Switching between FTA and Dishnetwork

[mdebbabi]

I have a dishnetwork dish 500 with echostar receiver and a motorized FTA dish 90 with Mercury II receiver. How do I combine and separate signals and still use the same TV? In other words, what is the best installation configuration? Thanks for the help.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by mdebbabi

I have a dishnetwork dish 500 with echostar receiver and a motorized FTA dish 90 with Mercury II receiver. How do I combine and separate signals and still use the same TV? In other words, what is the best installation configuration? Thanks for the help.

Why not get one of those RS switches. The one I have can be trained to switch to whatever remote you are using. Ie if you're using a dishnet remote, one button that will switch you to the dishnet receiver, and one button on your Fortec will switch you to that receiver.
I have 8 different sat receivers, and a DVD player and a Roku going into 1 TV which only has 2 inputs, and basically do it with 2 switches plus a little trickery with my TIVOs.

[mdebbabi]

Which switches work with both FTA and disnetwork signals?

[wejones]

Originally Posted by mdebbabi

Wich switches work with both FTA and disnetwork signals?

I was talking about using an A/V switch to switch the video from the 2 receivers, ie doesn't matter what it's from. If you're thinking about trying to use 1 coax from the 2 dishes somehow, that probably isn't likely to work, and you still end up with signals from 2 receivers to deal with.

[boroda1]

All modern TV sets have several inputs. Just connect FTA to one and DishNetwork to another. On old TV set I use A/V switch, but remote control does not work with that: I have to switch manually.
What's "RS switch"?

[wejones]

Originally Posted by boroda1

All modern TV sets have several inputs. Just connect FTA to one and DishNetwork to another. On old TV set I use A/V switch, but remote control does not work with that: I have to switch manually.
What's "RS switch"?

I haven't bought a TV for a few years, but last time I bought a TV, it was amazing that very few of the TVs I looked at had multiple inputs. That's one reason I like Sony, because they usually had at least 2 or 3 inputs. I'll soon be in the market again, and I hope that you are right about multiple inputs.

However in MY case, I have about 13 devices that needed an input, and I don't think there are any inputs with that many, so I needed some switches. The "RS switch" I was talking about is a "Radio Shack" switch. Sorry, I thought RS was pretty much recognized as standing for Radio Shack. :-)
They have (or had) an nice 4 port switch, which has 2 outputs and 4 inputs. Basically you pick a key on each remote for the 4 devices, and teach the switch to switch when you press that key. For example, on my 2 Fortec receivers, I hit the "exit" button, and it switches the switch to that receiver. I then feed one of my TIVOs with that switch, and the TIVO has both A/V and rf inputs, so I can add a 5th device via ch 3/4. Then that TIVO feeds an old Emerson 4 port switch, to which I bring in 3 other devices, including a DTV via a 2nd TIVO, a DVD drive and the 3rd port alternates between a 2nd DVD drive and a device similar to a Roku. All this goes into one port on my Sony. The other Sony port is fed by my Roku, which takes input from either my Twinhan, Broadlogic, or my Air2PC OTA ATSC receivers, or, when the Roku is turned off, it gets it's input from my 3rd TIVO/DTV. So via these switches, I can select between 2 DCII receivers, my Drake analog receiver, 2 Fortec receivers, a Twinhan receiver, a Broadlogic receiver, an Air2PC receiver, 2 DVD drives and 2 DTV receivers, plus SD OTA RF. Plus I can play .mpg video files and mp3 audio files from my computer remotely via the computer. All from my recliner.

[boroda1]

Originally Posted by wejones

...
They have (or had) an nice 4 port switch, which has 2 outputs and 4 inputs. Basically you pick a key on each remote for the 4 devices, and teach the switch to switch when you press that key. ...

Thanks, Bill, I found it on RadioShack website: Model # 15-1927, requires AC power outlet. Very neat!

