# Satellite TV & Cable Modem: Possible? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 10, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212 "2006-09-10T22:22:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212/1 "2006-09-10T22:22:50Z")
I’m buying a house [pause for cheers and congratulations]. Sadly, the house (which is new construction) does NOT get Verizon DSL service. This means that I’ll be switching to cable internet after my move. I’d **like** to switch to DirecTV at the same time (Comcast not being noted for its customer service, and DirecTV having both a sweet sign-up deal and **NASA TV** ). What I need to know is, is it possible to have both a cable modem and satellite TV at the same time? I don’t know how the service gets signal carried from the dish to the TVs. Would it, for instance, use the cable outlets already installed in the house, or would new wiring have to be run? It if uses the wiring in place, would the satellite signal interfere with internet traffic? ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212/2 "2006-09-10T23:24:00Z")
My house is wired for both CATV & DirecTV; it’s two completely separate sets of cable, and a different type of cable to boot. As best I understand it, you’ll need to run a dedicated satellite-type cable from wherever the dish gets installed to whereever you want satellite receivers. To further complicate matters at my house, there’s a conventional antenna in the unfinished attic area, so I have 3 separate sets of cable everywhere & three F-type outlets in each room wired for TV reception. Sure be nice 5 years from now to get that all RF junk combined at the wiring closet & just push it out to the building over some sucessor to WiFi. ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212/3 "2006-09-10T23:36:49Z")
Completely possible & has been working fine at my house for several years. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212/4 "2006-09-11T00:31:22Z")
Many thanks to both of you. Now to find out what the HOA “rules” are for dish placement. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212/5 "2006-09-11T00:59:28Z")
[QUOTE=Morgyn] Many thanks to both of you. Now to find out what the HOA “rules” are for dish placement. [/QUOTE] Whatever their rules are, they cannot override FCC regs. This is actually from Dish, not DirecTV, but these are regs we’re talking about. Warning, it’s a [pdf](http://www.dishnetwork.com/downloads/pdf/getdish/what_is/LLP_Release_Form.pdf). There’s a handy picture on the third page of the PDF. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/satellite-tv-cable-modem-possible/372212/6 "2006-09-11T01:06:56Z")
As you get into the wonders of DirecTV, may I suggest a few websites for further research and entertainment. You can ask lots of questions there and get some wonderful answers. My personal favorite: [DBS Talk](http://www.dbstalk.com) This site hosts DBS Talk, and has LOTS of other forums (forae?): [AVS Forum](http://www.avsforum.com) This is pretty good for HDTV conversation: try [HDTV Voice](http://www.hdtvoice.com) For general tech reviews, I love checking out [CNET](http://www.cnet.com)