Returning to DTV question

[nydennis]

Long time reader first time poster.

Hi all, I been away from Directv for about 4 years now.

I am thinking of returning. I'm looking to get one HD-DVR for the main room, and two regular DVR's for the bedrooms. Would I need a multi switch for this?

Do you lose video quality with Multi switches? When I last had DTV I had 3 dishes outside, each going to one dvr.

 

[BluegrassGuy1976]

Yes you would need a Zinwell Ka/Ku Wideband 6x8 multiswitch to run that setup. Installer should have that with him. No loss in quality from it. You will need 2 separate cables run to each location since the DVR are dual-tuner units, so with 3 DVR's total you would need 6 cables, from the switch and 4 from the dish itself. One Ka/Ku Slimline dish should be sufficient depending on where you live. Hope this helps. ^^

 

[nydennis]

AHh cool thing about the multiswitch. I already have two lines run to each room from the previous sat installs. Currently using them for cablevision.


Also do I need phone lines run to each computer? Or can I use ethernet and if so can I use wireless ethernet?

 

[bateau980]

D* recommends that you hook up your receiver to a phone line for at least the first 10 days. I did this just because I had the ability then removed the cables. Here's a thread that was talking about it. Do I need a land based phone line?

If you want to take advantage of a Media Center PC or the On Demand features, you will need a network run for the HD-DVR. If you can't run a network cable, you will need something like a Wireless Game Adapter.

 

[BluegrassGuy1976]

D* recommends that you hook up your receiver to a phone line for at least the first 10 days. I did this just because I had the ability then removed the cables. Here's a thread that was talking about it. Do I need a land based phone line?

If you want to take advantage of a Media Center PC or the On Demand features, you will need a network run for the HD-DVR. If you can't run a network cable, you will need something like a Wireless Game Adapter.

Not necessary for operation of your unit but like Bateau said they would like you to hook it up. Only thing DTV would like you to have the phone line connected is for ordering PPV and if you want the Caller ID feature to work. More for the PPV it's a money maker. More people are willing to buy a movie or two with their remote from their favorite armchair then to get up and go another room to use the phone or computer to order it.

 

[nydennis]

So a wireless game adapter would work with the Dtv units?

I have a few old DTV with Tivo units that I have lifetime service on. Would there be any reason to try using those instead of buying new boxes for the two bedroom non hd tv's? I have not had them plugged into a phone line in 4 years so probably not even entitled to the lifetime service any longer?

Thinking about it I can probably hook up the phone and internet lines to two of the three units. The other one would probably just have to be Ethernet.

 

[BluegrassGuy1976]

So a wireless game adapter would work with the Dtv units?

I have a few old DTV with Tivo units that I have lifetime service on. Would there be any reason to try using those instead of buying new boxes for the two bedroom non hd tv's? I have not had them plugged into a phone line in 4 years so probably not even entitled to the lifetime service any longer?

Thinking about it I can probably hook up the phone and internet lines to two of the three units. The other one would probably just have to be Ethernet.

The only viable reason to use them would be so you don't get locked into a contract if you didn't want to. But they should still work on your non-HD sets. Would definitely need a phone-line connected to those so they can update. I personally like the older Hughes TiVo's better too than the in-house DVR's but that's me. On those Hughes units, depending on the model, I believe there is a way to switch how it gets it's update from phoneline, to broadband internet, in the settings somewhere. It has to do it's initial setup via the phoneline but after that I'm pretty sure it can get updates via the internet.

 

[nydennis]

I should look into that for sure. I have one of the hughes and one Sony sat-60 still.

 

[nydennis]

Thanks for your help everyone. I ended up signing up for DTV and they should be coming this week. I guess weather permitting.

Two of the three locations have phone lines already hooked up so that is a bonus. For the third location, I just bought one of the wireless phone jacks to put in that location. I'll probably run Ethernet to them in a few weeks as well.

I bought the protection plan for the first year. I am afraid that when the leaves grow in on the trees that the dish may need to be realigned. Should be an easy install for the Tech as well since I have two lines to each room already from past Sat install.

 

[rad]

Should be an easy install for the Tech as well since I have two lines to each room already from past Sat install.

You might want to see what type of coax it is since for the new Ka band D*'s recommending that it be RG-6.

 

[nydennis]

I see the one going to my cable box is RG6 and I am using the same lines as when I had sat. I will double check it again tomorrow. I have one white cable that has nothing listed on it. I have to try to figure out what that is.

If a new line is needed I assume the tech will do the install for the three rooms anyway?

 

[nydennis]

Had my Directv Installed Thursday.

Tech cemented a pole in the ground due to some tree issues he was afraid would be a problem come spring.

The HD unit is fine and so is one of the R15 bedroom units. In my room I was tuning to the BBC channel and I got a 771 error. I reset the unit and did a signal test. I am not getting anything out of Tuner two all of a sudden. I assume thats why I got the 771 error.

When the tech was here today he had a problem with that line and somehow it started working, but odd that it would go out now.

Guess I have to call them back tomorrow and complain that it is not working already.