HD PVR 2 P - single lnb installation

[Tim182]

Here is a guide to running the new HD PVR 2 P off a single lnb.

Set up 1: single lnb, one cable into one input:


I do not recommend this for people who expect everthing to work seamlessly. I also do not recommend this for people who have little or no knowledge of technology because MC help line may not sort out or help you with any problems using this set up!

This set up is most likely a solution for those who
- Are only getting Dstv or the PVR for a short while and don't need recording but want to watch HD
- Those you cannot afford to get a dual lnb installation
- Those who live in a complex and a dual lnb can simply not be installed
- Those who will be moving soon and don't want to do the landlord a favour with the installtion

If you want the FULL functionality or are looking for a long term solution please support your local installer and let them do a full installation, we all need business!

• Please not that this installation is at your own risk
• This guide is for using a single lnb, single cable, no splitter
• Multichoice and most installers do not admit that this works
• All channels work, including HD
• You can pause live TV
  [*]You cannot record otherwise at all
• There is a small problem with the TV guide (to solve use set up 2)
• Xtra View will not work
• There might bes some problems with updating the decoder, keep watching this post for more infos (to solve use set up 2)
• Additional functionality may be provided by a splitter, I will test this soon and post a guide
• It automatically outputs audio from HDMI, RCA & optical at the same time so you can use any of those while HDMI is used for video

• Buy the new HD PVR 2 P
• Plug it in the wall with a normal coaxial cable, cable goes into input 1
• Get it activated like a normal decoder
• That's it!

NEW

• You do have an option to have PVR disabled by MC. Phone them and request it
• In this case you will not have to pay the extra R65
• You will still have HD, there is NO HD fee, only a fee for PVR and Xtra view

A single cable in the wall


NO SATCR, just a normal coaxial cable


The new HD PVR 2P


One cable in the back


HD works


TV guide works for the next two programs works but does not show anything past the next 2 shows


You can pause live TV


But no recording at all, not even the channel which you are watching (different from live TV). The following symbol is displayed.

 

[Tim182]

Set up 2: single lnb using a splitter (one cable from dish, split in two before decoder):



I do not recommend this for people who expect everthing to work seamlessly. I also do not recommend this for people who have little or no knowledge of technology because MC help line may not sort out or help you with any problems using this set up!

This set up is most likely a solution for those who
- Are only getting Dstv or the PVR for a short while and don't need recording but want to watch HD
- Those you cannot afford to get a dual lnb installation
- Those who live in a complex and a dual lnb can simply not be installed
- Those who will be moving soon and don't want to do the landlord a favour with the installtion

If you want the FULL functionality or are looking for a long term solution please support your local installer and let them do a full installation, we all need business!

• Please not that this installation is at your own risk
• This guide is for using a single lnb, single cable from dish going into a splitter, than 2 cables going into the decoder
• Multichoice and most installers do not admit that this works
• All channels work, including HD
• You can pause live TV
  [*]Recording is possible, however only channels which are on the same polarisation! Which is most channels! I.e. while watching a channel on horizontal polarization you can record another or the same channel on horizontal. The same goes for vertical of course. To see which channel is where go to menu, information, tuner status, it shows which polarization the current channel is on.
  [*]TV guide works
• It automatically outputs audio from HDMI, RCA & optical at the same time so you can use any of those while HDMI is used for video
• I am not sure about Xtra View
• Updating the decoder will work

The Splitter:


Two cables in the back from single lnb:


Tuner one has signal, I still have to find a way to improve quality:


Tuner 2 has full strength:


TV guide works fully!:


Recording works for channels which are on the same polarisation, eg SSHD and SS3, you can also record the channel you are watching! I.e. record vertical+vertical or horizontal+horizontal!:


Updates work too!:





Some info from other members, thank you!

1 x single LNB
1 x RG6 cable to 2 channel splitter combiner
2 X RG6 cable to decoder connector #1 and #2
1 x Pace HD PVR P2 ("baby" PVR)
1 x DSTV Premium subscription (R529/m)

Gives me: All channels incl. 3 X HD channels, EPG (current, next, after next, and beyond), NO PVR (by request).
Decoder completed OTT upgrade.

This setup gives me HDD with no real cost except for the decoder and trivial amounts for Ellies RG6 and F-type accessories.

From the status menus the decoder knows that it can only see a single LNB, but assigns VER signal to one tuner and HOR to the other and merrily getting on with the job.

I've done the installation with a splitter. Works well.

Bought a Ellies Splitter at Makro - R45
Bought 2 short Coaxial cables - R50

After the Installation I can do the following on the HD PVR:

1. View all channels including the HD channels.
2. Pause and rewind up to 2 hours.
3. Record most channels without problems. The only problem is when you want to record BBC Entertainment, E!, Crime and one or two others which are all on the Horizontal polarization. If you are watching Mnet and you set a record function on any channel on the vertical polarization (which is most channels) then it works like any PVR, perfect. If however you are watching Mnet and you set a record function on BBC Entertainment for example, then when the record kicks in, you lose the signal to Mnet and all vertical polarization channels and it records the BBC channel. When you stop the recording, then the signal comes back. The point to remember is that most channels are on the vertical polarization so the record function works mostly which is better than having no record function at all.
4. TV Guide works well past the first two shows so you can scroll well into the week to set your recordings.

