Two tuners per TV

vonderkinde

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Original poster
May 18, 2008
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Hello,

I'm trying to put together a non-standard setup. Is it possible/practical to setup two TV's, each one with access to 1/2 of a two-tuner DVR (DISH DVR 625), and 1/2 of a two-tuner receiver (DISH 322 receiver)?

In other words:
TV#1 connected to TV1-out of DVR, and TV1-out of receiver
TV#2 connected to TV2-out of DVR, and TV2-out of receiver

This way, each TV has two tuners, and access to DVR. Each can view one program while recording another.

I was thinking of using an A/B switch to combine the DVR output with the receiver output to the TV input. Or possibly, connecting 75ohm input of TV#1 to the DVR and Video input of TV#1 to receiver. Ditto for second TV.

Does this make any sense?
 
Hello,

I'm trying to put together a non-standard setup. Is it possible/practical to setup two TV's, each one with access to 1/2 of a two-tuner DVR (DISH DVR 625), and 1/2 of a two-tuner receiver (DISH 322 receiver)?

In other words:
TV#1 connected to TV1-out of DVR, and TV1-out of receiver
TV#2 connected to TV2-out of DVR, and TV2-out of receiver

This way, each TV has two tuners, and access to DVR. Each can view one program while recording another.

I was thinking of using an A/B switch to combine the DVR output with the receiver output to the TV input. Or possibly, connecting 75ohm input of TV#1 to the DVR and Video input of TV#1 to receiver. Ditto for second TV.

Does this make any sense?
It's possible. Do you already have the receivers? Wouldn't it be easier to have two DVRs?
 
You might be able to set one rf out for Ch 3 and the other for CH 4 and mix those down to one RF line. If you don't mind using rf versus audio and video out. I had a guest bedroom set up where it got Sat on Ch 4 and a VCR off Ch 3, from the box and vcr in the den. I just used a 2 way splitter backwards.
 
The TV 1 location should do a video/video connection as opposed to RF. 3 and 4 are too close to each other to co-exist without good commercial equipment to modulate them as co-located channels. For TV 2 location, just combine the two feeds using a splitter backwards and then connecting the IN port of the splitter to the TV. In this fashion, the splitter works as a combiner. Make sure you set the modulators on the two boxes to be at least 2 channels apart.
 
You will need additional uhf remotes - your installer should have them available for purchase. You can do it exactly as Vegas suggests, would work just fine.

or you can put both receivers in the same location (basement), and request your installer use the uhf pro feature on the receivers. With both receivers in the basement or sound closet - you can use a splitter as a combiner - or purchase a modulator separately.

tv1 could have dvr on channel 3 and 322 on channel 73, and tv2 would have dvr on 73 and 322 on channel 3. Or whatever channel you want them to be I suppose.

Doing it this way you only need one cable to each room. Each room tv would have two remotes to use.

Expect this type of installation to take quite some time. It would be considered non - standard, and I'm sure your installer would require an additional fee to hook it up.
 
Thanks for all the responses.

WileyKyle: In my area, the pricing for these services (cable or fiber or satellite) is becoming very expensive. I'm trying to save a few bucks, but it may be smarter in the long run to shell out the extra money for two DVRs. The question would still remain though, as to the best method to connect both DVR outputs (TV1 & TV2) to the TV input.

johnwadams: RF is fine, even though quality is sacrificed. I considered the splitter method, but thought the signals would interfere.

vegassatellite: I'm a little confused - are you suggesting that the first TV make use of only A/V signals, and the second TV make use of only RF signals? Will a simple RCA "Y" adapter combine the A/V signals from the DVR and receiver that are going to the first TV? Is it possible to choose the modulation channel on the second TV (I thought it was limited to 3 & 4)?

Ftoutloff: I'm surprised that I would need additional remotes. There must be people who connect a two-tuner DVR to one TV. Do they have to use two remotes, one to record a show on tuner#1, and another to watch a show on tuner#2? Although I don't know the first thing about satellite TV, I work in the electronics field, so I hope to be able to do (or redo) most of the installation myself.

Again, thanks for the advice.
 
Not sure if I understand fully what you'd like to do, but i think the VIP622 or 722 will do what you want. This is what I have:

I have my 622 set up in the living room driving my big screen with component video, and can access all the features of the DVR with the IR remote.

The TV2 RF output goes to all of the other TVs in the house and is controlled by the UHF remote. The TV1 tuner of the 622 shows on ch 55 and TV2 shows on ch 60. The DVR functions work fine on TV2 seen on ch 60 via the UHF remote.

The single or dual mode switch changes slightly how these functions are available at TV2.

Hope this helps, Eric
 
The method I was describing was using one coax line to each room (I am assuming you only have one line to each room). If you are to put the receivers in a single location you would need to use dish uhf remotes. Either that or get 2 ir extenders

In each receiver box there is one uhf remote - for the tv2 output. You would need uhf remotes for your tv1's as well, as tv1 is typically ir.

Of course if you are open to running more wires then that opens up a boatload of other options - and you don't need more uhf remotes.
 
Everyone has been very helpful. Please let me respond, and perhaps clarify the question.

Ftoutloff: Ahh, I didn't realize one remote was IR and the other was RF (UHF).

oldford: Another piece of the puzzle falls into place. I'm guessing that dual or single mode refers to having both tuners available to TV1, or split between TV1 and TV2.

Anyone else: All I want to achieve is to have two TV's, each capable of recording one show while watching another. This would require 4 tuners. The easiest solution mentioned by WileyKyle is to get a two-tuner DVR for each TV. I thought it would be cheaper instead to get one two-tuner DVR, and one two-tuner receiver. But then the hookup becomes a little more complicated. What has me stumped is the two RF connections on the back of the 625 DVR. One is marked TV Ch 3-4 out, the other Ch21-69 out. From what others have said, I'm guessing I can choose the modulation channel between 3 & 4, and 21 thru 69 respectively.
 
Is it possible to have two TV output for DVR 921? It has two Sat in.

No, although the 921 is a dual tuner receiver, there is not split for tv1. Only one output channel at a time, plus not all outputs are active it the same time. The receiver has HD outputs of components and dvi of which when they are active, dvi will shut off component when cable is plugged into the receiver, all composites, s-video and rf outputs are shut off when receiver is set to HD mode. When the 921 is set to sd mode, the HD outputs are not active.
 
Everyone has been very helpful. Please let me respond, and perhaps clarify the question.

Ftoutloff: Ahh, I didn't realize one remote was IR and the other was RF (UHF).

oldford: Another piece of the puzzle falls into place. I'm guessing that dual or single mode refers to having both tuners available to TV1, or split between TV1 and TV2.

Anyone else: All I want to achieve is to have two TV's, each capable of recording one show while watching another. This would require 4 tuners. The easiest solution mentioned by WileyKyle is to get a two-tuner DVR for each TV. I thought it would be cheaper instead to get one two-tuner DVR, and one two-tuner receiver. But then the hookup becomes a little more complicated. What has me stumped is the two RF connections on the back of the 625 DVR. One is marked TV Ch 3-4 out, the other Ch21-69 out. From what others have said, I'm guessing I can choose the modulation channel between 3 & 4, and 21 thru 69 respectively.

The 21-69 port is for distribution of the TV 2 signal. It has a much greater amount of signal than the 3-4 TV 1 port. 3/4 is for TV1 only.
 
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