I see the diplexer that has two outputs from Weaknees but, is their a different one I need for the 2 inputs and 1 output right after the power inserter?
Understanding SWM - I think I got it
- Thread starter blakex
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i got this going today and it works flawlessly. not a point less on the sat signal strengths. very easy. i took the cable from the swm lnb and hooked it to the diplexer with the ant cable. from there i installed the single wire from the diplexer to the 4 port switch that the swm lnb brings. diplexed it at the receiver end and perfect.
Well I ordered an SWM-8 and an SWS-4 today, and they should be arriving Friday and I have installation scheduled for Saturday, we'll see how everything goes. Yet another $160 up front I have the pleasure of paying for through DirecTV...
You will be pleased with your purchase. This is new technology not being used yet in all areas of the USA. Those whom are using it outside those markets pay for it out of their pocket. Next year, sometime in 2009, the SWM will be a standard throughout the USA and shouldn't cost any additional to the customer.
One more question I never got answered, I got the SWM-8 and an SWS-4 to go to the 4 HD DVRs we are having installed. If I want to add on regular receivers down the line (as I can still have 2 more TVs on my account), will that be possible with the equipment I just purchased? I don't plan on adding any more DVRs, just standard receivers.
Are there enough "ports" on the SWM-8 or on the dish that will allow me more TV installations?
Are there enough "ports" on the SWM-8 or on the dish that will allow me more TV installations?
I Did My Own
I installed and aimed a new dish, ran in 4 wires to a SWM-8, diplexed it with a Winegard Square Shooter OTA antenna, distributed to three receivers -- one wire each -- diplexed out the OTA signal at the receiver end, and, PERFECTO. I get all the DirecTV signals plus all the local (Milwaukee) OTA signals. No BBC, only one wire to each receiver, integrated menus, etc.
I think one needs to use the right diplexers, etc., but to say that it doesn't work is just not the case. It does work -- just get the right advice (or installer) and the right equipment.
Stan
I installed and aimed a new dish, ran in 4 wires to a SWM-8, diplexed it with a Winegard Square Shooter OTA antenna, distributed to three receivers -- one wire each -- diplexed out the OTA signal at the receiver end, and, PERFECTO. I get all the DirecTV signals plus all the local (Milwaukee) OTA signals. No BBC, only one wire to each receiver, integrated menus, etc.
I think one needs to use the right diplexers, etc., but to say that it doesn't work is just not the case. It does work -- just get the right advice (or installer) and the right equipment.
Stan
Stan, sounds a lot like my setup, even the Square Shooter. The only problem I've seen about diplexing OTA is with the low VHF channels (2-6) so maybe that's why D* doesn't recommend it?
First, I don't have it to hand but I seem to remember the post about VHF-lo and diplexing turned out to be a different problem entirely and so isn't relevant.
Second, diplexing with the SWM8. I was in the field trials for the SWM and have been using diplexing for OTA right from the start (almost a year ago now) with my HR20-100, HR20-700, H20-600 and HR21-200/AM21 combination. No problems at all.
But DirecTV officially does not support diplexing with the SWM8. This may just be because they don't want their installers getting involved in OTA issues - and I don't blame them for that! But also we know that there are problems with diplexers and the signalling channel between the receivers and the SWM. This is down at 2.3Mhz, and some diplexers don't pass this signal on to the satellite line, so the SWM8 does not see it and so does not work. Second, there have been problems reported with people trying to diplex a cable modem signal, and the cable modem return path interfering with the 2.3Mhz signal. Third, there has been some unconfirmed speculation that future DirecTV services might involve using signals that, like the SWM control channel, are in a very low frequency band, or even might be in the OTA band - but as I said, this is all highly speculative and might have no substance at all.
Second, diplexing with the SWM8. I was in the field trials for the SWM and have been using diplexing for OTA right from the start (almost a year ago now) with my HR20-100, HR20-700, H20-600 and HR21-200/AM21 combination. No problems at all.
