What kind of splitter do I need to run a two-line Directv dish to two receivers?

Question

I have a two-tuner directv dish that I had wired up to a dual-tuner Directv/Tivo box, as well as a single tuner box in another room. When I moved, I lost the splitter the install guy used. I want to say that he ran the two coax cables out of the dish into a splitter that had two inputs and then ran from that to the dual receiver as well as the single input receiver. However, when I went to radio shack, I didn't see any dual input splitters. Does this sound right? Do I need a special-order splitter -- I swear it looked like a five dollar 1 to 4 splitter. Any help?

Answer 1

You need a 3x4 multiswitch. A splitter is not made for satellite tv (and by the way will not fry your receivers)
If you do not have capability to run a separate cable from the dish to each receiver, call DIRECTV they will do a dish upgrade for you for free. And, by the way, the installer who responded was referring to a multi-sat dish (which are now pretty much standard unless you have hdtv & live in specific areas) not all areas of the US get programming from more than one satellite. I don't, all my programs come from the 101 satellite even locals. Now if I upgraded to high def for my area I would still use my multi-sat dish w/3 LNB's but in some areas of the country you would need a 5 LNB dish in order to get high def locals.
So, when in doubt go to the experts, call DTV its free trouble shooting & advice.

Answer 2

Ok, first things first-

I used to install DirecTV and DishNetwork receivers, and I know exactly what you are getting at-

DO NOT USE A SPLITTER WHEN INSTALLING LINES FROM A SATELLITE RECEIVER TO THE DISH !!! (EXPLANATION BELOW)

Just remember these things-

You can only connect one receiver to a dish output at a time because the receiver sends a voltage signal to the dish head to both power it and to select which horn to receive from. If two receivers are connected together to the same coax wire on the satellite dish, they will fry each other when they send voltage directly to each other's receivers. So- one continuous, uninterrupted line to the dish for each receiver. The dish head has a switch that keeps the receivers electrically isolated from one another and is responsible for sending the proper feed from the selected horn to each receiver.

There are actually 3 satellites the receiver receives from and three horns the receiver can select from to receive it's signal from. A horn is the mushroom looking thing that faces the dish at a slightly offset angle. The signal bounces from one of the 3 satellites into it's respective horn.

The satellites are as such- (A) is your network broadcasting signal like SciFi and HallMark Network- the stuff you usually get only on cable TV. (B) is your local networks- NBC, ABC, PBS, UPN- any thing you can just pick up locally with a set of rabbit ears, and (C) which is the High Def satellite.

(A) is selected when the receiver sends 12 volts DC, (B) is 18 volts, and (C) is 21 volts.

You will need 3 lines going from the dish to each receiver- 2 for the double tuner receiver, and a single line going to the single receiver. Use only RG6 coaxial cable, not the smaller RG59, which is OK for, say, hooking up between a VCR or DVD player to the tuner input on a TV, but it restricts the digital signal too much.

The splitter it sounds like you are talking about is for the video signal side of the receiver- it splits one video signal into 2, 3, or 4 outputs for that many TVs. The video output is not the same as the digital connection between the receiver and the dish.

Look up diplexers online- they look like a splitter, but they function a little differently than a splitter.

If there is only one wire going to the dish and you don't want to install another wire to use a big outdoor antenna, you would use a diplexer.

If you hook the line that's suppposed to go from the satellite receiver to the dish to a TV instead, it will fry the tuner in the TV. So, to allow the outside antenna and a satellite receiver to share the same wire, a diplexer separates the harmful voltage and digital signal of the satellite receiver and the video signal from an outside antenna.

The diplexer allows the voltage to go to the dish to power the head and select horns, while keeping that direct current DC power from the tuner of a TV.

On the outside, you would hook the SAT (satellite) side to the dish, and the ANT (antenna) side to the outside antenna. Then, there is one wire that runs into the house for the outside antenna and the satellite dish. On the inside, you hook the SAT side to the satellite receiver and the ANT side either directly to a TV (if you have a strong signal) or through a antenna amplifier if you live farther away from the TV station.

Sorry for the rambling- just trying to be thorough.

Answer 3

Two Line Splitter

Answer 4

When I used a normal cable splitter to split a satellite signal, the thing started getting real hot. So, I know its not a normal splitter.

Answer 5

You will need a 5mhz-2000mhz diplexer. Looks like a splitter but isn't like the ones cable installers use. You probably won't find one at Radio Shack, so you might have to call a local satellite store, or call your provider to see if they can send you another one, or have someone come install it for you.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

you need a two way coax splitter they are available at walmart