Satellite System Topology Question

[UncleMartyBob]

OK, I'm a newbie to the FTA satellite arena. I have made the commitment and cut-the-cable and have been on FTA antenna for a couple of months, but have not been happy with the limited number of available channels. So, I have ordered the MicroHD satellite kit and it's on it's way. My plan is this:
I want to mount the dish on the roof where I have a clear shot at several satellites. This will be on the same end of the house where the Comcast cable use to enter the house. There is a box on the side of the house that houses the "block" that the cable coaxial plugged into and leads to the other coaxial runs throughout the house. My thought was to run a cable from the dish to this mounting block. Then connect the MicroHD receiver to the "in-wall" cable run connection (and tv) in the living room. If this setup worked, I thought I might be able to add additional receivers in other rooms. My questions are these:
1) Would this topology/setup actually work?
2) Would I need a preamp or something similar to 'push' the signal through the house?
Thanks for you help...and patience!

 

[Anole]

No. Never trust cable you didn't install!
Also, that is not the way you distribute signal to multiple rooms.
"splitters" don't work.

See the Switches Simplified thread in our FAQ department for discussion of how to connect multiple receivers.
?

 

[UncleMartyBob]

Yeah, I was afraid it couldn't be that easy.
Looks like I have homework to do.
Thanks!

 

[wallyhts]

How many tv's would you like to hookup?

What satellite are you thinking about pointing to 1st?

?What kind of channels do you want?

 

[KE4EST]

Welcome to SatelliteGuys Uncle!!

Yes give us more details on how many rooms and such and we will help you get all set-up.

 

[harshness]

Would it be fair to say that FTA remains a hobby as opposed to an alternative to cable or pizza dish?

 

[Scott Greczkowski]

Would it be fair to say that FTA remains a hobby as opposed to an alternative to cable or pizza dish?

Very much so, what is there today might not be there tomorrow... But who knows what new channels will pop up next.

Sent from my iPhone using SatelliteGuys

 

[bobvick]

Would it be fair to say that FTA remains a hobby as opposed to an alternative to cable or pizza dish?

If you enjoy any type of "cable" programming, definitely.

 

[wallyhts]

Would it be fair to say that FTA remains a hobby as opposed to an alternative to cable or pizza dish?

Perhaps just depends what the person like's to watch. I know some folks that enjoy G19 and OTA and that's more then enough for them.

?

 

[rv1pop]

Perhaps just depends what the person like's to watch. I know some folks that enjoy G19 and OTA and that's more then enough for them.

?

We have NO OTA! I have --- ah.. 8 KU satellite available and 97W is all we watch...` AND the pay birds only offer 4 of the channels we watch on 97W - and we would not watch any others they offer. Yeah I am UNUSUAL.. Looking at 14 beautiful deer..

 

[turbosat]

If there's a grounding block in the outside cable box, I think I would use it, then run my own cable from the block into the house. Like anole said, who knows what kind of splitters might be installed inside that wouldn't pass satellite signals.

 

[Tron]

Would it be fair to say that FTA remains a hobby as opposed to an alternative to cable or pizza dish?

Depends on what you're looking for. There are benefits of FTA that you'll never get with cable or pizza. Getting multiple time zone network feeds in Blu-Ray quality is sweet.

 

[northgeorgia]

I have a quick question -- where in Georgia are you located? I'm guessing more than 75 miles from the Atlanta metro area? Otherwise, you would get tons of stuff on OTA if you had a medium to large outdoor antenna.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_in_Atlanta#Local_stations

 

[UncleMartyBob]

Thanks for the responses....I'll try to address some of the questions.
SETUP:
I eventually would like to have 4 (min) to 6 (max) rooms with satellite receivers...each attached to a flat panel HDTV.
I would like one of these (living room) to also include some type of DVR setup.
If the MicroHD works well with the initial setup I would probably go with the same unit in the other areas....unless you guys recommend something else (in the same price range).
LOCATION:
I live in a "hilly" area...surrounded by multiple hills (and forest) with one open spot directly due south (180 degrees).
TVFool graph:
I also have the large high voltage power lines running parallel to my property...between my house and the Atlanta (antenna) stations.
I have tried both a Winegard HD8200U and a Winegard HD7000R antennas...surprisingly, the 7000R picks up slightly better.
These are/were mounted about 8ft above the roof line (20 ft off ground).
I get (graph) channels 33, 51, and 41 pretty well....the 19, 10, 20, 25, and 27 come and go with the weather...and nothing over 36 miles or with a week broadcast signal (#39) will come in at all.
Some questions of my own....
1) Do satellites utilize some sort of "preamp" like many antennas do?
2) Is there a particular switch that will/may work better with MicroHD?
3) I plan to continue using the antenna for 'local' news/weather....will I need a special "switch" for each tv to switch between antenna and satellite inputs for this?

Thanks....

 

[UncleMartyBob]

The TVFool map graph can be found at:

http://www.tvfool.com/?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=29&q=id=46aef7a838f2d5

 

[madmadworld]

I want to mount the dish on the roof where I have a clear shot at several satellites.

what dish ? size ? picture of it or link

 

[Anole]

Partial answer

All modern HD TV sets have multiple inputs.
I have an FTA receiver plugged into one HDMI connector.
The bluray uses another.
My WD TV Live Plus is a media player, which lets me play Netflix, YouTube, and video from two local servers on my LAN.
If I needed more inputs, I use a $20 external HDMI switch which has its own remote, or will auto-switch to the most recently powered source.
I personally prefer HDMI over Component and Svideo connections, because HDMI carries sound.
Your setup is up to your personal tastes.
.
?Each of your TV sets can connect to your outdoor antenna.
Finding an FTA receiver that also does OTA, has been the holy grail for a decade. A new one comes to market every year.
None have proven theirselves with high performance and low cost. So today, I recommend FTA-only receivers.
You don't put all your eggs into one basket. ?
.
You should start with one simple system for now.
But eventually you may decide you want FTA reception from multiple satellites.
The only way to do that for so many receivers is with multiple dishes.
Each receiver can choose from any satellite on your list.
The Switches Simplified FAQ has an example which easily expands to 8 birds and 8 receivers.
?.

 

[madmadworld]

Finding an FTA receiver that also does OTA, has been the holy grail for a decade. A new one comes to market every year.
None have proven theirselves with high performance and low cost. So today, I recommend FTA-only receivers.
You don't put all your eggs into one basket. ?

?.

have you had a pany 9200 or cooly 8100 ?

 

[UncleMartyBob]

what dish ? size ? picture of it or link

This is the kit I purchased: http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...9079&item=121069519079&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466

 

[madmadworld]

What satellite are you thinking about pointing to 1st?

?What kind of channels do you want?

could you ask those questions above ?


these 2 items will let you hook up 8 satellite receivers
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200780432385

http://www.ebay.com/itm/380499032602

this will let you move dish to all the satellites you can get
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221206471546

good luck