chadrob30
Howdy
Premium
join:2002-04-24
Fort Smith, AR
 ·Cox HSI
| [DVR] Dual tuner Tivo setup....questions...
I recently installed a Directivo for my father in law. The installer who actually did the install from the dish to the receiver said instead of running a separate line for the dual tuner setup we could just use a diplexer behind the receiver to split the input to sat 1 and sat 2. Is this true? The installer was not what I would call an expert by any means. I ran a separate line on my Tivo but don't feel like doing it for the father in law if I can use a diplexer. Any ideas?
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"You have to regard everything I say with suspicion -- I may be tryingto bullshit you, or I may just be bullshitting you inadvertently." -- J. Wainwright, Mathematics 140b |
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obeythelaw
Premium
join:2003-04-16
Bayonne, NJ
 ·DIRECTV
| i don't understand what you're saying. Do you mean that the installer recommended you do that but didn't do it? Or are you currently using a diplexer? From what I was told you could use it and that you needed two direct lines. Mine is two direct lines from the multiswitch and the installer said it couldn't be split. And the installer I had was very good. |
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chadrob30
Howdy
Premium
join:2002-04-24
Fort Smith, AR
·Cox HSI
| reply to chadrob30
exactly. He told us that a diplexer would be needed instead of running a dedicated line. But he claimed he didnt have any on his truck. We are not currently using a diplexer. I told the father in law that since this was supposed to be a Tivo install that the installer needs to come back and run another line. The installer did not bring a Tivo either. Father in law bought a combo receiver/Tivo at Best Buy.
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"You have to regard everything I say with suspicion -- I may be tryingto bullshit you, or I may just be bullshitting you inadvertently." -- J. Wainwright, Mathematics 140b |
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plat2on1
join:2002-08-21
Hopewell Junction, NY
clubs: | reply to chadrob30
no its not true. diplexers combine OTA/cable with sat. you need a 2nd run for the 2nd tuner. |
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mike90069
join:2003-07-28
West Hollywood, CA
| reply to chadrob30
A diplexer will NOT be sufficient for a DirecTV tivo receiver. A diplexer will combine satellite/cable signals at one end, and the resplit them (using a second diplexer) at the other end. I still use Adelphia for internet access, so I need a diplexer to combine/separate satellite/cable signals.
A DirecTV tivo box CAN operate off of one satellite input. However, you will have to watch whatever program is being recorded.
The cool thing about DirecTV tivo is that you can watch one program while recording another...or record two programs at once. To do this you need to connect both tuners on the back of the tivo box.
To connect both tuners, you can do one of two things. The cheaper way is to run two separate lines from the dish.
The expensive way is to combine the two lines into a single line at the dish, then uncombine them at the tivo box. To do that, you need two devices: a "stacker" and an "destacker". You run both dish lines into the stacker, and then run the signal into the home via a single line. You then use a "destacker" at the tivo box to turn the one line into the two lines that the tivo box needs.
A stacker/destacker combo can be bought online, but it's not cheap, about $350 for the both of them. They also have installation instructions/diagrams. It's really not that hard to do. You'll need an inline amplifier ($20) on top of the stacker/destacker.
I live in a condo complex where each unit only has one "cable" line into it. The only way I could have a tivo was to use the stacker/destacker combo. It works well...and it does simplify the wire situation.
If your installer tells you any different, he doesn't know what he is doing; dump him in that case! |
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chadrob30
Howdy
Premium
join:2002-04-24
Fort Smith, AR
·Cox HSI
| reply to chadrob30
Yea I know how it is supposed to be run. Mine is that way. But my father in law's was not run correctly, on top of requesting a Tivo install, which did not happen. I am trying to talk him into calling DTV and having the installer run the 2nd line. However, I used to be an installer with Cox and for some strange reason I think he will buy a roll of cheap RG-6 and hand it to me...DOH!
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"You have to regard everything I say with suspicion -- I may be tryingto bullshit you, or I may just be bullshitting you inadvertently." -- J. Wainwright, Mathematics 140b |
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mike90069
join:2003-07-28
West Hollywood, CA | reply to chadrob30
The stacker/destacker combo is a pretty neat trick...if you don't mind spending the $$$. |
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obeythelaw
Premium
join:2003-04-16
Bayonne, NJ
·DIRECTV
| reply to chadrob30
rather than creating a new thread i figured I would post here. my cousing has had DirecTV for a couple of years and has a dual LNB dish. They want to get the tivo and were in Best Buy. Best Buy has both the RCA one and the Philips one for 99.99 (the same price that DirecTV offers to current customers for a tivo). Is there a reason to choose one over the other? Also, is there a benefit to buying it direct from Best Buy rather than calling DirecTV? He said that DirecTV when he called up said that they couldn't just send a tivo but had to setup an installation (which was free, by the way) even though he has the correct setup. He doesn't want to have to wait around for an installation if he can just get it in Best Buy.
