DSTV and HD

[Eclaire]

Just your input needed.  After installing a 60cm dish about two years ago, I am now told by my installer I need a 80cm dish, "as recommended by Multi Choice" for HD viewing.  a new dish will be R500 and installation R545.  Is this normal?  Can I hook up my PVR myself with a 60 cm dish?

[GearSlave]

Someone is trying to take a chance. Yes, you can connect it yourself provided you've got a twin LNB. What PVR is it? If it's the bigger one, you may need a 2x4 Multi switch as well.

[Eclaire]

I have the single view HDD that normally retails for R1499 on special.  All the inpiuts and outputs look familiar and I am sure I can plug it in, just concerned about the last part when I have to call Multichoice and they ask me if I am an accredited dealer.  And then can I hook up my existing decoder for Xtraview?

[GearSlave]

What decoder do you currently have? Do you know if you have a twin LNB?

[Eclaire]

I have a twin LNB as I knew there would be a battle between cartoons and sport and 1131 decoder.

[GearSlave]

Then you should be fine to connect the new PVR directly. If you want to make it work with your current 1131 with XTraView, you'll need a 2x4 multiswitch (two sat cables for the PVR and one sat cable for the 1131). You'll also need a heartbeat cable between the two decoders. Your best bet is to check out the DSTV forums and grab the XTraView manual http://forum.dstv.com/showthread.php?t=3919, you need to register to download it though.

[Apocalypse Boy]

You all so have to take both to a dealer that they can marry them. I have the exact same setup and did the installation myself. The manual is a good idea, they have pretty much every conceivable connection setup known to man in there, and it is pretty fool proof, but you'll need the 2x4 as Gert stated. Now when it comes to the TV link and splitters and multiple TVs, that's where the k@k starts 

[Eclaire]

, you'll need a 2x4 multiswitch (two sat cables for the PVR and one sat cable for the 1131).

What is a 2x4 multi switch and where can I buy it?.  Currently all the cables are there as I can watch on two tv's in different rooms but the same channel.

Thanks for all the help so far but is it a myth/true that you need a bigger dish for HD as this comes from a reputable installer

[GearSlave]

Well, I ran and SD PVR and then an HD PVR (and then both at the same time) off a standard dish (which I believe is 60cm). While you'll get better signal with a bigger dish, it'll only count for something if you trying to watch TV in a thunderstorm.

So no, I can't imagine you needing one. But nothing prevents you from just hooking it up right now. If it turns out you need a bigger dish, get one then.

A multiswitch is a device with two inputs (from your LNB) and 4 (or 6) outputs that goes to your decoder(s). You mentioned you've got a dual LNB, was both ports wired all the way down? So currently, one cable is disconnected coming from the dish?

[Eclaire]

That is correct, think i is lying in the ceiling?

[GearSlave]

Well, try it and see. If you battle, we can take it from there.

[Eclaire]

A multiswitch is a device with two inputs (from your LNB) and 4 (or 6) outputs that goes to your decoder(s). You mentioned you've got a dual LNB, was both ports wired all the way down? So currently, one cable is disconnected coming from the dish?

Thanks for holding me hand, got the first part correct, so the HD PVR is up and running. I imagined I connected the two wires coming from the  twin LNB to the PVR. Now to connect the heart beat to the next decoder but still trying to figure out where the multiswitch should go?  Before I connect the two wires to the decoder?

[GearSlave]

The multiswitch is connected between the PVR and the LNB. This'll give you two more ports so that you can feed your 1110 as well. Once you've done this, and both the PVR and 1110 has signal, you join the VHF outputs of the PVR and 1110 with a T-Piece. The third leg of the T-Piece feeds out to the remote TVs. I suggest you look at the PDF link provided for pictures, as this is a little finicky. How many TV are you going to be connecting to this setup?

[Eclaire]

There will be two, main and a secondary in another room.  Thanks for the PDF link, I think I confused things by buying the PVR as I could have done this with a normal decoder.

[GearSlave]

Well, with that configuration you should be ok with what I posted above.