No TV2 Output on Vip222k??

[defaz]

I recently had a Vip222k installed in my house. I planned on adding another tv but only had my main tv (connected via hdmi) when the reciever was installed. The installer told me that adding the second tv would be simple -- run coax from the reciever's home distribution output directly to the second tv, access the modulator settings, set the output to air ch 60 and run auto setup on the second tv. So a couple days later I did exactly that... I ran a new 50' coax cable from the receiver up the wall, through the attic and down the wall in the other room directly into the second tv.

...well I can't get the second tv to show anything... i have tried switching the modulator channel (on both air and cable settings) and running autoprogram several times with no luck. Even if i manually tune the tv to the channel i select in the modulator menu, I get nothing... The tv is a fairly new lcd panel with a digital tuner.

I have a feeling that I'm missing something really simple. Any help is appreciated!

 

[DishSubLA]

I have found that it is shockingly easy to short out the "Home Distribution" output. Among other short-outs, the latest was my Uncle's who, through my error of NOT disconnecting from power, lost his TV2 output via the "Home Distribution" output when I had finished reconnecting it for clearing the rats nest of cables. I tried everything, but I knew I killed it. We RMA'd the box and once we connected the new box (lo and behold), dear uncle had TV2 back and all via "Home Distribution" output.

It is not just I, but several people on this board, over the years, have reported failing "Home Distribution" outputs, often after messing with them.

If you are confident that you have everything set properly, (I did confirm my uncle's loss by connecting the cable to his wife's DVR and got a picture and sound, so I knew without a doubt that I had killed my uncle's Home Distribution output), then get the box RMA'd and you should have Home Distribution output working. This is a common failure, but Dish will RMA. Good luck.

 

[SaltiDawg]

...
I have a feeling that I'm missing something really simple. Any help is appreciated!

Welcome to the forum.

I do not have a 222k but I do have a 722k (and a 622.) I hope they are identical as far as TV2. If you are in single Mode and have not enabled Shared View you would have the symptoms that you describe. (I do not remember if you would have been able to set the TV2 Channel in Single with Shared View not enabled.)

Just wanted to give you at least one answer.

EDIT A second possibility is that you have the TV2 output set to OTA and the TV to Cable (or vice versa.)

Question: Can you see TV1's output at TV2. I assume, like the 722k that both TV1 and also TV2 are available on the coax output to TV2.

 

[defaz]

Thanks for the help, It seems that the output must be shorted as I have tried practically every option with no luck. I don't know how I could have shorted it, but i suppose it is possible. I don't know if I can get an RMA on the receiver because I bought a refurbished unit from a small shop here in town.

I'm considering running a set of RCA cables alongside the coax for my TV2 output, maybe that will bypass the shorted output?

Also, might the short be an easy repair for me to tackle myself? I can only imagine that there would be a ground trace on the circuit board that would act as a fuse for the home distribution connection...

 

[SaltiDawg]

Thanks for the help, It seems that the output must be shorted as I have tried practically every option with no luck. ...

I guess the output being shorted is a possibility, but I have never heard of that.

Are you able to tune your remote TV to the channel that carries TV1? Do you see TV1 at the remote location?

Are you in Single or Dual Mode?

 

[TheKrell]

I don't know if I can get an RMA on the receiver because I bought a refurbished unit from a small shop here in town.

If it was refurbished at Dish, it still likely carries a 1 yr warranty. Call up Dish and see!

I'm considering running a set of RCA cables alongside the coax for my TV2 output, maybe that will bypass the shorted output?

Very likely "Yes", plus you'll get much better PQ as well.

 

[navychop]

If your TV only has a digital tuner, you're out of luck. The output is in analog only.

 

[SaltiDawg]

If your TV only has a digital tuner, you're out of luck. The output is in analog only.

Great idea!

 

[defaz]

Are you able to tune your remote TV to the channel that carries TV1? Do you see TV1 at the remote location?

Are you in Single or Dual Mode?

