Dish Network dish - Bell TV service?

kokokoala · Jun 25, 2015

Hi folks, I am new to forums here and new to the satellite industry really, spent most of my life on cable equipment or fiber equipment.

I am relocating to an area within 50 mi of the Canadian border near Niagara Falls and the house already has a Dish Network dish on the roof already installed sometime in the last 10 years. Is it possible to use this with Bell TV's satellite service? What would I need to check to see if its compatible with Bell?

In reading around the interwebs, Bell has become more difficult to use in the states in the last few years than before that and some brokers are dropping Bell satellite services, are there still some brokers out there who work with Bell?

I also have some contacts on the Canadian side of the border. Not sure if it would be easier to use their address for service or not with Bell?

Thanks.

Slartibartfarst · Jun 28, 2015

Your Dish, LNBF and Switch's (if installed) should all work with Bell Services, unless it is wired for a Hopper System. So if you could give us a clue as to what is existing we can almost certainly clarify things for you.

You will, of course, need to re-aim the Dish/LNBF's to 91 & 82 degrees.

I would suggest using your contacts in Canada for services, much simpler in the long run.

kokokoala · Jun 28, 2015

Slartibartfarst said:
Your Dish, LNBF and Switch's (if installed) should all work with Bell Services, unless it is wired for a Hopper System. So if you could give us a clue as to what is existing we can almost certainly clarify things for you.

You will, of course, need to re-aim the Dish/LNBF's to 91 & 82 degrees.

I would suggest using your contacts in Canada for services, much simpler in the long run.

Thanks for the reply and good information.

I am not sure whats up there yet til I get a closer look. From the ground it appears as if it has at least 2 lnbf's, 1 in the middle, 1 off to the side. Will check back once I have more info about whats there.

Slartibartfarst · Jul 6, 2015

If there is a large one and a smaller one then it would appear you have a system set for 3 orbital slots. The smaller LNBF could be disconnected.

kokokoala · Aug 19, 2015

Got to take a closer look at whats on my roof. Its a black DishHD measuring 21" tall, 26" wide. It only has 2 LNBF (same size right next to each other) with 2 coax cables running down into my basement. There are no switches inside connected or disconnected to these coax runs. I was thinking of using 1 - 2 receivers max. Skew is set to approx 82 degrees, Elevation approx 45 degrees. My zip code is 14040. Not sure what if any of that information is useful. I am interested in pulling in HD channels.

I added pictures below.

Thanks.

Slartibartfarst · Aug 28, 2015

I could be wrong but I am pretty sure that there is a switch installed within the LNBF and is an integral part of it, so it cannot be removed. Each Coax should see 3 orbital slots. I guess there is nothing to loose trying to aim it but with this set up I am not sure that the Bell Receivers will understand the type of switch used so you might have to resort to another Dish/LNBF combination.

Mr Tony · Aug 28, 2015

That is an Eastern arc dish. it is aimed at 61.5 and 72.7. The switch is built in and would support two dual tuner receivers.

You can try to use it for bell. however with the LNB spacing being 11 degrees instead of nine one of your satellites will have more signal

kokokoala · Sep 10, 2015

Thanks for the information, I plan on getting a bell dish to replace it. Any reason why I would not be able to re-use the existing mast/foot?

Mr Tony · Sep 10, 2015

The mast may be a smidge bigger on the Dish dish. I'm not 100% sure

kokokoala · Sep 11, 2015

darn, i was hoping not to have to re-align and re-drill the bell mast/foot.

Mr Tony · Sep 15, 2015

I honestly dont know as I've never used an Eastern Arc dish...but it **should** work if you switch out the LNB.

Troch77 · Sep 15, 2015

Iceberg said:
That is an Eastern arc dish. it is aimed at 61.5 and 72.7. The switch is built in and would support two dual tuner receivers.

You can try to use it for bell. however with the LNB spacing being 11 degrees instead of nine one of your satellites will have more signal

Actually the DPP EA2 would support 3 dual tuner receivers.
So would the Eastern arc 1000.4 LNB.
But it looks like to me they didn't run the 3rd wire into the house.

kokokoala · Sep 15, 2015

Troch77 said:
Actually the DPP EA2 would support 3 dual tuner receivers.
So would the Eastern arc 1000.4 LNB.
But it looks like to me they didn't run the 3rd wire into the house.

They didn't run the 3rd wire into the house.

The holes don't line up on the dish network arm to mount the bell y adapter into the dish network arm. Plus the arm of the dish network dish is a solid few inches longer than the bell arm, not sure if that would make a difference though i would think so.

The bell bracket does fit on a dish network mast.

Mr Tony · Sep 15, 2015

kokokoala said:
The holes don't line up on the dish network arm to mount the bell y adapter into the dish network arm. Plus the arm of the dish network dish is a solid few inches longer than the bell arm, not sure if that would make a difference though i would think so.

The bell bracket does fit on a dish network mast.

shoot.
Here is something stupid. Why not try what is currently up there? Peak the dish on 82 (since thats the HD sat) and if 91 is a smidge low (due to the spacing on the LNB being a degree more than what it should be) then go from there.

Tampa8 · Sep 15, 2015

That's what I was about to post. Aim for 82 and take it from there, could save more work.

Mr Tony · Sep 15, 2015

I mentioned that in post 5
You can try to use it for bell. however with the LNB spacing being 11 degrees instead of nine one of your satellites will have more signal

kokokoala · Sep 15, 2015

I replaced everything but the mast/foot with Bell equipment.

I set the elevation and skew as per my address using various satellite pointing websites. I found 119 W Echostar, which is supposed to be 12 degrees lower in elevation than 91 W. So i adjusted the elevation up 12 degrees, swun the dish around and boom, 100% signal on 91 W. After some tightening it went down to 85%, after some fine tweaking i got it to lock somewhere between 95% and 100%. Crazy to think my elevation was 12 degrees off.

I tried Bell's online chat to sign up for services, but they refused to sign me up with my existing equipment without either having an installer come out to check my equipment or take my equipment to the Bell store to activate my receiver? Neither of which I want to do. I asked about doing it over the phone and they just gave me the generic Bell number to call.

Any special number to call for new customers with all the equipment installed who just need to sign-up and activate the service?

Thanks for all the help folks.

kokokoala · Sep 16, 2015

I tried calling in the main number, finally able to get through to the 3rd person to help get everything setup.

Mr Tony · Sep 16, 2015

glad its working for ya!

kokokoala · Sep 16, 2015

I had to adjust the skew a little bit to get both 82 and 91 as I did not realize that I was only picking up 91 yesterday until I noticed channels missing from the guide.

Thanks for all the help! These forums have been very helpful!

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