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Install coaxial (coax) cable between your DirecTV (DTV) dish and receivers the way you want it to run. Add an old receiver to the system without incurring installation labor costs by doing it yourself.
Steps
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QuestionDo I just run two coax cables from my TVs to the dish to set it up?Community AnswerYes.
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QuestionHow do I connect coax wires with red, white, yellow?Community AnswerYou can use an RF modulator (available anywhere home electronics are sold) to go from composite video (YELLOW) and left (WHITE) and right (RED) audio to coax to TV. It should work on either Channel 3 or 4.
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QuestionWhere can I buy a cable cord when I want to move the TV to a different location in the house?Community AnswerMost department, hardware, or electronics stores will sell coax cables in different sizes (Lowe's, Home Depot, Target, Walmart, Best Buy, etc.).
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Tips
- Install diplexers anywhere on any cable directly connected to a multiswitch (that has an antenna or CATV feed connected) to "extract" the antenna or CATV signal where needed.Thanks
- Coax cable strippers of the type that allow for adjusting for different cable types make stripping the cable for an "F" connector easy.Thanks
- Obtain the correct "F" connector for the cable installed. RG6 and RG6QS "F" connectors look almost identical, but when mismatched will make installing the connector very difficult - impossible.Thanks
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Warnings
- Locate the multiswitch near a 120 volt outlet, as some require power for internal amplifiers.Thanks
- NEVER install "splitters" on satellite feed coax cables. Multiswitches are the satellite equivalent of CATV "splitters" and are not interchangeable.Thanks
- Do not use RG59 cable. It lacks the bandwidth for today's satellite and CATV system requirements. Use only RG6 if run less than 100 feet (30.5 m). RG6QS cable is suitable for all installations, and required for runs greater than 100 feet (30.5 m) in length.Thanks
- DESq switches are a multiswitch for use on Dish Network satellite systems. They are incompatible with a Direct TV system and must not be used.Thanks
- Install only one diplexer on a cable after a multiswitch. 2 or more diplexers on the same cable will result in degraded signals.Thanks
- This article is about installing cables for a non "SWM" Direct TV system. While many of the steps are applicable to a Dish Network or Cable TV installation, there are some important differences, so this wiki should not be used as a guide for installing those systems.Thanks
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