Well worth setting it up this way if you want the PVR function.

A big thank you to all the active members and people who have contributed to these infos! Especially those who have done tests in their own time and posted the results and who took the time to explain some technical details of the decoder!

 

[Freaksta]

Are u paying for the HD service or are u getting it for free?

 

[Tim182]

I am paying. But someone else said you don't have to. There is no fee for HD, only for PVR. I think MC can disable your PVR functionality in which case you'll only be paying standard fee. I can't say for sure though, best have a look under the new hd pvr thread or use search

 

[xrapidx]

Isn't it more about the 2nd channel being scrambled if you don't pay ?

 

[Nerfherder]

I don't get why you would do this.

Do you also have one foot ?

 

[Tim182]

I don't get why you would do this.

Do you also have one foot ?

Two feet and a brain... Because it it impossible to install a dual lnb at my place. I still want HD. And there are thousands of people in this or a similar position.

Take all those people who want to watch the world cup in HD and nothing else but don't have dstv. Why pay installation for a dual lnb when you will cancel the subscibtion in 2 months in any case? Take all the people in apartment blocks which don't allow installation of dual lnbs. Take all those people who want HD but have to move place in a short while and don't want to waste money on an installation which will only benefit the next owner. Take those people who currently can't afford an installation but can afford the decoder.

 

[madlala]

After all, its good to know that my opinions I gave in the other thread reg, single Lnb for HD PVR eventually works, cause i was already called by name .
thanks Tim, for the confirmation and pictures, and i must say, im jealous of this Baby HD, but i dont see myself getting any MC product in the near future, had enough of them

 

[Tim182]

After all, its good to know that my opinions I gave in the other thread reg, single Lnb for HD PVR eventually works, cause i was already called by name .
thanks Tim, for the confirmation and pictures, and i must say, im jealous of this Baby HD, but i dont see myself getting any MC product in the near future, had enough of them

It's a pleasure and thanks also for you participation and comments in the other thread. Good to know some people appreciate the efford. I also am not very fond of MC. But I am a big soccer fan and just have to watch the world cup in HD, afterwards I'm getting rid of DSTV again unless they release HD on compact .

 

[ydavids]

It's a pleasure and thanks also for you participation and comments in the other thread. Good to know some people appreciate the efford. I also am not very fond of MC. But I am a big soccer fan and just have to watch the world cup in HD, afterwards I'm getting rid of DSTV again unless they release HD on compact .

Madlala for HD president!
and Tim182 for HD Youth League President!

 

[Tim182]

Madlala for HD president!
and Tim182 for HD Youth League President!

Bloody Agent

 

[the graduate]

Two feet and a brain... Because it it impossible to install a dual lnb at my place. I still want HD. And there are thousands of people in this or a similar position.

Take all those people who want to watch the world cup in HD and nothing else but don't have dstv. Why pay installation for a dual lnb when you will cancel the subscibtion in 2 months in any case? Take all the people in apartment blocks which don't allow installation of dual lnbs. Take all those people who want HD but have to move place in a short while and don't want to waste money on an installation which will only benefit the next owner. Take those people who currently can't afford an installation but can afford the decoder.

sums me up perfectly...been staying here for 4 years now, and will be moving soon.....whoever moves in after me will find dual lnb DStv xtraview wiring (add dish and decoders), adsl network points in every room + wireless boosters (PS3 and laptop) all over the flat...

I feel I've done my part for my landlady...

 

[Nerfherder]

Um... why not get one of those splitters ? I know you can split 2 LMB's to 4 so i'm sure you can split 1 in to two. Its a once off payment...

 

[the graduate]

Um... why not get one of those splitters ? I know you can split 2 LMB's to 4 so i'm sure you can split 1 in to two. Its a once off payment...

this will not work (my guess), but TIm 'the Toolman' alan will test it for us soon...

it is a secondary problem really....we are just interested in watch the SWC in HD

 

[Tim182]

this will not work (my guess), but TIm 'the Toolman' alan will test it for us soon...

it is a secondary problem really....we are just interested in watch the SWC in HD

It does work, well partly. See my guide above, I edited info for using a splitter

 

[BobJones]

Kewl... got replay/rewind for free! But only on the HD channels - by switching between 101 and 170!
The ad breaks aren't sync'd so the programming runs ahead or behind.

 

[madlala]

Madlala for HD president!
and Tim182 for HD Youth League President!

Lol....

 

[Enzo Matrix]

In terms of paying for PVR functionality i can confirm that you dont pay the extra fee if you dont want PVR. I activated my HD decoder and new smartcard and the operator asked if i want PVR functionality and that there is a fee. HD would be part of the normal subscription price. So that settles that

 

[Tim182]

In terms of paying for PVR functionality i can confirm that you dont pay the extra fee if you dont want PVR. I activated my HD decoder and new smartcard and the operator asked if i want PVR functionality and that there is a fee. HD would be part of the normal subscription price. So that settles that

Thanks for info. I will put it in the guide!

 

[Ice385]

Thanks very much for this post and all the info, I'm stuck in a similar position:
I live in a complex where I can't put up my own satellite and I have just one cable from the wall. My old old old decoder conked out last night and I need a new setup for the WC, since I have an HDTV I really would like HD even if the PVR functionality suffers.

Quick question: where do I get my hands on the HD PVR 2P?