Used these switches for my TV to switch between cable and satellite in the back bedroom. Worked quite well once. That was a year ago. This winter I wanted take down dish and switch to cable the day before heading back home. Tried over a hour to to make it work to no avail, had no idea what was up. Finally took the connection off the switch and hooked it up directly. Worked! Switch was bad and only did it once before. SATELLITE BILL warned me over a year ago these switches weren't up to the task. Put it on the back burner to change them out. Now I have to. Don't use them!!

Without knowing which brand/model A/B switches you have, it's difficult to make any judgements about our own switches. I have RCA and GE branded A/B switches for instance, that have been in service reliably since 2008.

Sorry about that. Was on the iPad and did not have a photo of switch on it. Here it is.

Buy a quality A/B switch that passes power and you will be fine. The one you had was junk.

like you saidthis type of SWITCH (not a signal splitter)is not constructed to pass powershould NOT be used on a circuit with DC power to antenna or sat dishonly use on TV input side for SIGNAL ONLY

I did use one of those for years in my stick home to share one satellite cable between my garage and my office. However, I am not sure it made a difference but it was a non SWM. Have since converted every thing to SWM.

Warning-using slider type A-B switch | Good Sam Community

garry1p
Explorer
Apr 18, 2015
Well I use them and keep a spare on hand knowing they can and do fail.
So far I haven't had a failure in the RV but that would be my 1st consideration if no TV.

They do pass dc voltage however, I don't think the dish dc has enough current to burn the contacts.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Apr 18, 2015
Dutch_12078 wrote:
Bill.Satellite wrote:
I have seen too many sliders fail so while many might work I would never recommend one for any installation.
YMMV

You might be surprised at how many of those push button setups are really just pushing on a rocker that shuttles a slide switch back and forth. :)

Nothing would surprise me. The OP said his slider failed as I warned him it likely would. I stand by all statements I made here but I really don't care what anyone buys or installs. My advice is worth exactly what you paid for it!
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Apr 17, 2015
Mine worked well when I had Sat TV.. I no longer use Sat TV.. I mean the cost is outlandash and I watch mostly one or two OVER THE AIR stations anyway.. In this campground whre I am "Stuck" I get free cable..I still watch my favorite station over the air. cause the DVR's are older analog devices and can not pull this station off the cable..But can through the converters. (They control the converters) they pull other programming (About 1/3 of what I watch) via cable.

On rare occasions I go LIVE..always off cable.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2015
Bill.Satellite wrote:
I have seen too many sliders fail so while many might work I would never recommend one for any installation.
YMMV

You might be surprised at how many of those push button setups are really just pushing on a rocker that shuttles a slide switch back and forth. :)
lryrob9301
Explorer
Apr 17, 2015
Bobbo wrote:
I have THIS A/B SWITCH.

X2 this switch works flawlessly
Bobbo
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2015
I have THIS A/B SWITCH.
Bill_Satellite
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2015
MrWizard wrote:
like you said
this type of SWITCH (not a signal splitter)
is not constructed to pass power
should NOT be used on a circuit with DC power to antenna or sat dish
only use on TV input side for SIGNAL ONLY

That's not correct. The A/B switch shown will pass DC power just fine until it doesn't. That's the problem with that kind of a switch, they simply are not terribly reliable. I still like the Radio Shack High Isolation A/B switch as I have many, many successful installations without a single failure. However, there are likely many good high quality A/B switches out there. I have seen too many sliders fail so while many might work I would never recommend one for any installation.
YMMV
FlatBroke
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2015
Thanks Dutch, that was one I was looking at. Guess I'll get a couple on the way.
Dutch_12078
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2015
ChopperBill wrote:
Found out all this the hard way. You wouldn't believe the hundreds on sale on the Internet advertising them as A-B switches for cable to satellite. Hence my post. Stay away from them.
OK, those in the know. What is a better true A-B switch, one with push buttons or the slide switch?

I have several of these slide switches in use for video, OTA antenna, and powered dish switching. Some are GE branded, but the switches are identical. None of them have failed with several years of use.
AllegroD
Nomad
Apr 16, 2015
While it is this type of switch it is not all slider switches. Mine has wirked fine for a couple of years to switch between dish on the roof to Tailgater.

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