Considering upgrading my DTV box to DTV with Tivo...

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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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I've had DTV for awhile now, and I've wanted to upgrade my reciever. It seems the DVR models are where it's at now, so I figure why not.

I was looking @ this DirectTV Model at Circuit City for $100. The only other one out there is a Hughes, and it seems to have a lot of complaints.

I called DirecTV and found out I could just switch out one of my basic boxes (I have a 2 room setup) for the Tivo one, and I would have to pay $4.99 more a month for the Tivo service.

Now, here are my questions.

First, I'm told the two lines I have coming off my dish now are all I can have unless I get some sort of port expander and run another line. It will be $100 to have someone come up and do this, or I could do it myself. If I keep things the way they are now, I will only be able to watch what I am recording unless I get rid of one box, which I don't want to do. From how they explained it, it sounds like a fairly easy thing to do myself since tthe wire I need to run won't be a long run, or hard to get into the house. I would also need to purchase one of these adapters I imagin...where would I look for this?

I was also wondering if I could possibly get the box in black? Lastly...the unit apparently comes with a 80GB hard drive...can that be upgraded?

Thanks in advance...
 
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jtusa

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2004
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I bought my parents a DTV w/ Tivo box 2 Christmas' ago and they were only able to watch/record one thing at a time. I had always thought that any box could do two at a time regardless, but I just ignored it and thought I was mistaken and it wasn't a huge deal to them. Then they had some other problem with their service and had to have the guy come out for service and while he was there my dad asked him about the recording/watching two different things. The guy looked at it and said it was wrong and got them set up while he was there for no extra charge or anything.

My parents have always just had one box and a dish for one box and the DTV guy was able to set them up by either just rewiring the dish with what they had or stuff he had in the truck. So either the service hooked them up or you may already be setup but just don't know it.

I generally know what I'm talking about when it comes to A/V wiring and stuff like that, but I've never messed with a DTV system so I'm not sure.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Well, from how I understand it, the unit on the back of the dish that has the wires run from it now, only has two leads. One wire goes to each box from the dish. The DTV person explained it that that piece needed to be changed out for a mutli-port one with 4 ports so another line could be run to the Tivo box. That sounds fairly easy since I don't need to do anything that would involve having to aim the dish again. I would probably need that part, and a run of Cat 6...and to get up on the roof.
 
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jtusa

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2004
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Originally posted by: Insane3D
Well, from how I understand it, the unit on the back of the dish that has the wires run from it now, only has two leads. One wire goes to each box from the dish. The DTV person explained it that that piece needed to be changed out for a mutli-port one with 4 ports so another line could be run to the Tivo box. That sounds fairly easy since I don't need to do anything that would involve having to aim the dish again. I would probably need that part, and a run of Cat 6...and to get up on the roof.
Click to expand...

That would make sense. I know exactly which adaptor you'd need to, I can't imagine it would cost $100 and that seems like something you'd be able to pull off yourself.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Yeah, the new box would be going in my bedroom, and the existing line they ran goes right down the wall, under the trim and vinyl siding, and through the wall into my room....probably only about 10ft of wire from the dish to inside my room...then another 10 feet or so in my room. I would just need to run the 3rd wire along the existing one, and through the hole in the all, and re-silicon.

Didn't we have some DTV or Dish Network techs in here?
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,131
616
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How many receivers do your parents have now? If they already have 2 and assuming the dish only supports 2 then you'd need to get a multiswitch (not sure on prices but 2x4 should be about $50). Then run two lines from it to the Tivo and single lines to any of the other receivers.

<-- Loves his DirecTIVO.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Originally posted by: NutBucket
How many receivers do your parents have now? If they already have 2 and assuming the dish only supports 2 then you'd need to get a multiswitch (not sure on prices but 2x4 should be about $50). Then run two lines from it to the Tivo and single lines to any of the other receivers.

<-- Loves his DirecTIVO.
Click to expand...

LOL!

I think you got my OP and jtusa4's reply mixed up. My parents are not in this equation...:p

I have a normal round dish with two recievers...a multiswitch is what they said I would need. Where do I get that? How hard is it to install?

Edit:

Is this what I need...seems steep. Almost might as well have them install it for $100. Do I need to put this up @ the dish, or can it be hooked up in the house?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ol...08088&amp;type=product
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,131
616
126
Multiswitch is pretty easy. Its kinda like a regular splitter. I don't even think it needs a power adapter for the smaller ones.
Here is one at CC but its overkill as it has a built-in combiner (allows analog signal to be carried in the same cable). I'm sure you can find it cheaper elsewhere. Anyway, somewhere in your house the cable coming from the dish goes through a ground isolator. It has connections on both ends. Unless I'm mistaken you can just swap out the ground isolator with this job. Then you'd just have to run one additional line to your Tivo. The other lines would just connect into this box.
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
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Gotcha...but if it's going to be $80...I might as well pay the $100 for someone to just come do it. I wish they had some sort of free install deal on the upgrade...

Edit...found a 4-port on for $29...

http://www.9thtee.com/dssstuff.htm

Not so sure on the site...I don't want a cheapo one that will kill my signal quality...
 
