Splitting DirecTV signals???

[JUC]

Hey all, i am getting ready to bite the bullet and purchase a second instance of sage to run as a networked encoder and getting the sagetv/150/blaster combo from the site. Has anyone successfully gotten 2 instances of sage running together?

Now to my real question...I got to thinking, and the only reason i need to have a second instance of sage running is because the way my house is wired, i only have one coaxial line going into each room. I could just get the client and recorder, but then i would need to buy the 250 and a seperate blaster and a seperate remote (costs more than the 150 bundle). So, if i can somehow split the coaxial signal coming into one of the bedrooms, then hook up 2 direcTV boxes to the splits, i would be able to get away with not having to buy another blaster and sage. But, is this possible? Can i split the coaxial before it hits the STB and just hook up 2 activated STB so the cables, then input to 2 PVR cards?

Thanks
JUC

[nigfink]

No, you can't split DirecTV signals without a Multiplexer. It takes 2 inputs and makes 4, but there is no real "spliter" that will work. Sorry...

[src666]

There is no way to use more than one DirecTV box with only one Coax cable. The problem is that each LNB (the reciever that is on the dish) can only pick up one polarization of the signal at any given time. DirecTV broadcasts on two different polarizations, so to recieve all the channels on more than one reciever, you need 2 LNB's, which requires 2 cables to the dish.

It gets worse with the new oval dishes, that use 4 LNB's.

You will need to run more cable - 1 for each reciever - either to the dish (if you have an unused LNB connection) or to a multiswitch. From the multiswitch, you will need to run at least 2 cables to the dish (for a round dish with 2 LNB's). Oval dishes with more LNB's require more expensive multiswitches that use 4 cables to connect to the dish.

[JUC]

yea. Hindsight is.... i had a multiswitch installed in my basement. It has room for a total of 4 coaxial feeds that each go to four different locations in my house (bedroom 1,2; living room, and bedroom 1 sitting room). If i would have been smart, i would have had the builder run multiple coaxial lines into one of the rooms so i could use that as a server. As it is now, i am having a difficult time figuring out how i can add another tuner to my system without running another instance of sage as a networked encoder or using client/recorder. How are those with satellite running multiple tuners? Do you have a server in the basement with all the STBs there? Or, did you just run multiple coaxial cables to one of the rooms?
Thanks
JUC
JUC

[bones71]

I have my server in the living room. When I built my house 2 years ago. I ran 6 coax and cat 5e to the living room and family room and 2 of each to all the other rooms. Except the office it got like 10 cat 5 and 4 coax. It all runs down to a box in the basements where everything comes into the house.

[JUC]

If only i had planned....looks like i will be running more coaxial into the living room--easy enough, i can just drop it down to the basement to the multiswitch. Don't think i need more cat5e at this point yet--why would you need multiple cat5e cables running to the same rooms?
JUC

[src666]

Ideally, you don't want a bunch of ethernet hubs and switches scattered all over your network. You want 1 Cat5 drop for each device that needs it, all tied back into a core switch. This becomes especially critical in situations where you are pumping large quantities of data on a regular basis (i.e. media distribution).

For example, in my main A/V stack I have a ReplayTV, an Audiotron, a PS/2 and a computer. That's 4 drops. If I were running a satellite or older TIVO I would have to add a Phone drop. This stuff adds up. The rule of thumb I use is to run 50% more drops than you expect to use, so you are covered for the future (XBox, etc.).

A lot of people will suggest wireless, but I think wireless is really only good for devices that move around and places where you just can't get a cable. Anywhere else, run a wire.

[bones71]

I also found out by using custom homemade cables I can use cat5e for running video and sound with rca connectors.My daughters dish pvr can be accessed from any tv in the house. started with my original panasonic showstopper replaytv. I agree with src if you can go wired it is better. I only use wireless for mine and my wifes laptops my other 4 computers are wired.

[JUC]

Thanks, i have a mixed wireless and wired network set up now. I only use wireless for my laptop though. Basically, i now only have 1 cat5 and 1 coaxial running to each room in the house. The only area i am really short on now is in my Living room, where i plan to add another receiver. So, i will need at least another coaxial and cat5 cable there. Since i am doing it it would probably be wise for me to run additional cables for future expansion. Down the road i plan on boxing out a closet in the basement for a server room--then i can just have everything going there, STBs and all with a switch.
Thanks for the suggestions.
JUC