Let me start this out with the statement that I'm sure there is a thread somewhere here that covers this, so if there is, please just link it to me. I could not find one.

So I used to have DirecTV back in 98-00. Things have changed a lot, and I have some basic questions about how hardware and installs go these days. Back then it was single or dual LNB, now I see 5 LNBs, the word multiswitch thrown in there, etc.

Question 1: If I want 1 HD-DVR, and 2 HD receivers, for 3 total, how many lines of RG6 do I need run to each room? We are in a new house, with about 8 lines run outside. I have checked to see what kind of coax they are, but the ends coming out must be too short, as I can't see a type on them anywhere. I had heard something about some units might not need 2 feeds?

Question 2: What equipment will I need/be installed other than the dish and boxes? I heard someone talk about a multiswitch, not sure exactly what that does, perhaps a multiplexer of some sort to avoid question 1?

Question 3: How good are the HD locals with a 5 LNB dish? My wife watches these a lot, and she will be mad mad mad if they are pixelized a lot, or parts of her shows don't record, etc.

Question 4: How are their "professional" installers? I am a do it yourself kind of guy, because I am obsessive about things being set up perfectly and looking nice. On the other hand, if I do have to end up running cables, I'd rather not be the one doing that. I did that for my projector install and it was murder in the attic and getting cables down walls.

I am probably forgetting something, but I think those were my main questions.

Thanks ahead of time.

1) Two to the DVR, one to each HD receiver directly from the dish. Wouldn't hurt to have the 4 lines from the dish terminate to a central location then route them out from there, that would allow easier install of a multiswitch in the event you ever need more then 4 lines in the future.

2) Nothing, the 5 LNB dish can support 4 feeds.

3) Depends on where you are, I'd check the local reception forum for feedback from other viewers of your locals around you.

4) Depends on how good the local installing company is.

Let me start this out with the statement that I'm sure there is a thread somewhere here that covers this, so if there is, please just link it to me. I could not find one.

So I used to have DirecTV back in 98-00. Things have changed a lot, and I have some basic questions about how hardware and installs go these days. Back then it was single or dual LNB, now I see 5 LNBs, the word multiswitch thrown in there, etc.

Question 1: If I want 1 HD-DVR, and 2 HD receivers, for 3 total, how many lines of RG6 do I need run to each room? We are in a new house, with about 8 lines run outside. I have checked to see what kind of coax they are, but the ends coming out must be too short, as I can't see a type on them anywhere. I had heard something about some units might not need 2 feeds?

Question 2: What equipment will I need/be installed other than the dish and boxes? I heard someone talk about a multiswitch, not sure exactly what that does, perhaps a multiplexer of some sort to avoid question 1?

Question 3: How good are the HD locals with a 5 LNB dish? My wife watches these a lot, and she will be mad mad mad if they are pixelized a lot, or parts of her shows don't record, etc.

Question 4: How are their "professional" installers? I am a do it yourself kind of guy, because I am obsessive about things being set up perfectly and looking nice. On the other hand, if I do have to end up running cables, I'd rather not be the one doing that. I did that for my projector install and it was murder in the attic and getting cables down walls.

I am probably forgetting something, but I think those were my main questions.

Thanks ahead of time.

Q1: 2 lines to the DVR and one each to the other 2 HD receivers
Q2: Multiswitch allows you to hook up a large number of receivers. I will say I don't know if it amplifies the signal or whether the multiswitch is required to provide the HD signal (the BBCs should do that ) but with your only having 3 receivers and 4 lines, you could just direct connect each line.
Q3: HD locals look good to me. Haven't seen the pixelation.
Q4: Mixed bag on installers. Most I have run into in my area have been good. I had some problems with my HD upgrade where the insatller was partially to blame. Took me 3 appts to get all the service I was supposed to and had to have a DVR shipped out to me because the first one would not activate. Also had first installer drill holes in my roof THEN figured out he couldn't see the satellites! Isn't that special!

:(

1) Two to the DVR, one to each HD receiver directly from the dish. Wouldn't hurt to have the 4 lines from the dish terminate to a central location then route them out from there, that would allow easier install of a multiswitch in the event you ever need more then 4 lines in the future.

2) Nothing, the 5 LNB dish can support 4 feeds.

3) Depends on where you are, I'd check the local reception forum for feedback from other viewers of your locals around you.

4) Depends on how good the local installing company is.

Thanks everyone. One follow up question for you though mjones73. So how are the HD locals received? Is it OTA, or are they sent down via satellite? I thought it was via satellite. The reason I ask is because the local reception forum is just basically OTA discussion.

Thanks.

Thanks everyone. One follow up question for you though mjones73. So how are the HD locals received? Is it OTA, or are they sent down via satellite? I thought it was via satellite. The reason I ask is because the local reception forum is just basically OTA discussion.

Thanks.

Seeing you are in Clayton, you will get WRAL, WTVD, WNCN and WRAZ via sat and the H20 receiver and HR20 DVR also have OTA digital tuners if you want the subchannnels of WRAL, WTVD, WNCN and WRAZ or the HD signals of WRDC and WLFL and WUNC.

The local reception forum is discussing local channels. You're most likely still going to find people talking about locals via D* in the thread that covers your DMA and/or you can ask about them.

The locals are sent down via the dish if they are available in your market, if there are any additional local channels you want they don't carry, you'll need to receive them OTA.

If you want OTA, you will need to run a separate line to each receiver location from an antenna (well, from a distribution amp fed from the antenna, anyway). If you only need the big 4 networks, the D* HD locals are pretty darn good, nearly impossible to tell from OTA.

I am curious. Does anyone know the 5 satellite positions that are recieved with the 5 LNB DirecTV dish?

Rick R

They sit at 99 101 103 110 and 119 degrees above the equator. From the Raleigh area, you need a view around 230 degrees.

1- Two lines for the DVD, 1 for the HD. D* is working on getting both DVD tuners to work off a single line. Hi-freq splitters and multi switches do not work getting that second line.


2-The 5LNB dish has a built-in multi switch for 4 lines on it. As MJones said, getting 4 lines into a panel box inside is great and you can use a multi switch there to connect more lines.


3-The HD locals off the 5LNB are clear. They are HD, so they are much clearer then standard locals.

4-You never know what kind of installer you will get. Some are www.sbca.com certified and some are, but do not abide by it. Some are not and are clean installers. You could request the installation manager to do your installation.You could ask the installer once he arrives if you can help run cable, etc.

5-You asked about if the 5LNB dish receives standards locals. Yes, it is an antenna and does and one the the LNB eyes receives standard locals and another receives HD locals.

5) The locals and nationals aren't split between two separate LNB's, there are spot beam sats (Directway 1 and 2) at the 99 and 103 positions broadcasting locals and Directv 10 is also at the 103 position broadcasting nationals along with additional spot beam local support (though I believe the spot beams are having issues on that sat from what I last read, that may be delaying D* expanding the local markets further.)

They sit at 99 101 103 110 and 119 degrees above the equator. From the Raleigh area, you need a view around 230 degrees.

Thanks. I knew about the 101, 110, and 119 birds but thanks for the info an the two that were added.

Rick R