Sat amp?

[johnhicks]

I'm in yet another situation of using almost 100 feet of coax to reach the Pathway X2 from the VIP 211k. I have good (beacon?) strength from all three western arc sats, while signal strength is very low; I'm only getting a few channels, SD only. Of course elsewhere using a 25-foot coax all is well.

So...since the X2 is powered from the receiver, how about using an inline amp to overcome that long coax of course placing the amp at the dish?

A happy wife is a happy life, and Mom likes her TV.

[CA_Traveler]

2oldman wrote:
I only get one tuner at 100' with a SWM lnb. Perhaps my cable is c rap.

For SWM (and maybe other installations) DTV uses high quality RG6 coax and connectors due to the much higher bandwidth requirements that 8 HD channels require. The connectors are L1RC SMS Ultimate which has a red cap and HF-81 with a yellow insert barrel connectors. We previously had PCT-DRS-6 compression fittings which he indicated had coax shield contact issues. 150' is the SWM limit.

[2oldman]

I only get one tuner at 100' with a SWM lnb. Perhaps my cable is c rap.

[tvman44]

My Directv works great with 100'. 🙂 Try a new run of RG-6.

[fpresto]

2oldman wrote:
Directv doesn't do well at 100' either.

I have to disagree with that statement. At my S&B my run is about 125 ft. with no issues. My signal strengths are in the 90s. I worked many years with coax cables from cheap to very expensive. A good quality RG-6 will have approximately 5 dB difference between 25ft and 100ft at 2000 Mhz. While it is a loss, it will still be well within DIRECTV limits. By far the most common cause of a weak signal in order are poor or poorly installed connectors, too many splitters or two many splices. If OP verifies the connectors or replaces his cable with one with good connectors already installed he will probably have no more issues.

[Bumpyroad]

I used one of those small inline amplifiers about $20 at walmart and it did kick the signal up a bit. don't remember the exact numbers but it worked. IIRC I put it on the 4-6 ft drop from the LNB.
bumpy

[2oldman]

Directv doesn't do well at 100' either.

[YC_1]

I suspect your coax or connectors are not working properly. Should not be such a dramatic difference between 25 and 100 feet.

[agwill]

Use better coax!

[SCVJeff]

They work fine, but be careful where you put it. Too close to the LNB and you'll overload the line amp. Too close to the receiver and it won't help at all. About 1/2 way is bueno.

That said, 100' isn't really that far away..