Using already installed cable to hook additional receiver

[FurryInMason]

This is a weird question and a little hard to explain so bear with me...it's also my first post.

Some background info:

1. I live in a condo where I have no access to an attic or crawl space.
2. I use to have Time Warner for cable and the condo already has cable outlets installed in all the rooms.
3. The condo was wired by Time Warner when you had to have 2 cables to receive all the channels...so every access has 2 places to connect a cable.
3. The den where I'd like the additional receiver is in the middle of the condo so no outside walls but all the cables do originate in the closet in the room.

Now for my question:

Could I connect the 2 cables from my satellite dish to the old cable outlet that is near where D* enters the condo, figure out which pair of cables at the central point are the two from outlet I just connected too and using adapter extend the cable run so I can install an additional receiver in my den?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[Spize]

This is a weird question and a little hard to explain so bear with me...it's also my first post.

Some background info:

1. I live in a condo where I have no access to an attic or crawl space.
2. I use to have Time Warner for cable and the condo already has cable outlets installed in all the rooms.
3. The condo was wired by Time Warner when you had to have 2 cables to receive all the channels...so every access has 2 places to connect a cable.
3. The den where I'd like the additional receiver is in the middle of the condo so no outside walls but all the cables do originate in the closet in the room.

Now for my question:

Could I connect the 2 cables from my satellite dish to the old cable outlet that is near where D* enters the condo, figure out which pair of cables at the central point are the two from outlet I just connected too and using adapter extend the cable run so I can install an additional receiver in my den?

Thanks,
Rob

If you have a dual output dish and your additional receiver is your second total receiver (neither of which is a dvr) than absolutely YES (trusting that the original cable in line doesn't have a splitter between the input and the central point)

If you have a different setup let me know and I will troubleshoot with you from there.

 

[Joe Diamond]

Those cables may well be "home run" to a cable vault where the CATV signal enters the building.
Open the wall plates and look for splitters........you may be able to replace the splitters with barrel connectors. More likely you will have to introduce the DTV signal by running cable from the cable vault and the lines for your unit to a dish. If Time Warner has a maintenance contract on the building they will not let you mess with their cable.

Joe

 

[Spize]

Those cables may well be "home run" to a cable vault where the CATV signal enters the building.
Open the wall plates and look for splitters........you may be able to replace the splitters with barrel connectors. More likely you will have to introduce the DTV signal by running cable from the cable vault and the lines for your unit to a dish. If Time Warner has a maintenance contract on the building they will not let you mess with their cable.

Joe

In the area he lives in I can almost guarantee that TWC does not have a contract on those wires. (I have installed there many times and still will go there but only if I have two installs in the same day there)

 

[Joe Diamond]

In the area he lives in I can almost guarantee that TWC does not have a contract on those wires. (I have installed there many times and still will go there but only if I have two installs in the same day there)

Ah!

That can be good. I try to pull individual unit lines out of the CATV vault or closet. They don't own them. Many cable dogs don't even know what sat lines look like so as long as they don't get an install order they won't mess with them. Auditors have cutters, however.

Go for it,

Joe

 

[FurryInMason]

If you have a dual output dish and your additional receiver is your second total receiver (neither of which is a dvr) than absolutely YES (trusting that the original cable in line doesn't have a splitter between the input and the central point)

If you have a different setup let me know and I will troubleshoot with you from there.

First off, thanks for all the information. It's been a big help.

I don't know enough about all this to phrase my questions intelligently so bear with me.

I'm 99.9% sure it is a straight shot from the outlet back to the central point. I'm pretty sure D* will not do this type on install so I'm hoping I can get them to run the extra cable from the dish into the condo and make the cable long enough so I can hook into the outlet. Guessing I'll have to buy the receiver and install that and the extra cable on the other end myself. I'd like to go HD but wondering if there is a certain strength of signal that the extra cable needs to carry for HD.

 

[Joe Diamond]

First off, thanks for all the information. It's been a big help.

I don't know enough about all this to phrase my questions intelligently so bear with me.

I'm 99.9% sure it is a straight shot from the outlet back to the central point. I'm pretty sure D* will not do this type on install so I'm hoping I can get them to run the extra cable from the dish into the condo and make the cable long enough so I can hook into the outlet. Guessing I'll have to buy the receiver and install that and the extra cable on the other end myself. I'd like to go HD but wondering if there is a certain strength of signal that the extra cable needs to carry for HD.

The biggest issue is a place for the dish. Once that is resolved the rest is easier. The dish is either placed in an area you control / ow or at a location where you have permission to locate a dish. The cable room connection would be best but can be tricky as mentioned before. DTV will provide the equipment and cable within reason.

Joe

 

[FurryInMason]

The biggest issue is a place for the dish. Once that is resolved the rest is easier. The dish is either placed in an area you control / ow or at a location where you have permission to locate a dish. The cable room connection would be best but can be tricky as mentioned before. DTV will provide the equipment and cable within reason.

Joe

Guess I left out the part that I've had D* for 4 months now and the dish, an HD-DVR and a standard DVR are already installed and working great. Much better than anything I ever got from Time Warner. At the time when I had everything installed I never thought about using the existing wiring to get D* in my den. The installer said the only way he could do it was to run the cable across the middle of my living room and across the hallway. Needless to say I passed on that idea.

 

[Spize]

Guess I left out the part that I've had D* for 4 months now and the dish, an HD-DVR and a standard DVR are already installed and working great. Much better than anything I ever got from Time Warner. At the time when I had everything installed I never thought about using the existing wiring to get D* in my den. The installer said the only way he could do it was to run the cable across the middle of my living room and across the hallway. Needless to say I passed on that idea.

You get lazy installers out there all the time that don't know how to check existing wiring or talk to the customer for some reason.

Most of them want/need to get in, get done, and get out to the next one to make the money they need.

I am of a rare breed of retailer/installer in one so I can afford to take my time and get it right.

There are installers out there that actually care about their work, but when you go through D* and get the HSP you get what I like to call "Installer Roulette"

 

[FurryInMason]

You get lazy installers out there all the time that don't know how to check existing wiring or talk to the customer for some reason.

Most of them want/need to get in, get done, and get out to the next one to make the money they need.

I am of a rare breed of retailer/installer in one so I can afford to take my time and get it right.

There are installers out there that actually care about their work, but when you go through D* and get the HSP you get what I like to call "Installer Roulette"

Is it possible to hire a D* installer who will do a side job or just spin the wheel and see who you get by going through customer service? I guess hiring someone does not guarantee getting a quality installer either.