I am only writing this because there seems to be a ton of conflicting reports of people being told by D* installers and others that you must remove your diplexed OTA to receive the new MPEG4 channels.

All you have to do is install the BBC BEFORE the first diplexer and everything works fine.

I hope this helps some people out.

It also has to be in the right direction and not exposed to the weather.

I have seen many different messages as well, none ask this question though.

If you have an older H10 and a new H20 with the slimline dish, how do you diplex the OTA to the H10? Do I need another BBC for the H10 even though it will not receive the 103b signal?

I am only using the built in multi switch that is standard to the slimline dish and have 4 pigtail RG-6 cables going to the 4 rooms I want satellite reception in.

Thanks

No BBC is needed for the H10, it's not capable of requesting the frequencies that would normally step on the OTA range from the dish.

When I diplex the OTA feed with the Sat feed, I get searching for satellite and no OTA, If I remove the Sat from the diplexer in the room, I get good OTA signals, If I remove the OTA cable and hook up the Sat, I get good signal from Sat.

Hook them both up, I get nothing on my H10.

Am I missing something?

When I diplex the OTA feed with the Sat feed, I get searching for satellite and no OTA, If I remove the Sat from the diplexer in the room, I get good OTA signals, If I remove the OTA cable and hook up the Sat, I get good signal from Sat.

Hook them both up, I get nothing on my H10.

Am I missing something?
Are you using at least RG6 cable? Anything less will not be able to carry both signals together.

It sounds like a bad diplexer. That's not uncommon.

..just a passing comment here. I have found out over the years it is best to never 'cut' a line carrying audio or/and video. Run separate lines if at all possible. Each time you cut a line a little signal strength is lost. This does add up.

I am only writing this because there seems to be a ton of conflicting reports of people being told by D* installers and others that you must remove your diplexed OTA to receive the new MPEG4 channels.

All you have to do is install the BBC BEFORE the first diplexer and everything works fine.

I hope this helps some people out.

While this does work for most people, I suspect that people with weak OTA signals might problems. Since the filtering in electronic devices (like BBCs and diplexors) is not a brick wall, there could be enough "bleed-through" of the UHF band signal from the dish to disrupt weak OTA signals.

Ernie

While this does work for most people, I suspect that people with weak OTA signals might problems. Since the filtering in electronic devices (like BBCs and diplexors) is not a brick wall, there could be enough "bleed-through" of the UHF band signal from the dish to disrupt weak OTA signals.

Ernie
Very true, my OTA is a tad bit weaker. But still works non the less.

Quote:
Are you using at least RG6 cable? Anything less will not be able to carry both signals together.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think you have something here, there is an old section of RG-59 between my diplexers. I need to run a new RG-6 cable to the room.

Thanks

So, when I first got saw this thread, I got my hopes up... but doesn't seem like this option will help me... my first diplexer (aka multiswitch) is at the dish & antenna on the roof... so there isn't a practical way to get the BBC(s) inline ahead of that and keep them safe from the elements.

I'll actually only lose (after install on Fri) one HD local since D* offers all the rest via Sat... but given its a channel my wife watches a lot, would be nice not to lose it... oh well... hopefully adding the other new HD channels will offset the loss sufficiently.

Get a baggie, punch 2 small holes in each corner of the baggie, place the BBC in the baggie and run the RG6 into and out of the BBC through the holes in the baggie. Get a tube of silicone caulk and squirt the entire tube of caulk into the baggie. Once the caulk hardens, you can peel off the baggie. Although it may not look nice, it may weatherproof the BBC. In the meantime, order a spare BBC in the event weather does get to the outdoor BBC, in which case you can cut out the outdoor BBC and install the new BBC indoors.

I have not tried this since I am able to place my BBCs indoors and still diplex, but think it is worth a try for someone with your situation.

Best wishes,
Jeff

I had just connected my OTA using TWO diplexers. A blogger at dbstalk.com sent me a PM specifically telling me to connect the BBC directly to the Zinwell WB68 MSW I am using. Another stated that the BBC does NOT have to be connected to the MSW because there isn't any documentation that states so. The rule of thumb to follow is that it HAS to be before the diplexer. The other rule to follow is that the RG-6 cable length/section between diplexers is straight and NOT connected to anything: PERIOD.
I am NOT an expert by any means. I read and ask questions and then follow instructions. Here is my set-up: OTA to a regular CM splitter. One of the branches of the splitter goes my TV in the den>H20. The other branch
is connected to the diplexer(#1) that says antenna UHF/VHF.
Here is the connection that might blow some of your minds BUT IT WORKED flawlessly for me. The BBC pigtail is connected to the diplexer(#1) where it says sat. The RG-6 coming from the MSW is connected to the BBC input. AS I mentioned before the RG-6 coming from the Master Bed Room is connected to the Diplexer #1 IN/OUT connector. The other end of the RG-6 cable going to the MBR is connected to the IN/OUT of diplexer #2. I am lucky because the diplexers that I bought came with five inch RG-6 coax jumpers with the great blue connectors. Out of diplexer #2 sat to sat on H20. Ant to ant on H20 and that's it. Back to the diplexer #1 connections. Both the diplexer and the BBC are indoors away from rainy and snowy weather +/- 90 FT from the dish MSW. BTW it rains and snows in NC! IT works flawlessly and I get the OTA channels that I can get and NOT a single problem getting any SD and HD channels ON BOTH H20's. If you think you might have problems with losing some power PM me and I can recommend diplexers that are specific for combining and separating signals. Good luck!
Thank you

I am only writing this because there seems to be a ton of conflicting reports of people being told by D* installers and others that you must remove your diplexed OTA to receive the new MPEG4 channels.

All you have to do is install the BBC BEFORE the first diplexer and everything works fine.

I hope this helps some people out.

------------------------
Yes U.r right...u saved me..Thanks...
Just follow the Diplex instructions ..Don't forget DC-Block.
IT"s WORKED flawlessly for me.