Although it has some advantages, I don't think that "Channel + Multi Room VDS" is going to do him any good. However, I agree with you, more cables will be needed one way or another.
It sounds like each room (viewing location) has one cable going to the laundry room. As you stated, hopefully he can put a second cable run between each viewing location and the laundry room, and a third cable run where ever an FTA will be at. If not, I think it is still possible to get most of what he wants without installing an elaborate head-end system.
However, at a minimum he will need 3 cable runs between the laundry room and the 2 dishes (119/110 dish & 61.5 dish), which will need to be mounted where they have a view of the SE thru WSW/SW sky. Might as well have 4 cables.
In the laundry room, the 3 or 4 Dish satellite inputs will need to feed a DPP44 Switch. Receiver Port 1 will need the Power Inserter connected directly to it. then the DPP44 Receiver Ports 1, 2, and 3 can feed 3 rooms with an HDTV with a locally installed ViP622 or ViP722.
That takes care of 3 rooms. Then with 2 diplexers on each of these 3 cables, you can get the ViP622/722 stereo modulated outputs back to the wash room.
Now you have 2 choices: (1) you can either take both outputs of all 3 receivers (6 channels of high quality video) and send it to the other 3 locations, or (2) send the 2 channel outputs of each ViP to a single location.
The above will allow 6 rooms to each independently control and view a satellite channel from a Dish receiver tuner. The 3 HDTV will each have an IR remote to control the local receiver, while the other 3 SDTV will each have an included 6.3 IR/UHF PRO Remote to control the distant receiver/tuner.
Since there is only one cable going to each viewing location, you can only feed 1 satellite receiver at a time. However, the 3 locations that are receiving the TV2 Output without a local receiver, could have an FTA receiver installed to receive some music channels and NASA which may already be included in the regular paid programming, and possibly some religious programming.
Since 1 receiver port is vacant, you could take 2 more diplexers and feed the DPP44 Receiver Port 4 to one of the 3 rooms without a ViP622/722. If you get a DP34 and bridge it to the DPP44, you will have 4 more open receiver ports and then should be able to feed the other 2 receiverless rooms with a FTA receiver.
You can set the ViP622/722 to modulate TV2 only or TV1 and TV2. If you do both, you will need 6 channels with a channel in between; plus you do not want these channels to be too close to the many local UHF channels you have.
This is where it is going to get complicated. For your local channels, you will need to get some splitters so that you can feed/combine an OTA antenna signals into those diplexed signals. With the antenna, you are going to have to use some attenuators (supplied with the ViP622) to keep from broadcasting your satellite receivers outputs. You will also have to try and balance your signals, ensure they are strong enough, and maybe use an amp.
The last paragraph is more than I want to think about tonight, but maybe birddoggy will have an idea or two when things quite down.
If that all works, then the security system can feed a single channel RF Modulator using a channel not currently in use by the above, and be feed/combined into the diplexed signals.
Considerations:
- All of your cables should be good quality RG-6 rated at a minimum of 950MHz - 2150 MHz.
- FTA receivers that support DiSEqC commands will probably work, but will be limited on what they receive.
EDIT:
You will also need another RG6 cable from the OTA outside antenna to the laundry room.
So you should go ahead and try to get 5 RG6 cables from outside, to the laundry room; 4 for future satellite, and 1 for OTA antenna.
