Need Help Adding a Fifth Receiver

[Dwayne]

I'm a newbie to this forum, a recent convert from cable to DirecTV and rather clueless about satellite technology. I'm hoping you can help me out with what is probably a very basic question: how do I add a fifth receiver? (DirecTV customer service has not been particularly helpful).

Here's what I know... I have a Slimline dish with an EagleAspen LNB (Model SL3 SPIG-P). I'm assuming the LNB has one output since there's a single cable running from the dish to a (DirecTV approved) Zinweil 2-2150 MHz 4-way splitter in my house feeding four receivers (1 HR22-100 and 3 D12-100).

All I want to do is add a fifth receiver (H21-200). Is it as simple as just replacing the 4-way splitter with a 6 or 8-way splitter or do I need a fancier multi-switch? Will my current dish/LNB configuration even accomodate a fifth receiver?

 

[Bob Nielsen]

You have a SWM dish, which will work with up to 8 tuners (DVRS have two each). You are currently using 5, so have room for 3 more. If you replace your 4-way splitter with a SWS-8 (or equivalent) you will be able to feed the new receiver (unused splitter ports should be terminated).

 

[joed32]

If you order the receiver from Directv they will install it, including any needed switches.

 

[Hemi 6.1]

If you order the receiver from Directv they will install it, including any needed switches.

Yep.

 

[BlueEos]

I'm a newbie to this forum, a recent convert from cable to DirecTV and rather clueless about satellite technology. I'm hoping you can help me out with what is probably a very basic question: how do I add a fifth receiver? (DirecTV customer service has not been particularly

It's a bit unclear as to what your real question is. Are you asking about a "paid" 5th receiver? If so, DTV certainly can help you and probably will send a guy out to install it for you for $5 more monthly for SD and I believe $10 for HD.

If instead, you're asking about adding a 5th receiver (a unit you DIDN'T get from DTV) and you want to add it to your mix, it's my understanding that ALL DTV receivers are coded so that they will not work unless DTV unlocks them.

If the second option is what you are looking for, you can "share" a DTV receiver in two ways (MRV) or direct hookup to a present DTV receiver. ALL outputs on the back of DTV receivers are "hot". I'm using one of my DTV HD receivers to feed an HD TV in our laundry room and another on in my office that's around 30' away. The short line is in the laundry room which uses the component output of the receiver and the long run is a 35' HDMI cable. Hooked up in this manner, if both TVs are on, they have to be on the same channel.

For great prices on extended cabling, go to monoprice.com.

 

[fleetfarmer]

If instead, you're asking about adding a 5th receiver (a unit you DIDN'T get from DTV) and you want to add it to your mix, it's my understanding that ALL DTV receivers are coded so that they will not work unless DTV unlocks them.

I don't think the OP is trying to rip off DIRECTV. He just wants to know how to connect up a 5 receiver.

 

[Davedirectv]

I'm a newbie to this forum, a recent convert from cable to DirecTV and rather clueless about satellite technology. I'm hoping you can help me out with what is probably a very basic question: how do I add a fifth receiver? (DirecTV customer service has not been particularly helpful).

Here's what I know... I have a Slimline dish with an EagleAspen LNB (Model SL3 SPIG-P). I'm assuming the LNB has one output since there's a single cable running from the dish to a (DirecTV approved) Zinweil 2-2150 MHz 4-way splitter in my house feeding four receivers (1 HR22-100 and 3 D12-100).

All I want to do is add a fifth receiver (H21-200).

Sounds like a pretty typical 4 box HD install these days.

Is it as simple as just replacing the 4-way splitter with a 6 or 8-way splitter or do I need a fancier multi-switch?

Yes. It's important to buy the correct switch that has a power passing port like this one. DIRECTV SWS-8 Satellite 8-Way Wide Band (2 -2150 MHz) Splitter (SWS-8) - DIRECTV - SWS-8 -

Hook that splitter up in the same exact way as your current configuration with all the cables on the same exact ports and you will be fine.

Will my current dish/LNB configuration even accomodate a fifth receiver?

Yes. For the reasons already stated in previous posts.

 

[BlueEos]

I don't think the OP is trying to rip off DIRECTV. He just wants to know how to connect up a 5 receiver.

I was basically trying to point out that why bother trying to hookup a 5th receiver IF DTV will not recognize it. And IF they do, then let them do the whole job as it's going to cost at least $5 more per month plus if he needs a bigger SWM platform, they're going to have to provide that as well.

As for ripping off DTV, I don't feel that's what I'm doing. Sometimes a whole month or more goes by before I turn on the set in my office.

 

[Dwayne]

My thanks to all of you for your posts. I neglected to state in my original post that I had already purchased (or paid for my lease I should say) the H21-200 unit from Best Buy several weeks ago. I had talked to DirecTV customer service beforehand and they didn't mention installing it for me if I purchased the unit through them. I'll pick up a switch like the one recommended above and let you know how it works out.

Thanks again all!

 

[Jimbo]

My thanks to all of you for your posts. I neglected to state in my original post that I had already purchased (or paid for my lease I should say) the H21-200 unit from Best Buy several weeks ago. I had talked to DirecTV customer service beforehand and they didn't mention installing it for me if I purchased the unit through them. I'll pick up a switch like the one recommended above and let you know how it works out.

Thanks again all!

IF you bought the stuff yourself, I doubt that D* would come out to do the install.
You probably could have got the set up cheaper thru D* if you need it installed.