Cable Distance Limitations

[countryhouse]

I'm new to the Sattellite arena and can't seem to get a straight answer from the installers that are coming by. I've had two installers come by and both have said the different things. Maybe someone can help me with good answers here.

I am moving to an old farmhouse and the only clear view of the southern sky is approximately 170' from the house. I would need to run about another 40' of RG6 to get to my rooms inside my house. This would bring the total to about 210' of RG6. One installers says that this will not be a problem. One installer says the limit is 125'. I called Direct TV tech support and they told me that an installation of a powered amplified multiswitch would extend my distance to 125'. One forum said that if I didn't amplify the signal within the first 100' it would be a wast of time. So, I'm really confused right now.

I could extend the cable run from the dish to the multiswitch inside the house so there would be access to power. This would make the run about 200'. The runs from this location would be shorter to the rooms with the longest being about 35'. If this will work for the HD sattellite pkg, please help. If I would need a powered amplified multiswitch, can someone recommend a good one as well?

Thanks for helping straighten out my confusion!!

 

[jdspencer]

Don't worry about the inside distance if you use a powered multiswitch inside. What I would do is run RG11 from dish to multiswitch. There's less loss per foot with RG11. The RG6 inside.

Also, is that spot absolutely the only place a dish can be used?

 

[rocket69]

RG11 is the way to go but expesive if you cant aford it get some RG6 solid copper quad sheild and make sure to run 8 lines throught conduit take into a count the distance from goose neck to first bend under ground and bend up to goose neck next to house ...
Pull Plenty of extra. then contact sonora design they have gear for Inline amps for KA/KU power can be placed at house and send curent through one of the extra 4 lines then conect to the amp at the dish .. it will also work at the the house if needed but not recomended.. USE of SOLID COPER ONLY!!!!! CCS will fry your gear over time and creates signal losse its fine for jumpers in house 2-10' , but a pull this long you dont want to micky mouse it every 3 months when you gear starts to blow up.

Will the direct guy know what to do mabe will he do it right dont think so if you cant to it your self contact a low voltage contractor

 

[countryhouse]

Clearing it up

Thanks for the info guys. Let me make sure I've got it straight

I can run RG11, no problem. If I put a powered multiswitch inside, would that be the desired solution. (I've checked and that is the only place I can put a dish without cutting down some monster pecan trees that I don't want to lose.) Can you reccommend a good powered multiswitch?

How many RG11 cables will I need to the dish site? The installers are telling me that the dish will be picking up 5 satellites at once. Would I be correct in assuming that I would need 5 cables? Also, I'm assuming direct burial flooded cable is desired here.

Also, I have been told I will need 2 RG6 cables to the TV where I will have an HD DVR. Is this correct?

Thanks for the help. I know data, but know very little about video.

 

[Jimbo]

Thanks for the info guys. Let me make sure I've got it straight

I can run RG11, no problem. If I put a powered multiswitch inside, would that be the desired solution. (I've checked and that is the only place I can put a dish without cutting down some monster pecan trees that I don't want to lose.) Can you reccommend a good powered multiswitch?

How many RG11 cables will I need to the dish site? The installers are telling me that the dish will be picking up 5 satellites at once. Would I be correct in assuming that I would need 5 cables? Also, I'm assuming direct burial flooded cable is desired here.

RG-11 cables .... 4 from the dish to the MS, if your using a MS.
Then you can run lines for your rec's from the MS.

direct burial flooded cable is desired here.
Yes, this would work well


Also, I have been told I will need 2 RG6 cables to the TV where I will have an HD DVR. Is this correct?

DVR's require 2 lines to work to their potential, being able to watch something other than whats being recorded, unless you can get a SWM set up from the D* guys.

Thanks for the help. I know data, but know very little about video.[/QUOTE]

 

[jdspencer]

Would SWM be an option for this distance?

BTW, MS = multiswitch.

 

[Jimbo]

JD,
Wouldn't he be able to run RG-11 the distance and be fine without having to worry about signal loss, seeing it's the heavier cable I would think he would be OK with it.
That would eliminate alot of the issues.

 

[jdspencer]

Sure, RG11 should solve the problem. I was thinking that running one RG11 for an SWM install would be much cheaper than running four cables.

