So I have DirecTv at my condo complex, with a dual LNB feeding me and my neighbor. One LNB goes to his place, and the other to mine through our existing wires that used to be for cable. I now want to have tv in two rooms. I have two directv receivers and two access cards, so I should be able to do this.

I live in a place where we have two lines of existing cable for each unit, because our local cable provider still uses "A" and "B", two different wires for cable programming. So basically I have two wires coming in to my place.

So here is my problem: I can't seem to split my lnb so it allows me to watch tv in two different rooms. I even tried a rca d6530 to use both the "A" and the "B" cables, and it gave me a "searching for satellite signal" in both rooms. Currently, I can get all the channels in one room with the "A" cable" and half the channels in the other using the same "A" cable. I think this has something to do with transponders, but I do not know enough to really disect this problem. Maybe my place is wired strangely? Is one of my cables bad? It seems simple enough, split one satellite feed into the two wires I already have.

If anyone can please help me out on what to do, I would appreciate it.

Your RCA multiswitch should do this for you. It sounds like you only plugged in one of the inputs though. You have to plug in both of the wires of the dual LNB to your multiswitch.

The way DirecTV receivers work is they can either tune to even or odd transponders. So, at any given time (depending on what you're watching) each LNB can be on either odd or even. The multiswitch locks one LNB to odd and one to even and then handles sending either odd or even signals to the receivers. So, if you only have one LNB plugged into the multiswitch, it is locked on either odd or even. Hence, you get signal on only half the transponders.

In short, both inputs of the multiswitch must be populated.

Exactly, because the multiswitch isn't just a splitter, it's a multiplexer.

By the way, on C-band dishes, the choice between odd and even transponders is an actual 90 degree physical rotation of the antenna receiver within its housing. A dual-LNB dish is doing something similar, just using two LNBs to do it. They deliberately put odd and even channels on the horizontal and vertical axes to prevent crosstalk between the channels.

Ahh DirecTV. One of the best providers in Canada =).

In an odd twist, Bell Express Vu is becoming a popular choice here. I have a friend in NJ who is trying to get equipment.

I did put both lnbs to the multiswitch, but when I did that I lost the signal on both of my tvs. It said "Searching for satellite signal" on both of them. That's why I was so puzzled. Do I have to change the transponder number on my directv menu for this? I woudln't think I would.

It should be plug and play. Perhaps your multiswitch is busted. The RCA unit is a generic chinese POS mechanical multiswitch that is sold under many different names. Spaun is the best. I may have a 2x4 Spaun lying around. Are you in NJ? Maybe I can check it out over the weekend or send you the spaun for testing.

EDIT: No, you're not in NJ.

thanks Rob, but yeah I am not in NJ. I am in the Bay Area. Perhaps the LNB wire going to my neighbor is bad, or the multiswitch. I will see what happens tonight if I put his LNB wire to my side. He has been complaining of weak signals. I always thought it was just due to him being a great distance from the cable box. But maybe the wire is shot.

He has been complaining of weak signals. I always thought it was just due to him being a great distance from the cable box. But maybe the wire is shot.

Or maybe it's the wrong kind of wire?

A common mistake in hooking up satellite dishes is to use regular coax video cable instead of the special made-for-satellite wire. I forget the technical names for these two types of wires, but it's important to use the correct kind. Remember that the ones used for satellite dishes don't just carry a video signal, but also electrical power for the dish's antenna assembly.

Because regular video cable and the satellite cables use the same screw-on connectors, it's common for people to think the two kinds of cable are interchangeable.

RG-59 is the indoor use, general purpose cable used for cable TV service

RG-6 is for outdoor use and satellite setups

Yeah, what he said. All connections between the receivers, the multiplexer box, and the antenna, have to be the RG-6 stuff. If you've got the other kind in the mix anywhere, that could possibly be the problem.

I am sure that the wiring is not all RG-6, simply because my building is 10 years old and we are talking about the wiring the cable company used. But I am getting perfectly fine signal in my unit, which has the same wires. The signal strength is fine on my end. If the signal strength is ok for me, then it would have to be his distance right?

If the signal strength is ok for me, then it would have to be his distance right?

Signal loss is a function of both the distance and the resistance of the cable. You might be "getting away" with RG-59 only because the wire run is short.

RG-6 is simply better shielded than RG-59. There could also be a crimp problem somewhere causing a fubar on his side. I friend of mine only had a problem with his when he plugged in his christmas tree. It was finally traced to the attic, where squirrels had eaten through the shielding on part of the cable. On another note, the cable companies around here use exclisively RG-6, since it is only marginally more expensive and it has far less problems. It only takes one unnecessary trip to eat up the difference. It's usually end-users that buy RG-59 because it's cheaper.

I thought RG-6 had less resistance and a heavier center conductor.

OK.. I oversimplified...

RG-6 and RG-59 are two types of coaxial cables that can be used with F-type connectors for the distribution of RF signals for cable TV (CATV) and satellite (broadband), and BNC connectors for closed-circuit environments and data transmission (baseband).

RG-59 is a lower grade of coaxial cable, consisting of a small center conductor, a small insulating dielectric, and typically, a single outer shield. It delivers acceptable performance for all of the above-mentioned applications.

RG-6, on the other hand, has a larger center conductor, a dual or quad shield, and a much larger insulating dielectric, thus ensuring more bandwidth and a lower frequency loss per foot. It delivers exceptional performance for the above-mentioned applications, and is considered the cable of choice for digital TV.

BTW, RG-59 uses an 22AWG wire, RG-6 uses 18AWG.

RG-59 is used to either beat or choke a roomate after he rewired the AV system, and put that cable in, resulting in a 20 minute phone call to Dish Network to figure out why I lost half my channels.

RG-6 is what is used to replace the cable after throwing out the RG-59

Regardless of all the technicalities - both are prone to elemental damage. Moisture and vermin being two big causes - My cable drop was replaced after 30 months for this reason (moisture). It is entirely possible that you neighbor's line has gone bad even though your hasn't.

So last night I did heavy research with a friend, and after many scenarios of trial and error, we found the problem. Inside my unit, I get "A" and "B" cable in 3 rooms. Well, all I really care about is one room having the ability to have both the "A" and "B" cables give a solid DirecTv feed (all channels). The reason for this is I am going to have a dual tuner tivo (Sony Sat-t60) soon. Well, in the room where I wanted this scenario, we pull out the cable wires from the wall and there is two diplexers, old as can be that split and go to the other rooms. After removing the diplexers, both cables that led into the input of the diplexers receive all channels fine when plugged straight into my receiver. So basically that is where the problem was.

By trial and error we eliminated that is was either LNB, or the wires leading from the LNB to the cable box. Thank you guys for all your insight and advice on this topic.

Soon I will have my Tivo, and from what I hear I will be very happy with it.