Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Hudson, OH
Posts: 37

I currently have two cable runs going into my house. I'd like to diplex a signal from an antenna for HDTV onto one of those lines so I won't need to pull an extra line and drill more holes. If I use a diplexor up on the roof, will I need to split the signal out before the multiswitch, or can I just run the diplexed line to the multiswitch, and then split it out at the final location.

If I do have to run a third line to the multiswitch, how does the antenna signal get separated out from the multiswitch? All the switches I've looked at only have the outputs to go to the DSS receivers.

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 2408

You can run the diplexed line to the multiswitch (many multiswitches actually have a built-in diplexor: 3 or 5 inputs). Use another diplexor at the receiver side to separate satellite and antenna.

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Hudson, OH
Posts: 37

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about a 3x4 multiswitch, but that would still require me to run extra lines into the house. It sounds like I can get a 2x4 switch and plug the diplexed and non-diplexed line into it and then distrubute the lines accordingly to the receivers.

Will it matter which line I diplex the signal onto, or will the multiswitch handle it?

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 2408

Oops, well now that I think about it, you'd need to diplex to both lines if you don't use a 3x4. Use a splitter on the antenna and a diplexor for each LNB output before the multiswitch. (that last question of yours is what made me notice my mistake )

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Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Hudson, OH
Posts: 37

Before? the multiswitch or after? If I split the antenna and diplex onto both lnbs, then can I just plug into a 2x4 switch and split at the reciever side?

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Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 2408

I tried drawing a picture, but I've never been to good at Powerpoint, etc. Maybe someone has a good picture.

Anyway, in words:
Output of the antenna to a splitter. Each output of the splitter to the antenna side of a diplexor. Each output of the LNB to the satellite side of these diplexors. The output of each diplexor to the 2 inputs of the 2x4 multiswitch. Then each output of the 2x4 multiswitch can either go to a satellite receiver or another diplexor. The outputs of this final diplexor can go to a satellite receiver (the satellite side) and a TV (the antenna side).

(diplexors work both ways)


Or the two LNBs and antenna into the (appropriate) 3 inputs of a 3x4 multiswitch, and the outputs of the multiswitch as above

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Registered: Mar 2002
Location:
Posts: 561

Not sure how weather proof the diplexors are. I think you're better off running an extra cable directly to your multiswitch.

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Registered: Oct 2001
Location: Silicon Valley
Posts: 3135

Not all multiswitches will pass the low frequency signal from input to output. You are much better off running the OTA cable into a 3x or 5x input switch. Even with the pain of a cable run into the house.

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Registered: Sep 2001
Location: Binghamton, NY
Posts: 12718

You could diplex the OTA onto one of the output lines of the multiswitch, obviously the one going to where you want it, and then extract it with another diplexer. In order to have the OTA available at all locations, you should get the 3x or 5x multiswitch as mentioned by Want1394.

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Registered: Mar 2000
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Posts: 1031

Okay, keeping it simple:

1. You can get a 3x4 or something with a built in diplexer, and then run the signal into that in order to get it into all the multiswitches outputs. Then you need a diplexer at the DTV box to get the signal back out again.

2. If you diplex the signal into all the input lines of the multiswitch, it *might* pass through to all the output lines as well, and then you can pull it out at the DTV boxes.

If you diplex it into only one of the inputs, then it will only pass to the TV half the time. All the built in multiswitch diplexers do is put the signal onto all the outputs.

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