Hopper using cable with Winegard Amplifier?

[rvtravlr]

Currently, we have a 3 LNB Dish satellite coupled to one 722 HD DVR. We are using the cable from the amplified antenna to deliver Dish TV2 content to the bedroom TV.

My question is this:

Can I use a cable with 12 volts on it (as in using the amplifier) on a Hopper node to a Joey?

If not, is there a way to isolate the power to the antenna so that it is not on the Amp's Set 2 or Cable?

Thanks!

[Bill Adams]

You cannot use the cable with any kind of a signal or voltage but you could use an A/B switch at both end allowing you to select which signal passes without one interferring with the other.

[rvtravlr]

Thanks for the response.

Is there a way to limit 12v only to the antenna?

[Bill Adams]

Assuming that you have a Winegard Sensar (Batwing) antenna, the only place 12V power exists is between the wall power supply and the head of the antenna. There is no voltage running elsewhere. Despite there not being any voltage in the other lines, there is signal there and the only possible way to make your connection "kludge" work would be to isolate the coax cable you want to use with the Hopper and that would require an A/B switch that could guarantee that the only signal traveling through the cable was to/from the Hopper.

[rvtravlr]

Bill,

If there is not supposed to be voltage on the lines other than the antenna lead, perhaps I have a bad amplifier? When I am watching satellite TV from our Dish 722 DVR on output TV2 and the amplifier is turned on, I get definite interference. When off, no distortion.

What do you think?

[Bill Adams]

How are you getting the signal from the 722 to the 2nd TV now? The 722 coax output to TV2 would need some kind of A/B switch or something like the video control centers available in many coaches.
The unit you describe as an amplifier is simply a 12V power supply and the amplifier is actually located in the head of the Sensar antenna. If you are getting interference with the power supply turned on I would look into how the receiver was wired into the circuit.
The 12V power supply is likely good if, when you are watching the OTA TV signal, the TV picture is good with the power on but bad when you turn the power off.

[fschambe]

I would suggest removing the tv2 cable from the back of the amp switch. You will have the solo node outside at the dish taking two coax from lnb to solo node, one coax from solo node to park cable jack on trailer (or 2nd jack if applicable). You will also need DISH Network ES190941 Tap For Hopper/Joey (ES190941) which looks like a two way splitter. It goes in between the hopper and the node, and has a output to client joey.