Satellite question

[Richard]

Though I don't think it's too relevant, I have DTV with the (currently) 3 LNB dish.

Someone (I think here on TBN) once said that in order to get the next round of HD channels, someone will have to upgrade again to a 5 LNB dish (?)

That is part of my questions...

First a fact... my house currently has FOUR feeds off the satellite dish into a utility closet where it then meets up with 4 inside lines, only 3 are used.

1. If they have or come out with a 5 LNB dish, will the 5 LNB have MORE than 4 lines feeding off it?

2. If #1 is "no" then once I get the 4 current feeds into my closet, is there any way I can divide them out into more than 4 rooms? Though I don't have and NEED more than what I've got, I prefer the idea of every room in the house (bedrooms & living room & den) all have "live" feeds available to them so I won't later have to decide which room is going to get a feed at the expense of another.

3. Again, I currently have the 4 leads coming into this utility closet... is there some kind of contraption that I can bolt to a stud (much like a normal splitter) that will hold the 4 feeds AND allow me to screw the output lines to it also?

Right now, I simply have a double male fitting on there which is fine, but I just like the idea of having some kind of assembly there, much like you might have a telephone block organizing all your phone lines as they're connected to your input lines (as opposed to just wiring them all together and wrapping a lot of tape around the bundle )

4. If the new 5 LNB dish does NOT have more than 4 feeds coming out of it, is there any way I can take my current 4 feeds and split them BEFORE they go into a converter box?

One thing I've thought about doing is having my office as well as one of the guest rooms attached to a receiver in the basement (RF remote) and split the signal AFTER the box... but again... I'd like the house to be capable of having everyone independent of each other if a converter box is available to that specific location.

One reason I am asking some of these things is, I currently have the 4 lines coming from my dish to my closet (on other side of basement). I'm now in process of working on finsihing said basement and once I put drywall up, I don't want to kick myself for not adding 2,3,4,55,a million?? more leads from my dish to same closet. I'd rather do them now and not need them but since I have to drill through some joists in the garage, I don't REALLY want to add more than I must.

TIA for any thoughts

 

[Wil]

I sent you a private email, hope it helps.

I wasn't sure I could post a link to a different forum without breaking a TBN rule, and do not want to do that.

 

[RonMar]

Directs 5LNB dish only has 1 feedline. The LNB's are all combined/multiplexed at the feedhorn. I would call and ask direct TV about dividing the feed for multiple receivers.

 

[VABlue]

My 5LNB dish has 5 lines coming out of it. They are wired into a converter hub that has 8 outputs - one output for each room (I use 7 of them). So yes, DTV does have what Richard needs. Just make sure that whoever installs it labels the darn things!

 

[Richard]

My 5LNB dish has 5 lines coming out of it. They are wired into a converter hub that has 8 outputs - one output for each room (I use 7 of them). So yes, DTV does have what Richard needs. Just make sure that whoever installs it labels the darn things!

Hmm... so if I understand you correctly... you've got FIVE wires coming out the backside of your dish and into some location (for me, it'll be this closet downstairs).

The wires THEN (inside the house?) go into a converter hub with 8 outputs or is this converter hub on the backside of the dish mandating that you then have 7 lines running into the house to various locations?

What I want to have in a perfect world is a single dish outside with (how ever many) lines running to my "distrubution closet".

Right now, I can have 4 out of my 6 locations fed a "hot" feed. If I want to change something, for example, have company over and put a live feed into there, not only would I need to move my extra receiver in there but I'd have to swap a wire in this distribution closet.

What I WANT to have are hot feeds to all locations, then all I need to worry about is having a receiver there.

So, if there are 5 lines coming out the back of the dish, I'll need to run yet another line (sigh). Once I have the 5 lines collected in my closet, do I just buy one of those ...drats, I forget what they're called... oh, multiplexers so I can wire up all my rooms??

Once I put my drywall in, I do NOT want to have an issue of needing to add more lines... also... how silly is it getting having five lines out the backside of a dish??

I'm going to draw the line and simply REFUSE to lay any more than 13 lines from my dish to my closet!!! Yep...no more than 13

 

[VABlue]

13 should cover it!!

The lines from the dish run along the exterior of the house over to the side, next to the electric meter. They plug into the converter/multiplexor screwed to the siding. The 8 'hot' wires then go through the wall and run across the basement ceiling to whatever room. I have conduit running from the basement to the attic to get the wires into the upstairs bedrooms.

I can take some pictures tonight when I get home, including the mux part number.

 

[terbear1963]

Richard,

For any type info that you may want or need about DirecTV and the HD there is a forum that has all the info you need--- DBSTalk.Com
Yes, you will need the 5LNB dish to get the new HD channels that are to become available in September I believe. DirecTV should also set you up with the 6x8 multiswitch when they upgrade the dish. We only have 4 lines coming in to our house from the 5LNB dish and those 4 lines go to the 6x8 switch inside the house and from there the lines are distributed to the different rooms... If you have the hd DVR HR20 then it takes 2 runs of cable to 1 DVR for the 2 tuners it supports.. If you just have the regular HD receiver H20 then it takes just a single line. But you can also put multiple switches in line if you need more than 8 feeds, Like I said DBSTalk.com should have all the info and then some for you to get set up and answer any of the other questions you may have regarding your HD receivers. Hope this helps>

Also for those of you that may have DISH network--DBSTALK also has sections for you guys and gals TOO!!

 

[VABlue]

I lied...

I only have four wires coming in from the dish. They run to the 6x8 switch that Terri talks about above. Here's the pics of the switch...


6x8 switch = 6 inputs and 8 outputs (on left)


Close up showing the part number...

 

[RonMar]

My 5LNB dish has 5 lines coming out of it. They are wired into a converter hub that has 8 outputs - one output for each room (I use 7 of them). So yes, DTV does have what Richard needs. Just make sure that whoever installs it labels the darn things!

Wow, How old is yours. Mine has only been in for about 4 months now, but the switch is combined in the head with the LNB's. Mine was also only a single receiver installation though so that may determine what equipment they use.

 

[VABlue]

Mine was installed in July, 2006, when I moved in. No charge to make sure every room in the house had an active feed. I even had them run a tap from the Tivo into the kitchen for those Saturdays when college football cannot be mised...