Need satellite help !

As you are probably aware you cannot connect a splitter to the sat input. However, you can connect a diplexer to the sat input. The one input comes from your outside connection. One output goes to sat input. The other output goes to where input cable was vonnected before. A diplexer costs about $1. You may have to get it on the internet.

Thanks WyoTraveler--- I appreciate the response. But it would still be necessary to go outside and change from satellite to cable or cable to satellite. I am sure I will need an outside connection for the satellite so that I could connect to the satellite and park cable at the same time and be able to switch from one to the other. Just dont know what I need or how to make the connections inside. I have been told that I need an AB switch to get this done. At what place would I install this switch? Sorry,I am sure not up to speed when it comes to this type of hookup but i figure I can accomplish my goal as stated in original post one way or the other. Thanks again.

It sounds to me like there is a little confusion here. You do need the extra cable connection for your satellite antenna to the back of the receiver. This will allow the receiver to communicate with the satellite. What satellite service to you subscribe to? Are you going to just use one satellite receiver? Do you expect to get HD satellite reception?

What kind of output from the receiver to the TV does your receiver have - HDMI, coax, or composite cables? How do you currently change your TV input from cable to over the air antenna? All of this info will give us a better idea on how to advise you, especially since you want to connect the rear TV to the satellite receiver as well.

Most rigs are set up with a OTA coax and cable coax with provisions for a switch the output of which is a coax that has a typical TV splitter to both TVs.

The satellite coax is a completely separate coax that runs to the sat receiver. The receiver is connected to the TV via a HDMI cable or other means as noted above - but not a coax. You then switch the TV input between the coax or receiver or DVD or Blue Ray etc.

So run a new coax from the dish to the receiver using any route you choose. I ran a coax from the receiver to the nearest outside locker with a barrel connector for additional coax to the dish.

Then you can start to address how to run the second TV with satellite.

I will be using a Direct TV Receiver Model 24.

If this is a HR24 then as I recall the outputs are HDMI, component and composite. It also can be configured for 1 or 2 tuners for the dish.

BTW How is your roof wired for sat considering that different dish mfgs have different wiring requirements and how do you access the wiring? My guess is that if it's wired at all it's for one particular model/brand.

Sorry guys if I have caused confusion. Maybe I can make it a little clearer.

I use Direct TV service and will use one of the receivers out of my house. It is a HD 24.

I only want standard definition in the motorhome. Do not want HD.
I will use only one receiver. I understand that I will only be able to watch the same programming on both TVs when using satellite. Thats fine.

This is a brand new rig so I have never attempted to do one thing as far as for as changing from cable to over/air. Simply switched TVs on one time just to see if they would turn on. Thats it.

Will not be using the roof satellite wiring so am not interested in that.

As I attempted to state above my goal is to be able to pull into a campground and hook up their cable service and also set up the satellite and hook it up also so that I can use either of them or the over/air without going out and connecting and disconnecting. The connection for the cable is already there. I will need to install one for the coax from the Carryout to hook to and the wiring to get it up to the receiver in the entertainment center.

Once I have done that I know I can change back and forth from Cable to over the air by turning th amplifier of and on. Just need to know how i can incorporate the satellite receiver into the mix so that I can switch to it if I desire---again with out connecting and disconnecting coax cables each time. Is it possible or am I dreaming?

Thank you guys very much for your responses and I apologize for the confusion.

We also need to know what kind of cable/wiring is going to the TV and what kind of inputs the TV will accept. It sounds like you want to use the same wiring currently going to the TV from the cable/OTA. If it is coax cable going into the ANT input of the TV, you will need to use an RF Modulator to convert the audio/video cables from the sat receiver to coax cable. You may also need an A/B switch to select the sat or cable/OTA if the modulator doesn't do that for you like the one I linked to. You would need to do this BEFORE the coax gets to the splitter running to the back TV if you want the same signals in back as well as front.

