Installing today: some quick wiring questions

[Ilya]

I have a 1 Hopper / 3 Joey install scheduled for this afternoon.
Some quick questions about the wiring:

1. Is the solo/duo node installed outside or inside the house?
2. If I am pointed to three satellites, I need a duo node, not a solo node, correct?
3. Can two 2-way splitters be used one after another? (this would simplify the wiring).

Thanks.

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

 

[jawxx]

Solo node. Can go inside or outside. I'd push for inside. Less connections outside, less chance of weather being a factor.

The switch inside the LNB sends all 3 satellites, 2 tuners worth, down each line from the dish. A solo node is all you'll need for your install.

2 splitters can be used. The tech should have some decent quality splitters in his truck.

 

[garys]

Splitters could be used, but only on the coax for the Joeys.

 

[Ilya]

Thanks for the quick reply!
So there is no way to watch/record three different satellites at the same time?

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

 

[sparc]

Thanks for the quick reply!
So there is no way to watch/record three different satellites at the same time?

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

what dish do you have right now?

 

[Ilya]

Check switch shows 77, 72, 61.5 and 110 (all with green OK)
I thought I only had 3, but evidently I still have 4. Not sure if I really need all of those.
I have one EA (triple-LNB?) dish and a wing dish pointed at 110.
(I might want to replace the wing dish with another one to get the International channels at 118.7)

 

[sparc]

If i understand correctly, the solo node could just take two lines from whatever existing switch you already have that's combining those. I guess it would have to be some sort of DPP switch.

maybe some sat expert could chime in and correct me.....

 

[n0qcu]

correct the node (solo or Duo) must connect to a DPP switch/lnb.

 

[sperry85]

I have a 1 Hopper / 3 Joey install scheduled for this afternoon.
Some quick questions about the wiring:

1. Is the solo/duo node installed outside or inside the house?
2. If I am pointed to three satellites, I need a duo node, not a solo node, correct?
3. Can two 2-way splitters be used one after another? (this would simplify the wiring).

Thanks.

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

You can have 2 items in your line between any hopper and Joey, excluding the node.

So, 1 tap and 1 splitter, or 2 splitters and no taps/isolators.

It will work with more, but begins to degrade signal. We use spluttered rated to 2100mhz in my office. Not sure if it has to be that high though.

 

[Ilya]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
The installer is here, but no much progress so far.
He can't fish cables through the walls, I will need to reschedule for that part of the install with another tech.
He is just setting up one Hopper and one Joey for now using existing wires.
He started by installing the node outside and running new wires to the house (not sure why he had to do that).
Now he has a bad Hopper and needs to get a replacement... Oh well...

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

 

[sperry85]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
The installer is here, but no much progress so far.
He can't fish cables through the walls, I will need to reschedule for that part of the install with another tech.
He is just setting up one Hopper and one Joey for now using existing wires.
He started by installing the node outside and running new wires to the house (not sure why he had to do that).
Now he has a bad Hopper and needs to get a replacement... Oh well...

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

Node is used as a groundblock in the hopper installation. Grounding rules state it must be grounded before entering the house.

Cable to hopper must be RG6, Joey's can be on RG59. Other than that, I would see no reason to replace existing cable unless it was bad.

Did the technician go into the hopper's menu and do a factory reset? Sounds like he might be new to the job if he's unable to fish wires.

 

[JM42]

So there is no way to watch/record three different satellites at the same time?

The two lines from the dish to solo node will fully support three tuners regardless of what sat they need.

Each cable from the dish supports two signals from the switch in the dish. With DPP, the switch can route each signal in the cable to separate sats as needed. Signal "A" can be connected to the 77 sat and signal "B" to the 72 sat and both come down the same physical cable. If you add a second cable, you get "C" and "D" signals as well. The switch connects each signal to whichever sat it needs dynamically as the channel is changed. With two cables you get four signals and can fully support up to four tuners (and four distinct sats) at the same time.

