Can you not split a satellite signal?
 

See I moved to my new house and the best package to get was Directv through verizon.

it has the same cable wire like i used when i had cablevision in my old and was able to split just fine.

i want to split the signal to a Monster splitter so i can work my PiP on my tv and hook up the vcr to record. when i split the connection and run a monster cable from the splitter to the Directv box it searches and doesn't find a signal.

is this signal that different from a digital cable signal that i can't split it the way i want?

thanks for any help.

Satellite doesn't work the same way cable does.

I may not be explaining this exactly right, but with analog cable, the cable is carrying all the channels all the time. But with satellite, the satellite receiver has to tune to a specific channel.

The easiest thing to do in your situation would be to get DirecTV's dual-tuner receiver with built-in DVR.

You cannot split a satellite signal with an ordinary splitter (although I do not know the specific reason why). However, it is possible with something called a "multi-switch". However, they are more expensive than a ordinary splitter but just as easy to install.

do you have a link of where i could get one or at least read about?
i was able to run a line from the back of reciever to vcr and at least can tape and show/movie...the only problem is the tv has to be on that channel to tape so i can't be watching tv at that time. wouldreally love my PiP to work though, that is my baby in my system of enjoyment.

For picture-in-picture, you're going to need a dual-tuner satellite receiver. The receiver will have its own picture-in-picture function. You'd use that rather than the one built into your TV.

Um, just get the DVR and run 2 wires to it direct from the dish. It will record 2 things at once, meanwhile you can watch one of them or something you recorded earlier at the same time. The bugger ought to be free other than monthly charges, if they try to charge you for it up front tell them no until it's free.

All the dishes now have multiswitches built into them, so you don't need an external one unless you have many receivers. But if you want to research them, just Google it. They all should be this now, but you would need a "cascadeable" multiswitch.

Oh, and recycle your VCR.

well, i got my vcr to work and then magically my PiP works, which is funny considering i only have the tv's VHF/UHF connection fitted, it is only good when i am watching another video source, but it tunes in the movie channels as well which is something the Cablevision set up couldn't do bc those have to be descrambled by the box. all in all i can deal...for now that is!