Another multiswitch questions

[seadog99]

I have a triple LNB elliptical dish(4 outputs) running to a 5x8 switch. 4 outputs run into my living room and one runs upstairs.The other 3 are empty. Rather than running more lines into the living room from the 5x8 switch ,can I plug the existing 4 living room lines into another 4x8 switch to add 2 more receivers? I tried an old 3x4 switch with plugging 2 out of the 4 lines into it and I only got odd transponders I believe.

Thank You

 

[dishrich]

If you were to get a cascadable switch, it should actually work, assuming that you really have 4 separate lines from the first switch.
Actually, the 3x4 switch would work as well, provided that you did NOT need anything from the 110/119 slots on those same receivers on the 2nd switch - if you don't need locals/spanish or HD on those added receivers, it will work fine as well.

 

[seadog99]

If you were to get a cascadable switch, it should actually work, assuming that you really have 4 separate lines from the first switch.
Actually, the 3x4 switch would work as well, provided that you did NOT need anything from the 110/119 slots on those same receivers on the 2nd switch - if you don't need locals/spanish or HD on those added receivers, it will work fine as well.

so when you say "really have 4 seperate lines" what would qualify them as not seperate. Like i mentioned they are 4 of 8 from the 5x8 switch.

Also what switches are cascadable. Does the existing 5x8 need to be cascadable as well because i am not even sure what brand it is? Also which switches would work so I could get HD onto the added receivers

thanks again, this site is very helpful!

 

[dishrich]

so when you say "really have 4 seperate lines" what would qualify them as not seperate. Like i mentioned they are 4 of 8 from the 5x8 switch.

sorry, just checking...

Also what switches are cascadable. Does the existing 5x8 need to be cascadable as well because i am not even sure what brand it is? Also which switches would work so I could get HD onto the added receivers

Is your current oval dish a newer one, with the imbedded switch & LNB? If so, then your current switch MUST be cascadable, otherwise it would not be working properly. You could just get another one just like it, or go online & search the many sites selling 4/5 x 8 switches & get one that specifies it's cascadable. (the majority of the them nowadays are anyway) If you are wanting HD, you must use another 5x8 - a 3 in switch will NOT work right.

Here's a whole page of some:

http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Order/Switches/DirecTV-switches.htm

(don't mess with this one; it's only needed for markets w/locals on 72.5 or ethnic on 95)
http://www.sadoun.com/Sat/Products/Zinwell/SAM6802.jpg

 

[seadog99]

sorry, just checking...



Is your current oval dish a newer one, with the imbedded switch & LNB? cascadable.

Yes it is a newer one

If you are wanting HD, you must use another 5x8 - a 3 in switch will NOT work right.

So just to confirm the only way for me to do this(and get HD) is to run my existing 4 living room lines(out of 8 from the first 5/8) into another cascadable 5x8 switch. Nothing smaller will do the trick? If I don't want HD a 3xN switch should do the trick? Do either of these need to be powered/amplified etc?

Is there a simple reason why my 3x4 switch will not do the trick? I wonder if this is because it is older and probably not cascadable? or probably something totally different?
thanks so much again, you are a super helpful person

 

[dishrich]

So just to cofirm the only way for me to do this is run my existing 4 living room lines into a cascadable 4/5x8 switch. Nothing smaller will do the trick?

Well, think about it for a sec - you are eating up ALL 4 lines going into your living room, with the purpose of getting MORE than 4 lines in the first place - the ONLY switch smaller than 5x8 is 4x4, which obviously defeats the purpose of another switch in the first place, right?

Is there a simple reason why my 2/3x4 switch will not do the trick?

Yes, because it is NOT meant to work with multiple dish slots - those are ONLY meant to receive signals from 1 slot. (typically the 101 slot where the core prog is)

 

[seadog99]

Well, think about it for a sec - you are eating up ALL 4 lines going into your living room, with the purpose of getting MORE than 4 lines in the first place - the ONLY switch smaller than 5x8 is 4x4, which obviously defeats the purpose of another switch in the first place, right?

How about 3x4? thats 2 of my 4 lines in and 4 lines out which nets me 2 lines more? Even though it won't work with HD right?

 

[dishrich]

How about 3x4? thats 2 of my 4 lines in and 4 lines out which nets me 2 lines more?

It will ONLY give you the 101 slot; it will NOT give you ANY prog from 110/119, period (and you will NOT get most of the HD channels, which is what you said you needed) - that is ALL they are designed for. But, if you are satisfied with ONLY 101 for ALL 4 of those added lines, then yes, it will work fine.

Here's a cheap 5x8 switch - I ordered a couple of these for myself today:

http://www.consumerdepot.com/products.asp?id=DX-MS101

 

[dishrich]

Also, since we do NOT know where you live, if your locals are on 119, you would NOT get them if they are on 119, if you were to use a 3x4 switch.

 

[seadog99]

It will ONLY give you the 101 slot; it will NOT give you ANY prog from 110/119, period (and you will NOT get most of the HD channels, which is what you said you needed) - that is ALL they are designed for. But, if you are satisfied with ONLY 101 for ALL 4 of those added lines, then yes, it will work fine.

Here's a cheap 5x8 switch - I ordered a couple of these for myself today:

wow thats a hell of a deal. I'll get this one! Thanks again