I'm mounting a couple of new TVs for a client. Her DirecTV system consists of ONLY an HS-17, a C41W, a C-61W and a WVBR0-01. And,a couple of Samsung 49" TVs.

This is where it gets weird. I've only put in a couple of DirecTV systems with wireless video bridges and they all seemed straightforward. This one, not so much, since there's no power connected to the bridge, its pilot light is understandably dark, disconnecting it seems to have no effect... and the two wireless receivers just chug along, seeming to work fine without the bridge.

How can this be? What's the bridge actually for?

Thanks.

EDIT: added ONLY and TVs in first paragraph.

EDIT: corrected dumb typo in title.