<quote>First, I think you are saying you have one WB68 with each block of four outputs going to other WB68s - three in total, giving you 16 outputs. This scheme probably won't work reliably. The WB68 is not supposed to be used in a stacking scheme like this because it is unpowered and they can't guarantee your satellite switching signals will get to the dish. The manufacturer's spec specifically says you can't stack WB68s. If you have a lot of receivers as you do then the problem is hidden a lot of the time because you will usually have multiple receivers selecting each of the four lines from the multiswitch to the dish, but if you get to a position where, let's say, only one of your receivers is selecting a particular block of transponders, you may get "searching for signal" messages. What's worse, it will be almost impossible to diagnose because everything changes so fast. And you may find your receivers get very hot trying to drive through two multiswitches to the dish. Either you should be using the WB616, or you can add a Sonora power inserter so that the four lines to the dish are always powered. This effectively makes the first WB68 a powered multiswitch.
Second, the lack of an OTA port has nothing to do with the design of the multiswitch. When the new DirecTV 10 and 11 satellites launch next year, they will start transmitting in the Ka-lo frequency band which overlaps the OTA band, so diplexing OTA onto the satellite cables will not work anymore. There is a probable fix for this which involves relocating the b-band converters - you will have received these with every H20 receiver or HR20 DVR. The b-band converter moves the Ka-lo signals back to Ka-hi so the receiver can decode them. The b-band converter normally plugs into the input of the receiver, but if you move it to the output of the multiswitch (using gender converters on the connections) the conversion to Ka-hi will happen there and allow you to use diplexers to put the OTA signal onto the satellite cable as you do now. It will work in theory, people at DirecTV say it will work, but we won't know for sure until the new satellites start to transmit Ka-lo and we can test it.
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Thanks Texasbrit for the through explaination. I was not thrilled with the 8 port switches going in... it cluttered up my install area, I also inquired about the Zinwell 16 port output when I sked the appointment and I explained the setup to D*. They saw the number of receivers at the house. The statement from the CSR and the Tech was the same, D* does not stock nor will they of the 6X16. Since they were willing to get me up and rolling with the config that is present.
As with the power inserter, does that go between the slimline inputs and the first switch?
With the OTA issue, where can the signal be inserted into the system? Does it involve a passive/active splitter and it gets added to the system?
How can I convince D* to splurge for the X16 switch for the new setup? There hasnt been an issue yet, that I can point to with lack of service. I havent noticed a hotter than normal receiver, yet. There is a block of receivers in one area and they are stacked. Seperated by spacers, no fan yet but that area gets warm.
Thanks again for the info and I will keep all abreast of any develops.
Tampa Satman