Direct TV "whole house" setup

[HaRVie]

Anyone know how to set up a DVR in the front so that you can watch/record from the bedroom TV? I thought when the installers recently installed up my system it would be all set -- however... I called Direct TV and the lady told me I had to have a network before it would work. I asked where i could find a wiring diagram and stumped her. The connection to the rear TV comes directly from the antenna.

[RickO]

If I'm not mistaken, the DTV Whole House system does require your system to be networked which is really tough in a coach. I tried to do it with my Cradlepoint 350 and the connection is just not fast enough via Verizon Air Card for the DVR to be happy.

We've installed our HD DVR in the living room and used HDMI amplified splitters to run HDMI connections to the bedroom and outdoor TVs as well as the living room TV. Using RF remotes makes it all work great. We can't watch different DTV programming at the same time on different TVs but that's not important to us.

Good luck...

Rick

[FlyingDiver]

Can the OP be a little more specific about what receiver(s) they have and how they're connected to the various TVs. The Whole House system is for multiple receivers. Do you actually have a receiver directly attached to each TV?

joe

[HaRVie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver Can the OP be a little more specific about what receiver(s) they have and how they're connected to the various TVs. The Whole House system is for multiple receivers. Do you actually have a receiver directly attached to each TV? joe

I have an HR24-500 DVR in the front and a HR24-700 HD receiver in the back. The DVR is fed from two 75 ohm cables directly from the DTV "slimline" antenna. The rear receiver is fed from a single 75 ohm cable also directly from the antenna. There is a red,white, yellow cable that feeds the rear TV from the front DVD player.

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaRVie I have an HR24-500 DVR in the front and a HR24-700 HD receiver in the back. The DVR is fed from two 75 ohm cables directly from the DTV "slimline" antenna. The rear receiver is fed from a single 75 ohm cable also directly from the antenna. There is a red,white, yellow cable that feeds the rear TV from the front DVD player.

Gotcha. So you do have multiple whole house capable receivers. What whole house does it let you access the content on either receiver from either location. But to do that, they need to be networked together (computer style network, that is). What do you have in your RV for internet? Do you have a satellite system with a wifi router? Or a router for cell modem (like a Cradlepoint)?

You need to connect both receivers to a router or ethernet switch of some kind, either hard wire (ethernet) or Wifi. There's also a way to do it over the coax from the antenna, but requires SWM equipment which you may or may not have.

Here's some more info on whole house (aka MRV):

DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR (Multi-Room Viewing / MRV) FAQ

joe

[HaRVie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver Gotcha. So you do have multiple whole house capable receivers. What whole house does it let you access the content on either receiver from either location. But to do that, they need to be networked together (computer style network, that is). What do you have in your RV for internet? Do you have a satellite system with a wifi router? Or a router for cell modem (like a Cradlepoint)? You need to connect both receivers to a router or ethernet switch of some kind, either hard wire (ethernet) or Wifi. There's also a way to do it over the coax from the antenna, but requires SWM equipment which you may or may not have. Here's some more info on whole house (aka MRV): DIRECTV Whole-Home DVR (Multi-Room Viewing / MRV) FAQ joe

Thanks for the info, Joe. I access internet via cell.

[FlyingDiver]

Again, is it using a cell card attached to a router, or directly to your computer?

In short, if you don't have SOME sort of network router or hub or switch in the RV, you're going to need to get one. Plus a bunch of other stuff. If all this is greek to you, find a local computer geek to set it up for you.

FWIW, I think DirecTV assumes anyone who wants to use this product already has a computer network at home, usually for DSL or cable, maybe for satellite (HughesNet, etc).

joe

[HaRVie]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlyingDiver Again, is it using a cell card attached to a router, or directly to your computer? In short, if you don't have SOME sort of network router or hub or switch in the RV, you're going to need to get one. Plus a bunch of other stuff. If all this is greek to you, find a local computer geek to set it up for you. FWIW, I think DirecTV assumes anyone who wants to use this product already has a computer network at home, usually for DSL or cable, maybe for satellite (HughesNet, etc). joe

Direct to computer

[FlyingDiver]

OK, if the cell card is connected directly to your computer, then you don't have any network setup at all, and to connect the receivers will require a lot of stuff you don't have now. And a fair amount of computer/network knowledge. How important to you is this?

joe

[DennisZ]

OK, I just had the whole house system installed in my home, it does NOT require any computer or internet type of connection unless you want to get the streaming video feeds (movies on demand). All the interconnection betweent the units is accomplished thru the coax cables that feed the signal to the DTV receiver. The newer HD DVR receivers have the interface built into the receiver, the older models have an interface unit that plugs inline with the receiver coax and hooks to the ethernet port on the rear of the receiver.
I think that your system has to have a SWM dish and a multi-switch to use the whole house system, which must RV systems don't have. The question would be if it works with a non-SWM dish, but you definately do not need an internet connection.

[FlyingDiver]

Right. They're either going to need to ethernet/wifi setup, or the coax setup (with the interface units and possibly the SWM). Neither of which they have now and both of which will take additional equipment.

joe

[wa8yxm]

How to set up a Satellite receiver/DVR so you can watch/Record from either the FRONT or the Bedroom TV.

Step one: Call or visit the home page for DISH NETWORK. Because their DVR's can do it.
DirecTV's. can not.. Well, perhaps one way.. I will go on

(Dish Network DVR's come with two remotes, and have the ability to show TWO shows at once, One remote uses the standard Infra Red and shows it's shows on chan 3/4, the other remote uses RF (UHF in fact) and shows it's shows on a UHF channel)

Both can use direct LINE IN/OUT type connections as well)

Direc TV units come with one remote and can only show one show at a time)

You can get a "Remote Extender" I have a vintage Radio Shack unit. but you can find them by googling: I/R Remote Extenders

This is ONE of the hits, This is NOT a recommendation as I've never even seen this product.. but I found it by the above search:
StarTech.com Wireless Infrared IR Remote Extender - Up to 115 ft - Remote control extender

The one I have "Cuts in" to the coax cable so it is immune to Radio Frequency Interference, I like it much better.

[FlyingDiver]

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm How to set up a Satellite receiver/DVR so you can watch/Record from either the FRONT or the Bedroom TV. Step one: Call or visit the home page for DISH NETWORK. Because their DVR's can do it. DirecTV's. can not.. Well, perhaps one way.. I will go on (Dish Network DVR's come with two remotes, and have the ability to show TWO shows at once, One remote uses the standard Infra Red and shows it's shows on chan 3/4, the other remote uses RF (UHF in fact) and shows it's shows on a UHF channel) Both can use direct LINE IN/OUT type connections as well) Direc TV units come with one remote and can only show one show at a time) You can get a "Remote Extender" I have a vintage Radio Shack unit. but you can find them by googling: I/R Remote Extenders This is ONE of the hits, This is NOT a recommendation as I've never even seen this product.. but I found it by the above search: StarTech.com Wireless Infrared IR Remote Extender - Up to 115 ft - Remote control extender The one I have "Cuts in" to the coax cable so it is immune to Radio Frequency Interference, I like it much better.

Not very useful information. OP already has two DirecTV receivers, and with the correct interconnection between the two, either one can show the content onto either TV.

joe

[ernieh]

If your primary purpose for wanting "Whole Home" is to watch programs recorded on your DVR in the BR, I have a possible solution for you. It's not quite HD but it's probably good enough since your bedroom tv is smaller.

Take the composite (RCA) output from your DVR and feed it to the RCA cables from your DVD player using a simple video switch. If you set your remote for RF, you will have no problem controlling the LR DVR from the bedroom.