Direct TV / Comcast question

[Ron Mexico]

Is it possible to have both at the same time?


I only want Direct TV for football. Comcast has a lot more HD channels and I really like it.

Is it possibe to have two cable providers run through the same cable ports?

I have a Direct TV dish on my roof and the box I used before.

I just hooked up 2 tvs by my computer so I can watch football and keep track of my fantasy teams at the same time. Seeing that in print makes me think I might have a problem.

Anyone know?

[Bobtheicon]

You can have them both, but you'll need separate Coax cables run to the TV(s).
Comcast signal comes from Comcast - basically a direct cable to Comcast.
Direct signal comes from your dish.

I suppose you could install an A/B Coax switcher and run the 2 inputs to it, and the output to the TV, but likely the inputs are outside - so you would need to put the switcher in weatherproof box and would have to go outside and flip the switch whenever you want to switch providers. It would be pretty ugly this way.

If you don't have dual coax to your TV, I would run another length of Coax out to the distribution frame on the outside of the house. Then plug the Dish into Coax 1, and the Comcast into Coax 2. Then plug the Comcast cable directly into the TV (unless Comcast has a converter box, then you have to go into it first), then plug the Direct cable into the receiver and come out off the S-Video connection.

Hopefully you are talking just 1 TV here right? Otherwise it would get even hairier.

[Ron Mexico]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

You can have them both, but you'll need separate Coax cables run to the TV(s).
Comcast signal comes from Comcast - basically a direct cable to Comcast.
Direct signal comes from your dish.

I suppose you could install an A/B Coax switcher and run the 2 inputs to it, and the output to the TV, but likely the inputs are outside - so you would need to put the switcher in weatherproof box and would have to go outside and flip the switch whenever you want to switch providers. It would be pretty ugly this way.

If you don't have dual coax to your TV, I would run another length of Coax out to the distribution frame on the outside of the house. Then plug the Dish into Coax 1, and the Comcast into Coax 2. Then plug the Comcast cable directly into the TV (unless Comcast has a converter box, then you have to go into it first), then plug the Direct cable into the receiver and come out off the S-Video connection.

Hopefully you are talking just 1 TV here right? Otherwise it would get even hairier.

Thx Bob

Yes just one tv.

So it is possible but not easy?

[pwherr]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

You can have them both, but you'll need separate Coax cables run to the TV(s).
Comcast signal comes from Comcast - basically a direct cable to Comcast.
Direct signal comes from your dish.

I suppose you could install an A/B Coax switcher and run the 2 inputs to it, and the output to the TV, but likely the inputs are outside - so you would need to put the switcher in weatherproof box and would have to go outside and flip the switch whenever you want to switch providers. It would be pretty ugly this way.

If you don't have dual coax to your TV, I would run another length of Coax out to the distribution frame on the outside of the house. Then plug the Dish into Coax 1, and the Comcast into Coax 2. Then plug the Comcast cable directly into the TV (unless Comcast has a converter box, then you have to go into it first), then plug the Direct cable into the receiver and come out off the S-Video connection.

Hopefully you are talking just 1 TV here right? Otherwise it would get even hairier.

If cable goes to a box then the tv and I know Sat goes to a box then a tv.Why not just hook the boxes to input 1 and input 2 on the tv.No switches.No fuss.

[pwherr]

On my living room tv I have,Dicknet HD,Nfusion HD,Blueray and wii.No problems

[sportsfan]

its easy just use 2 different inputs on your television for instance use component out on your cable box and coax on your dish box. Whenever you want to switch just press input on your remote.

[Ron Mexico]

That sounds a lot easier.

If I already have the dish and box I should just call them to activate?

[pwherr]

Originally Posted by Ron Mexico

That sounds a lot easier.

If I already have the dish and box I should just call them to activate?

[Ron Mexico]

Originally Posted by pwherr

[ZoomVT]

paul is right. if the tv has only 1 input you could also use an a/b coax switch.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by ZoomVT

paul is right. if the tv has only 1 input you could also use an a/b coax switch.

True, did it my dish and cable!

[Bobtheicon]

The problem is not the inputs to the TV, it is the coax feeding it from the outside. Most houses only have 1 coax cable at the TV. Well, you can't run both DirecTV and Comcast on the SAME coax at the SAME time.

So, unless you have 2 coax connections on the wall, you need to run another coax cable, or do the messy A/B switcher.

[pwherr]

2 coax in is not a problem.There are diplexers also but way to complicated when it don't have to be. But 2 coax cake.

[pwherr]

I have 8 coax in off 2 DP34 switches LOL 2 more off of Digital ant.so 10 in

[Bobtheicon]

Yes, I have 4 coming in from my DP34 - but only 1 to each TV. If I wanted to add Comcast to one of my TVs, I would need to run another length of Coax out to the Comcast switch. I think this is what Ron is trying to accomplish.

Of course, if you've got a dish pointed at 110 and 119, you should probably get an FTA receiver and get everything for free. (shhh...they are changing to Nagra3 as we speak, so it may not be free for much longer)....