Since most Direct TV (DTV) DVRs and TiVOs have dual tuners, consider running two cables instead of just one. In the case of the DTV High Definition DVR or DTV High Definition TiVO, consider three cables if you wish to connect an “off air” antenna to receive local channels that are not available from DTV. If DVRs are not planned, installing one cable will supply a simple DTV receiver.
Use a clamp designed for the purpose to connect the #10 wire to the house’s ground point. Do not under any circumstances disconnect or loosen existing ground connections to install the new #10 wire. Leave enough ground wire to “thread” through each ground block(s) ground terminal. Route the cable and secure with staples to the mounting surface. Securely tighten the ground terminal screw to the ground wire.
A system of three set top boxes consisting of two DTV receivers and a DTV DVR or TiVO with two tuners would require a four output multiswitch. Of course, if you add another receiver later, you’ll need a multiswitch that has additional outputs. Try to buy a multiswitch with enough extra outputs to allow your system to “grow”. Cascadable multiswitches can be installed “down line” from other multiswitches, but must be identified for that use. Multiswitches become more expensive as the number of inputs and outputs increase. DTV will install as many as needed free of charge when they add or change equipment such as receivers or antennas. It’s best to let DTV do this, but there is no reason why you can’t if the cost is not an issue.
If this is a location that will need an off air antenna input as well, instead of connecting a cable directly into the tuner, connect it to a “diplexer” input instead. The diplexer will have a diagram indicating satellite and UHF/VHF connections. The diplexer “satellite out” connects to the DTV receiver tuner, and the UHF/VHF can connect to the “antenna” or “CATV” input of the DTV set top box OR even an FM Stereo receiver.