[Navicura]

I just bought the Fortec Star Mercury II Receiver along with a Motorized Dish. I also own a Direct TV system. Due to the way my house was built (2 stories), I have no access to add a second coax to the wall where the existing one is (1st floor - outside wall).

The motorized dish system came with the SatControl SM3D22 Motor which has a built-in DiseqC switch. Is it possible for me to connect the feed from the Fortec Dish to let's say LNB input 1, and the feed from the Direct TV to LNB input 2, and to run one coax from the DiseqC switch into the house to the FTA receiver and the IF loop through output of the FTA receiver into my Direct TV receiver?

I currently have it that way, but the Direct TV can't find any signal.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[wejones]

Originally Posted by Navicura

I just bought the Fortec Star Mercury II Receiver along with a Motorized Dish. I also own a Direct TV system. Due to the way my house was built (2 stories), I have no access to add a second coax to the wall where the existing one is (1st floor - outside wall).

The motorized dish system came with the SatControl SM3D22 Motor which has a built-in DiseqC switch. Is it possible for me to connect the feed from the Fortec Dish to let's say LNB input 1, and the feed from the Direct TV to LNB input 2, and to run one coax from the DiseqC switch into the house to the FTA receiver and the IF loop through output of the FTA receiver into my Direct TV receiver?

I currently have it that way, but the Direct TV can't find any signal.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

What kind of DTV system do you have? Ie a single sat system or a multi-sat system? I'd think that you could get it to work in somewhat of a clunky way, if you have a simple 1 sat system.

However, I'm confused about how you have things connected back at the receiver end of things. Ie how do you have 2 receivers connected to one coax???? If you've used a "T", then you must have one of the 2 receivers controlling things (and have a DC-block to the other receiver), and the DTV receiver can't control things because you don't really have control over DiseqC commands with it. Also, with a "T", you lose 50% of your signal strength.

If you really have to do this, I'd recommend having your DVB receiver connected to the coax, and program one satellite to use the LNB2 input of the diseqC switch, and furthermore, program 2 channels, one which is horizontal, and one which is vertical. Then, attach a DC-block to the passthru of your DVB receiver, and connect the DTV receiver to that. You can then tune the DTV dish with the DTV receiver, HOWEVER, you will have to change polarity via the DVB receiver.

I have done this, and it works, however, it is VERY cumbersome, and you'd be much better off running a second coax. There is ALWAYS a way to snake in a 2nd coax.

[Navicura]

Originally Posted by wejones

What kind of DTV system do you have? Ie a single sat system or a multi-sat system? I'd think that you could get it to work in somewhat of a clunky way, if you have a simple 1 sat system.

However, I'm confused about how you have things connected back at the receiver end of things. Ie how do you have 2 receivers connected to one coax???? If you've used a "T", then you must have one of the 2 receivers controlling things (and have a DC-block to the other receiver), and the DTV receiver can't control things because you don't really have control over DiseqC commands with it. Also, with a "T", you lose 50% of your signal strength.

If you really have to do this, I'd recommend having your DVB receiver connected to the coax, and program one satellite to use the LNB2 input of the diseqC switch, and furthermore, program 2 channels, one which is horizontal, and one which is vertical. Then, attach a DC-block to the passthru of your DVB receiver, and connect the DTV receiver to that. You can then tune the DTV dish with the DTV receiver, HOWEVER, you will have to change polarity via the DVB receiver.

I have done this, and it works, however, it is VERY cumbersome, and you'd be much better off running a second coax. There is ALWAYS a way to snake in a 2nd coax.

I have a Triple LNB Oval Direct TV Dish. I am not sure if my connection will work, that is why I'm asking for help. I have the LNB from the 90cm Fortec Dish connected to LNB Input #1 of the built-in DiseqC switch of the motor. One of the possible Four outputs of the Triple LNB dish is connected into LNB input #2 of the DiseqC switch. The FTA Receiver is connected to the DiseqC switch and the Direct TV receiver is connected to the loop through output of the FTA receiver. (No DC block connected --> If I put one, will my Direct TC receiver know how to switch to the possible 3 Satellites (101 - 110 - 119)?

