Enjoy watching satellite TV programming in more than one room.

One of the most frequently asked technical questions we get here at Satellite DIRECT is: "How can I watch satellite TV in more than one room? "

There are several ways in which you can do this, and we�ve outlined them so that most dish owners can set up their extra-room viewing without any professional help.

Same Channel in Two Rooms
(Figures 1 & 2)
The least expensive way to receive satellite programming in a second room allows viewers to receive the same channel in two rooms. A single coaxial cable running from a satellite receiver in the main viewing room into another room can relay a channel to a TV in the second room. Here�s how to make the connections (Figure 1):

� Single output dish sends satellite signals to receiver in the main viewing room via a coaxial cable. (Shielded RG-6 cable is recommended for all coaxial RF wire runs discussed in this article.)

� One coaxial cable from the "Out to TV" port on the back of the receiver connects to a two-way splitter. Two-way splitters are available at most electronics stores.

� One coaxial cable from the splitter connects to the "In From Ant" port on the back of a TV in the main viewing room. The other cable runs into another room and connects to the "In From Ant" port on the back of the secondary TV.

� The TVs in both rooms will need to be on channel 3 or 4, depending on the RF output channel selection set on the receiver in the main viewing room.

There is an option for making a wired connection for the same channel in two rooms that does not require a splitter.

Connect a coaxial cable going to the TV in the second room directly to the "Out to Ant" port on the back of the receiver in the main viewing room. Then, connect the TV in the main viewing room to the receiver using a set of composite A/V cables (yellow/red/white jacks). If the TV in the main viewing room has an S-Video input, use an S-Video cable to connect the TV to the receiver�s S-Video output. An S-Video connection improves video quality by separating the picture�s brightness and color signals.

A wireless A/V relay system (Figure 2) like Terk Technologies WaveMaster 20 ($99.99) eliminates the need to run a coaxial cable to a second room. A transmitter connects to the A/V outputs from the receiver in the main viewing room and sends a channel�s signal via radio frequencies to a reception unit that connects to the TV in the second room with A/V connections.

One inconvenience of these second-room connections for satellite reception is channels cannot be changed in the second room without sending remote control commands from the second room to the receiver in the main viewing room. A set of "IR-UHF" remote control extenders like RCA�s D940 ($46) solve this problem.

Different Channels in Two Rooms
(Figure 3)

A dual-output dish and an additional satellite receiver are needed to get different channels in two rooms. Here�s how to make the connections:

� Two coaxial cables run into the house from a dual output dish.

� One coaxial cable from the dish connects to the receiver in the main viewing room, which connects to a TV using a coaxial cable, A/V cables and/or an S-Video cable.

� The other coaxial cable from the dish runs into a second room and connects to an additional satellite receiver, which is hooked up to a TV using a coaxial cable, A/V cables and/or an S-Video cable.

In order for DIRECTV to activate both receivers, the receivers must be connected to the same telephone line. DIRECTV can authorize the secondary receiver for the same programming subscriptions as the receiver in the main viewing room for an extra $5. If you do not have a phone jack near the satellite receivers, RCA�s RC926 phone jack ($80) can be used to turn electrical outlets into phone jacks. Upgrading a single output dish to a dual output dish can be done by replacing the single output LNB (low noise block) with a dual port LNB. An LNB is the device at the end of an arm attached to the dish�s surface. Dual LNBs are available from most small dish satellite TV retailers. All DIRECTV receivers are compatible with dishes made by other manufacturers. For example, you can connect a Sony receiver in one room and an RCA receiver in another room to any dual output dish.

It�s possible to receive satellite programming in more than two rooms. (This is not illustrated.) A dual-output dish and a "multi-switch" like RCA�s D6520 ($80) are required to relay different channels to satellite receivers in each room. Here�s how to make the connections to four rooms:

� Two coaxial cables run from a dual-output dish to a four-way distribution multi-switch.

� Four coaxial cables from the multi-switch connect to satellite receivers in each room.

� Receivers in each room connect to TVs using a coaxial cable, A/V cables and/or an S-Video cable.

Consult your satellite receiver�s installation manual for additional multi-room connection information. If you need more advice, contact a local electronics or satellite TV retailer. n

Jay Hylsky is senior editor, technology for Satellite DIRECT.

For More Information
For more information on the D940 remote control extender, the RC926 phone jack and the D6520 dual LNB distribution multi-switch, contact RCA at 10330 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46209; (317) 587-3000; www.rca.com.