Using Video Sender Pre-Tuner

[adryan16]

Hey guys. I've searched high and low and short of calling someone at DirecTV to ask this question, I figured people here might be able to help me out.

I recently purchased a new townhome that features two coax cables run to the living room. Unfortunately, they do not run to the same place; there is one behind the TV currently that is hidden and one in the corner of the mantle of the fireplace. I recently had DirecTV installed, and wanted to take advantage of the dual tuners. However, when the house was wired, a hole only large enough for the single coax line that is currently behind the TV was drilled our installer found. So he tied in to the coax that runs to the fireplace, and we now have about 12 ft of coax cable haphazardly tucked in around the baseboard to the TV.

Short of ripping out the wall to enlarge the hole for another coax to the outlet behind the TV, what can I do? I am particularly curious if I could use some form of wireless video sender to send the signal from the fireplace coax outlet ~12 ft to where the TV is and then into the tuner. I currently have a wireless network installed at home, so I have considered the 5.8 ghz video sender from LeapFrog to avoid as much transmission interference as possible. However, I'm unsure of the signal that would be broadcast from the transmitter at the outlet. Would I lose all signal integrity?

If anyone has any great ideas before I have to patch a wall, reglue the carpeting and reinstall the woodwork, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

 

[Brewer4]

You can not wirelessly send the native Directv source signal. Its only when its ready for the TV side can you send it. So you need 2 lines for the DVR's. Only way to solve this is install the cable properly. There is a single wire solution coming but it requires a SWM single wire multiswitch with the new 5 LNB dishes but they are not officially released yet. Sometime in the Fall is the projection.

 

[adryan16]

Well, I kinda figured that would be the case. So, in your opinion would it be better to wait it out for a bit, or would the single wire solution and multiswitch upgrade be more cost prohibitive than it is worth to just go ahead and and tear into the wall and drill the hole? Thanks for the answer and input!

 

[Brewer4]

For a nut case like me, I gotta have it now so I would do the 2nd wire. If you dont need the second tuner immediately, then wait till the new multiswitch is available and go single wire. There are folks on this site that have them as beta testers. Its coming, its just not coming fast enough for lots of folks.

 

[adryan16]

Well, I think I can be patient; it's been an eyesore in the living room, and it makes me want to go out to the garage and work on stuff out there instead! Anyway, I think I'll watch the boards here to see when the single wire option is available. I've taken a look around, and discovered that I have the new Slimline 5-LNB, so I know I'm compatible at least. When the single wire option becomes available, what would be the easiest way to procure that? Should I call DirecTV directly, or just an installer who would have access to the necessary items, and what exactly are the necessary items?

On a separate note out of curiosity, I was wondering how that will work? Is one cable carrying both signals, or is the cable itself a compound cable with two physical cable components? Additionally, will it run to a switch from the wall outlet and then into the HR20, or will it be one line? Just curious...

Thanks again for your help!

 

[Brewer4]

The cable doesnt change. You can use your existing coax. The multiswitch just knows to have both on the same wire. And you just plug that into your H20 or HR20 receiver. If you have R15, then that does not support single wire (2 tuners over same wire). Might be a good time when SWM comes out to call Directv and have them upgrade you for free or small cost and install the SWM at the same time.

 

[adryan16]

Okay, I greatly appreciate the information. Thanks again!