I have a satellite system with 2 converters and 1 DVR . I am trying to add a 4th regular converter but...?

Question

the current splitter has 2 inputs and 4 outs. all 4 are being used by the current converters. 2 by the DVR and 1 each by the regular converters. I want to add a additional converter to the system but when I try to split one of the signals from one of the outputs of the splitter with a 75 ohm splitter it doesnt work. How do I achieve my goal of 3 regular satellite boxes and 1 DVR box with 1 4 output splitter??? HELP!!!!!!

Answer 1

What you have is not a 2x4 splitter, exactly. It's what's called a multiswitch. The reason you can't simply split one of the lines coming out is that it's voltage from the satellite receivers that powers the LNB's on your satellite dish. A normal 75 ohm splitter does not allow voltage to flow back along the cable to the dish.

Also, a splitter simply feeds the same signal to two differnt places. Which is why power-passing splitters are also out.

Your best options for making this work are:

1) Use a DVR that only requires one cable for use with both tuners. (The Dish Network DsihProPlus works this way. DirecTV just added something similar, but they're somewhat stingy with them)

2) Get a bigger multiswitch. A 3x8 multiswitch will only run about thirty dollars.