But DirecTV officially does not support diplexing with the SWM8. This may just be because they don't want their installers getting involved in OTA issues - and I don't blame them for that! But also we know that there are problems with diplexers and the signalling channel between the receivers and the SWM. This is down at 2.3Mhz, and some diplexers don't pass this signal on to the satellite line, so the SWM8 does not see it and so does not work. Second, there have been problems reported with people trying to diplex a cable modem signal, and the cable modem return path interfering with the 2.3Mhz signal. Third, there has been some unconfirmed speculation that future DirecTV services might involve using signals that, like the SWM control channel, are in a very low frequency band, or even might be in the OTA band - but as I said, this is all highly speculative and might have no substance at all.
In case it helps anyone looking at SWM, I did a review / write-up on how to use SWM including the SWM8 and SWM LNB back in May.
The thread is here if you are interested, 3 pages of good reading:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv...iew-directv-swm-lnb.html?highlight=SWM+review
The thread is here if you are interested, 3 pages of good reading:
http://www.satelliteguys.us/directv...iew-directv-swm-lnb.html?highlight=SWM+review
With the SWM LNB setup there is one line the connects to the LNB. That one line runs into the home to a Power Inserter, from the Power Inserter 1 line goes to the splitter, from the splitter 1 line goes to each receiver.
With the SWM LNB you can't use legacy recivers. With the SWM LNB you don't have an extra piece of equipment (external multiswitch SWM8) and can only use a max of 8 tuners with no possibility of expansion.
I have SWM LNB and think it is great.
With the SWM LNB you can't use legacy recivers. With the SWM LNB you don't have an extra piece of equipment (external multiswitch SWM8) and can only use a max of 8 tuners with no possibility of expansion.
I have SWM LNB and think it is great.
I guess I'm still somewhat confused. I don't expect to be getting an SWM dish. I just expect them to install the LNB and that's it.
So I ordered an SWM-8 and an SWS-4 to power the 4 HD DVRs in our house.
Will it be possible to add more boxes to this setup? If I wanted to add another receiver in another room (non DVR), will I be able to go past 8 "streams"?
Also, should I call up DirecTV to make sure they know I'm getting 4 HD DVRs installed so the installer knows that I already have 2 at my house?
So I ordered an SWM-8 and an SWS-4 to power the 4 HD DVRs in our house.
Will it be possible to add more boxes to this setup? If I wanted to add another receiver in another room (non DVR), will I be able to go past 8 "streams"?
Also, should I call up DirecTV to make sure they know I'm getting 4 HD DVRs installed so the installer knows that I already have 2 at my house?
For your application you want the SWM8 instead of the SWM-LNB. The two dishes are identical with the LNB being the only difference.
Yes, you can get their different ways. Your SWM8 can also export 3 feeds via Legacy ports (Located & capped on the SWM8); these leagacy ports only export data from three of the five satellites & cannot be diplexed with OTA. They can be used to feed older equipment. If you have an older two tuner DVR (Tivo) you would need to use two cables from two of the Legacy ports. If you are adding a newer receiver (supports SWM) substitute an 8-way splitter instead of the 4 way splitter & you can feed it that way.
Approved receivers that work via SWM:
HR-20 H20 R16 D12
HR-21 H21 R22 D13
Anything older use the Legacy ports.
Never hurts to be sure.
blakex - since you have four DVRs that is eight tuners and your SWM8 will be full. To go above eight tuners, you will need a second SWM8 and four wide-band splitters (power passing on at least one port) on the four lines from the dish or a second SWM8 and an SWM E2 expander - the E2 is six splitters inside a single unit (to allow connection to the 72.5 and 95 dishes for those who need them) and two SWM8s just plug in. Really neat but expensive.
I got mine on eBay. I got the SWM LNB, Power Inserter, and 8 way splitter all for around $200 after shipping.
Update:
I got my diplexers today and installed them. All works well. Having 1 line to each HD DVR with diplexed OTA is great. I should have done this when I first got the SWM LNB. Thanks everyone for your help.
