ADVANCED COAX NETWORKING FOR DIRECTV - Solid Signal

Most common problem:one line is too longThe most common problem in whole-home networking is that one line is simply too long. Theroom furthest away from the dish may be the one that has problems, or may be causing problemsfor the rest of the system. For example, a receiver in a distant room may sometimes disappear fromthe list of receivers. As you look at the map you’ve made, it may be possible to identify the line thatis causing the problem.Dealing with a long line can be difficult because there is no amplifier on the market that is designed toimprove the quality of whole-home signals. There are some strategies you can use.Easiest: Rearrange splitters to give more signal strength to a long run.Even if you’ve simplified your home wiring as far as it can go, there may be another option. Look at howyour receivers are connected to figure out a solution that gives the most signal to the furthest line. Forexample, if you need to run 5 lines from the multiswitch, you would normally use a 1x8 splitter. If fourof those runs are a lot shorter than the fifth, consider using a 1x2 splitter first. Connect the longest runto one port of the 1x2 splitter and connect a 1x4 splitter to the other port. Closer receivers can handlethe loss created by cascading splitters and this gives more signal to a distant receiver.Moderate: Replace the long run with RG-11 cable.RG-11 cable is thicker and more resistant to loss than RG-6 cable, which is normally used for runsinside the house. It’s also a lot less flexible and harder to work with. However, if you’re getting marginalperformance, switching to RG-11 cable for your longest run may give you the help that you need.Hardest: Relocate the multiswitch.Typically, an installer will put a multiswitch fairly close to the dish to minimize signal loss. Infact, even though the optimum location for a multiswitch is somewhere centrally located like anattic or closet, an installer will hardly ever locate the multiswitch there. It will take some effortand rewiring, but you can solve signal loss problems by moving the multiswitch. Here is a casewhere an amplifier will come in handy: the LA144 amplifier will amplify signals coming from thedish before they get to the multiswitch, therefore eliminating the issues that come with using anamplifier in a whole-home environment.If you are using a SWM-enabled dish with only one line coming from it, you can relocate thesplitter instead. Run a single line to the splitter, putting the splitter in a more central location.An Sonora SWMA2 Amplifier can be used to strengthen the signal if a Band Stop Filter is usedbetween the amplifier and the splitter. Using the band stop filter will keep any amplified noisefrom entering the home network.14 ©2012, SolidSignal.com Reproduction is permitted provided copyright information is intact.