Using Directv/TIVO in multiple rooms with one receiver
 

I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone. If this is all going to the central location in the basement,
I'm assuming I would then NOT need to run a second RG-6 line to each
physical room in order for tivo to work then, correct? And I know
that by doing this, I would not be able to watch different programs in
different rooms of the house. I would appreciate any help you may
offer....Eric

In article ,
Fasterface wrote:

I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?

Yes.

What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone.

You have several choices for IR remote capability.

[1] Radio-frequency IR - RF repeaters... the X10 or similar "black
pyramid" or similar products. Pro: convenient, you can have multiple
transmitters, they require no wiring. Con: they aren't all that
reliable and are prone to being "jammed" by other sources of radio
frequency signals.

[2] Dedicated hard-wired IR repeaters (Xantech is the brand leader).
Pro: convenient to use, very reliable, IR sensors are small and
can be very inconspicuous. Con: require dedicated wiring and a
small power distribution system.

[3] IR-repeater-over-coax. These work by picking up the IR, and
putting a signal onto the coax cable which runs from the TiVo
system to the remove TV. Convenient to use, pretty reliable (I
believe - haven't used them myself). Con: requires a specialized
device to interconnect the IR receivers (and the emitter, at the
TiVo) to the coax.

For the TiVo, you'll want to run a second coax down from the dish and
install a second LNB (if you don't have these already) so that you can
use both tuners at once.

You don't say whether you're viewing a cable (or roof-antenna) signal
as well as satellite. If not, you can simply have the TiVo drive its
Channel 3 RF output directly into the splitter (you may need a
distribution amplifier to get enough signal to all rooms).

If you are using the in-house cable for roof-antenna or cable TV, and
want to add the TiVo signal to it, then you'll probably need a filter
and a modulator, to take the TiVo's composite-video signal and
modulate it onto an otherwise-unused channel, and filter this channel
out of the roof-antenna or cable feed so that you don't try to
broadcast the TiVo output.

--
Dave Platt AE6EO
Hosting the Jade Warrior home page: http://www.radagast.org/jade-warrior
I do _not_ wish to receive unsolicited commercial email, and I will
boycott any company which has the gall to send me such ads!

"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...
I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone. If this is all going to the central location in the basement,
I'm assuming I would then NOT need to run a second RG-6 line to each
physical room in order for tivo to work then, correct? And I know
that by doing this, I would not be able to watch different programs in
different rooms of the house. I would appreciate any help you may
offer....Eric

Here's some advice...buy a few Tivo's. I bought four this past weekend, at
Circuit City for a total of $350 after $50 rebate on the first one. I now
have five. No issues, no compromises, no conflicts. Of course, until the HMO
is available for the DirecTIvo, I need to set up my season passes on a
couple of machines, but I have to do it only once, and it takes just a few
minutes.

I must be missing something here. Don't you have to have a separate
subscription for each Tivo unit? I have one unit with Direct TV with a
lifetime subscription. Can I hook up more Tivos using this same
subscription?

Thank you,

Kent
"Z1Z" wrote in message
. net...

"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...
I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone. If this is all going to the central location in the basement,
I'm assuming I would then NOT need to run a second RG-6 line to each
physical room in order for tivo to work then, correct? And I know
that by doing this, I would not be able to watch different programs in
different rooms of the house. I would appreciate any help you may
offer....Eric

Here's some advice...buy a few Tivo's. I bought four this past weekend, at
Circuit City for a total of $350 after $50 rebate on the first one. I now
have five. No issues, no compromises, no conflicts. Of course, until the
HMO
is available for the DirecTIvo, I need to set up my season passes on a
couple of machines, but I have to do it only once, and it takes just a
few
minutes.

Fasterface wrote:
I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote?

One Terk LeapFrog LF-10S sending unit.
Includes IR emitter to be placed near the TiVo.
One Terk LeapFrog LF-10R receiving unit in each room with a TV.
Includes built-in IR target for picking up commands from your remote.
Ordinary telephone lines connecting everything together.
You can use existing, currently active pairs for this purpose.

Obvious disadvantage: Someone in a different room changing channels on you.

You can replace the 4-way splitter with a 3-in 4-out multiswitch.
Two of the inputs are for RG-6 connections to the dual LNB on the DirecTV
satellite dish. The other input is for roof-top antenna or analog cable TV.

The four outputs are for RG-6 cable going to three or four rooms.
Four rooms: each with either a simple DSS receiver, or a DirecTiVo that
is using only one of its two built-in tuners.
Three rooms: two outputs going to a single DirecTiVo so that it can
record two shows simultaneously. The second and third rooms get a
single RG-6 cable each. Again, the latter can have either inexpensive
DSS boxes or single-input DirecTiVo boxes.

A 3-in 8-out multiswitch would allow four full-function DirecTiVo boxes.
There are a lot of good multi-room installation specials for new customers.
-Joe

-Joe

"Z1Z" wrote in message .net...
"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...
I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone. If this is all going to the central location in the basement,
I'm assuming I would then NOT need to run a second RG-6 line to each
physical room in order for tivo to work then, correct? And I know
that by doing this, I would not be able to watch different programs in
different rooms of the house. I would appreciate any help you may
offer....Eric

Here's some advice...buy a few Tivo's. I bought four this past weekend, at
Circuit City for a total of $350 after $50 rebate on the first one. I now
have five. No issues, no compromises, no conflicts. Of course, until the HMO
is available for the DirecTIvo, I need to set up my season passes on a
couple of machines, but I have to do it only once, and it takes just a few
minutes.

