Just bought a house with Dish Network antennas installed. Need help

[1ADAM12]

Dish Network Dishes

If you are able to find the cable that runs to the dish network on the front corner of the house, that would be the one to start with.



It is a single LNBF and you won't have to deal with switches to see if you can get a signal.

But the lower DN 500 does have switches and will need to be set properly in your menu for SW21.

This dish has two LNBF, one pointed at 119W and receives NASA and Ion. The other is aimed at 110W and you won't receive any signals In The Clear (ITC).

Looks like you have a cable not connected to anything, may be the upper dish. However, there are two cables coming down from it and likely has a dual LNBF to feed two receivers.

 

[Mr Tony]

The key thing with Dish 119 is the first 5 vertical transponders are spotbeams so unless you're near one you will get no signal

Try 12516 V 20000 transponder

 

[micksh]

I've got some progress. Sorry, I mislead you. I think, the TV outlet I connected to was not connected to anywhere. Bare TV cable hanging from receiver gives similar level of signal (just a bit lower).

So, I found real outlet and now I get 92% signal and 88% quality. I can find a lot of scrambled channels on 119 satellite if I set receiver to look for all channels. But I can't find anything on FTA.

How can I do the following:
"lower DN 500 does have switches and will need to be set properly in your menu for SW21"?

I know I have DP-34 switch.

I tried to search all frequencies including 12516 V 20000. All channels, all frequencies find 53 TV, 45 radio channels on 119, all scrambled except 1 radio which I didn't try. If I limit my search to 12516 V 20000 I find zero channels.

Would appreciate any further advices. Is there anything in dish settings I can change?

 

[Mr Tony]

if its a DP34 you have to set the DIseqc settings

for 119 normally its diseqc 1
110 is diseqc 2

so in your menu under diseqc, select
diseqc 1.0
and then change it to 1

 

[micksh]

I have tried to set diseqc 1.0 to 1. Please see my menu settings attached. I have these choices and I can set numbers for each of diseqc from 1 to 4. And for 1.1 I can set it up to 8.
With diseqc 1.0 set to 1 I can still get lots of scrambled channels (53 TV channels, the same as before) but no FTA.

I have 2 choices for LNB type - single and universal.
Universal (default) has 2 choices 9750/10600 and 9750/10750
Single gives default choice 1060 and an option for 22 KHz on/off
All LNB frequencies I can alter manually except 22 KHz fixed on/off option.

And I tried 1.0 distant too, set it to 1. And it goes through all frequencies, from lowest (122xx something, below NASA channel) up to 12516, all polarities. Blind scan or auto scan - it's the same. Finds scrambled channels, no FTA.

 

[putney]

Now that you know you are on 119ºw, look at 'the list' and see if the TPs you need are present.

SatelliteGuys.US - 119.0°W EchoStar 7 Ku

If they are present, check your scanned channels against Lyngsat to make sure you are on 119ºw (that is if your box doesn't tell you already)

http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/dish119.html

 

[1ADAM12]

I have tried to set diseqc 1.0 to 1. Please see my menu settings attached. I have these choices and I can set numbers for each of diseqc from 1 to 4. And for 1.1 I can set it up to 8.
With diseqc 1.0 set to 1 I can still get lots of scrambled channels (53 TV channels, the same as before) but no FTA.

I have 2 choices for LNB type - single and universal.
Universal (default) has 2 choices 9750/10600 and 9750/10750
Single gives default choice 1060 and an option for 22 KHz on/off
All LNB frequencies I can alter manually except 22 KHz fixed on/off option.

And I tried 1.0 distant too, set it to 1. And it goes through all frequencies, from lowest (122xx something, below NASA channel) up to 12516, all polarities. Blind scan or auto scan - it's the same. Finds scrambled channels, no FTA.

lnbf type single
Change 1060 to 1125
DISEqC to port 1.

 

[Mr Tony]

its actually 11250

 

[micksh]

Thank you, everybody, a lot for your help!

lnbf type single
Change 10600 to 11250
DISEqC to port 1.

These settings worked. I got NASA, Ion and Angel.

Just one last question: How would be service called that can send technicians to check where TV cables are connected in house and reconnect them as needed? To route given signals to given rooms?
I can't do that because I don't have equipment and there is dozens of cables, some of them have cut ends. Every search that mentions TV Cables returns Cable TV providers which I don't need.

Edit: Never mind the question. I found www.tv-installer.com and some other guys on yelp.com. Thanks again.

 

[Anole]

success!

Glad to hear you got NASA for your boy.
Ion is good, too.

You didn't say how old he is, but maybe he can chase down your cables.
Make a good educational experience for him! ! - :up

 

[1ADAM12]

Thank you, everybody, a lot for your help!



These settings worked. I got NASA, Ion and Angel.

You could pick up over a hundred channels on that top corner dish if you moved it to 97W.

 

[Mr Tony]

huh?
The top dish is a D500 with a DBS LNB on it. You would need a larger dish and different LNB for 97W

 

[micksh]

97W looks interesting.
According to SatBeams - Home in my area EIRP level = 48.1 dBW and Recommended dish size = 70cm / 27.6in

I believe if I buy something like this dish (36" dual LNB) for $105 Satellite AV - Free to Air Satellite Equipment Distributors - GEOSATpro, Glorystar 888-483-4673
it will allow me to watch all channels on Galaxy 19 97 W and also History and Biography channels on AMC 4 101W.

