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General discussion

Connecting both cable and satellite...

Sep 2, 2005 2:41AM PDT

I have both cable and a satellite dish. I would like to know the best way to connect to my home theatre system. I previously ran the satellite thru the cable box, the cable box to the A/V receiver to the dvd recorder to the tv. Would it be better to run the satellite separately into the A/V as opposed to going thru the cable box? Thanks for the help. J

Discussion is locked

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Difficult to tell
Sep 2, 2005 7:39AM PDT

It's really difficult to properly diagnose a solution for you unless we have more specifics. What type of equipment (make & model) are you using? What sort of inputs does your receiver have? It's usually preferable to run a digital audio signal from all signal sources (DVD, cable, satellite) to your receiver (to take advantage of surround sound) and the picture directly to the TV. In your case you will probably want to run the satelitte/cable display signals through your DVD recorder then to the TV.

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More info
Sep 3, 2005 1:55PM PDT

I agree, what about the dvd recorder, what inputs and outputs does it have? How much recording and of what do you plan on doing? Why not a TIVO, do you really want to spend the money on dvd recordable disc to save a few TV shows? Usually I would want all of the gear to go through the receiver, and just have the needed cables going from there to the TV for video, I would want to reduce any un needed switching to help make the system easy to operate.

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Why bother with BOTH Cable and Satellite in the first place.
Sep 4, 2005 5:04AM PDT

Just get a muliplexer box (takes up 3-5 video/audio iputs and outputs the one you select to a single source)if you have more Video Sources than you can handle, it is the easiest way out, and their relatively cheap now that everything is digital. Of course as the guys are asking, does your stereo unit take a video input, of course if not then thats out. You can always run one of video sources through your VCR as that will handle two video inputs (your cable and the other being the VIDEO RCA PLUG). Of course possibly both your CABLE/SAT BOX has sometimes an input as well, which you can toggle them by the TV/VIDEO button on whatever the device your running it through.

GOOD LUCK

Just wondered, why go with both CABLE/SAT, unless you do not have Digital Cable in your area, the benefits of Satellite TV are being buried by most of the Cable Companies, slightly better prices, WAY BETTER QUALITY and TV & Movies on Demand-FREE, with PAY ON DEMAND as well, , FREE DVR (TIVO LIKE BOXES) included in the price and FREE High Definition Boxes. YOU KNOW satellite systems charge you for every bit of that and then stick you with a charge to access it all two. I admit cable will charge you for the DVR Useage and some HD stuff, but all together, not at all as much. BUT the MAIN THING, the boxes are not anymore and your not paying for them. I am not a cable company employee, just a happier cable customer less being DISHED as of late.

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THE WAR OF CABLE VS SATELLITE GOES ON
Sep 6, 2005 8:07AM PDT

i HAVE THE DISH NETWORK 811 SAT SYSTEM i PAID $45.00 FOR IT AND THEY GAVE ME $45.00 BACK ON MY BILLING. I pay $45.00 per month for basic+hi def package and voom also I thru up a cheap outside antenns and I receive 19 over the air digital channels 9 of which are in hi-def also my 811 has optical audio output for my 5.1 sound . anyway comcasat started there service in my area and they want $82.00 per month . Also I can order movies pay my bills etc on my systemAny way I am so pumped up on hi-def that I am going to upgrade my 65" sony to the Sony VPL-HS51 projector and 96" 16X9 screenI have my sat system and DENON 2900 d.v.d. player output thru there d.v.i. port using a gifin d.v.i. switcher and I get a stunning picture on both systems good luck stewart norrie cadillacstew@aol.com

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Football fan
Sep 9, 2005 6:05AM PDT

I have satellite because I wanted the NFL package, which as far as I know is only offered on DirectTV. I've had satellite about ten years and when I installed you could only have one receiver. Considered cable only, but would miss not being able to see all the NFL games. Jim

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My apology to you all for not including more information
Sep 9, 2005 6:27AM PDT

I have had a fairly old (ten years) a/v system. I had both cable and satellite. I ran the satellite in thru the cable box, the cable box thru a vcr and the vcr into the tv.

I am replacing the entire system. I have a Denon 3805 A/V receiver, a Toshiba HDD/DVD recorder, and a Sony 70" LCD tv. I have not installed as remodel on room is not complete. As far as I can tell there are multiple video/audio inputs into the receiver, the recorder and the tv. I was going to connect tv to recorder via a dvi/HDMI cable and a fiber optics cable for sound. I was going to connect recorder to a/v via component video cables with fiber optic for sound. I was going to connect the digital cable box with component video and a digital audio cable (not sure if cable box has a fiber connect). I could connect the satellite the same way, but guess that I would have to shift input source on the a/v when I wanted to go one to the other. Would that be a better solution than running the satellite thru the cable box like I did before? You guys are great, thanks for the help.