Try it a different way. In the end I want two HD TVs and one non HD TV for a total of three TVs. It would be nice if there was a way to use my 9242, 3100, and a new HD receiver (don't know if it needs to be a PVR) to watch recorded programs on both HD TVs. I probably wouldn't need the 3100 anymore as the non HD TV could be run off the CATV output of the 9242.

You can get a 6131 and buy a hard disk so you can record programs, but you won't be able to watch and record at the same time on the HD TV connected to it. If you go this route you won't need to upgrade your infrastructure, you just need to connect the sat. cable currently connected to the 3100 to the 6131.

If you want to record and watch at the same time, then you need a dual tuner like a 9241. In this case, you need a 5th cable which you can only get if you upgrade your infrastructure by adding new SAT, or switch, etc. Need to know your current infrastructure to be able to recommend a way forward for this.

I think I want to be able to watch and record at the same time so I will buy a 9241.
I have four cables at the dual LNBF that terminate into what I assume is an SW44 (not sure why) and then all four cables go to my central location near my electrical panel.
My current 9242 uses 2 of the cables, one of which comes from the power inserter. I have an HD and a non HD TV off of the 9242. One of the other cables goes to a 3100.
So, if I keep the 9242 as is with the current HD tv, change the CATV output to the non HD TV (which would eliminate the 3100)all that is left is a new 9241, and a new HDtv to do. This would only require the other two cables would it not.(therefore using up all 4) Does it also require a power inserter?

The SW44 is already powered so all you need to do is scrap the 3100 and run a second line to that location, then you can put the 9241 there.

It might be worth trying to find a good used 9242, then you could add that and with a little fancy wiring, we can get into that later, you could then feed the SD TV with signals from BOTH Receivers.....

Good idea. Would the second HD PVR require a second power inserter?
And, if I did want to keep or add the 3100 again in the future would I need a 5th cable from the dish or can I use some splitter on one of the cables?

What function does the SW44 perform?

Check this thread for the 5th line.

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=79134

This one for the SW44

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=79117

The diagram for the 5th line indicates that this is for 5+ tuners. In my case I only would want to use 3 tuners in total. Does that diagram still apply because an HD tuner/receiver uses up two lines for each?

A 9241 and a 9242 each have 2 Tuners, that is why you can Record a show whilst watching live TV on another.

So you would have a total of 5 Tuners.

5 tuners, 3 receivers.
Thanks for your help.

The SW44 is already powered so all you need to do is scrap the 3100 and run a second line to that location, then you can put the 9241 there.

It might be worth trying to find a good used 9242, then you could add that and with a little fancy wiring, we can get into that later, you could then feed the SD TV with signals from BOTH Receivers.....
Interested in what you mean by running a signal from both receivers to the SD tv? What would that accomplish?

You would be able to watch programs that you've recorded on either PVR on the SD TV.

Exactly right JoeLouie. I have 4, 9242's and ALL TV 2's can be accessed from any of my 4 HD TV's.

Do you use a device that allows you to switch to what cable (tuner) you want to view or is that done in the software or is it manual?

I have each 9242 setup with different Outputs, so I can just use the Tuner in the TV's to tune to each 9242 TV2 Output as required. Mine are on Ch64, 66, 68 & 70.

So, I ran into a weird issue with a 9242 today, just wondering if anyone else has ever encountered something like this. I was at a customers house for a service call, and their remote for TV2 wouldn't work unless the main TV was on. The receiver was sitting on top of an older rear projection TV. All I had to do was change the remote address and the problem went away, but I've never encountered something like that before. I assumed that the TV was causing some sort of interference with the receiver sitting on top of it. Anybody else seen this before?

IR (and other) interference thread:

http://www.digitalhome.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=64463

Pinza: Do you use a splitter with 4 inputs and 1 output to your TV?

Yes, just use it reversed so it becomes a combiner. All RF feeds from the 9242's run to a common location, then I conbime them all and Diplex the 4 x RF signals back into a Sat Feed line to the receivers, Diplexing them out again to the TV at the rear of each receiver.

At the same time I also introduce my Security Camera lines 5 of them, so I can actually view at each TV, the 4 TV1 Outputs, the 4 TV2 outputs and 5 Security Camera's.

Pinza, I'd love to see how you've got all this cable organized. Sounds like it could be quite the rats nest of cabling if not done properly. Although I'd expect that anything you've done is done properly lol.