Adding an OTA antenna to a 722k

[ig888ack]

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I've gotten some conflicting reports about adding an OTA antenna to my 722k receiver. The installer that came and setup my Dish today said that when I get my antenna mounted, I should run a coax cable from the antenna a port on the dish's LNB and that's all I would have to do to get the locals on both of my TVs (dish does not provide locals in my area). When I talked to someone from Dish technical support however, they said that I need to run a coax cable from the antenna straight down to the 722k and that I needed the OTA module. Then I read somewhere online that I should put a diplexer outside and have the satellite go in one port and the antenna in another and then do the opposite on the inside so that I use just one coax run from outside to just before the 722k.

I'd love to hear some opinions about which of the three are correct/easiest/best. Thanks!

[whatchel1]

Originally Posted by ig888ack

I've gotten some conflicting reports about adding an OTA antenna to my 722k receiver. The installer that came and setup my Dish today said that when I get my antenna mounted, I should run a coax cable from the antenna a port on the dish's LNB and that's all I would have to do to get the locals on both of my TVs (dish does not provide locals in my area). When I talked to someone from Dish technical support however, they said that I need to run a coax cable from the antenna straight down to the 722k and that I needed the OTA module. Then I read somewhere online that I should put a diplexer outside and have the satellite go in one port and the antenna in another and then do the opposite on the inside so that I use just one coax run from outside to just before the 722k.

I'd love to hear some opinions about which of the three are correct/easiest/best. Thanks!

You will need the OTA module for the 722k, they cost 30 as I remember. Then you will need to do either the 2nd or 3rd choice. The 2nd will give a bit stronger signal than the 3rd. The advantage of the 3 is the coax for the sat is already run and you won't have to add another coax.

[whatchel1]

[xan99]

I have a VIP722 and I installed an outdoor OTA (a clearstream model i got via amazon) next to my dish. I bought the diplexers recommended for dishnetwork via ebay, some short coax cables to do the wiring on both ends, then used the diplexers to avoid doing a new cable run through my house. It was a cinch and the picture is great, and my 'handyman' skill is about a 0 on a scale of 1-10. Cost me under $20 and about 30 minutes, not including the antenna cost or install (which was fairly easy too, but will vary based on your antenna and setup).

[fz5j2r]

I have four DVR's. One 722 and three 622"s. I have two external antennas. Each DVR has its own coax running directly from an external antenna. Works great. Not sure why you need a diplexer.

[BobaBird]

Wonder what the installer would have pointed to if you asked him to show you the supposed "antenna a port on the dish's LNB?"

[xan99]

Originally Posted by fz5j2r

I have four DVR's. One 722 and three 622"s. I have two external antennas. Each DVR has its own coax running directly from an external antenna. Works great. Not sure why you need a diplexer.

only if you're running the signals on the same line into the house without doing a second cable run

[Z06_Pilot]

I have two 722k's, and bought the OTA module for each one. I ran coax from my antenna all the way to the two 722k's and attached a splitter to get my OTA signal to both 722k's.

I wanted my OTA signal as pure as possible, so I bypassed the diplex option. there may be nothing wrong at all with usng them, but I did the whole OTA thing to get my locals without compression over the dish network, so I figured I might as well go the extra mile and run dedicated coax....

everybody's got their obsessive/compulsive side.....guess this is mine!!

welcome! I am a new Dish customer myself. so far, fantastic...It is so cool being able to record 4 HD programs at the same time on each 722k :-)

Jeff

[ig888ack]

Thanks for all the suggestions! I ended up mounting the OTA in the attic so I didn't have to worry about running a new line through the house after all. I did run a dedicated line down to my 722k but that wasn't too bad. I just didn't want to have to go through an outer wall if I could help it. The picture is decent for ABC and NBC but FOX goes out every once in a while and CBS doesn't come in at all. I don't particularly care about CBS but I'd like to get FOX to come in more consistently if possible. I am getting an average of high sixty to low seventy on my signal strength for the local FOX station - do you think if I mounted the antenna outside on the roof it would be worth it? I don't want to put it up there if it is only going to raise the strength a point or two but if it will make it as reliable as ABC and NBC then it would be worth the hassle. Does anyone have any data on how much greater strength you get out of moving the antenna from inside an attic to just about 5 feet higher an putting it on the roof?

Thanks again for all the help!

[kstuart]

What make and model antenna ?

One possibility that may help is to install a preamp and amplifier...