SatTV wiring

sda

Active Member
Its time to dump cable and get something "better".

I'm asking these questions here because I'll probably get a more accurate and honest response from knowledgeable people such as yourselves (<< ego booster to encourage responses :) ) than calling the providers.

Since I'm doing some work in the attic, now is a good time to pull additional cables before adding more insulation. I'd rather do this myself since "free professional installation" usually involves tacking cable under the eaves and drilling holes in outside walls.

I plan on having two receivers, probably the whole home HD DVR in the entertainment center and a regular HD receiver in the master br. Maybe add a 3rd later.

I'm looking for reassurance that bringing all the cables to a central location is still the right thing to do based on today's equipment. I don't want to pull all this cable, then the installer says "oh, but you also need a cable from A to B".

The CocconTech wiring guide says 4 cables for each dish.
Not a problem, but is that really necessary today?
Does Directv always use their dish with the built in SWM for new installs?

The Directv whole home DVR is described as "record shows in any room and watch them in any other room". In my thinking, that implies a DVR OUT cable from the DVR location to each other TV receiver box? Or does the DVR rebroadcast the playing show on the cable on a different channel/freq so a single cable will be OK?

Is a phone line required?
I ask because we're thinking of dumping our land lines.

Direct and Dish have a $6/month "protection plan".
Worth it?

Thanks.
 
I can't answer all your questions but I recently got DirecTV installed and it was only 1 RG6 from the dish to the special splitter near the rack. I didn't get DVR because I use SageTV so I don't know exactly how that gets distributed. Luckily I had a good installer and a vent in the roof to run the cable into the attic so (with my help) he ran the able through the attic to my rack in the basement, they are not suppose to do that though.

You will need a cable from the splitter to each box location.

Hope that helps.
 
I can't speak to Dish but I have the newest DTV setup - and being a DTV user for 11 years in 4 houses, this newest method is a game changer.

First off - you used to have at least 2 wires for a dual-tuner tivo - and up to 4 for full HD Tivo because of the different LNB's. Now the new technology you mentioned, the SWiM (Single Wire Multiswitch) fixes all that.

You need to have the wires home-run so you're doing the right thing there. What they did for me was change out the cone on the dish and put in a SWiM compatible one, then they cut the excess wires and just left one single one running from the dish to the new multiswitch. That multi-switch is in my closet where all the Coax is home run. They also run one wire off the multiswitch to an Ethernet adapter. That's an impressive little device - using MoCA basically one connection from the Coax to your router or switch connects all the receivers to your home network, all getting unique IP's from your DHCP server, etc.

Even if it's not connected to your network, they'll still talk to each other through the single coax - but hooking it up to your home network adds a few more features - like programming your DVR from the Internet, and being able to watch content from your Tivo on your PC (you can only stream one thing from a DVR to a remote receiver - so you can't have 1 DVR feeding two other receivers; the DVR can be watching a stored program and have one remote stream going. In our MBR we have a receiver only - so if the wife is watching recorded content, I can't watch streaming on the PC. This also completely replaces the need for a phone line - I've never hooked up to one in this house.

The one single catch to the SWiM is that you can no longer use modulators or diplexers on the same wire. The Ethernet technology uses the same frequency band that the CATV channels use so you can't combine anything else onto that wire. If you want to modulate sources run another Coax to each location.

Like I said - this has been a game changer for DTV - my current house only had one Coax to each room; so the previous owners did the cable on the exterior of the house - which is too ugly. By updating the dish we were able to cut all that out and all that's hooked to each receiver is a single coax. Also, if you needed to locate the ethernet adapter elsewhere, you can - as I understand you can have cascaded SWiM's as needed and run the ethernet anywhere.

The only catch out of all this was the amount of equipment that went into my closet - there's a power injector that feeds the whole system, the MoCA adapter that adds ethernet capability to hook to your home network, and the new multiswitch. That adds a few power bricks and random sized pieces of equipment.
 
I will tell you my experience with Dish using the VIP 622

1) It is 5 or 6 year old technology, but I really like it. It has great features. I think the newer ones have even more features, but the DVR is very nice. I love the skip 30 seconds forward button. It is definitely the best way to zoom through commercials.

2) One home run wire to each TV location going to the attic near where you punch out to the dish. My receiver has the ability to tune 2 channels at once via that one wire.

3) I don't have any protection plan. It has been 6 years now. That means about $500. If it blows up now, I will still be way ahead.

4) I have no land line. My receiver uses either phone or internet, I plugged a CAT5 into it. The new ones might do wireless, I don't know.
 
I'm not positive how our DirecTV works, but let me tell you it drives me crazy sometimes when we move. I feel like every year they have a "new" technology, requiring an upgrade to our receivers... but not all of the receivers. We usually ask for a specific dish and setup when they come to install, with the SWM. When we moved across the country, one HR21 would no longer work, but an old H20 still worked. It's a bit odd, but we don't plan to move any more and hopefully won't have to deal with it any more.

I would say when you sign up, tell them what you want and they will probably be able to accommodate you since they have different kinds of setups.
 
Or just tell them to bring you all new stuff - that's what I did - and they did everything for free since I've been with them so long. The new technology is a huge improvement.
 
I helped a friend "wire" his new home (which he still hasn't moved into) and did run 4 cables for his Direct TV. I also was present when the installer came by and used only one of the four cables. The RG6 cables had been installed interiorly running from the attic, 2nd floor into the basement comm closet area.