It sounds like with this scenario though, that I would need to run two
lines to each room I want to do this in, correct?

"Z1Z" wrote in message .net...
"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...
I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone. If this is all going to the central location in the basement,
I'm assuming I would then NOT need to run a second RG-6 line to each
physical room in order for tivo to work then, correct? And I know
that by doing this, I would not be able to watch different programs in
different rooms of the house. I would appreciate any help you may
offer....Eric

Here's some advice...buy a few Tivo's. I bought four this past weekend, at
Circuit City for a total of $350 after $50 rebate on the first one. I now
have five. No issues, no compromises, no conflicts. Of course, until the HMO
is available for the DirecTIvo, I need to set up my season passes on a
couple of machines, but I have to do it only once, and it takes just a few
minutes.


The only problem with this is that you pay an additional 4.99 per
receiver twice 1 for the receiver and 1 to use the tivo on it...that
adds up.

"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...

I was told by directv that each receiver using tivo accrues an
additional monthly charge of 4.99....4.99 to use the receiver as well
as 4.99 to use tivo on that.

No. There is a $4.99 per receiver mirroring charge but only a single DVR
fee of $4.99 per account. So, 5 Tivo receivers on your DirecTV account will
cost $24.95 / month (four mirroring fees and one DVR fee).

Tom Veldhouse

Kent wrote:

I must be missing something here. Don't you have to have a separate
subscription for each Tivo unit?

Typical monthly bill for a plain DirecTV box:
$39.99 for Total Choice.

Typical monthly bill for N plain DirecTV boxes: (N = 2 to 7)
$39.99 for Total Choice, $4.99 x (N-1) for mirroring fee.

Typical monthly bill for a single DirecTiVo:
$39.99 for Total Choice, $4.99 for TiVo subscription.

Typical monthly bill for N boxes, one or more with DirecTiVo: (N = 2 to 7)
$39.99 for Total Choice, $4.99 x (N-1) for mirroring, $4.99 for TiVo sub.

TiVo subscription is free when paying for Premium package.

I have one unit with Direct TV with a lifetime subscription.
Can I hook up more Tivos using this same subscription?

I expect the answer is yes; just pay the DirecTV mirroring fee.
-Joe

Fasterface wrote:

If I'm going to buy two directivo's, would I then need to run two
lines to each room,

If you're satisfied with not using the second tuner, just one line per
room is sufficient. To activate both tuners in a single box, it will
need two separate lines.

can I use a multiswitch/diplexor setup

In order to use more than two cable runs, a multiswitch is needed.

Diplexors are not needed if you run three cables to each room; two
for DirecTiVo and one to let the TV pull in non-satellite channels.
If all the channels you watch are from DirecTV, then you don't
need to use diplexors.

-Joe

"Thomas T. Veldhouse" wrote in message
...

"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...

I was told by directv that each receiver using tivo accrues an
additional monthly charge of 4.99....4.99 to use the receiver as well
as 4.99 to use tivo on that.

No. There is a $4.99 per receiver mirroring charge but only a single DVR
fee of $4.99 per account. So, 5 Tivo receivers on your DirecTV account
will
cost $24.95 / month (four mirroring fees and one DVR fee).

That is absolutely correct. I pay only $140.39 for my setup: 7 receiver @
4.99=34.93, plus 87.99 for programming, plus 5.99 for protection, plus 10.99
for HDTV plus .49 for sales tax. What a bargain :)

* Fasterface Wrote in alt.video.ptv.tivo, on 10 Oct 2003 06:51:04 -0700:
"Z1Z" wrote in message .net...
"Fasterface" wrote in message
om...
I would like to buy the Directv/Tivo combination for my home which has
4 tv's all hooked up to a standard splitter in the basement utility
room. The splitter has a line coming into it from the old satellite
which we'll be replacing. We used to have Dish Network til our
receiver broke and I want to make the switch. My question is, Is
there a way to place the Directv/Tivo receiver in the utility room
where the connections are currently coming in from the satellite on
the roof, and yet still use the remote from any room that has a tv?
What equipment would I need to make this happen being it's an IR
remote? I heard I would need a diplexor (for the Tivo feature) and
some more cable, but have not really gotten a straight answer from
anyone. If this is all going to the central location in the basement,
I'm assuming I would then NOT need to run a second RG-6 line to each
physical room in order for tivo to work then, correct? And I know
that by doing this, I would not be able to watch different programs in
different rooms of the house. I would appreciate any help you may
offer....Eric

Here's some advice...buy a few Tivo's. I bought four this past weekend, at
Circuit City for a total of $350 after $50 rebate on the first one. I now
have five. No issues, no compromises, no conflicts. Of course, until the HMO
is available for the DirecTIvo, I need to set up my season passes on a
couple of machines, but I have to do it only once, and it takes just a few
minutes.


The only problem with this is that you pay an additional 4.99 per
receiver twice 1 for the receiver and 1 to use the tivo on it...that
adds up.

Not if you have the Total Choice Premier package, then you ony pay the
mirroring fee, no tivo fee. The Tivo fee is ONCE per account not per
reciever anyway. (above only true with DirecTiVo)
--
David | AGM Favorite Games - http://tinyurl.com/loec
Normal times may possibly be over forever.