DSTV screw up (my own fault!)

ok so Makro in Cape Town is running a special on the HD PVR so I went and picked one up... asumming that its also dual view

its not

apparently this is far more complicated than I thought previously!

so, can someone answer the following questions please?

why do I require a 4 LNB for the HD PVR?

I have a 2 LNB on my current dish, and have been told that I can install a "switch" as a substitute. Can someone confirm this? Would there be a quality differnce between getting the switch installed VS the 4 LNB ?

I would like to go the XtraView option so other people can also watch DSTV, is this affected by the option that I choose above?

thanks for the help

Hi HTC_Guy

Yeah, i was also in the market to "upgrade" my DSTV to HD.

When i called one of the "installers", he said. I need the HD PVR Decoder, will also require a 2nd LNB feed which will cost around R700(Installation Cost), will also require a port splitter**which also costs about R700-R800** (i'm guessing thats the switch). to split the 2 LNB's to 4.

He said its to do with the resolution. Remember HDTV is 1280x720progressive.

Normal TV is 640x480. He said you need double the resolution for a single Feed to to High-Deff. So thats mean 640+640 to give you = 1280

the 720 apparently doesn't work entirely the same with the doubling, because its progressive.

In short, doubtfull that 2 or 3 different "installers" can spin the same story unless it is really required

HTC_Guy, yeah you can get a switch... afaik it works the same since there is only vertical and horizontal "waves" see for instance some channels broadcast on vertical and some on horizontal (thats why you need a dual LNB for a DSTV SD PVR) So now what you do now is just as far as i know there is space for more data (since you can watch two programs and record a third) there must be...

I hope i am understandable?

Get a 2x6 multiswitch (prices varies a lot, you looking at R400 to R800)
The 2 LNB lines you currently have go into the switch
4 go out into the HDPVR
2 will be spare

The spare can be used for Xtraview, either using an SDPVR (needs 2) or 1110 (needs 1)

There will be no quality difference
The 4 it requires are for: viewing channel, recording 1, recording 2, EPG/Data


If you want to use it before getting a multiswitch then put the 2 lines you have into ports 1 & 4, you just wont be able to record.
And before you do anything let the PVR update its software

Like Peder said... The incoming frequencies have two polarities. Vertical and horizontal. Each viewing or recording capability has a tuner which need to be able to switch to either vertical or horizontal. The old SD PVR had 3 tuners (2 viewing, 1 recording) and the signal was supplied by an internal switch. That is why it only has two inputs. One vertical and the other horizontal. HD PVR has 4 tuners (1 viewing, 2 recording and EPG), but know internal switch. That is why you have 4 LNB inputs. You can still run your decoders of two feeds from the dish if you use a 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 multiswitch. If you want Xtraview with a 1110 a 2x6 will be sufficient. As long as there not very long cable runs there will be absolutely no difference in quality...

Hope that helps...

From experience, I'd like to give the following advice:

If you don't have a dish installed already, go with a 4 LNB solution. It will cost a bit more in terms of cabling but the signal strength will be far higher than a 2-6 switch. The HD-PVR is sensitive and any signal glitch causes it to lose recording reliability.

With the 4LNB you can then run 2 of the LNB inputs into a 2-4 switch if you need to run a 1110 or SD-PVR decoder for multiple sets. (SD-PVR is the best solution, try find one second hand - that way you get 3 live TV channels and 3 recording channels simultaneously).

Wiring up should be as follows:
1. Direct from LNB to Input 2 and 3 of the HD-PVR (These are the recording tuners and the ones that need good signal levels).
2. The other two HD-PVR inputs (1 for TV viewing and 4 for EPG) can be connected via the switch.
3. Secondary decoder can be connected via the switch.

arf9999 out of experience I know that every installation is different. Sometime what you are suggesting is the best way, but for most installations2 feeds with a switch is the right way to go. It is easier and cheaper. The multiswitches are active (powered by the voltage the decoder puts out) and the losses through them are very small. When you have very long cable runs or your dish is not alligned perfectly, you will have problems... If you use a good installer, he will give you advice as to what is the best option for you.

hi all

i'd like to thank everyone for their feedback, proved most valuable.

crawling around in the roof yesterday I managed to get everything installed and working 100% , not without hitches though.

I had to re-route the second wire coming from the other decoder to come to the same room where my decoder is. These two wires went into my 2x6 multiswitch, and i ran the four down to the decoder..

Big thanks to Brights in Bellville for helping out with all the bits & pieces. I got all the connectors, cable and the multiswitch there, and a piece of trunking.

The lot set me back about R550, which is about R1200 cheaper than what some company wanted to charge me... and they were the cheapest!

The decoder did one update when it started up, and I thought I was set... I wasnt. When I pressed PAUSE it would pause... but then when I pressed PLAY the whole decoder would freeze... fun fun!

I forced a manual update (which took about 20 mins) and now it all seems to be working fine, very nice, Im happy so far.

Just scared Im going to run into all these bugs people are telling me about...

Did have a quick look at some HD greys anatomy last night, wow it looks really nice!

Just some advice, dont bank everything on recording the HD channel. For example if you watch Greys religiously and wouldnt want to miss an episode then set a recording for the HD channel & for M-Net as backup. HD recordings have a habit of failing every now & then