I've got 2 boxes running from one dish. True installed all at the same time. I went to the dish and saw that they had just ran one wire from the dish into a splitter, with 2 outputs then running to the 2 boxes.

2 questions :

- Is this how they usually do it or are they suppose to be connecting both lines at the dish itself (using a twin output LNB ?)

- I want to add a third box. Is it just a matter of connecting a quad (or triple if it exists) output LNB to the dish and running a third line from it ?

Thanks.

Yes, all the True channels are on the same polarity so a simple power-pass splitter works just fine.

You can add more receivers with a simple splitter but remember that every time you split the signal gets less, keep your cable lengths to a minimum.

For a two box setup, which is suppose to be the max allowed on TrueVisions DSTV (up to 4 boxes on TrueVisions CATV), the singal LNB output is run to a two way, power passing splitter. All the TrueVisions channels are on the Horizontal polarity which is 18VDC. Just as FYI the other satellite TV polarity not used by True is the Vertical polarity which is 13VDC.

You could use a 3, 4, etc., power splitter but you'll be lowering the power output by each additional splitter output you have. You could also use a multiswitch versus a power splitter. Now, unless TrueVisions has changed their policy they may require you to sign up for another/new subscription (i.e., paying double) to get a 3d and/or 4th box and subscription card(s) on their DSTV.

Forgot to also respond to your question about using a quad output LNB (or even a dual LNB output maybe going to 2 two way splitters...various combination you could use). You could indeed use a multi output LNB but you are going to run up against the same problem of only two subscription cards/receivers per DSTV account (assuming that is still True's policy for DSTV). Then TrueVisions wants you to open another account to operate up to two more boxes with two subscription cards.

We have three DSTV ird's.

Two dishes with single LNB.

Two Ird's from one dish/LNB via splitter and the furthest ird away from dish/LNB, on it's own dish/LNB.

You can add more receivers with a simple splitter but remember that every time you split the signal gets less, keep your cable lengths to a minimum.

Do you mean that the signal strength drops when the cable actually leaves the splitter, regardless of the number of receivers actually switched on or actually connected ?

If I'm only ever going to have 2 receivers on at any one time then maybe I'd be better getting a switch to swap the signal from receiver 2 to receiver 3 ?

A switch may give even more signal loss, unless of high quality.

The 3rd box will also need a card...................

You can add more receivers with a simple splitter but remember that every time you split the signal gets less, keep your cable lengths to a minimum.

Do you mean that the signal strength drops when the cable actually leaves the splitter, regardless of the number of receivers actually switched on or actually connected ?

If I'm only ever going to have 2 receivers on at any one time then maybe I'd be better getting a switch to swap the signal from receiver 2 to receiver 3 ?

Correct, the signal strength drops when the signal goes through the splitter/leaves the splitter--it does not matter whether a receiver is physically connected, turned on, etc. Each additional splitter output port drops the power from each port.

Regarding a "switch to swap the signal", if you are talking about an electronic switch the receiver would automatically control, I don't think the receivers issued by TrueVisions, with their proprietary software/menu installed, allows electronic control of such a switch.....like how a person can control a 22KHz switch or multiswitch with a standard C/KU band receiver. If you are talking a manual switch, then that should work BUT be sure it's a high quality switch because the transit voltage spike caused by physically switching between 18VDC sources (remember each box is putting out 18VDC horizontal polarity control voltage to the LNB on the dish) could eventually damage the LNB. You'll still need a 3rd subscription card unless you move a card from one of the other two receivers...this assumes the cards are not matched to the receivers....I only say this because I occasionally read a TV post saying TrueVisions is issuing cards "matched/paired" to boxes (i.e., card will only work in that box...no other box), but I really don't know how true that is. I can swap cards between my receivers (about 2 years old) with no problems.