing a prewire for their directv system. You MUST install SOLID COPPER rg6 3ghz cable (not copper clad) otherwise when we install we're going to have to rewire that receiver. If you're getting a DVR then make sure to run 2 lines to that location.

I have a Direct TV DVR with only one line. My old one had two but not any more.

Sure they do. I'm not that up on sat. technology but they have di-plexers and or multiswitches that allow multiple signal types to harmoniously co-exist within a single coax cable.

No offense but I kinda am up on sat technology so I know it won't work. Diplexors can be used to join an OTA feed to the same cable with the exception of the newer MPEG4 dishes, because of frequency overlap they can't be used unless you can get creative and move the BBC module before the diplexor (which may not be an option if it's outside because the BBC's aren't waterproof.) As for cable, it uses a much wider frequency range then OTA and I'd expect overlap if trying to diplex the two together.

Multiswitches are just used for splitting off the feeds from a dish so you can hook more receivers up.

I have a Direct TV DVR with only one line. My old one had two but not any more.

You probably have an SWM set up then if both tuners work. The OP was asking about toggling between cable and Directv, something different then what you're doing.

This is a note to everyone that is doing a prewire for their directv system. You MUST install SOLID COPPER rg6 3ghz cable (not copper clad) otherwise when we install we're going to have to rewire that receiver. If you're getting a DVR then make sure to run 2 lines to that location.

I have copper clad in part of my system and the installer made no attempt to change it out.. Luckily it's been working fine so far.

You probably have an SWM set up then if both tuners work. The OP was asking about toggling between cable and Directv, something different then what you're doing.

I was responding to the comment that I quoted regarding the need to run two Coax to the receiver.

I have copper clad in part of my system and the installer made no attempt to change it out.. Luckily it's been working fine so far.

Under new restrictions from DirectTV we have to switch out all copper clad. If we don't our first offense is a 5 day suspension; 2nd offense you ass gets canned. Contractors are still using it in some areas but for the most part its all changing over. Personally i've never seen copper clad fail even in a high def system.

Under new restrictions from DirectTV we have to switch out all copper clad. If we don't our first offense is a 5 day suspension; 2nd offense you ass gets canned. Contractors are still using it in some areas but for the most part its all changing over. Personally i've never seen copper clad fail even in a high def system.

Good to know, I had mine installed sometime last year, the installer reused the wiring I already had in the house. Granted my runs are fairly short, I believe the concern over using pure copper is because of voltage loss between the receivers and the newer dish right?