I am thinking though if the tech was not instructed to utilized the already installed cable he would have run the RG6 along the side of the house into the basement.

My friend has been utilizing Direct TV for many years.

The issue that came up was for the "free" install he had to sign an agreement for new service and start paying on it right away; and he is still in his old home; not having moved yet. The DirectTV tech actually enabled the service on the spot immediately after installation saying that there was no window of service "turn on" time relating to the "deal" of free installation.

I'm guessing his intentions at the time of installation was that he was going to be moving into the new home right away; none the less he hasn't and is paying on two unique DirectTV services.
 
He shouldn't have signed up for new service - he should've used the Movers Connection - all that does is extend your current contract 12 months from that date. After the install he could've taken his receiver back to the old house until he actually moved. That's exactly what I did last time around. Honestly DTV doesn't care that much where it's installed - they had the wrong address on my account for 5 years.
 
I had Dish and switched from one house to another. It was the same deal, I had them install their stuff several months before moving in. I just brought my receiver from my old home over, let them hook that up in the unfinished house, then took it back to the old house until I moved. I did have to argue a bit since they really did not want to activate in an unfinished house, but I got it done after a few talks with the manager.
 
I think his objective after using Direct TV for over 10 years was to get all new HD equipment; which he did. Only thing though is that he's still paying on two distinct accounts; which is kind of a waste of money considering he still hasn't moved into his new home.

I initially had set up for DirectTV (still have it) but modified my base antenna (adding three LNBs) such that I could also utilize Dish Network and DirectTV - which I did for a time; eventually staying with DirectTV.

Now considering "weaning" the wife off of the DirectTV legacy Tivo's into the world of HD - very slow going though. Just replaced the 2nd HD on one Direct TV box in the last 10 years. It was plug n play.

It would be nice if Tivo did their deal with DirectTV as I personally would go this route versus using the DirectTV HD DVR setup.
 
Work2Play,

Is there a way to utilize HD Tivo / Direct TV today without separate boxes?

My wife is totally addicted to her Direct Tivo and it would be difficult to "convert" her to another technology at this time; today though she started to ask questions regarding upgrading her Tivo.

Personally I do not watch regular TV; did notice though last night that PlayOn TV now is streaming HD stuff.

My "if I want to watch TV" TV LCD set up in my office is configured for and using cable, Direct TV, OTR and whatever the little NMT offers now (whatever is on the hard drive, network, Tversity / PlayOn TV). So its kind of a mix of HD and old analogue "stuff". I still rarely turn it on though.
 
Work2Play,

Is there a way to utilize HD Tivo / Direct TV today without separate boxes?

My wife is totally addicted to her Direct Tivo and it would be difficult to "convert" her to another technology at this time; today though she started to ask questions regarding upgrading her Tivo.

Personally I do not watch regular TV; did notice though last night that PlayOn TV now is streaming HD stuff.

My "if I want to watch TV" TV LCD set up in my office is configured for and using cable, Direct TV, OTR and whatever the little NMT offers now (whatever is on the hard drive, network, Tversity / PlayOn TV). So its kind of a mix of HD and old analogue "stuff". I still rarely turn it on though.

There were rumors of DTV supporting new TIVO models in the future. But I think at this point DTV technology has left your Tivo behind and you are missing out on some things by sticking with it. The DTV HD boxes aren't as good interface-wise, don't do suggestions, and have 30sec slip instead of 30sec skip. But I don't think the Tivo HD boxes are capable of accessing all the new HD channels or accessing the network based movies, etc. Also the new DTV HD boxes have the Whole House feature for an addional monthly charge, so you can watch anything on any box.

It may be worth considering moving to the new boxes and just accepting the new interface... I do miss Tivo though...
 
I don't believe there is any deal anymore between Tivo and DirectTV today and in the near future.

Only thing with the Tivos (SA and DTIVO) is that they are totally modified such that I can do all sorts of things with them via the network; IE: stream live video, change channels, copy a movie that I want, program them, etc.

Even though I personally do not use the Tivo boxes anymore; when one started to smartdrive failure jabber; I was able to replace the hard drive in a day or so and get my wife up and running without an issue.

My preference is to own rather than "rent" an HD box / DVR HD Satellite box. Is that possible with HD DirectTV/Dish today?
 
I don't believe there is any deal anymore between Tivo and DirectTV today and in the near future.

Only thing with the Tivos (SA and DTIVO) is that they are totally modified such that I can do all sorts of things with them via the network; IE: stream live video, change channels, copy a movie that I want, program them, etc.

Even though I personally do not use the Tivo boxes anymore; when one started to smartdrive failure jabber; I was able to replace the hard drive in a day or so and get my wife up and running without an issue.

My preference is to own rather than "rent" an HD box / DVR HD Satellite box. Is that possible with HD DirectTV/Dish today?

Honestly I don't really understand the whole rent/own DTV B.S. I have one box that is technically an "own", and one that is a "rent". The "rent" one I bought at Best Buy for a couple of hundred dollars, the own one I got as a free "trade up" from my HDTivo. They charge me the same monthly fee. If one breaks I turn on my maintenance agreement and have them replace it, then turn off the maintenance agreement. I have had one that needed to be replaced due to the hard drive going out. But you aren't going to be able to hack these so I am not sure if own/rent matters, the fees appear to be the same. But if I buy something at BBY I don't understand how they get away with calling it a rented box. I think they are all called "rented" these days, It's pretty stupid. There's probably some legal B.S behind it.

New DTV Tivo
http://support.direc...w DTV Tivo box.
 
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