I thought about programming a Satellite to make the switch change to LNB Input #2, but I'm not sure of what to program it with.

Fishing in a 2nd coax will be tough because there is no access to the in-between space from 1st and 2nd floor. The only solution I see is to drill through the outside wall (which I'll hate to do).

Thanks

[wejones]

Originally Posted by Navicura

I have a Triple LNB Oval Direct TV Dish. I am not sure if my connection will work, that is why I'm asking for help. I have the LNB from the 90cm Fortec Dish connected to LNB Input #1 of the built-in DiseqC switch of the motor. One of the possible Four outputs of the Triple LNB dish is connected into LNB input #2 of the DiseqC switch. The FTA Receiver is connected to the DiseqC switch and the Direct TV receiver is connected to the loop through output of the FTA receiver. (No DC block connected --> If I put one, will my Direct TC receiver know how to switch to the possible 3 Satellites (101 - 110 - 119)?

I thought about programming a Satellite to make the switch change to LNB Input #2, but I'm not sure of what to program it with.

Fishing in a 2nd coax will be tough because there is no access to the in-between space from 1st and 2nd floor. The only solution I see is to drill through the outside wall (which I'll hate to do).

Thanks

With the 3 sat dish, the 110/119 sat is selected by turning on 22KHz, which can be done on the Mercury. I'd recommend using the DC-block (available at RS) between the 2 receivers. The only problem I had with doing it with the 3 sat DTV system (which is what I have too), is that if I haven't been using the DTV for a while, and I went to tune say a local channel on the 119 sat, the DTV receiver would have forgotten that I was subscribed, and it would say something like that sat wasn't available to me, or it would say something about not being able to find any signal at all. I'm probably wrong, but it seemed like I needed to first tune it to the 101 sat, and let it stay there long enough to figure out that I was subscribed to things on 119, THEN, switch it to the 119 sat, however I was finding this very cumbersome, and it would often take me 5 or 10 minutes to get it to recognize all the channels I subscribe to, all the while I was changing sats and changing polarity, etc. BTW, I was only doing this because my DTV receiver lost it's LNB power, so I had to use an old Fortec DVB receiver to power the thing. I was able to access all my channels, but it was not worth the agravation. With a 1 sat DTV system though, it would be relatively convenient. All you'd have to do was switch polarities on the Fortec whenever you switched polarities on the DTV.

Re fishing lines, I have holes drilled all through my house, but it wasn't real convenient for me either, because there is a garage between my house and all my dishes, so I had to go into the garage, up to the garage attic, across into the top floor of my house, then down through holes that water pipes went through down into my basement, then across inside a false ceiling to the finished side of my basement where my receivers are.

After doing this once, to get a second (or 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) coax, I tied a string to the existing coax, and pulled the existing coax back out, then tied both to the string and pulled 2 coaxes through, etc, etc. I now have a string in there permanently to pull more, however, I'm about out of space. However, if your lines were put in professionally, they may have stapled them to the studs, so you can't pull them.

OR, you can do what I've done with some of my wires, and just have them running over a banister from upstairs to my living room on the 1st floor. ( My wife isn't too happy with that solution, and about 8 years ago I promised to remove them. Although I did reduce it from 10 wires to about 6, they are still there.)

[Navicura]

Originally Posted by wejones

With the 3 sat dish, the 110/119 sat is selected by turning on 22KHz, which can be done on the Mercury. I'd recommend using the DC-block (available at RS) between the 2 receivers. The only problem I had with doing it with the 3 sat DTV system (which is what I have too), is that if I haven't been using the DTV for a while, and I went to tune say a local channel on the 119 sat, the DTV receiver would have forgotten that I was subscribed, and it would say something like that sat wasn't available to me, or it would say something about not being able to find any signal at all. I'm probably wrong, but it seemed like I needed to first tune it to the 101 sat, and let it stay there long enough to figure out that I was subscribed to things on 119, THEN, switch it to the 119 sat, however I was finding this very cumbersome, and it would often take me 5 or 10 minutes to get it to recognize all the channels I subscribe to, all the while I was changing sats and changing polarity, etc. BTW, I was only doing this because my DTV receiver lost it's LNB power, so I had to use an old Fortec DVB receiver to power the thing. I was able to access all my channels, but it was not worth the agravation. With a 1 sat DTV system though, it would be relatively convenient. All you'd have to do was switch polarities on the Fortec whenever you switched polarities on the DTV.

