DVR80 2 Sat Inputs
 

I have a 4 multisyitch and 4 receivers so all in use (1 is the TIVO).
Do I need to get a bigger multiswitch to use the 2 tuners in the DVR80?

Cannot split one can I?

TIA

Marathon wrote:
I have a 4 multisyitch and 4 receivers so all in use (1 is the TIVO).
Do I need to get a bigger multiswitch to use the 2 tuners in the DVR80?

Yes.

Cannot split one can I?

No, you cannot. Splitters do not work on satellite lines.
-Joe

Who told you this? They most ceertainly do work on satellite feeds.
There are four considerations when using a splitter on a satellite downlink:

1. The frequencies are very high. One must use a splitter designed for
microwave frequencies up to 2GHz. These are readily available all over the
place for about $20 for a two or four way splitter. The 500MHz $3.99
special from Wal-Mart won't work.

2. Power. LNBs are powered via DC from one of the receivers. There
must be a DC power path from the powered receiver port to the LNB. Most
satellite splitters have one output and the input fitted with a DC power
pass element and the rest of the ports have DC blocks. One must take care
the power goes to the right place, or the LNB will not work - and then no
signal.

3. Signal levels. A two way splitter will drop the signal level by
upwards of 5dB at 2 GHz. A four way will drop the level by almost 9 dB. If
the cable feeds are long (an RG-6 drop will attenuate a 2 GHz signal by 2dB
per hundred feet), then too many splits may cause snow, especially if the
signal is low at the outset. An amplifier (two, actually) may be required.

4. Polarization. The receiver will look to switch the LNB polarization
by sending a different voltage (14V for odd transponder versus 18V for even
transponders) to the LNB. A two receiver setup hooks one receiver to each
LNB so either receiver can supply 14V or 18V as it wishes depending on the
channel selected. If both receivers are on odd transponderes, then they
both will send 14V. The multi-switch spoofs this by always sending 14V to
one LNB and always sending 18V to the other, regardless of the voltage sent
by the receivers attached to it. Each output of the switch selects one or
the other input based on the voltage coming from its particular receiver.
If all the receivers on the switch are sending 14V, then all of them are
switched to the LNB which is getting 14V from the switch, and the other LNB
is just essentially sending its signal nowhere.

If one wishes to maintain full diversity in programming, then the best
way is to get two multiswitches (in the OP's case, buy one more multiswitch)
and a pair of 2-way splitters. One 2-way is placed on each LNB, splitting
the signal to one input of each of the switches. One can feed power from
one switch to one LNB and from the second switch to the second LNB, or just
power both LNBs from one switch, but make sure both 14V feeds (odd
transponders) come from one splitter and both 18V feeds (even transponders)
come from the other. If one gets it wrong, one or both of the switches
won't work. It's easiest if one purchases identical switches, so it is
clear which input goes to which splitter. Barring that, and if the labeling
and documentation of the switches is not clear, a voltmeter will easily
determine which is the 14V and which is the 18V feed for each switch.

If one places a splitter after the switch, then one receiver will become
the "master" of the group fed by the splitter, determining which
polarization is selected. The other receivers in the group will only be
able to get half of the available channels, which half being determined by
to which channel the "master" is tuned. If the "master" is turned off,
you'll probably get nothing.

"Joe Smith" wrote in message
news:S50id.358718$D%[email protected]_s51...
Marathon wrote:
I have a 4 multisyitch and 4 receivers so all in use (1 is the TIVO).
Do I need to get a bigger multiswitch to use the 2 tuners in the DVR80?

Yes.

Cannot split one can I?

No, you cannot. Splitters do not work on satellite lines.
-Joe

Leslie A Rhorer wrote:
Cannot split one can I?

No, you cannot. Splitters do not work on satellite lines.
-Joe

Who told you this? They most ceertainly do work on satellite feeds.

Multiswitches work with satellite feeds, splitters do not.

You cannot use a splitter (a passive device) to provide a receiver with two
full-function inputs from a single satellite line. It is not possible to
send both +14VDC and +18VDC up a single wire simultaneously.

Therefore, a multiswitch has to be used, not a splitter.

If one wishes to maintain full diversity in programming, then the best
way is to get two multiswitches (in the OP's case, buy one more multiswitch)
and a pair of 2-way splitters.

On that we agree.
-Joe

Leslie A Rhorer wrote:

Who told you this? They most ceertainly do work on satellite feeds.

I was interpreting "Cannot split one can I?" as "I have a DirecTV recorder
with two inputs but only a single satellite line in the living room. Can I
use a splitter?". The answer to that is "no, a splitter will not work in
that situation. You need to use a cascaded multiswitch or a single
multiswitch with more outputs".

There are four considerations when using a splitter on a satellite downlink:

All good info. I must admit that I did not consider using a splitter in
front of a pair of matched multiswitches.
-Joe

"Joe Smith" wrote in message
news:[email protected]_s02...
Leslie A Rhorer wrote:

Who told you this? They most ceertainly do work on satellite feeds.

I was interpreting "Cannot split one can I?" as "I have a DirecTV recorder
with two inputs but only a single satellite line in the living room. Can
I
use a splitter?". The answer to that is "no, a splitter will not work in
that situation. You need to use a cascaded multiswitch or a single
multiswitch with more outputs".

True, or rather it won't work very well. Half the channels will always
be missing on one set, and which half depends on the station tuned by the
other set. Change channels on one set, and suddenly the program on the
other croaks.

There are four considerations when using a splitter on a satellite
downlink:

All good info. I must admit that I did not consider using a splitter in
front of a pair of matched multiswitches.
-Joe

If one already has one multiswitch, it's usually cheaper than buying a
larger multiswitch.