This is getting off topic...............

But, yes, to some extent. Personally, I expect them to be sales people, not technical, but as I said, if they don't know, they should not guess or make stuff up. They should refer the customer to someone that actually knows.

I have two bell receivers and want to add two more but have 6 outlets. I read in the forum that I can use two 4 x 4 switches and two 44 switches for a reliable connection.

Do the switches have to be Dish or can I use a brand such as the Microyal for the 44 and other brands for the 4 X 4

I called a retailer today and he told me that I had to use Two Dish 44as and two 44 switches with bell receivers. Not sure if he is telling the truth or trying to up sell.

Bell use VideoPath SW44's and Eagle aspen for 4 way and 8 way single sat switch's.

I have used Microroyals in the past and they work just fine.

SW44a's are not approved or officially supported by Bell but again, work fine.

I read in the forum that I can use two 4 x 4 switches and two 44 switches for a reliable connection.

I think you mean 2 x 4 way switch's and 2 x SW44's.

It's cheaper to use four 2 way splitters (dish style with DC blocking on 1 leg/DC pass on the other) and two SW44s. One SW44a and one SW44 is also cost effective unless the SW44s are surplus/cheap or on hand. Other brands are Ok, as long as they are Dish/Bell compatible. Diseqc, Shaw, DirecTV, etc switches will not work with Bell receivers.

Splitters MUST pass 2 Ghz or higher.

Thanks guys I had a feeling the guy was just selling me more than I needed.

I will try this set-up as described in the forum using the method as described in the forum.
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I happen to have one eagle aspen 3 x 4 multi switch.
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I will get two Microyal SW44 Automatic Multi-Dish Switch
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Please lwt me know if i can improve on anything.

Sadly they just do not understand how to cable for more than 4 Tuners, at most Bell World & The Source Stores I come across.

Funny; even through sky dish, when i call in to activate a customer, I had a rep argue with me to install the power insterter on a multiswitch, And that the multiswitch that I installed was a sw-44.

What is the difference between a 44a and just a 44?

Firstly an SW44A is NOT an approved or officially supported Switch for use on Bell TV.

The SW44, has 4 inputs from the LNBF's, and 4 outputs to feed 4 Tuners.
The SW44A, has 4 inputs from the LNBF's, 4 outputs to feed 4 Tuners and 4 outputs to feed an SW44, if required.

Is there such a thing as a SW22? I went to a bell store today and that's what he advised, but I haven't seen that switch mentioned here. Right now I have dual Lnb's connected to an SW44, and I'm running 2 pvr's, but I want to add a third PVR as well as 1 line for a non pvr box.

Never heard of an SW22. He probably meant SW21. SW21s will support, at most, two receivers. For 3 or more receivers, one or more SW44s are required. There are oddball configurations using SW24s combined with SW21s or commercial options but SW44s are the best solution for residential use.

Firstly an SW44A is NOT an approved or officially supported Switch for use on Bell TV.

The SW44, has 4 inputs from the LNBF's, and 4 outputs to feed 4 Tuners.
The SW44A, has 4 inputs from the LNBF's, 4 outputs to feed 4 Tuners and 4 outputs to feed an SW44, if required.
However I have an SW44a switch working in tandem with an SW44 switch...without any issues...to power the following receivers: 9242, 9200, 6100 and two 3100's.

On the other hand I did all the install work myself...and I'm no professional installer...

(Pinza...in fact I wish you were selling those switches on a board, two months ago...in fact I still almost bought #1...except shipping would probably be an issue).

All I'm saying is that it may not be officially supported by Bell-TV...but it does work.

Thanks for the answer!:) My set-up right now is 2 Lnb's connected to an SW44 switch, which are then run to 2 dual tuner receivers( 9242 and 9241) I want to add another 9241 as well as a 6141 and a 6100.

The satellite guy I talked to today said the best solution is to add 2 3X4 ZINWELL SAM - 3402's and another sw44.
http://www.dvbsource.com/images/SAM-3402.jpg which is similar to the 2nd option in this thread. Will this work? Are Zinwell products rated highly? He said he would supply the SW44, the 2 3x4 switches and the cabling for $200.00.

He said he would supply the SW44, the 2 3x4 switches and the cabling for $200.00.
That's a bit expensive. An SW44 is worth at most $100 new or about $35, including shipping, on eBay. (Forget what Bell charges, nobody else wants that much.) 4 Dish compatible splitters can be used for about $5 each or two off-brand SW24s can be used for $15 each. The cables can be purchased or made for about $2-$3 each. For $200, he should be installing it too.

The satellite guy I talked to today said the best solution is to add 2 3X4 ZINWELL SAM - 3402's and another sw44.
On the other hand, wiring-wise, the simplest thing would be for you to just get a SW44A and put that in front of your existing SW44. Not "officially" Bell supported, but works well for many other users.

This thread already has numerous examples of supported and unsupported ways to go beyond the basic 4 tuners. I'm not really sure what is different about this situation and why topic that have been covered are being mentioned again as "new"?

Quivox - Please read the thread from the beginning. It outlines the various options. A google search will turn up appropriate pricing ranges.

I'm trying to troubleshoot a non-working SW44A/SW44 configuration. Yes I know NOW that the SW44A is not Bell supported. Too bad I didn't check here first but I didn't and this is what was recommended where I bought the 9242. Anyway prior to adding the 9242, I had just the SW44 with 3 older receivers (2700, 4700, 6100) and all was well.

I added the SW44A feeding the 9242 ports as well as the 6100 port. The SW44 feeds the 2700 & 4700. It worked most of the time but would cut out regularly especially when using both receivers of the 9242.

Both the SW44 and SW44A are Microyal. Both are powered. Cables are good. I terminated unused receiver ports on the SW44A AND the SW44. Is it okay to terminate unused outputs on a SW44? It didn't come with any. I did a check switch on all the boxes. Initially the 4700 failed but later passed.

For the near term I've removed the 2700 and gone back to just using the SW44 and everything is happy again.

Suggestions? Bad SW44A? Combination prone to failure? Can I check the SW44A without the SW44 installed?

I'd rather not have to buy anything else, but I still have a couple of unused SW21's. I guess I could buy two cheap splitters from Home Depot to split 91 to feed the non-HD receivers. Or buy four and split 82 as well and use the SW21's so I can move the receivers around the house.

Thanks,
Bob

Only time I had a problem with an SW44a it was a connector that had a small piece of shielding causing a short.

Try using ports 2 - 4 on the SW44a, with just the power Inserer on port #1.

That was actually the first way I tried it, with the power inserter with no receiver on port one.

Then I can only suggest, remove all inputs from the rear of the 9242, run a "Check switch", after it fails, connect them again, run the "Ceck Switch" again, hopefully that will cure it.