We have a standard definition Directv DVR that we were told by Best Buy would work with only one satellite line even though the receiver is capable of accepting 2. If we put the line in Sat 1, the receiver constantly searches for Sat 2. While it is searching, if we move the line to Sat 2, the receiver shows channels fine, but won't record. I have no way of running a second line to this room location. Is there any way to either split the 1 line and connect both Sat 1 and Sat 2 with it, or simply get the reveiver to work and record with 1 line in?
Problems recording with DVR with only one satellite line
- Thread starter catmanager1
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Re-run guided setup and select the one line connected option.
To get the second tuner working you need to run a second line from the dish (which one do you have?) or from a multiswitch. Splitting the one line will not work.
To get the second tuner working you need to run a second line from the dish (which one do you have?) or from a multiswitch. Splitting the one line will not work.
IF running the set up again doesn't fix it.
Try swapping the Sat in feed with the other one and see what happens...
I suppose it could have been mismarked.
That said, yes you should be able to use it as a single line DVR.
But do as jdspencer mentioned above first.
Try swapping the Sat in feed with the other one and see what happens...
I suppose it could have been mismarked.
That said, yes you should be able to use it as a single line DVR.
But do as jdspencer mentioned above first.
Nope, its set to dual, because the older boxes use line 2 as their primary live feed, and line one to record, then when line one is recording, line 2 will become the recorder. I can verify this because when i used to do installs as a 2man team, i would hook the boxes up to the pre existing system using line 2 and activate it to get it working, then run my second line. this way the cust wasnt out of their tv while i was working... repeat satellite setup, set the box to use single tuner. Which model dvr do you have because they stopped doing that a while ago.
I don't understand your first sentence. What do you mean by "... older boxes use line 2 as their primary live feed."? Exactly what do you mean by line 2? I suspect you mean the second output from the dish, our responses to the OP are referring to the second input to the DVR.
Anyway, we need to know what receiver the OP is using.
Yep, because some of the older R15's required a forced software upgrade to reset to only one tuner.
line2 = tuner2 sorry about that, when your setting up the box the download as well as signal strength check come off tuner 1, but as soon as it starts up channel 101 its reading from tuner 2, thats why moving the cable back and forth works, but if you leave it on tuner 2, as soon as the receiver is reset or restarts, it wont come back until tuner 1 sees signal. You need to repeat satellite setup and change it to single tuner, then use tuner 1 as the primary.
You shouldn't need to go through that procedure. Something is being done out of order. The unit should detect that only one line is connected and complete the setup.
What say the other experts here?
Again. what receiver is the OP using and which receiver are you using, kitty?
What say the other experts here?
Again. what receiver is the OP using and which receiver are you using, kitty?
jdspencer is correct, the DVR should set up for a single tuner without any of that cable swapping. And on a single tuner system, the cable has to be connected to tuner 1 because that's the one that handles setup and processes the guide. This idea that the older boxes use tuner 2 as the "primary line feed" is just incorrect.
Im an installer, ive set up hundreds of boxes, and have swm installed at my apt personally. the R15s and 16s are the ones in question, i know the 22 needs to be defined, but i know ive seen install using 2 lines vs 1 line on service calls before.
There are MANY installers here.
I personally have only worked with the HR series, but have always hooked up tuner 1 (sat 1) first, as that is also the one designated for the SWM as well on the unit.
I have never had any trouble setting it up this way .
Jimbo
R15... and I believe R16 as well, hook it up legacy, make sure both your lines are live, disconnect the line to sat2, watch what happens to live tv. restart the box, same scenario. reconnect the line to sat 2, picture will come back, disconnect line 1, live tv still works, restart the box. it will freeze looking for signal.
Dont call others incorrect if you havnt tried what they said.
And jimbo, it may have been a software fix in the dvr software from R22 and HR2X that corrected this. Im talking about older receivers. and by stating that i was an installer, I was simply implying that i dont have any particular model dvr personally but have worked with a great many. and that my personal install is swm so wouldnt apply.
The tuner is a HR21-100. I changed the set up from dual tuner to single and it seems to be working now. Thanks for everyone's help.
LMAO and we were all arguing over the older dvrs and how this was done, but anyway glad to hear you got it fixed, welcome to satellite guys.
Yeah, this thread could have been shorter if catmanager1 had listed his receiver model in the original post. 
Let this be a lesson learned for anyone asking a question in the future.
We need as many details as possible.
Let this be a lesson learned for anyone asking a question in the future.
We need as many details as possible.
altho he said standard deff in his first post... so thats why i jumped on the single vs dual idea. anyway, lets not beat a dead horse... forget i posted this.
I have a wierd problem w/ my new Directv DVR dual tuner. (Newbie so sorry in advance..)
The installed set up my system w/ a oval 18X20 3 lnb disk and DirectV DVR R15. When I check the signal strgth, I got two good signals on both tuners.
The other day, the disk was hit by a ball and moved a little. I moved it back and got a good signal on only one tuner now. I swithed the cables from Ant1 to Ant2 and An2 to Ant 1 and I still get only one tuner to work.
I took the DVR to my neighbors house, and I get two good signals on both tuners.
My question is: If I get a good 95% signal on one tuner, but nothing on the ohter, is this due to pointing of the dish?
As I noted, I hooked both ant cables to ANT1 and they both get 95% signal, but I get nothing on ANT2 from either cable.
However, I get 95% on both from my neighbors dish feeds..
Thanks in advance for any help... I am lost.
The installed set up my system w/ a oval 18X20 3 lnb disk and DirectV DVR R15. When I check the signal strgth, I got two good signals on both tuners.
The other day, the disk was hit by a ball and moved a little. I moved it back and got a good signal on only one tuner now. I swithed the cables from Ant1 to Ant2 and An2 to Ant 1 and I still get only one tuner to work.
I took the DVR to my neighbors house, and I get two good signals on both tuners.
My question is: If I get a good 95% signal on one tuner, but nothing on the ohter, is this due to pointing of the dish?
As I noted, I hooked both ant cables to ANT1 and they both get 95% signal, but I get nothing on ANT2 from either cable.
However, I get 95% on both from my neighbors dish feeds..
Thanks in advance for any help... I am lost.
When you say you moved the cables, and still get only one tuner, did the problem move to the other tuner with the cable swap or did it stay on the same tuner?
Tuner one had a good signal with both the cables. IOW's with both cables hooked up to Ant1 input and Ant2 input, I had a good signa only on tuner one. So, I unscrewed the cables and flipped them and again only Tuner 1 had good signal. I could not get any singal on tuner 2 regardless of what cable I had connected. Yet Tuner 1 always had good signal w/ either cable connetcted.
When I hooked the DVR up to my neighbors cables, both tuners had perfect signals.
So, I think it is not the DVR and may be my dish.
does it matter what LNB connection you place the cables? Of the 4 fittings, I only have cables on two of them.
Thanks for your time. Sorry i am not better at explaining it.
When I hooked the DVR up to my neighbors cables, both tuners had perfect signals.
So, I think it is not the DVR and may be my dish.
does it matter what LNB connection you place the cables? Of the 4 fittings, I only have cables on two of them.
Thanks for your time. Sorry i am not better at explaining it.
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