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-   -   TV direct connect to Satellite dish (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=190721)

  • Mar 3, 2008, 05:31 PM
    ScottsdaleJim
    TV direct connect to Satellite dish
    I have a DirecTV account with 3 TVs currently connected through 3 DirecTV receivers. Recently, I purchased a 4th TV and plugged it into a wall jack. The autoprogram found 100+ channels and I can see/hear these channels. Of course, I cannot receive any premium channels. Will my TV be harmed by the direct connection to the satellite? I only want to view the "normal" channels in both HD and regular. Thanks! :confused:
  • Mar 4, 2008, 07:29 AM
    Stratmando
    Sounds like the TV has a built in Satellite receiver, you should be OK.
    Does it have built in receiver? a place for a card?
  • Mar 4, 2008, 09:40 AM
    ScottsdaleJim
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Stratmando
    Sounds like the TV has a built in Satellite receiver, you should be OK.
    Does it have built in receiver?, a place for a card?

    Thanks for your quick post. No place for card. It's a Magnavox 26MD357B LCD/DVD combo with ATSC. After I plugged it in for a few hours, the room smelled acrid as if something was seriously overheating. It's unplugged and going back to BestBuy this morning. Even though it autoscanned the coax (75-ohm) connection (I set it to "cable") and found around 115 analog and digital signals (which come through clearly and some in hi-def), I was concerned the direct satellite connection might be too high a current for the coax connection. Is this a valid worry or is the acrid smell coincidental with some other problem in the main unit?
  • Mar 4, 2008, 11:37 AM
    Stratmando
    Did you use to have cable? Don't know how you are getting the channels.
  • Mar 4, 2008, 02:56 PM
    ScottsdaleJim
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Stratmando
    Did you use to have cable? Don't know how you are getting the channels.

    Whole house is wired and DirecTV satellite is connected to in-wall coax wiring. Other 3 TVs each have satellite "receivers" and show all the channels to which I'm subscribed (and pay for). I plugged this one into an unused jack in another room and it shows channels (after it autoscans during setup). No premium ones, of course, but all the local ones and what could be described as "basic cable" (CNN, MSNBC, Comedy, Discovery, etc.). I was worried the cable might be too hot to plug directly in as I did. Replacement TV also smells a bit acrid but 800 number Magnavox service says smell should diminish over time. Do you think I could injure the TV by plugging directly into wall coax jack?
  • Mar 4, 2008, 04:38 PM
    Stratmando
    If signal was to HOT, You would see in the picture. I don't think it is. They do make antennuators To Knock down the signal if too great. They make a screw in DC Block if voltage was a concern.
    So the Channels are the same Numbers as Local Cable or Sat?
    If dish is easily axcessable have some one stand in front and see that you lose all sats but the one plugged into wall directly.
  • Mar 5, 2008, 03:50 PM
    ScottsdaleJim
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Stratmando
    If signal was to HOT, You would see in the picture. I don't think it is. They do make antennuators To Knock down the signal if too great. They make a screw in DC Block if voltage was a concern.
    So the Channels are the same Numbers as Local Cable or Sat?
    If dish is easily axcessable have some one stand in front and see that you lose all sats but the one plugged into wall directly.

    Can't stand in front of sat dish unless I grow wings :D Local channels for CBS, ABC, FOX, CBS are same numbers but HD channels are all a variant of 1.xxx. Autoscan picks up 10+ channels with channel number of "0". TV still smells a bit (better than one we returned) but seems to be "burning in". Didn't know that was necessary in modern electronics. Must have been oversprayed with something in manufacturing. QC in China not as good as hoped... :( Where would I look for a "DC Block"?
  • Mar 5, 2008, 04:10 PM
    Stratmando
    Here is what it looks like, you can purchase or continue looking, Couldn't find at radio shack. May have, thought they used too.:
    Skywalker Signature Series DC Block, qty 10 - eBay (item 140122872569 end time Mar-22-08 12:54:43 PDT)
  • Mar 6, 2008, 11:05 AM
    ScottsdaleJim
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Stratmando
    Here is what it looks like, you can purchase or continue looking, Couldn't find at radio shack. May have, thought they used too.:
    Skywalker Signature Series DC Block, qty 10 - eBay (item 140122872569 end time Mar-22-08 12:54:43 PDT)

    Thanks! Appreciate your help.

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