Ideas on clever way to switch between roof mounted dish and tailgater

[edgewant]

I haven't purchased a tailgater yet but since my entertainment center in my 390RB is so space limited I am looking for clever ways to switch between my roof mounted dish and the tailgater without having to pull the VIP211K out and swapping cables.

[oldgold]

I could be wrong, but from my experience with the tailgater, you can't have a regular splitter in between a 211k and the tailgater. The signal has to be able to go back and forth. You need a switch with 2 inputs, 1 output, and the data can flow both uphill and downhill.

I would check radio shack and explain to them you need a coax switch with data being able to go up and down hill.

I can't tell if this one allows signal to go uphill or not.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00009...YWE15NVY7GBV4R

[edgewant]

Thanks Oldgold.

[marcusfan]

Isn't Radio Shack out of business? All of the ones in my area are closed.

[oldgold]

We got'em down here still. I think they are going thru bankruptcy settlement right now. Might want to go buy the switch QUICK!!

[bubbles]

Install an "A"-"B" coax switch not a splitter.

[dan-nickie]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Install an "A"-"B" coax switch not a splitter.

x2

[boowho]

Originally Posted by bubbles

Install an "A"-"B" coax switch not a splitter.

X3. I bought one on Ebay for $13 that is even controllable via IR remote (included).

It's branded Radio Shack. It has worked very well for me

Boowho??

[palmetto rogue]

connect your tailgator receiver via hdmi and roof through coax. Just change inputs on the tv

[oldgold]

Originally Posted by palmetto rogue

connect your tailgator receiver via hdmi and roof through coax. Just change inputs on the tv

This confuses me. I think he only has one receiver and trying to connect 2 dishes to the single receiver. The tailgater dish only has a coax connection.

[palmetto rogue]

my mistake. I reread and now saw it was two different satellite dish not air and sat.

[Motodad]

The easiest way to do this since sat receiver sends voltage to the dish will be to find the line that you would hook up local cable to. Put it on the A side of a AB switch and the roof dish on the B side. Common goes to the sat input on the receiver. If you notice half the channels missing you will have to remove AB switch. I'm not sure if the AB switch will pass the 13-18 volts to power the dish. Hope you understand this and it helps. If not I may be able to draw it out and send you a pic. Good luck!!!

[edgewant]

Originally Posted by Motodad

The easiest way to do this since sat receiver sends voltage to the dish will be to find the line that you would hook up local cable to. Put it on the A side of a AB switch and the roof dish on the B side. Common goes to the sat input on the receiver. If you notice half the channels missing you will have to remove AB switch. I'm not sure if the AB switch will pass the 13-18 volts to power the dish. Hope you understand this and it helps. If not I may be able to draw it out and send you a pic. Good luck!!!

What about the push button switch that is for either OTA antenna or cable. Anyone know if it will pass the voltage the tailgater needs?

[Harold Fay]

Try Markertek, they are a company geared to Audio-Video that has much more to offer tha RS.
Markertek | Audio and Video Equipment | Professional Broadcast Studio Equipment

[Motodad]

Off air button sends voltage to the off air ant on the roof. It won't work. Also I tried to pass power through AB switch and it will not. Easiest way to do this will be to use the cable in on the side and screw that lead to sat receiver

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by Motodad

Off air button sends voltage to the off air ant on the roof. It won't work. Also I tried to pass power through AB switch and it will not. Easiest way to do this will be to use the cable in on the side and screw that lead to sat receiver

I have the VIP211K receiver with my Tailgater and use an AB switch for switching my tailgater interconnect and there is no issue with the voltage requirement. The OP should be able to connect roof sat ant coax directly to one port (A) and tailgater coax directly to other port (B) and the switch output (TV SET) to cable in port of VIP211K receiver. Works for me. I have heard that splitters between sat antennas and receiver may cause issues but not a simple AB coax switch.

[edgewant]

I installed a power pass splitter on the cable in from the power bay. I intend to connect the tailgater to that cable input. The splitter is installed before the OTA/cable switch. One leg of the splitter goes to an A/B switch. The other side goes to the OTA/cable switch. The other input of the A/B switch is the roof dish. Gave this arrange a trial run by connecting my home dish to the cable connection in the power bay. Either dish will now pass signal to the receiver. The only thing I didn't try was the OTA antenna. I have no reason to doubt that it will work.

Thanks for everyones suggestions.