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Hi folks,
I was recently given an old DirecWay DW4000 dish, and I thought it would be fun to enter the world of FTA. This is my first post.
Here are a couple photos of the dish and LNB (LNBF? I've looked the difference up but I don't quite understand it). I've stripped off the transmitter unit and taped over its input to the feedhorn, just to block any debris from getting in.
Also, I can't post links yet, but if you Google "direcway dw4000" the first result is exactly what I have.
At this point I'm just curious to experiment, and I'd like to find out as much as possible about what I might be able to receive with my dish. Unfortunately I live in the woods, so only a narrow area of the sky is visible to me, but since I'm just doing this for the fun of it that doesn't worry me too much. I think the swath I can see is about the 80-85W range. I'd be thrilled if you could tell me anything about my equipment and my possible targets.
(I also just picked a Twinhan 1028 PCIe card up on eBay, since a computer-based tuner seemed like a versatile option. I'm having trouble getting that going, but I don't think this is the right forum to ask about that, and I wanted to make sure I had good satellite/dish/LNB[F] information first.)
Thanks!
I was recently given an old DirecWay DW4000 dish, and I thought it would be fun to enter the world of FTA. This is my first post.
Here are a couple photos of the dish and LNB (LNBF? I've looked the difference up but I don't quite understand it). I've stripped off the transmitter unit and taped over its input to the feedhorn, just to block any debris from getting in.
Also, I can't post links yet, but if you Google "direcway dw4000" the first result is exactly what I have.
At this point I'm just curious to experiment, and I'd like to find out as much as possible about what I might be able to receive with my dish. Unfortunately I live in the woods, so only a narrow area of the sky is visible to me, but since I'm just doing this for the fun of it that doesn't worry me too much. I think the swath I can see is about the 80-85W range. I'd be thrilled if you could tell me anything about my equipment and my possible targets.
(I also just picked a Twinhan 1028 PCIe card up on eBay, since a computer-based tuner seemed like a versatile option. I'm having trouble getting that going, but I don't think this is the right forum to ask about that, and I wanted to make sure I had good satellite/dish/LNB[F] information first.)
Thanks!
10 Replies
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2600 views
T
I had my first taste of success last night, and it was delicious!
I aimed the dish for AMC 9, without any sort of meter reading visible from the dish. I went inside and did a scan in MyTheatre -- locked (!)... getting info (!!)... lo and behold, 2 channels found!!! No TV channel has ever looked so sweet as those first few seconds of PBS HD free to air.
Confused as to why I was seeing PBS at all when pointing at AMC 9, I searched around until I eventually realized I was looking at AMC 3. Oops. Well, at least AMC 3 has a few more channels, and once I did a bit more scanning, I also had Muslim Television Ahmadiyya in all its glory.
With my current setup of only a PC tuner, I think I was lucky to find anything. I don't want to shell out for a STB just to get the thing aimed, so maybe I'll see if a sat finder can do the trick.
Since I'm pointing through a narrow opening in the tree cover, I'll have to move the dish to hit anything else. Not a big deal, since it's only bolted to a quarter sheet of plywood, but it means I'll have to give up my PBS HD on AMC 3. I'm not sure I'll be able to see much else I'm interested in, but now that I'm hooked, I want to find as many channels as possible!
I aimed the dish for AMC 9, without any sort of meter reading visible from the dish. I went inside and did a scan in MyTheatre -- locked (!)... getting info (!!)... lo and behold, 2 channels found!!! No TV channel has ever looked so sweet as those first few seconds of PBS HD free to air.
Confused as to why I was seeing PBS at all when pointing at AMC 9, I searched around until I eventually realized I was looking at AMC 3. Oops. Well, at least AMC 3 has a few more channels, and once I did a bit more scanning, I also had Muslim Television Ahmadiyya in all its glory.
With my current setup of only a PC tuner, I think I was lucky to find anything. I don't want to shell out for a STB just to get the thing aimed, so maybe I'll see if a sat finder can do the trick.
Since I'm pointing through a narrow opening in the tree cover, I'll have to move the dish to hit anything else. Not a big deal, since it's only bolted to a quarter sheet of plywood, but it means I'll have to give up my PBS HD on AMC 3. I'm not sure I'll be able to see much else I'm interested in, but now that I'm hooked, I want to find as many channels as possible!
N
This is the quote of the year It usually doesn't work this way. Heck, I sometimes have trouble getting my PC card to lock even when I'm dialed in to a known-good signal. You really should think about investing in a set-top box as soon as you reasonably can. Not only does it make dish pointing far easier, it'll give you blind scan capability and thrust you into the world of wildfeeds :up
This is the quote of the year
It usually doesn't work this way. Heck, I sometimes have trouble getting my PC card to lock even when I'm dialed in to a known-good signal. You really should think about investing in a set-top box as soon as you reasonably can. Not only does it make dish pointing far easier, it'll give you blind scan capability and thrust you into the world of wildfeeds :up
T
Why would I invest in a set-top box when everything has been this easy so far? I'm going to experiment a little bit more before I cave and buy a box. I'm sure my tune will change by the end of the week.
I'm going to experiment a little bit more before I cave and buy a box. I'm sure my tune will change by the end of the week.
