I guess that would be a good thing depending on what situation you're in... For movies, I've had more than a couple of times where my Max would be on a channel and I happen to sit down in the middle of the movie only to wish I had caught the beginning - that'd be good. If you only wanted to record part of the news/documentary, could be a bad thing.

Either way, I guess it depends on the recording buffer. If you just happen to tune into the channel, then obviously I don't think it'd work - so maybe you could use that to your benefit; next time you only want to record that section (instead of all), just change to a diff channel and change back to clear the buffer first (a bit redundant I know, but it should work!).

Hey guys!

Just got my PVR 'installed' today...

WIsh Astro would have informed all customers properly that for the PVR they require TWO separate lines from the new Dish to be run down to the decoder. Took us (me and installers) about 3 hours to figure out the setup - seems that Tuner inputs 1 & 2 run alternate channels each. ?

As it stands, I have just one line running down (running a SINGLE LNB (used for non-PVR b.yond); not the twin LNB given with PVR (kept it too though)) SPLITTING the signal into two just before the box so that the decoder can have its required two line signal.

Using entry point 17 - To all sifus: Do the different entry points have an effect on the ability to pick up HD channels? Can use the user-defined settings to clear things up? Any recommendations for settings?

Warning to all contemplating my setup above: HD Channel reception is super patchy (superb reception but depend whether it'll let you pick it up in the first instance; have then have, haven't then must try again). Haven't been able to receive HBO HD History HD or Nat Geo HD (at ALL); but have been able to get all of the others. Have noticed that must flick between a couple of channels sometimes to get reception, otherwise it'll prompt that it has no signal.

Wanted to ask though.. Has anyone installed the Stacker-DeStacker? Called Astro CS today and they were fully informed about it - I mean how many people have the luxury of hacking walls and drilling holes just to get this PVR thing going - Stacker-Destacker should have come as the default option (IMHO).

For those who have installed; how much did you pay?

Thanks in advance!

This post has been edited by Great_Cookie: Jul 3 2010, 10:03 PM

Hey Jalsrix, just thought it'd be worthwhile highlighting again as it seems that there seems some uncertainty about what exactly users with only one line must face. One users a couple pages back said he couldn't receive any HD channels at all.

Unfortunately not everyone can pull wiring through parallel to the existing line. In my case, the dish, located on my roof runs through 2 storeys to a centralized storeroom and then distributed out to my living room, all via false ceilings and cement render.

Should the stacker-destacker unit eliminate the need for a 2nd line, then I'm guessing it'd be the preferred option for most who dont want to hack and/or drill holes in external walls.

Hi neb,

can't really say bc I haven't tried recording two programs (view/record SD & HD) at the same time. However, what I find curious is that I can seem to receive SOME HD channels, but not all - ie missing HBO HD, Nat Geo HD,History HD but can view others (AXN HD, FOX HD, the HD WC channels); ESPN HD is touch-and-go. Wondering what the reason for that might be (could it be due to signal strength? currently at 141 via entry point 17 - I have no clue about this).

Also sometimes when switching between HD/SD channels (ie using the CH+/CH- button) , get the message that no signal (with the three possible reasons/bullet points). Figure that the fact that I'm only running one line may be the cause.

Am really curious as to whether the stacker-destacker unit works though. Waiting for the technician to call back at the moment.

Yup, I'm subscribed to all the 4 mini packages plus sport... (so I do have the SD HBO/Nat Geo/History.

It seriously looks like the stacked de-stacker hopefully is the way to go with this problem. I just find it curious that I can receive some HD broadcasts but not others.

What I really want to know is if the different Entry points do make a difference to the decoder itself. My installers yesterday said default should have been Entry Point 18 - But I have absolutely no signal on either tuner if selected. 17 yields me the 'highest' signal strength but don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that I can't get these other HD channels if I do...

Did an experiment by connecting two strands via the dual-out LNB (remember I'm using a single in my current setup, split to the two inputs) - and I can receive ALL HD channels by using my existing cabling and one run direct from the dish outside - so not quite sure if it's a signal quality issue? Would have thought though if I can pickup one MEASAT 3 signal, most should be then be viewable.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to the manual (user-defined) settings that I could try out?

Thanks again in advance!

Hi there writesimply!

Long story put short; my current setup uses a 1-way LNB (similar to b.yond without PVR) running a SINGLE cable using a splitter just before the tuner 1/2 input at box. I know this is a non-standard setup (really didn't want to run a 2nd cable down since my place uses totally concealed wiring and I didn't want to knock holes in walls again).

Have the highlighted issues as reported before (ie; tuning from HD to SD channels, pvr will report loss of signal/rain msg) but REALLY curious to know why I seem to be able to receive some HD channels but not all. Could it be a signal strength issue? or the fact that my current setup is restrictive (but why can I receive some, not all)?

Hoping that the stacker de-stacker unit will solve all my issues.

Also puzzling my installers is why I had no signal at all using Entry point 18; they said should usually have some signal, but the decoder reported absoutely nothing ('Unlocked' at '0'). Currently using 17 - it is a dish alignment issue (unlikely to my thinking since everything else comes in ok).

Any suggestions if I were to use the manual ('user defined' installation settings what I should go for? Would it make a difference in maybe being able to receive the HD channels I currently can't view but subscribe to? (HBO HD/Nat Geo HD/History HD).

Thanks again to all the sifus out there!

I have the PVR installed... BUT current setup uses the SINGLE LNB used for b.yond (no pvr) running a SINGLE cable down using a splitter just before the decoder to give it its Tuner 1 & 2 inputs.

This post has been edited by Great_Cookie: Jul 5 2010, 12:28 PM

Hi eMKs,

Obviously I'd like to try the Stacker-Destacker... Really want to see if it can solve the problem. But curious is the fact that I can receive SOME HD channels but not others. As mentioned previously by someone, configuring entry points don't really affect the box's ability to pick up signal (which is why I was wondering whether I should set a manually 'user' defined entry.

Noticed that it almost seems that PVR uses alternate inputs for reception of channel (could just be fluke). When i tried with the 2-way LNB, every alternate channel (if i removed one cable input) would show 'no reception' message as if to say that Tuner one input would do channels 1,3,5 and tuner 2 do 2,4,6. Could be totally coincidental though.

As mentioned before, after 3 hrs of experimenting with the install (and at my request), my final setup was a single LNB (1 lineout only) with a splitter before the PVR input. My installer had no knowledge of the stacker-destacker; and I was sure that i didn't want to run another cable from my roof down two storeys just to drill into my external wall. Seems like a pretty big consideration if all houses wanting a PVR must have TWO Cable lines run to the same location. I've yet to see any new housing developments who'd even consider this. But again, I guess it was to keep the manufacturing costs of the box down and make consumers pay IF they wanted to.

Two words eMKs...

Hope and Pray...

Anyhow, We'll test it out when the installer comes back again... Just called Astro again with my Report number; guess what, they assigned it back to the ORIGINAL installer who still has (just called him again) no knowledge about the stacker de-stacker Even after the report said specifically to assign to technician who knew about them.

Such is life...

Simply bc pvr has twin tuner. There have been more than a couple of times where kids and wife want to watch different shows at same time. Pus to go to a single tuner is even worse than my old AstroMax that could at least watch and record two different channels.

I'll wait for the stacker destacker to come in. As-is not much difference from my old setup anyway. The few HD channels I can view are a 'bonus' anyway.