Thanks |
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mike90069
join:2003-07-28
West Hollywood, CA
| reply to chadrob30
I don't think there's a bit of difference between rca and philips.
DirecTV will "install" tivo for free; best buy will not. If you have two lines running off the dish, installation is simple. If not, go with DirecTV and let them install.
The installation is "standard" installation. If you have any hiccups in the installation, they won't do it.
DirecTV tivo is MUCH better than regular tivo...the dual tuner thing is very cool. |
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obeythelaw
Premium
join:2003-04-16
Bayonne, NJ
·DIRECTV
| yeah. however, he already has two lines coming into the room where the tivo is. so there isn't even anything to install. when he got DTV, the installer was a nice guy and made a second line so that in the future if he wanted the tivo he wouldn't have to have any installation for it. so he doesn't need any installation. i guess i will tell him to just pick it up at best buy.
yeah, best buy sells the "DirecTV" Tivo in addition to the regulat tivo's. One is the RCA DVR40 model and the other is the Phillips DSR 704 model. |
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mike90069
join:2003-07-28
West Hollywood, CA
| reply to chadrob30
Sounds like it's all set..
Just buy the tivo box, install it and call directv. It'll be on in 10 min max. Make sure you set the box for "two tuners". Also tell Directv that you're replacing your old receiver with a tivo, elsewise you'll get charged for an additional receiver. (The tivo is runs an additional $4.99/mos cause of the two tuners already.) |
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chadrob30
Howdy
Premium
join:2002-04-24
Fort Smith, AR
·Cox HSI
| reply to chadrob30
ROFLMAO! See post above. Just got off the phone with pops. Guess who is going to run the 2nd line tomorrow? LOL!
As far as the Philips vs the RCA, the guts are going to be similar, functions are identical. I have the Philips, father in law has the RCA. Same setup, same menu, different name is all.
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"You have to regard everything I say with suspicion -- I may be tryingto bullshit you, or I may just be bullshitting you inadvertently." -- J. Wainwright, Mathematics 140b |
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obeythelaw
Premium
join:2003-04-16
Bayonne, NJ
·DIRECTV
| reply to chadrob30
hello again
well, my cousin went out and got the Phillips tivo. He is currently setting it up where it is testing the phone connection. So far it has got through all the steps except the last one. On the Test Phone screen the last step keeps saying "Indexing Shows." Its been like that for like 15 minutes already. I don't remember mine taking that long. Did something get stuck? He doesn't want to unplug the receiver or phone line in fear it might disrupt something. How long is the indexing of shows supposed to take?
thanks |
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mike90069
join:2003-07-28
West Hollywood, CA | reply to chadrob30
To get the full 2 week guide takes about 2 days. The phone calls download only so much. That portion of the setup screen takes 2-3 min. If it's been longer, call tech support at DirecTV...they'll be able to tell you what to do. |
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chadrob30
Howdy
Premium
join:2002-04-24
Fort Smith, AR | reply to chadrob30
I would reboot it and start over if it's been 15 minutes. |
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Rambo2810
join:2004-06-02
Bartlett, IL
| reply to chadrob30
HI, I have the answer for you for sure because I went through the same problem. Here is the 100% correct answer.... YOU CAN NOT Split the satellite signal !! YOU can split a cable signal but not Satellite signals. I had 2 very good experts tell me that ! I even tried splitting them and it didn't work. I had to run a second RG-6 cable from the dish into my house. you must have a dual LNB also. Hope this helped my email address is Rambo2810@comcast.net if you have any other questions
Good LUck |
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egnlsn
Premium
join:2003-09-26
Salt Lake City, UT
 ·Digis
| reply to mike90069
said by mike90069  :
The stacker/destacker combo is a pretty neat trick...if you don't mind spending the $$$.
The best thing about stacked systems is that you can setup a TiVo at any outlet you want without having to run a 2nd cable. It's not a big deal running a 2nd cable in an unfinished basement, but if you want to have the unit in an upstairs bedroom or family room, you're screwed. You can end up spending more to run a 2nd cable to an outlet than you'd pay for a stacker ($167) and a dual destacker for TiVo ($183). Plus, you'd still be stuck only being able to have the TiVo at only 1 outlet.
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CIAO! |
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mrmike916
join:2004-08-06
Rocklin, CA
| EBLCB, where do I find a stacker/unstacker set up? I have looked around online and even contacted several companies such as Directv, Expert Satellite and Rapid satellite but none of them claim to know anything about what I am talking about. It would be easier for me to use a stacker set up rather than to fish a second line down through the attic. |
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egnlsn
Premium
join:2003-09-26
Salt Lake City, UT
·Digis
| said by mrmike916 :
EBLCB, where do I find a stacker/unstacker set up? I have looked around online and even contacted several companies such as Directv, Expert Satellite and Rapid satellite but none of them claim to know anything about what I am talking about. It would be easier for me to use a stacker set up rather than to fish a second line down through the attic.
»www.cencom94.com/gpage.html4.html
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CIAO! |
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