And since I have switch and most of the cables in place I would have to pay less for installation, maybe around $150? (can't do it myself) Is it correct assumption?

My house is facing 97W satellite, so not sure if I can reuse mount from the top right dish on picture or if it makes sense.

 

[Mr Tony]

sounds about right

SatelliteAv is a sponsor here and does sell a 4 degree bracket to get both 97 & 101 on one dish

If the mast on the top of the house is long enough, you might be able to use it on the new dish. Otherwise it might be better to have the dish much lower

 

[1ADAM12]

huh?
The top dish is a D500 with a DBS LNB on it. You would need a larger dish and different LNB for 97W

True you need a linear LNBF but for several folks here the DN 500 works OK for 97W.

He's got the right idea...just tried to see if I could peak his interest in FTA.

Micksh-

There are plenty of helpful people here to take you through the install.
Be best to sink a fence pole next to your house and that side of the house and hang a H-H motor.

 

[micksh]

I bought 36" dish and two LNBs with 4 degree brackets for 97W and 101W. A contractor is saying that DP-34 Dish Network switch that I have will not work for FTA signal. He knows of a standard DirecTV switch that would accept one FTA connector but he doesn't know if it can accept two - 97 and 101.

Could you tell if I can hook up two FTA LNBs to standard switch? He can get DirecTV switch by tomorrow. If not, what switch to use? I need 119W signal too for NASA.

Ideally I would like a switch that can accept OTA TV signal also - to get rid of diplexers on one end. I will need both OTA TV and satellite and there is only one TV outlet in each room. I need signal to minimum 4, but better to 6 rooms.

Thank you.

 

[classicsat]

You would need a straight tone or a Diseq switch with single LNBFs, or doal LNBFs to use a DirecTV 4x4 switch, or 5x4 to diplex antenna on it. Make it an x8 for 6 receivers. To incorporate NASA, I'd just combine the ch 3 RF from a dedicated receiver to the antenna line.

 

[micksh]

I also watch ION from 119W, not only NASA, so probably dedicated receiver would not work. You are suggesting to mix its signal in the switch like another OTA antenna, right?

So, let's say I have a standard DirecTV 4x4 switch. Can I connect signals from two LNBFs aiming at 97W and 101W plus OTA TV antenna to it? And then have these 3 signals in 4 locations with diplexers at other ends? Will it work?
Is it just not possible to add 119W signal from DishPro LNBF to that mix?

I could install DirecTV for 3 signals temporarily. Is there any switch that lets to combine all four - two FTA, 119W and OTA TV and to feed all to 5 or 6 locations?
Can I utilize existing DP34 to add 119W somehow?

Edit: So 4x4 switch will not allow to mix OTA TV antenna but 5x4 should? Would any DirecTV 5x4 switch work?

Thank you

 

[Anole]

Hold on now, this just went from simple to absurd.

You now want 97°/101°/119° & OTA in each of six rooms?
This is not a job for the DishNetwork DP-34 switch.
DirecTV switches will not get the job done with the pieces you've named, either.

We started out with some existing hardware and cobbled it into place to solve one simple problem.
Now, it's become the tail, wagging the bigger dog.

There are several solutions, depending on what you are willing to live with.
- one FTA receiver in one room, getting all three satellites
- two or several receivers in different rooms, getting all three satellites
- two or several receivers in different rooms, each getting different satellites
- forget about combining OTA TV with the satellite feed.

The various solutions will all require major changes to what you have now.
And more cables.
We do have some switch configurations outlined in the Switch FAQ, but which would be best for you really depends on what you'd live with (or pay for).

 

[micksh]

Hold on now, this just went from simple to absurd.
You now want 97°/101°/119° & OTA in each of six rooms?

Yes. Well, in 4 rooms, on the second thought. 6 rooms is ridiculous.

DirecTV switches will not get the job done with the pieces you've named, either.

Will they at least mix 97 and 101 to 4 rooms?

- two or several receivers in different rooms, getting all three satellites
The various solutions will all require major changes to what you have now.
And more cables.

This is what I wanted, but why the changes should be major? I thought I just needed to get the right switch. And I've got cables.

I currently can watch OTA TV and 119W in 3 rooms, 2 rooms have a single TV cable. It's done through diplexers and 119W goes trough DP34. All I wanted is to add 97W and 101W, replacing 2 other Dish Network LNBs connected to DP34 and expand everything to 4 rooms. (6 would be too much).

Now I know that DP34 is not going to do that so I though of getting DirecTV switch and maybe temporarily forget about 119W if it is not possible.

A guy who is connecting it is sure that DirecTV switch can take one FTA input but he is not sure if it can take two.

So the ultimate question is - is there a switch that would allow to mix 119W, 97W, 101W and (optionally but preferrably) OTA TV? I would buy it. Without switch mixing OTA I can live with diplexers on both ends, that's how it works now.

And will DirecTV 5x4 switch do mixing at least 97W and 101W to 4 rooms? I bought this kit:
Satellite AV - Free to Air Satellite Equipment Distributors - GEOSATpro, Glorystar 888-483-4673
# 1 GEOSATpro 90cm Dish
# 1 GEOSATpro 4 Degree Rotating Bracket
# 2 GEOSATpro SL1 Standard Linear Mini Bullet LNBFs (World's Smallest LNBF)
# 1 GEOSATpro 22KHz 2x1 Switch (Made by Ecoda)

I have just read the switch FAQ but I'm still not sure what switch is required for this 3x4 configuration.