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,131
616
126
Never heard of that place either but I'm sure you can find it at a reputable place for $50 or less. I wouldn't bother checking BB as they likely carry Terk as well. Good stuff....just expensive!
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Thanks for the info. As soon as DTV's website starts working again (been down all day if you try to sign into your account), I'll see if they have any deals with install.
 
W

WTT0001

Golden Member
Jan 2, 2001
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Terk stuff is normally junk from what i've seen of it:D

Anyway, you probably have a single LNB dish with 2 outputs, one running to each of your receivers, to put a tivo in you will need a 3rd line which means the 3x4 multiswitch (3rd is for off-air/cable, Call your local DTV guy and see if you can just buy the multiswitch from him, it only costs him around $15:D)

Basically, 2 lines from the dish to the multiswitch (location of the multiswitch doesn't matter, power comes from the receivers) 3 lines from the multiswitch, 1 to the regular one your keeping, 2 to the tivo, run the tivo setup, call DTV to activate it and you should be set:D

LMK if you need anymore info/help,

WTT
DTV/Dishnet/Voom/Dway Installer:D
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
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Originally posted by: WTT0001
Terk stuff is normally junk from what i've seen of it:D

Anyway, you probably have a single LNB dish with 2 outputs, one running to each of your receivers, to put a tivo in you will need a 3rd line which means the 3x4 multiswitch (3rd is for off-air/cable, Call your local DTV guy and see if you can just buy the multiswitch from him, it only costs him around $15:D)

Basically, 2 lines from the dish to the multiswitch (location of the multiswitch doesn't matter, power comes from the receivers) 3 lines from the multiswitch, 1 to the regular one your keeping, 2 to the tivo, run the tivo setup, call DTV to activate it and you should be set:D

LMK if you need anymore info/help,

WTT
DTV/Dishnet/Voom/Dway Installer:D
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Someone mentioned this would replace the grounding thing in the basement? The wires come down off the satellite dish on the roof, into the basement, then to the two boxes.

How does that $26 one I linked look?

Want to come up to NH and help me hook it up? :p
 
Muadib

Muadib

Lifer
May 30, 2000
18,120
910
126
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Originally posted by: WTT0001
Terk stuff is normally junk from what i've seen of it:D

Anyway, you probably have a single LNB dish with 2 outputs, one running to each of your receivers, to put a tivo in you will need a 3rd line which means the 3x4 multiswitch (3rd is for off-air/cable, Call your local DTV guy and see if you can just buy the multiswitch from him, it only costs him around $15:D)

Basically, 2 lines from the dish to the multiswitch (location of the multiswitch doesn't matter, power comes from the receivers) 3 lines from the multiswitch, 1 to the regular one your keeping, 2 to the tivo, run the tivo setup, call DTV to activate it and you should be set:D

LMK if you need anymore info/help,

WTT
DTV/Dishnet/Voom/Dway Installer:D
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice. Someone mentioned this would replace the grounding thing in the basement? The wires come down off the satellite dish on the roof, into the basement, then to the two boxes.

How does that $26 one I linked look?

Want to come up to NH and help me hook it up? :p
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with aspen. Checkout Tivocommunity though if you don't want to take my word for it.
 
N

NT4Mike

Senior member
Oct 9, 1999
536
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Do you get local channels through your directv right now? Reason that I ask is that if you have a round-dual-lnb dish (2 lines out), and you order local channels, I think they will upgrade you to a new oval dish (picks up 3 sats, and has built in multiswitch giving you 4 outputs.) They even throw in free installation.

They upgraded my dish 4 free a few months ago.... and they upgraded my mother-in-law's dish a week ago. It would be cheaper than buying a multiswitch or new dish yourself and you don't have to do the labor.

I have the 40 hour hughes unit from Circuit City.... and I have had no problems with it. It has been great and I don't know how I lived without it before. My only complaint would be that I use it with my HD tv and you can see the graininess of the recorded image on the HDtv. I just don't want to dish out the 1k for a HD tivo just yet.

Mike
 
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Insane3D

Elite Member
May 24, 2000
19,446
0
0
Originally posted by: NT4Mike
Do you get local channels through your directv right now? Reason that I ask is that if you have a round-dual-lnb dish (2 lines out), and you order local channels, I think they will upgrade you to a new oval dish (picks up 3 sats, and has built in multiswitch giving you 4 outputs.) They even throw in free installation.

They upgraded my dish 4 free a few months ago.... and they upgraded my mother-in-law's dish a week ago. It would be cheaper than buying a multiswitch or new dish yourself and you don't have to do the labor.

I have the 40 hour hughes unit from Circuit City.... and I have had no problems with it. It has been great and I don't know how I lived without it before. My only complaint would be that I use it with my HD tv and you can see the graininess of the recorded image on the HDtv. I just don't want to dish out the 1k for a HD tivo just yet.

Mike
Click to expand...

Yes, my local channels are through DTV, and I have a round dish that was installed about a year ago. Do I just call them and ask them to upgrade me?
 
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