OT: 2 games w/ direcTV

[GulfCoastDawg]

If I have a cable running to my HD/DVR box from the dish, can I pull the cable, put on a normal cable splitter and connect another box to watch 2 games?? I've heard a normal splitter will not work. Just trying to get some info from someone who knows.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can help

edit to add: I will have 2 tvs as well.

 

[missouridawg]

I don't believe you can split it like that. I have a TV that can split into two different pictures that are exactly the same size. I put a splitter on the cable that runs from the cable box to the TV (the output signal) and then run that cable to the auxilliary port of the TV.

The input signal from the satellite, however, can't be split like you stated, I don't believe.

 

[RocketDawg]

I don't see why not. Won't hurt anything to try, as long as you have a spare input on your television to handle the spare box.

But your incoming signal is going to be awfully weak with such a long cable ... satellite to your house is about 23,500 miles ....

 

[WrapItDog]

You can't split satellite tv with a splitter. You have to use a multiswitch at the dish.

 

[RocketDawg]

I suppose they did that intentionally

So we wouldn't be running extra sets. But you can split a digital signal. I do it with the signal from my OTA antenna -- one signal to my satellite receiver, the other straight to my television. The reason is when the satellite box goes out due to rain or whatever, local channels go out too. This way I have a backup for local channels. I probably don't need to do that anymore but until recently Dish didn't have the local PBS and WB in HD.