I'm not sure how the TV1 modulator works... Does it use the home distribution output as well? I tried setting an air channel for both TV1 and TV2 (channels 50 and 60) then ran the autoprogram on the second tv with no luck. I even went into the menu in the tv and manually set channels 50 and 60 in the "weak channel program" menu thinking that the autoprogram might have skipped over them for whatever reason.

I would be happy even just getting signal from the TV1 output as I can't physically watch both TVs at the same time... I just dont know how I could have made a mistake hooking this up. I mean, it's just a coax cable!

I have switched between single and dual mode, turned on shared view, lit candles and incense around the receiver, and even called a psychic once or twice.

Today after work I'm gong to pull the remote tv off the wall in the other room and set it next to the reciever connected by a new 6 foot coax to see if maybe there's a break in the cable that I ran... Then I will probably end up running RCAs... It's 103 today, perfect weather to be crawling around in the attic :tux:

 

[navychop]

Sorry, but I don't think your TV will ever work with Home Distribution because Home D was meant for NTSC analog TV signals. You stated your TV has a digital (ATSC) tuner. If your TV doesn't also have an analog tuner it simply is not going to work.

Miss Cleo is no longer in the business.

 

[defaz]

The tv's autoprogram has both air and cable options, so it should be able to snag the analog output from the receiver right?

 

[SaltiDawg]

The tv's autoprogram has both air and cable options, so it should be able to snag the analog output from the receiver right?

As navychop pointed out, you said, "The tv is a fairly new lcd panel with a digital tuner." If you have an ATSC (Digital) tuner only you will not be able to receive analog signals via the OTA tuner.

Many brand new sets do not have an analog tuner as for the most part, they're history.

If there is still a question in your mind, post the Model Number of the TV.

 

[TheKrell]

As Navy says, if the TV has only a digital tuner (ATSC for OTA and QAM for cable), then you won't see squat on the 222's NTSC analog output. That siad, I've never met an actual HDTV with a digital-only tuner. The only thing like that I've seen is my daughter's Samsung computer monitor, which has an ATSC (only) tuner.

 

[SaltiDawg]

... I've never met an actual HDTV with a digital-only tuner. The only thing like that I've seen is my daughter's Samsung computer monitor, which has an ATSC (only) tuner.

I thought the situation was just the opposite. Went to crutchfield.com and every set I looked at had both NTSC and ATSC tuners, as TheKrell says.

 

[defaz]

well hmm.. I've plugged the tv into an old antenna in my attic and pulled channels, but then again, that was pretty recent so they may have all been digital. I'm confused.

The tv has options for both Air and Cable, and so does the receiver... Shouldnt it just work?

oh wow I know a lot less about this stuff than I thought I did. Thanks for being patient with me, everyone!

 

[defaz]

Just read up on the tv. Looks like it has a digital tuner only. I still don't understand the purpose of being able to select between air and cable but that's no real issue.

...So can i put something inline to convert the signal to work with my tv rather than running all new cables??

 

[n0qcu]

...So can i put something inline to convert the signal to work with my tv rather than running all new cables??

a VCR would work.

 

[TheKrell]

Just read up on the tv. Looks like it has a digital tuner only. I still don't understand the purpose of being able to select between air and cable but that's no real issue.

That's a surprise to me; what TV make/model is that?

As for air or cable, they could well be all digital, but different due to the modulation scheme used. The broadcast OTA channels use ATSC, while cable almost always uses QAM. You have to tell the TV which to tune.

...So can i put something inline to convert the signal to work with my tv rather than running all new cables??

Darn good question. The cheap converter boxes go in the wrong direction, converting digital to analog for older TVs. Going from an analog tuner to digital outputs is probably going to cost more than another TV. What inputs does your TV have? If it has A/V inputs, probably that is your best bet. Better PQ than coax anyhow.

 

[SaltiDawg]

a VCR would work.

+1

 

[TheKrell]

a VCR would work.

This assumes a TV without an analog tuner nevertheless has A/V inputs. Do we know this?