Alternatively, you could run an HDMI cable from the sat receiver to the TVs HDMI input and you would select which input you want using the TV Remote. But this wouldn't give you the sat receiver output to the rear TV with out using an HDMI splitter and running another HDMI line to the rear.

You may also want to consider bringing two lines in from the satellite antenna and bringing two receivers from home. That way the two TVs could watch different programming.

WyoTraveler wrote:
you can connect a diplexer to the sat input. The one input comes from your outside connection. One output goes to sat input. The other output goes to where input cable was connected before

That's interesting. I used to have a dual tuner Sat rx that used a diplexer and one coax but it never occurred to me that I could use it for sat and cable. (BTW, I think OP misunderstood what you posted).

My current dual tuner Sat Rx needs a separate cable for each tuner so I just ignore the RV cabling and run the cables through my utilities entrance to the RX in the basement.

I agree, diplexers would be the easiest way to get the sat signal to the receiver. One on the outside to combine the cable and sat signal for hookup to the cable in connection and one at the other end of the cable to separate them back out. They are inexpensive and would be much easier than running a new cable.

His other problem is actually getting the sat receiver to work since he hasn't mentioned whether he has a SWM system at home that the receiver is currently using? The Carryout will not give him HD either so he will have to be satisfied with SD or, like me, be back doing another modification to get the HD going. He would be better off fully understanding the way things are currently routed in the A/V system and then making decisions on what he wants before embarking on any mods.

titleman wrote:
Sorry guys if I have caused confusion. Maybe I can make it a little clearer.

I use Direct TV service and will use one of the receivers out of my house. It is a HD 24.

I only want standard definition in the motorhome. Do not want HD.
I will use only one receiver. I understand that I will only be able to watch the same programming on both TVs when using satellite. Thats fine.

This is a brand new rig so I have never attempted to do one thing as far as for as changing from cable to over/air. Simply switched TVs on one time just to see if they would turn on. Thats it.

Will not be using the roof satellite wiring so am not interested in that.

As I attempted to state above my goal is to be able to pull into a campground and hook up their cable service and also set up the satellite and hook it up also so that I can use either of them or the over/air without going out and connecting and disconnecting. The connection for the cable is already there. I will need to install one for the coax from the Carryout to hook to and the wiring to get it up to the receiver in the entertainment center.

Once I have done that I know I can change back and forth from Cable to over the air by turning th amplifier of and on. Just need to know how i can incorporate the satellite receiver into the mix so that I can switch to it if I desire---again with out connecting and disconnecting coax cables each time. Is it possible or am I dreaming?

Thank you guys very much for your responses and I apologize for the confusion.

Once you get a new cable run (no diplexer if you want to be able to hook up to both cable and satellite at the same time) then you need to work on the H24 output (assume not an HR24 DVR). You need a coax output to send the signal to both TV's and use the existing wiring. That is not an option with the H24 as it assumes you want HD. So, you just need to buy an RF Modulator and connect the Red/White/Yellow RCA connectors to the receiver and a short coax jumper from the RF Modulator to the Winegard wall plate that has the OTA power button. This plate not only provides power to the OTA antenna, but it works as a switch between OTA and cable (on is OTA, off you get cable) AND it is the device that sends either of those signals to both TV's. So, if you remove the wall plate you will find a coax connection labeled antenna (coax to/from OTA antenna), a connection labeled cable (the existing coax from your outside cable connection) and a third connection labeled TV. This is the coax that sends those signals to the TV's. Now, buy a good A/B switch and get another short coax jumper cable and you can have either the existing OTA/Cable sent to both TV's or hit the A/B switch and send the satellite signal to both TV's. The wiring is pretty simple and if this sounds like the solution you are looking for let me know and I will describe it for you. I think someone did a drawing for it on this site in the past but I don't know how you would do a search to find it. I prefer, and recommend the Radio Shack High-Isolation A/B switch but not sure if they are still available these days.