Chet Reeves (Chet Reeves)
I was reading your post on how to install a digital converter box in a recreational vehicle. This was quite useful, but it did not address my satellite dish receiver and how to cope with it during the installation. Can you explain how to connect the digital converter box to the satellite dish receiver and where to plug it in?
ANSWER
Greetings Chet, thank you for visiting our Ask An RV Question page and submitting your query.
I’m going to have to make some assumptions based on the information you’ve supplied.
I’m assuming you have satellite receivers connected to each of your RV’s televisions.
I’m also thinking that if your RV’s Video Switch Box is set to outside antenna, you can receive over-the-air channels on the TV while the satellite receiver is turned off.
In other words, when the satellite receiver is turned off, the analog signal from the TV antenna passes through.
I’m also presuming your satellite receivers are connected to your television through coax wire (Cable TV Type Cable).
I’m also assuming that when your TVs are tuned to channel 3 or 4, they are receiving the satellite feed.
My idea below may not work if any of what I’m thinking is incorrect.
If all of the above is accurate, all you have to do now is connect your satellite receiver to your TV using a Digital to Analog TV Converter Box (with Analog Pass Through).
The first step is to ensure that the analog pass through option is enabled on the Digital TV Converter box.
Unplug the cord from the satellite receiver that is connected to the back of the TV.
Connect the antenna to the Digital TV Converter Box’s antenna port.
You’ll now need to purchase a short piece of Coax cable.
The other end of the additional cable should be connected to the back of the TV and the other end to the Digital TV Converter Box’s TV out port.
Now, make sure the Digital TV converter box is set to output the signal to the same TV channel as your Satellite Receiver.
To view satellite TV, make sure your video switch box is set to satellite, your Satellite Receiver is turned on, and your DTV Converter box is turned off (so the signal passes through the box).
When the DTV converter box is switched off, but not unplugged, the signal will pass through.
Make sure you’re watching channel 3 or 4 on TV (whichever one you have setup your satellite receiver to transmit on).
Then change the channels on your satellite receiver.
To watch free television, make sure your video switch box is set to antenna, the satellite receiver is turned off (so the antenna signal goes via the satellite box), the DTV Converter Box is turned on, and the TV is tuned to the appropriate channel.
The DTV Converter Box would then be used to change the stations on your TV.
Again, I’ve made a lot of assumptions here, and it may not work if you have VCRs, DVD players, or other devices connected to any of this.
A lot depends on the satellite receiver model you have, how your TVs are now configured for satellite, and whether you were previously able to view free-to-air television.
To get this setup right, you may need to take your RV to an RV shop and have a technician look at it.
Sorry, but there are far too many variables to consider in this situation.
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How can I connect my satellite dish to my digital TV?
How to Connect Your Satellite Dish to Your Television Connect the opposite end of the coaxial wire to the “Sat in” port on your satellite receiver. Connect one end of the HDMI cable to the back of the satellite’s ‘output’ port. Connect the opposite end of the HDMI wire to your television (not your dish receiver).
Is it possible to use a digital converter box without a television antenna?
Is an antenna required for a converter box? Yes. To utilize a converter box, you’ll need a broadcast TV antenna. You can choose from a variety of indoor antennas, but first check sure you can receive a signal where you reside.
Is satellite TV analog or digital?
Direct-to-home (DTH) refers to either the communications satellites that deliver service or the television service itself. A direct broadcast satellite (DBS) provider provides programming to the majority of satellite television consumers in established television markets. The signals are carried via the Ku band (12 to 18 GHz) and are entirely digital, resulting in excellent picture and stereo sound quality.
Satellite television networks receive programming from a variety of sources, including live studio feeds. The broadcast center puts together and bundles programming into channels for transmission, and encrypts the channels as needed. After that, the signal is routed to the uplink, where it is relayed to the satellite. The studios, administration, and up-link are all on the same campus at certain broadcast centers. The channels are then translated and broadcast via the satellite.
For transmission, most systems employ the DVB-S protocol. The data stream for pay television services is encrypted and requires unique reception equipment. While the receiving technology is comparable, pay television technology is frequently proprietary, consisting of a conditional-access module and a smart card. This approach ensures that only authorized, paying subscribers have access to pay television material, while also allowing free-to-air channels to be accessed by anybody with standard equipment on the market.
Some countries provide satellite television services that are available for free and do not require a membership. Free-to-air satellite television is what it’s called. With around 250 digital channels (including 83 HDTV channels and several regional channels) beamed via the Astra 19.2E satellite constellation, Germany is likely the leader in free-to-air television. These aren’t branded as DBS services, yet they’re available in about 18 million houses, as well as any home with the Sky Deutschland commercial DBS system. On April 30, 2012, all German analogue satellite transmissions came to an end.