There are some wild deals happening with certain FTA boxes which no longer support the eye-patch gang (hackers). Members here have been picking up the older Coolsats for next to nothing recently. Perhaps you can snag a deal on one of these. The 5000 and 6000 are excellent boxes, not that I've ever owned one 
Supporting Founder
Lifetime Supporter
Thanks to Fitch Ratings ( who gives the ratings on Credit and debt, as approved by the SEC, so they have accurate numbers) we have the totals.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
DIRECTV's video subscriber base is the third-largest traditional multi-channel video programming distributor (MVPD) in the U.S. with about 8.2 million subscribers at the end of 1Q26.
The last time it was reported, it was 8.8M at the end of 2Q25, so only a 600,000 loss for 3 quarters, which is a major improvement, since for many years before that, it was losing 500,000 a quarter, 2 Million a year.
It is now losing less than Dish/Sling combined, I believe the Genre Packs are helping to retain and get subscribers.
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363 views
Recently came back to DirectTV Satellite service and have two boxes, Gemini and a main HR54.
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
DirecTV is charging me two "TV access fees" of $10 each, but can only watch TV on the one without the server. Is there anything I can do to fix this?
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940 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
67110 Replies
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2662380 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
I feel like this was discussed in another thread, but I can't find it. I have T-Mobile and my last iPhone upgrade was in 2020. I want to get a new iPhone, but what is the best way to go about doing it? Should I order the iPhone from T-Mobile directly, or should I buy from the Apple Store? I feel like there are pros/cons to each option.
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34 views
I have a Hopper with Sling. (Don't know exact model.) A couple nights ago, I went into the DVR screen, and noted that it was recording three programs. Yet I was able to view live TV (that was not one of the channels being recorded.) Did something change? In the past, it would only let me watch one of the channels being recorded, or any recording in the DVR menu. Maybe it was streaming, although there was no indication of that?
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
Apologies if this has been covered; I searched and didn't find anything.
Thanks.
9 Replies
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354 views
iJustine
Time for another AWESOME video from iJustine!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YJjxjYvmQ8s
Direct YouTube Link - Good Bye, Tim! Last WWDC
The official iJustine Website's Website
Buy her book!
0 Replies
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10 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Cutting Edge
WANTED DirecTV LCC
Anyone have a DirecTV Local Channel Connector that you'd like to get rid of at a reasonable price? DirecTV is currently in a contract dispute with owner of my local ABC affiliate.
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307 views
I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
Could be out of them I guess ... I'd keep trying, every 3-4 days.I did that. The response was that the LCC is not available. Escalated the issue to a tech support person with the same results.
If they are not out of them as them WHY you can't get one, seeing Your in a Dispute. Thats what they are for.
I would make them give you a real answer, don't let them off the hook.
I had one, and it worked well, but I believe I gave it to another D* friend (also had a AM21), I know I gave them away ...
According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
I'm not sure your going to find any Refurbished ones as D* doesn't ask for them back.According to the tech support guy, they don't have any in stock. He said I should receive an email when and if they have them. I even told him I would accept a refurbished unit.
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Did anyone have a price increase today on their equipment? I own my VIP211k's, and they have been $5.00. My bill that I received last week shows the "add-ons" as being $5.00. However, I just logged into my Dish account, and my "add-ons" are now $10.00. Did the additional receivers go up by $5.00 recently?
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
As I mentioned, my last bill shows $5.00 and under the notes, nothing is mentioned about a price increase.
11 Replies
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203 views
Hello everyone, new guy here. I'm trying to solve problem I'm having with Dish bonus view channels. When I'm watching the bonus view channels then I switch back to regular dish channels, after few minutes the screen flips to black and after 30 seconds flips back to regular channels and continues to flip back and forth until I turn off TV. After I wait 30 minutes and turn back on , I can use regular channels again. So, its after I switch from bonus view channels to regular dish channels the problem starts. Been trying to fix this for a month, but no luck
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
Here what I've done.
i contacted Dish support and they sent me a new Joey3, but no help. Switched to a different HDMI input on TV, no help. Used different HDMI cable , no help. Used different electrical wall plug, no help.
Finally got a Dish tech to check it. He ran all systems check and was OK. Finally he brought in a small TV and plugged in the HDMI out from the Joey to the small TV. He could not get the problem to occur on his small TV, so the new Joey was working OK. So, then the problem must be myTV. He made some phone calls and came back with the answer that there must be a problem with the analog to digital switch in my TV. Has anyone ever heard of a problem like this, or is it time to be looking for a new TV? My tv LG OLED65C8PUA. TV has been trouble free til now. Thanks
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103 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones, premieres on HBO Max on 8/21. I will be warching
www.syfy.com
View: https://youtu.be/fNwwt25mheo
S~
'Game of Thrones' spinoff 'House of the Dragon' fires up release date at HBO, drops new character pics
The wait’s felt a little like watching for a dragon egg to hatch, but HBO’s hugely anticipated Game of Thrones prequel series finally has a release date. House of the Dragon will debut the first of its initial 10-episode season this summer, the network revealed today in a series of tweets that...
View: https://youtu.be/fNwwt25mheo
S~
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5648 views
