Satellite signal splitting

[jerry316]

This is my first post here and I am looking forward to learning a lot of new things. Right now I would like to know if there is a simple way to direct the signal from the satellite box to both my TV and a DVD recorder. My guess is that legally I will need to "rent" a second box. The end results that I am looking for is to be able to view one program while recording another.

Thanks

jerry316

 

[Rickster71]

A splitter will only get you the same output to both TV and DVD.

You'll need a dish with a Dual LNB.
That will enable you to connect two televisions to your satellite dish and tune into different channels on each television.

I use a DVR, and have never tried to record with anything else.

 

[jerry316]

Rickster, thanks for confirming my suspicions. You mentioned a dish with a Dual LNB. Would this be the type of dish for HD?

 

[Phil Taylor]

Actually you will need either two satellite receivers or a dual tuner model. I recommend a DVR model. Newer HD models from Dish Network and DirecTV offer dual tuner capability. I'm not real familiar with DirecTV but I do know that Dish Network offers an HD DVR that also supplies a secondary SD signal to additional sets. Same goes for their regular HD dual tuner receivers receivers - one output is HD and one is SD.

 

[jerry316]

It has just dawned on me that I actually have an extra SD receiver from DirectTV. Hopefully, all I would have to do is split the signal befor the HD receiver and then connect my recorder. Does this make sense to you all? This leads me to another question: Do DVD recorders have the capability for channel selection and timed recordings?

Thanks again for your thoughts and comments.

jerry316

 

[Phil Taylor]

As for the second part of your question - some DVD recorders do indeed have tuners but you usually use the line level signals (A/V) from a satellite receiver. The DVD recorder's tuner wouldn't be able to tune to a satellite signal otherwise (through the cable/coaxial input) as the channels are not RF channels like analog cable or analog over-the-air signals. You would need a recorder with an IR blaster/channel changer to change the channel on your sat receiver and then run line out of the sat box and line in to your recorder.

As for the first part I'm not familiar enough with DirecTV to give an educated answer -- sorry.