The Astra 28.2E satellite constellation broadcasts roughly 160 digital channels (including regional versions of BBC channels, ITV channels, Channel 4 and Channel 5) that are available on any DVB-S receiver in the United Kingdom (a DVB-S2 receiver is required for certain high definition television services). The majority of these channels may be found in the Sky EPG, while a rising number can be found in the Freesat EPG.
Doordarshan, India’s national broadcaster, advertises a free-to-air DBS package known as “DD Free Dish,” which acts as a supplement to the country’s terrestrial broadcasting network. It has roughly 80 FTA channels and is transmitted from GSAT-15 at 93.5E.
A considerable number of French channels are free-to-air on satellites at 5W, and have lately been announced as official in-fill for the DTT network, despite the fact that they were originally deployed as backhaul for their digital terrestrial television service.
Over 80 FTA digital channels are available on Galaxy 19 in North America (the United States, Canada, and Mexico) (with the majority being ethnic or religious in nature). AMC-4, AMC-6, Galaxy 18, and Satmex 5 are among the other FTA satellites. On Galaxy 19, a firm called GloryStar promotes FTA religious broadcasters.
Is it still possible for me to acquire a free digital converter box?
Program for a Free Digital Converter Box According to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, about 33,962,696 coupons were used when the program terminated in July 2009. Unfortunately, getting a free digital converter box from the government is no longer possible.
What is the difference between digital and satellite television?
The price difference between digital cable and satellite television is as follows:
Local franchise costs and local broadcasting fees are usually included in your monthly cable bill. Digital cable packages start at $30-$40 per month and can reach as high as $90 per month depending on the package you choose.
Satellite packages, on the other hand, frequently offer better deals based on the amount of money paid each channel. Some satellite operators charge between $25 and $50 for more than fifty channels. Unless you commit to twelve months of programming in advance, most satellite operators will charge a bit more every month. A twelve-month satellite commitment will usually result in lower upfront costs and, in most cases, free satellite dish installation.
Differences in programming between digital cable and satellite television:
All channels are digitally encoded. One disadvantage is that satellite provides fewer local channels, and in some places, local stations may be unavailable. Most satellite TV providers also provide HD television services that are compatible with your satellite TV package.
Digital cable, on the other hand, may accommodate over 300 channels of digital-quality television. In most large cities, digital cable offers more local channels. Video on Demand is currently available from the majority of cable carriers (a library of movies and TV shows that you can order at your leisure). HDTV services are becoming more common among cable companies, rather than solely through satellite television, as they were previously.
Equipment Differences:
A satellite dish, which is usually put outside the residence and visible to everyone, is usually included in satellite equipment. A satellite receiver is also required for each television. The majority of today’s satellite receivers also have a PVR (Personal Video Recorder), which the cable company has yet to offer. When you sign a 12-month contract with most satellite carriers, you get free installation and equipment.
One receiver per TV is also required for digital cable, but that is all the equipment required. The receivers will be turned over to the cable operator if you cancel your account, however with satellite TV you own the dish.
To sum up:
In the end, the prices are comparable, but which system will best meet your television demands and what you are more comfortable with is the deciding factor. Both Digital TV and Satellite TV have their own set of perks and disadvantages; the choice is yours!
With a digital converter box, how many channels can you get?
Basic channels, frequently as many as 99, are viewable with a digital transport adaptor, but premium channels are not. It will also prohibit video-on-demand and pay-per-view programming. DTAs also allow analog televisions to receive digital signals through coaxial cable using RF output on channel 3 or 4. There are other DTA models available, including one with an HDMI output.
For Comcast, Pace plc created the XiD-P digital transport adapter, which allows for 4K service and the possibility of expanding the DTA from one-way to two-way. This would necessitate the addition of IP capabilities.
How can I expand the number of channels available on my digital converter box?
Disconnect your antenna from the converter box in step one. Go to the menu on your television. Step two: Re-scan the converter box or digital television without the antenna connected, following the on-screen directions for checking for additional channels on your television.
Can I use an old cable box to convert to digital?
It just has one input, which is for an antenna. If your cable box contains audio video outputs, you can convert these to HDMI if necessary. You can’t just use an HDMI cable with RCA connections on one end and nothing else. It’s not going to work at all.
What exactly are satellite television transponders?
We can be more efficient with digital television since it allows us to package a lot of different television services into a multiplex. Each multiplex can then be transmitted on its own frequency from a satellite.