DirecTV Second Receiver Not Connecting? – Complete Fix Guide

If your DirecTV second receiver not connecting, we have the best solution for you!

Installing a secondary DirecTV receiver on your only coaxial cable could be a bit difficult but not impossible.

That’s why there’s a possibility of more side problems occurring during or after the setup of the secondary receiver but we’re here to help.

Let’s learn more!

To fix when your DirecTV second receiver isn’t connecting, inspect the power supply of the device and reconnect it from the main DirecTV DVR.

After that, power cycle the main receiver, reset the secondary DirecTV cable box, and replace the SAT cable in your setup.

Keep reading to learn more about the issue that has impacted your DirecTV Receiver setup!

DirecTV Second Receiver Not Connecting to DVR – Why?

Before we proceed with the troubleshooting, we shall first learn all about the issue with your second DirecTV receiver.

This way, you’ll take your troubleshooting to the next level and enhance your understanding of the issue.

Here are the causes which your secondary DirecTV Receiver is refusing to connect:

• A Problem with the New Receiver’s Power Supply
• An Issue with the Coaxial Splitter
• Problem with the Main DirecTV Receiver/DVR
• Fault with the Connected Coaxial Cable

In summary, this is what you should worry about as it has impacted the functionality of your DirecTV Receivers. Now that we know this we can continue with the troubleshooting.

Let’s jump into the guide and fix your DirecTV Receiver really easily!

DirecTV Second Receiver Not Connecting – 1 Minute Fix!

After finding out more about the problem with your DirecTV receiver setup, we shall move on to troubleshooting.

The solutions you’re about to get familiar with are designed in the best order possible so make sure to apply them chronologically.

Let’s get started!

Solution #1 Inspect Second Receiver’s Power Supply!

Your first step should be to make sure that there is no fault with the power supply of your new DirecTV receiver.

There are a couple of ways to target the functionality of the new receiver’s power supply and make sure that there is no present issue with the equipment.

• The power supply of your DirecTV must not be hardware damaged!

Here are multiple ways to troubleshoot the power supply of your DirecTV Receiver:

• Hard Reset the Receiver (unplug it from the power source for 5 minutes)
• Plug into a Different Outlet (check if the same problem is present in a different outlet)
• Check the Power Cable for Damages (rips, cuts, exposed parts of the cable)

Identifying damaged parts of the secondary receiver’s power cable could be really dangerous.

This could cause a short circuit with the device and impact its hardware, and on rare occasions, even cause the motherboard to burn out.

It’s best to contact DirecTV technicians to inspect your box if the power cable is damaged.

Note: If you don’t rely on technicians, order a new power cable to use for your receiver.

Solution #2 Reconnect the Receiver from the DVR

If you keep having issues with your secondary DirecTV receiver, you should reconnect it from the main DVR and check if your setup is going.

If the connection between the two receivers has failed you have to reconnect the secondary DirecTV receiver from the main DVR unit.

• The secondary DirecTV receiver connects via coaxial cable to the DVR!

Here’s how to reconnect your DirecTV second receiver to the DVR in easy steps:

1. Locate the SAT IN port on the back of your secondary receiver.
2. Unplug the coaxial cable going into the satellite port of the secondary receiver.
3. Follow the coax cable to the DVR’s end.
4. Unplug the coax from the DVR as well.
5. Wait for 30 seconds, while the secondary receiver is disconnected from the primary.
6. Reconnect the DVR to the two ports on your DirecTV devices.

Not keeping the secondary receiver unplugged for long enough, may not properly re-supply the signal that reaches your DVR.

The estimate you should keep the secondary DirecTV receiver would be about 30 seconds.

Note: After reconnecting the additional DirecTV receiver, check if its “SAT” light would be lit.

Solution #3 Power Cycle the Main Receiver/DVR

Perhaps, there is a problem with the main DirecTV receiver in your setup (the DVR) that is running the connection between the devices.

The best way to address issues with the DVR is to perform a Power Cycle, which technically is a way to get the device discharged.

Follow these instructions to perform a Power Cycle on your main DirecTV Receiver:

1. Press the Power Button on the DirecTV DVR to turn off the device.
2. Unplug the Power Adapter from the DirecTV DVR.
3. Wait for 5 minutes, while the device is unplugged from the power.
4. Re-attach the power cable of your DVR back into the electrical outlet.
5. Turn on your DirecTV DVR and wait for the device to start up.

Once your DirecTV DVR has started up, it should start sending signals to the connected secondary receiver.

If you’ve connected a TV to the secondary receiver, a picture of the device’s broadcast should appear on the associated device.

Tip: To test if the secondary receiver gets a signal from the DVR, you must connect a TV.

Solution #4 Inspect/Replace the Splitter!

The only way to get a secondary DirecTV Receiver is to use a Coaxial Splitter, to get the coax cable going into your DVR separated.

Otherwise, you’ll have to lead a new DirecTV coaxial cable to your household, only to get a secondary receiver.

Whilst with the splitter, you’ll get the current DirecTV coaxial cable to come out as two separate cables, that’ll connect to your DVR and the secondary receiver.

If there’s a fault with the coaxial splitter, it’s probably interrupting the incoming signal.

In that set of thoughts, you must closely inspect the splitter and make sure that the secondary receiver and your DVR’s coaxial cables are attached securely.

If you notice any damage on the splitter, it’s best to purchase a new one to use in your setup.

Note: Get a new coaxial splitter from the same place you’ve acquired the current one!

Solution #5 Reset the Secondary DirecTV Receiver

If there’s a software problem with the secondary DirecTV receiver that you’re trying to connect to, then you should perform a Factory Reset.

Resetting your receiver to factory defaults has been made really easy by the merchants since there’s only a big red button you must press.

Follow these steps to perform a Factory Reset on your DirecTV Receiver easily:

1. Make sure that your receiver is plugged in.
2. Locate the Red Reset Button on the front panel of the receiver.
3. Press and hold the reset button for 15 seconds.
4. Release the reset button.
5. Wait…

If your receiver is connected to a TV, then the image of the broadcast will probably shift or simply become pitch black until the reset is completed.

This is completely natural and should happen during the reset since the receiver is reinstalling all software configurations.

Note: Once your receiver has been reset, check if its image will appear on the TV.

Solution #6 Replace the Coaxial/SAT Cable

If nothing has worked so far, perhaps it’s the Coaxial Cable that has gone faulty in your setup!

The splitter setup would usually consist of two coax cables (one for the main DVR and one for the secondary receiver).

If everything is fine with your DVR, then it’s probably the coax that connects with the secondary DirecTV receiver and kills the signal that should reach the device.

Getting a coaxial cable for your secondary DirecTV receiver could also be done from the official website of DirecTV if you’re okay with the wait time.

Otherwise, you could get a brand new coax from any online merchant and test it on your new DirecTV receiver.

Alert: We vote against using second-hand coax cables since they could damage the receiver!

Quick Recap:

Thus, to fix when the DirecTV second receiver not connecting, check the power supply of your new DirecTV receiver and power cycle the main DVR.

After that, inspect and/or replace the coaxial splitter, and in case nothing helps, reset the second DirecTV receiver!

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