If you want access to your satellite service in other rooms but do not want to pay for another receiver, you may link two TVs to one Dish Network receiver—very handy. Using cables and splitters allows you to broadcast the dish receiver's signal to two separate television sets within your home. Here is a detailed instructions on connecting two TVs to one Dish Network receiver:
What You Need
- Dish Network receiver
- 2 TVs with available HDMI or component video inputs
- The necessary cables include HDMI cables or component video cables for each TV.
- 2-way coax splitter
- Additional coax cables
Step 1 – Connect The First TV
You will first have to link up the primary TV found in the same room as your Dish receiver. Connect the HDMI output of the receiver to the HDMI input on the rear of the television using an HDMI cable to achieve the best video resolution. After creating this form of connection, make sure the TV and the Dish receiver are on. Here is how this TV will be able to display all the information from your Dish receiver.
Step 2 – Installation of the 2-Way Splitter
The next stage is to mount a 2-way coax splitter. This splitter will receive an input signal from your dish and divide it into two signals; one will be taken directly to your Dish receiver while the second signal can be taken to your second television. Mount the 2-way splitter at the nearest point to the satellite input on the rear part of your Dish receiver. Connect the satellite “In” port of the Dish receiver to one of the output ports of the 2-way splitter using a short coax jumper cable. Then link the cable from the satellite dish to the input end of the 2-way splitter.
Step 3 – Connect The Second TV: As in the first step, get an HDMI cable and connect the second TV to it.
You are now prepared for the hook-up of the second television. First, decide whether you want to plug it into HDMI or component cables. If your second TV is within range of the Dish receiver, HDMI would offer the best signal since it is a digital transmission. Component video is an analog connection and it can carry a 1080i HD signal if your TV accepts it.
Pull all the required cables to your second television location and the room where the Dish receiver will be installed. If you are using HDMI, connect one end of the HDMI cable to the HDMI output of the Dish receiver that is located at the rear end of the device. For component video use the component outputs instead Component video is a video mode that is used in some of the computers and other related peripherals. Plug the other end into the corresponding inputs at the rear of your second television set.
The last link is to take a coax cable and connect it from the open output on the 2-way splitter to the coaxial input on the back of the Second television set. This will give the required signal to that TV’s tuner from a satellite. Plug both the TVs into an electrical outlet and switch them on.
Step 4 – Adjusting The Settings Of The Dish Receiver
The last thing that needs to be done is to set up the Dish receiver after both TVs are connected to it. You can press buttons on the Dish remote to expose the “TV Config” on the screen. Ensure that only TV1 is enabled and not TV2. The Dish menus, guide, and channel banners should only be displayed on the main TV that is directly connected through HDMI. On all your secondary TVs, there will only be the full-screen video – the menu and the guide will not be available.
In the Dish settings, you may also need to set the type of cable used for the TV2 connection as either an HDMI or a component video. This enables the receiver to correctly forward the video signal to the second television. Use any options such as Dolby Digital audio if available in your cabling and secondary TV.
And that's it! The video from a Dish Network receiver should now be playing on both of the TVs. You can get different programs on each of the TVs, or you can have the same program playing in two or more rooms. The one Dish receiver will keep functioning as before, but it will enable the two TVs to get the signal from the satellite at once. Get all your favorite Dish programs on two TVs!
Ready to upgrade your TV experience? Call us now at (877) 471-4808 to find the perfect Dish Network plan for you! Don’t miss out on great entertainment—our team is here to help you choose the best package and get you started today.