Part of what the solo node does is combine three of the four signals onto a single cable to feed the Hopper.

 

[isaacmorseMI]

Node is used as a groundblock in the hopper installation. Grounding rules state it must be grounded before entering the house.

Cable to hopper must be RG6, Joey's can be on RG59. Other than that, I would see no reason to replace existing cable unless it was bad.

Did the technician go into the hopper's menu and do a factory reset? Sounds like he might be new to the job if he's unable to fish wires.

It dosen't have to be used as a groundblock. I've seen many systems, including mine that are grounded after entering the house.

Sent from my iPad 2 using Forum Runner

 

[sperry85]

It dosen't have to be used as a groundblock. I've seen many systems, including mine that are grounded after entering the house.

Sent from my iPad 2 using Forum Runner

Just because it was done at your house doesn't mean it is up to code. And no, the node does not have to be used to ground the system, a groundblock can be used before your node, but you now have an unnecessary break in your cable.

Not to mention the cold water pipe it is likely grounded to inside your house is no longer an approved ground according to dish. And its likely grounded in the attic where it is more than 5' from where that pipe enters the building.

 

[Ilya]

Ok, I am hopping! Just one Joey for now - the rest will be done next week, as they need to send a different tech.
The Hopper installation took very long, because the tech ran Check Switch in spite of all the warnings.
I can't make the EHD drive work yet. Will try a reset later tonight.

Sent from my iPad 3 using SatelliteGuys

 

[jawxx]

Glad you got at some of it going today. The grounding issue is... well.... not an issue. Dish has gotten far more finicky about it but if you're grounded to something I wouldn't sweat it.

Just to be clear, how many satellites you have is not the same as how many tuners you have. Satellites are in the sky. Depending what dishes you have you pick up, in most cases, 2, 3 or 4 satellite signals. These then get fed into various switches, nodes, and eventually receivers. Your hopper has 3 tuners. 3 different programs at any given time.

Cable replacement.... almost everyone seems to agree that RG-6, rated to 3,000 MHz or higher is more than fine. Dish thinks certain brands are unacceptable. That may have why the tech ran new cable. My company used to use Skywalker and Perfect Vision cable. Some retailers in our area still do. Dish says those brands are unacceptable and must be replaced. Even on service calls. Whether they are... that's at the discretion of your tech.

 

[Ilya]

Second installation attempt today. Last week they were only able to install one Joey out of three.
The tech didn't have the tools to do the new wiring or wall fishing and didn't have the work order right.
So, they are sending someone else today. Hopefully today's installation will be more successful.
I'll keep my fingers crossed.

 

[Ilya]

The installers are still here. They are almost done but it turned out to be a whole day project!

I am happy with the progress so far. All is going extremely well. I am paying extra for the "ancillary" work, but it's all worth it: a lot of fishing through walls, installing new RG6 and CAT5 cables, basically rewiring the entire house. I wouldn't be able to do it myself.

 

[Aidan8et]

Yeah, wall fishing cables is listed under Ancillary Services now ($50, ea if I recall). Nice thing is this also includes fishing video cables. Depending on entry/exit points, distance, & interior wall workings (studs, pipes, electrical, etc), fishing can take a while.
2nd tech was needed most likely because the 1st guy hadn't completed the Dish Approved training for Ancillary Services.

Sent from my HTC EVO using SatelliteGuys

 

[isaacmorseMI]

The installers are still here. They are almost done but it turned out to be a whole day project!

I am happy with the progress so far. All is going extremely well. I am paying extra for the "ancillary" work, but it's all worth it: a lot of fishing through walls, installing new RG6 and CAT5 cables, basically rewiring the entire house. I wouldn't be able to do it myself.

If you ever need to upgrade the wiring in the future, one of these would be your friend...

http://www.magnepull.com/index_003.htm

Sent from my iPad 2 using Forum Runner