[ellins]

I have a high def receiver setup and a standard receiver setup with Shaw. The standard receiver is hooked up to a high def TV, although I only get standard reception with this setup (call this the "second TV).

I lost reception on the second TV yesterday. The light on the receiver stays red and the message on the screen is frozen as "acquiring satellite signal". After talking to Shaw technical support, we concluded that the port at the dish had blown and will have to be replaced.

This is a complete drag, as it going to be out of commission for some time, and the second TV is the one that gets the most use, as it is conveniently located in the house.

I have a lot of RG cable, splitters and fittings, so would like to try this.

1. If I was just wanting to stay with the standard reception on the second TV, could I split the Tuner 1 cable, currently feeding the high def TV, and feed the second TV as well.

2. Could I split both existing Tuner 1 and 2 cables and feed both TV's, and if I replace the existing receiver with a high def one, will that work? Or, do you have to run two new cables from the dish for the second TV? You see, the dish is on the chimney of a two story house, and so the cables will have to run down the roof and along the outside of the house and also within the house, whereas the splitting can be done where the cables are conveniently located centrally in the basement.

I would appreciate your thoughts and help with this.

Thanks,

Ted

 

[QCK]

You cannot split any existing cables if you want both receievrs to work properly at the same time. Each tuner must have it's own sepreate feed.

 

[kdoub]

Without knowing exactly which dish setup you have, it sounds like you should have 4 outputs from the dish.

Have you tried switching the cable run that goes to TV2 to the unused dish output?
Or temporarily switching TV2's cable into one of the ones feeding your 530?

 

[ellins]

Thanks for the replies.

First off, I want to make clear that I pay for full services from Shaw. I bought the 530 PVR and the 505 receiver and pay the surcharge for two. I'm not trying to get a "freebie".

Regarding my setup, I don't have four cables coming from the dish. I have the Tuner 1 and Tuner 2 cables for the 530 and one cable for the 505. The 505 feed is the one that has the blown port at the dish.

I think I finally see the light regarding the two tuner feeds. They are for simultaneously watching one channel, while recording another. Nothing to do with high def, as I initially had in mind, so splitting Tuner 1 cable to feed second TV will not give me proper reception.

Ted

 

[QCK]

They are for simultaneously watching one channel, while recording another. Nothing to do with high def, as I initially had in mind, so splitting Tuner 1 cable to feed second TV will not give me proper reception.

Ted

That is correct, it has nothing to do with HD. All channels are available on each line. On the 530 PVR tuner 1 is for watching live TV, tuner 2 is only for recording. Direct splitting of satellite cables is never a good idea for any system, you can use a multiswitch to get more than 4 input lines to your receiver's tuners, but to do this you must have 4 good working lines from the the LNB going to the input side of the multswitch.

 

[jbracing24]

Have you tried switching the cable run that goes to TV2 to the unused dish output?

ellins:

Like the poster kdoub suggested, the LNB head on the dish should have 4 ports, one unused, and that should be covered with a weather cap. Why not switch the cable to the unused port?

 

[ellins]

question about connection

This is what I've done.

I added a length of coax to one of the two cables (Tuner 1 or Tuner 2 feeds) to the 530 PVR for the first TV, and connected the coax to the 505 receiver for the second TV in the other location. When I want to watch the first TV or have to record, I'll change the connections back. This is a temporary fix and I'll do with it.

As for unused ports up at the dish, it's not practical for me to do anything there, as the dish is on a chimney above two storeys. I'll wait for a technician to either replace the blown port or make the connection to an unused port (if there is one).

Thanks,

Ted

 

[jbracing24]

the dish is on a chimney above two storeys

Is it essential to have it that high? To have it within easy reach makes adjustments and/or snow clearance that much easier.

 

[mr weather]

Might be a clearance issue if there are large trees to the south of the dish.

Mine is mounted off my chimney but I have easy access via a ham radio tower and the roof pitch is reasonable.

 

[ellins]

Thanks for the input.

I have the reception with this temporary patch, so I'm happy with that. I have another issue. I've been trying to get the program guide to come on the screen. When I open a channel, the bar at the bottom gives me the channel number, but there is no description ... it just says "no data". Likewise, when I click on the button, which normally pulls up the interactive program screen, there is no response. I thought it was because the receiver needed some time to perform this role, but it's been more than 24 hours. I did shut the receiver off overnight in case it needed the time to upload software.

I tried options, but I could not get it that ways. I tried to hold the TV button down, until all the buttons flashed, as that was the way I reset some glitches in the past.

Is there a particular protocol to follow? Is there a problem, because of the configuration of my temporary patch, i.e., using the Tuner 1 feed which originally fed my 530 PVR and now feeds the dsr209 receiver?

Note> I was incorrect identifying the second receiver as 505 in earlier posts. I was browsing for a manual and found that it is a dsr209. Sorry for the confusion. I don't think it makes a difference re this problem. I did not find any info on how to get the program description and the guide to show.

Thanks,

Ted

 

[ellins]

question about connection

No need to reply. I figured it out. I have the program guide.

Thanks,

Ted