How to connect multiple Set-top boxes

[arsalanj]

In the following post, when I say "decoder", it means "Set-top box".

I am not a professional but I want to have maximum channels at my home. I have a problem. I can buy a Sun TV decoder, a Dish TV decoder and install 2-3 dishes at my home (Sun TV and Dish TV are two DTH operators). The issue is that Sun TV, Dish TV and the receiver (that will be connected with the satellite dishes) all will have different remote controls, that I don't want. Since I want to use this setup at my home, I want everything to be managed & controlled through one receiver and one remote control. How can I do that? Please see the picture below to understand what I want:



For example, my cable TV has 70 channels, Sun TV has 50 channels, Dish TV will have 120-150 channels and I'll have about 100-200 channels from the 2-3 satellite dishes (FTA channels). Now, I want that all these channels merge into one receiver, so that I can sort them, remove the duplicate channels and watch all those channels with the convenience of one remote control. Please explain the extra hardware or any special receiver required for this purpose.

[nanochickin]

I doubt very much that you will be able to do that. :?

Each receiver will use its own proprietry commands which the other receivers won't understand and hence will ignor. I am guessing Dish and Sun use their own proprietry receivers which won't accept any other companies cards so that ideas probably out of the window

There are only 2 ways of doing this from what i can think of. The first is to daisy chain all the receivers RF outputs together making sure each receivers broadcasts on a different frequency and then buy one of these



The second is to buy a Dreambox 7025. It should accept the Sun TV and Dish TV subscriber cards and possibly the c@ble companies card as well if you have a c@ble tuner installed in it The dreambox is capable of working with nearly every subscriber card going if you install the correct emu (Cam emulator)




Nano

[BGonaSTICK]

In short, I don't think it's possible with a 'normal' receiver. Satellite and cable tend to use different protocols/standards/frequencies etc.

The only area which I think it may be worth you investigating would be a media-centre type setup - i.e. PC based with multiple tuners. This would probably end up being Linux based, and maybe a little more technical than you want to get :?

Maybe slightly neater than that would be the Dreambox 7025 with both satellite and cable tuner options incorporated - but I have serious doubts that the cable tuner would be compatible with US cable distribution systems. The Dreambox has a maximum of two tuners though - and you have three inputs. The new Dreambox 8000 HD has capacity for more, but we're facing a considerable delay in it's release for various reasons.

STICK

[BGonaSTICK]

ops: I'm sorry - when you mentioned Dish TV I automatically assumed you were in the US, but having checked your IP I realise you are in Pakistan.

Apologies, but the potential compatability issues still remain regardling cable.

[arsalanj]

Thanks a lot for your help. In contrast to what I was assuming, it is not a simple task. I am not in USA, but Dish TV is a DTH service (also called Dish TV India), that covers footprints of Pakistan too (since Pakistan is India's neighbor).

http://www.dishtvindia.in