 

[countryhouse]

I'm a newbie to Satellite guys. 1 cable for SWM?? Need some definitions so I know what to ask the D* guys. (I'm learning fast, but still need a little help)

 

[jdspencer]

Simply, SWM is a new technology that allows DirecTV to send signals from all satellites down one coax. The new dish has the SWM module built into the LNB assembly. Then inside the house this signal can be used by up to 8 tuners. The only other equipment is that only newer receivers capable of using SWM can be used.
For more detailed info, do a search for SWM.

 

[Stargazer]

I wonder why Dish Network does not implement some sort of SWM technology to where there is only one coax wire needed like Directv is doing.

How far can you run RG-11 coax wire with Dish Network / Directv before it loses too much voltage?

 

[harshness]

I wonder why Dish Network does not implement some sort of SWM technology to where there is only one coax wire needed like Directv is doing.

SWM has created a relatively large amount of confusion because it is only compatible with the latest generation receivers. I don't think DISH wants to create that kind of press.

The other confusing part about SWM is that it is currently limited to eight tuners which seems to be less than many of the more seasoned DIRECTV customers have.

 

[Jimbo]

SWM has created a relatively large amount of confusion because it is only compatible with the latest generation receivers. I don't think DISH wants to create that kind of press.

The other confusing part about SWM is that it is currently limited to eight tuners which seems to be less than many of the more seasoned DIRECTV customers have.

You people keep getting into the newest technology and say "Why doesn't it do this or that" It's brand NEW technology (for them) nothing saying that it won't be improved apon as time goes by.
6 months ago people were complaining about having to run 2 lines of the DVR, now that isn't needed, people are STILL complaining ....

Give them time, they will adapt and improve it.

NOT EVERYONE needs 8 tuners, I am a "Seasoned" sub as you say and don't require this ...

 

[jdspencer]

S...
The other confusing part about SWM is that it is currently limited to eight tuners which seems to be less than many of the more seasoned DIRECTV customers have.

This is true with the SWMLine dish that has the SWM built in to the LNB assembly. However, any four output dish can usw SWM technology with the addition of the SWM8 module. This module also has the 8 tuner limitation, but you can run several SWM8s in parallel to increase the outputs.

 

[jjferrari1]

I ran RG-11 280' from my slimline-5 to the house (40' RG-6 inside) and have no problems.

 

[VPACRANES]

Dish to house distance limitation

I am also having difficulties getting Direct TV.

I have had two techs come to the property in the woods and both tell me that I am unable to get reception due to the trees. I have a clearing approximately 250' away. There is a clear shot to the Southwest sky.

My issue is the 125' limit of coax.

Does anyone know of a coax to fiber optic media coverter that might work in order to solve this problem? Where I work we use fiber to coax media converters for CCTV. It works great.

I dont want to spend the money on something that might work!

 

[harshness]

When you can afford a fiber media converter that has 2GHz of bandwidth, let us know and we'll get you a little closer to your goal.

Of course you'll still need to figure out some way of getting 29VDC to the dish to power the amplifiers and switchgear.

 

[twizt3dsist3r]

d* is saying 125ft alot because thats what they will cover in a basic install, good luck getting a straight answer from anyone over the phone, and most installers would look at your property and just not want to do it for the time it would take, and for potential service calls on equipment and wire that isnt ours, such as the rg11, aslo where are you grounding? RG6 is limited to 150', idk about rg8 or rg11, but im fairly positive 1/2hardline is 500'. and the frequency is 2150mhz, not just 2ghz. Your probably going to be better off installing most of this yourself, and providing alot of equipment. and you might as well mount the pole yourself to save that money. 2" OD pole, RG11 coax run from the dish point up to the house with i would say 5-10' extra on both sides, oh and for the rg11, i would probably bet money that the tech will NOT have strippers compression or fittings for rg11, so pick that up too, and your account probably isnt flagged for swm, so the chances of d* adding it correctly are slim and non, so your looking at buying the lnb, power inserter, and switch too. if you can provide all of the equipment to get signal inside the house an installer should be able to take it from there.... the question is will they. With the majority of the equipment being yours and the work not done by them, they would have the right to refuse the job in order to avoid charge backs on service calls. not to mention if you ever did need a service call no tech is going to be able to work on rg11.

 

[VPACRANES]

What is the price range of a 2ghz fiber optic media converter? Has anyone had any experience with type of installation? If so, SHOW ME THE WAY!


It sounds to me as if the RG11 will do the trick at 250'. One d* tech told me I could do it all my self then call for the setup.