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RickO · 03-06-2011, 02:46 PM

After nearly two years of full timing we've just bought a townhouse near the grandbabies in Arizona. The HOA includes Cox Cable basic service in the due so i thought I would give them a try. Had them install their internet service and two HD DVRs. Within two weeks I was tearing out the DVRs and having DirecTv come out to install a dish.

But I digress... When the DTV tech installed the dish and made the new cable runs, he only ran a single cable to each HD DVR and even removed the B Band Converters which had been required on each cable at the DVR.

I questioned him on this and... not having much of a personality... he replied that only one cable was needed now that the B Band Converters also weren't needed any longer.

I don't know what's changed but it all seems to be working as expected.

This should help with some RV upgrades now.

Rick

Midniteoyl · 03-06-2011, 03:06 PM

That is the way Dish is too now.. the Switch is in the LNB and combined into 1 cable... There is a splitter just before the DVR on Dish to feed both tuners.

RickO · 03-06-2011, 08:40 PM

This DTV set up doesn't even use a splitter at the DVR so they must be doing some fancy stuff over that coax.

I wonder if those new LNB units can be used on a Winegard Slimline....

Rick

Clay L · 03-07-2011, 02:44 PM

It depends.
The single cable uses something called SWM (single wire multi- switch) technology.
If you don't have SWM you will need two wires and perhaps a B Band converter depending on your receiver.

I have a 3 LNB portable HD dish and a roof mounted Winegard Traveler SM3005 5 LNB automatic dish. Both require two cables for DVR. I just got the setup in the last few months.

gpearston · 03-08-2011, 11:34 PM

Over the last year DirecTV has gone to 100% SWM (single wire multiswitch) installs. This means one wire from the dish to a powered switch inside the home (or RV). From the switch to the receiver. If the receiver is a DVR it requires only one cable which from an installer or home owner (RV owner) perspective is a GREAT improvement. If you experience problems the first thing to check is that the switch has power and the LED is lit.

Gayland · 03-09-2011, 12:02 AM

Glenn,
Does the SWM technology still allow a DVR to record two programs at once with only one cable going into Sat 1 and Sat 2 being unconnected?

Midniteoyl · 03-09-2011, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gayland

Glenn,
Does the SWM technology still allow a DVR to record two programs at once with only one cable going into Sat 1 and Sat 2 being unconnected?

Every one that I have seen, for Direct to Dish, has required an input on both tuners.. There might be a DVR that has only one input and splits it internally, but I dont have one.

pa0gri · 03-09-2011, 01:41 AM

A 2 tuner dvr has (most of the time) 2 inputs and 2 outputs on the tuner.
Then a litle coax "jumper" goes from output of tuner 1 to input of tuner 2.
Or when 2 LNB's on the dish, 2 cables run down and each tuner gets its LNB.
If you have a rotator on the dish and 1 cable down you can record 2 programs on one selected sattelite.
Oh well, so many combinations, whatever you want.
Only life is complicated.

gpearston · 03-09-2011, 01:22 PM

Gayland - yes it does - that is the big advantage to the SWM install. DirecTV used to require a huge justification to use the SWM as it is more costly to DirecTV (more equipment supplied by them) but over the last year they have seen the light.