MPEG4 Multi-switch? H20 and HDTivo.

[bjdraw]

I am preparing for the HD Locals rollout here in Tampa.

Because of my installation I was only able to have 4 runs from the antenna/Dish to my wiring closet.

Currently I am using a diplexer for the OTA channels on one of the leads. It is my understanding that I cannot use the diplexer with the AT9 dish.

I have 2 Tivo's (1 HD) and I just bought a H20. For now I disconnected the Sat2 input of my SD Tivo and connected it to my H20. I plan to get a AT9 when they are available. I am still going to need my OTA for the HDTivo and maybe afterwards for UPN and WB.

My question is,
"What are my options considering I CANNOT run another coax cable?"

Is there a 3x5 multiswitch that works with MPEG4, H20? I would like my new setup to work when I upgrade my Tivo's to MPEG4.

Thanks

Ben

 

[hdtvtechno]

Multiswitch

 

[tibber]

Ben,

The bad news is you really, really need another piece of coax. To get everything onto the four lines, D* used very nearly the entire bandwidth of coax.

The possibly good news is that if D* covers all your HD locals, will you still need OTA? Yeah, I'd still want it in case of rainfade, uplink failure, bad karma, etc. but do you require it?

Lastly, is there absolutely no way to run another coax? Under, over, beside, outside? To rewire my house, I had to cut two helper holes in the sheetrock, then repair the holes. Any chance you can do similar tricks?

Good luck, I hope you can find a good solution.
Cheers,
Tom

 

[Mike500]

I am preparing for the HD Locals rollout here in Tampa.

Because of my installation I was only able to have 4 runs from the antenna/Dish to my wiring closet.

Currently I am using a diplexer for the OTA channels on one of the leads. It is my understanding that I cannot use the diplexer with the AT9 dish.


Thanks

Ben

No, they make a special diplexor that will WILL work. It is an integrated 5x4 diplexor that passes the four lines out of the lnb and inserts the OTA signal. I use them all the time with Phase III dishes, and it passes both the switching voltage and the 22 Khz switching signal. It is DirecTV approved.

It can be had at a nominal price. Send me a PM, if you need one.

 

[tibber]

Mike500,

Are you sure? Everything I've read about the new 5lnb dish indicates that we can no longer diplex the OTA signals onto the sat. coax, because the UHF OTA frequency is now being used by some of the Ka lnb's. (They also use a frequency range above the Ku stuff for the rest of the lnb's.) The pix of the WB68 are very clearly now switching at lower frequencies than the earlier switches.

Cheers,
Tom

 

[Mike500]

Mike500,

Are you sure? Everything I've read about the new 5lnb dish indicates that we can no longer diplex the OTA signals onto the sat. coax, because the UHF OTA frequency is now being used by some of the Ka lnb's. (They also use a frequency range above the Ku stuff for the rest of the lnb's.) The pix of the WB68 are very clearly now switching at lower frequencies than the earlier switches.

Cheers,
Tom

I'll have to check that out.

If tha is so, it would be difficult for customers, but it would be great for my business. I specialize in doing old work retrofit wall fishes of cables. I've always advocated separate cabling systems for OTA.

 

[bjdraw]

Thanks for all the help.

I live in a condo and I had my unit prewired. I requested 5 wires to be run to the roof. The installer ran them next to the AC lines to the roof and my dish is installed next to my AC compressor. He said he was not able to fit 5 lines and was only able to run 4. Now that the building is done the only way I could run another line is to run it outside of the building and I would have to get special premission from the HOA to run wires on the exterior of my building. I would consider doing this if I wanted to stay here. But my plans all along were to flip it after two years. So worst case senario I will suck it up till then.

I still need the OTA until Directv offers a replacement for my HDTivo. No other way to record the locals till then. Which is 80% of my recording. Plus Directv won't carry WB and UPN in my area out of the gate.

hdtvtchno;
How would I wire the 6x8 multiswitch?
Could I run the 3 in from the AT9 and 5 out to the recievers? Or 3 in and 4 out?

I can still diplex one of the leads going to the non H20 recievers.
What would happen if I use the diplexer before the multiswitch?

Thanks

Ben

 

[hdtvtechno]

hdtvtchno;
How would I wire the 6x8 multiswitch?
Could I run the 3 in from the AT9 and 5 out to the recievers? Or 3 in and 4 out?

I can still diplex one of the leads going to the non H20 recievers.
What would happen if I use the diplexer before the multiswitch?

Thanks

Ben

I'll leave that question for the pros to answer for you.