Because, you know you want the biggest, baddest one there is. There are a lot of advantages to the SWM-32 multiswitch. It gives you the ability to run 32 tuners off a single multiswitch, and you can add a second SWM32 through the ports on the bottom. That’s 64 tuners of DIRECTV power at your fingertips! Not only that but the multiswitch’s extra power output will give you a stronger signal down the line, meaning up to 250 feet of cable between the switch and the receiver.
Before you put in an order for the SWM32, though, consider if it’s really what you need. It’s designed specifically for commercial installs and that means some tradeoffs when used for a home. Specifically:
Whole-home is a real pain.
If you want to share programs between receivers, you will find it’s an uphill battle. Each output line from the SWM32 can support 8 tuners, and you can’t share programming between output legs without putting in a lot more equipment.
You’ll need to power the dish.
Unlike other multiswitches, the SWM32 does not power the dish unless you add an additional power supply. We recommend using a polarity locker instead of a second power supply because the SWM32 really does work better when a polarity locker is used.
You’ll probably also need a signal amplifier.
The SWM32 is designed to be used with a trunk amplifier with adjustable gain. It’s sensitive to a signal that’s too weak or too strong. That’s yet another expense added to an already expensive project.
So what to do instead? For home users, we recommend using SWM-16 multiswitches instead, along with approved splitters. This is an easier configuration and also less expensive. We have a whole tutorial on how to do it.