I got my diplexers today and installed them. All works well. Having 1 line to each HD DVR with diplexed OTA is great. I should have done this when I first got the SWM LNB. Thanks everyone for your help.
Update after installation.
The guy came out and I told him I had my SWM-8 and SWS-4 along with two HR-22s I bought. He told me that it would cost $69 each to install the HR-22s rather than the ones that he brought out (HR-21s). I called up DirecTV and they couldn't change his work order, but since his workorder still showed 4 HD DVRs rather than 2 that I downgraded to, he installed 4 HR-21s and DirecTV said I could send two back to them and then hook up the two I bought on my own. So I guess that will work in a round about way.
As for the SWM and SWS, he told me he was installing the SWM LNB so I wouldn't need those. I asked him - but doesn't the SWM LNB only have 8 outputs? He then asked how I would know that as only installers know that. Thank you Satelliteguys
He told me that yes, it only has 8 outputs, so if we wanted to go past 4 HD DVRs in our house, they'd probably have to install another dish or find another way to split the signal.
After he was done running all the lines in the attic, he installed the 4 HD DVRs, and then put the power inserter in my room. I found it odd that you could put the power inserter anywhere in the line - it doesn't have to go before the splitter. Signals are at 95-96% on all 8 tuners and he even had someone come out and take pictures since he said our installation was picture perfect - the way he mounted it on beams, put down asphalt tar, grounded it to our junction box...
So other than the fact that I now have an SWM-8 and an SWS-4 I have to try and return and the fact that I might have to get another dish to add more TVs to the house, I'm very pleased with the installation. It took him a good 3+ hours to get everything up and running, the boxes perform adequately (a bit slow for my taste, but I'm still getting used to them), and the picture looks much better than AT&T Uverse.
Thanks again to everyone's help around here as I had so many questions leading up to install.
The guy came out and I told him I had my SWM-8 and SWS-4 along with two HR-22s I bought. He told me that it would cost $69 each to install the HR-22s rather than the ones that he brought out (HR-21s). I called up DirecTV and they couldn't change his work order, but since his workorder still showed 4 HD DVRs rather than 2 that I downgraded to, he installed 4 HR-21s and DirecTV said I could send two back to them and then hook up the two I bought on my own. So I guess that will work in a round about way.
As for the SWM and SWS, he told me he was installing the SWM LNB so I wouldn't need those. I asked him - but doesn't the SWM LNB only have 8 outputs? He then asked how I would know that as only installers know that. Thank you Satelliteguys
He told me that yes, it only has 8 outputs, so if we wanted to go past 4 HD DVRs in our house, they'd probably have to install another dish or find another way to split the signal.After he was done running all the lines in the attic, he installed the 4 HD DVRs, and then put the power inserter in my room. I found it odd that you could put the power inserter anywhere in the line - it doesn't have to go before the splitter. Signals are at 95-96% on all 8 tuners and he even had someone come out and take pictures since he said our installation was picture perfect - the way he mounted it on beams, put down asphalt tar, grounded it to our junction box...
So other than the fact that I now have an SWM-8 and an SWS-4 I have to try and return and the fact that I might have to get another dish to add more TVs to the house, I'm very pleased with the installation. It took him a good 3+ hours to get everything up and running, the boxes perform adequately (a bit slow for my taste, but I'm still getting used to them), and the picture looks much better than AT&T Uverse.
Thanks again to everyone's help around here as I had so many questions leading up to install.
Congrats on your setup. I like having the SWM LNB personally. Keep in mind you can get a SWS-8 splitter to replace your SWS-4 splitter. The "8 tuner" rule is 8 tuners can be used at any 1 given time. You can have 8 HD DVR's hooked up the SWS-8 but, if you have 8 shows recording and try to go and watch another you will be SOL so in my opinion, SWM LNB is nice if you don't have any legacy systems.
As for having the SWM8, there is always ebay if retun isn't an option.
As for having the SWM8, there is always ebay if retun isn't an option.
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