Re fishing lines, I have holes drilled all through my house, but it wasn't real convenient for me either, because there is a garage between my house and all my dishes, so I had to go into the garage, up to the garage attic, across into the top floor of my house, then down through holes that water pipes went through down into my basement, then across inside a false ceiling to the finished side of my basement where my receivers are.

After doing this once, to get a second (or 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th) coax, I tied a string to the existing coax, and pulled the existing coax back out, then tied both to the string and pulled 2 coaxes through, etc, etc. I now have a string in there permanently to pull more, however, I'm about out of space. However, if your lines were put in professionally, they may have stapled them to the studs, so you can't pull them.

OR, you can do what I've done with some of my wires, and just have them running over a banister from upstairs to my living room on the 1st floor. ( My wife isn't too happy with that solution, and about 8 years ago I promised to remove them. Although I did reduce it from 10 wires to about 6, they are still there.)

Thanks for all your support, now let me ask you this, as an interim solution, I will use the same coax. What settings (and how) do I need to put in the Mercury II? I'm assuming I need to add a Satellite with LNB Input #2 of the DiseqC as the LNB, but what about Coordinates, frequencies, etc. Do I match this to what Direct TV has for these satellites, or is it irrelevant. Also, I'm assuming I need to turn off the FTA receiver to make use of the loop through, right?


Thanks again in advance.

[wejones]

Originally Posted by Navicura

Thanks for all your support, now let me ask you this, as an interim solution, I will use the same coax. What settings (and how) do I need to put in the Mercury II? I'm assuming I need to add a Satellite with LNB Input #2 of the DiseqC as the LNB, but what about Coordinates, frequencies, etc. Do I match this to what Direct TV has for these satellites, or is it irrelevant. Also, I'm assuming I need to turn off the FTA receiver to make use of the loop through, right?


Thanks again in advance.

Assuming that your motor's DiseqC switch is like a normal DiseqC switch, yes, what I did, was add a satellite, and I defined 4 channels, ie:
1) horizontal, 22khz on
2) vertical , 22 khz on
3) horizontal, 22hkz off
4) vertical, 22khz on
For all 4 you'd have the diseqc set on input 2. I would just leave the motor control set to none, ie neither diseqC1.2 nor USALS, but off.
Then 1 and 2 would give you the 110/119 sats, and 3 and 4 would give you the 101 sat. But I'd recommend tuning into the 101 sat first, and let it sit there a while before trying to switch to 110/119, and like I said, for me, it took quite a bit of switching on the fortec to get it to switch satellites. It will get old fast.

[Navicura]

Originally Posted by wejones

Assuming that your motor's DiseqC switch is like a normal DiseqC switch, yes, what I did, was add a satellite, and I defined 4 channels, ie:
1) horizontal, 22khz on
2) vertical , 22 khz on
3) horizontal, 22hkz off
4) vertical, 22khz on
For all 4 you'd have the diseqc set on input 2. I would just leave the motor control set to none, ie neither diseqC1.2 nor USALS, but off.
Then 1 and 2 would give you the 110/119 sats, and 3 and 4 would give you the 101 sat. But I'd recommend tuning into the 101 sat first, and let it sit there a while before trying to switch to 110/119, and like I said, for me, it took quite a bit of switching on the fortec to get it to switch satellites. It will get old fast.

Wejones, once again, thanks for all your help. I'll try these setting tonight.