Question for those who have gone from cable to DSS (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Graham]

I'm planning on going from cable TV to DSS. My question for you guys is this. Can and will the installer connect the satellite to my existing RG6 cable that runs into my house? Basically disconnect the Cable company feed and then hookup the satellite feed, thus eliminating the need to run new cable all over my house. Thanks in advance for your input.

-Steve

 

[Lyle_JP]

Satellite uses it's own proprietary switches (signal splitters and combiners), so you can only use the existing cable in your house if it goes through no splitters. Every run of cable from the receiver to the switches or Dish LNBs must be splitter free.

-Lyle J.P.

 

[Larry Schneider]

See if the single cable runs into the house to a single splitter - replace the splitter with a multiswitch, and you're OK.

 

[Stephen Graham]

Hmmm, I'll have to check outside in the morning. I can only assume that the line that comes to the house is getting split somewhere cuz I have cable in almost every room.

 

[Larry Schneider]

From the dish you will need 2 wires that go to the multiswitch - then single lines to each TV. Each TV will also need a decoder box.

 

[Stephen Graham]

Is this somthing an installer will take care of ? The multi switch thing? Sorry for my ignorance

 

[Larry Schneider]

I would expect so. Any installation with more than 2 TVs requires a multiswitch.

 

[Stephen Graham]

Cool! Thanks Larry and Lyle, I now have somthing to arm myself with when I make the call to direct TV.

 

[Vlad D]

A friend of mine recently had DirecTV installed and had the satellite feed connected to a the cable box outside his house. He has a new home with RG6 cable throughout the house to each cable outlet. The house also came with something called the Home Director, which is a central box which routes audio, video and high speed data to all rooms of the house. It must come with some type of multiswitch, because I went over, skeptical that he could connect the satellite dish that way, and we were able to watch 2 different channels on 2 separate TV's (he has 2 receivers).
I'll try and find out more about it and get back to you.

 

[Frank Zimkas]

Try to talk to the installer before he comes out to your home and let him/her know how your house is configured. Hopefully the installer will then have all of the supplies needed to get you up and running without having to come back with more cable , multi-switchs, recievers, etc.

BTW, Who are you signing up with, Dishnetwork or Directv?

 

[Stephen Graham]

Frank, I'm leaning towards Direct TV, but am not totally commited as of yet.

 

[Larry Schneider]

Definitely consider DirecTivo on at least one set - best gadget ever.