Ground block should always come before the switches. It should be LNB => ground block => DP34 => DP adapter => receiver. Not that it matters now that the DP adapter is bad but that's the way it should be done.
Hmm. The first ground block was installed with the original single LNB, 7+ yeas ago. Lef in teh sam place for the Dish 500 upgrade(only one receiver then too), but I honestly don't remember where I put the switch in relation to them.
Some "installers" came by later and cleaned up the cables for me later (I didn't have the clamps). That was when it was a free dish 500 upgrade if you agreed to 1 (or 2) year(s) of service, right after it was released.
I never did anything with the ground blocks though. who ever did the "install" did the work.
I know I had ground blocks for 4 coax lines when the SuperDish installer got here, and had 3 receivers running. He disconnected the old lines, but left the dish and the coax to the roof (I asked him too, and he didn't want to climb up there) I think he do a Dual LNB and a Single LNB with him to leave the quad.
Ground pole mounted the SuperDish, with the switch on the pole. Ran the 4 lines for the switch to the old ground blocks.
You're saying he should have ran the 3 lines to the ground blocks, the the switch, and the out put from there to the receivers?
Damn, he was the most knowledgeable "installer" that ever visited my house (early SuperDish days, whe only experienced guys did them) The previous guys didn't know a legacy quad for a Pro, or a dual LNB from a Twin. AOh, and the 4 guys that came without an extension ladder on there truck to install my Dish500 on the roof. They only had a 6ft step ladder.
Yes, the DP adapters have a high fail rate.
So the failure I've seen is a common failure?
Everyone keeps saying the break a lot, but not what the symptoms are when the break. Nor can anyone explain how I only loose even TPs on one satellite.
So, would I be better served getting the legacy Dish 500 working for the 4900?
I'm still reasonably sure I should have a Quad up there, but I only saw 119(and no switch) when I hooked it up. Is it likely that I can get 110 for one of the other outputs? (ie, when the switch fails does it usually get stuck with a 119 and a 110 feed available?)
Or should I look for a pair of single LNBs and a SW21?
I have a spare dual LNB, maybe just one single and a twin?
Or look for a twin/quad?
Which configuration is most likely to last the longest?
Be cheaper over the next 4-5 years (probably all the 4900 has left in it).