Any help with a 4 orbital slot installation?

[kelder539]

I need to get a "Must Carry" install done on the 148 satellite. I currently have a dish 500 and a 61.5 install with a SW-64. I have had 3 installers out so far and they have all been stumped. I called Dish Tech support and after being on hold for 45 min and transferred 3-4 times, I finally got a tech that knew what he was talking about. He told me that a DP+44 switch would work. My installer just came out today and had the wrong switch, but he talked to dish tech support and his office tech support and they are saying that there is no way to get 61.5 and 148 simultaneously. I bet that someone in this forum has a 3 dish 4 slot install that they would be able to provide me with. PLEASE anyone HELP!!!

Send me an email with replies.
Thanks!
Kelly
(Ps. they have rescheduled the install for a week from now, so please hurry with the help)

 

[miguelaqui]

The receiver will not read 61.5 and 148 at the same time. It really upsets the Sky Angel subs who want the additional locals and now, I can image, it will do the same with the Voom channels.

I once heard of someone putting an A/B switch on the receiver and, when he wanted to watch Sky Angel, went to the point dish screen, flipped the A/B switch, ran check switch, then watched Sky Angel.

Sorry the DP 44 wouldn't work for you!

 

[James Long]

Four sats can be done. Search the forum. E* has also recently patched the receivers to help better handle having 61.5 and 148 sourced channels with the same numbers.

JL

 

[Smith P.]

Using A/B mechanical switch is right way to burn your receiver.

It was posted here and at dbstalk.com - new software take care of the mirrored channels and your receiver will be OK with 61.5 and 148 feeds.

 

[miguelaqui]

Using A/B mechanical switch is right way to burn your receiver.

It was posted here and at dbstalk.com - new software take care of the mirrored channels and your receiver will be OK with 61.5 and 148 feeds.

That is their fault for not better training the tech reps, if this can be done.

I was taught, 2 years ago, that 61.5 and 148 together would be impossible.

If the tech tried and the DP44 would not work with 61.5 and 148, what do you suggest?

I think that it is great that they fixed the problem because I'm sure that many will want the Voom channels on the West Coast. Many who have the minor locals on 148.

 

[BobaBird]

Even 2 years ago, contrary to Dish's position, it wasn't impossible, just a bit problematic when channel surfing or going through the guide because the receivers would get confused by the duplicate channel numbers.

The DPP44 (no such thing as a DP44) will work, the installer just didn't have one.

There are 3 ways to get 4 slots:

• SW64/SW21 cascade. You'll need an SW21 for each tuner. If that's more than 2, things start getting really messy (add a standard 4-out multi-switch between the 4th slot's dish and the SW21) and may have reliability issues. See the EKB Receiver Comparison Chart for receivers that recognize this cascade.
• The aforementioned DPP44. You will have to have your legacy LNBs replaced with DishPro to use it but this is otherwise the cleanest solution. Legacy receivers can be connected directly and will recognize it as an SW64/SW21 cascade.
• DP34/DP21 cascade. Requires DishPro LNBs, each legacy receiver (if any) requires a DishPro adapter.

 

[kelder539]

thanks for all the replies so far! I want a ton of information to bombard my installer with so he will believe me that I can get 4 satellites on my system.

So, keep all the replies coming, and if anyone has a tech diagram or installation photos... nuff said?

 

[n0qcu]

Here is a couple of screens you can show your installer.

 

[kt]

One also needs to keep in mind that the SW-64/SW-21 (SW21-4 SAT) setup may not work with all receiver models, especially the very old models. Only some (many newer) Echostar receivers have support for this config.

I can confirm that all four sats do work correctly with the legacy SW-64/SW-21 (SW21-4 SAT) combination on my DVR 921 starting with L215 software. It was problematic with earlier software versions though. This configuration also used to work correctly with very minimal issues on my 811 until I replaced it with the 921. And this also worked with my model 6000 receiver, though the 6000 used to give an occasional check switch error which you could ignore by pressing <ok>. I do not know if this has been fixed now as I sold my 6000 about a year ago.

A 501/510 used to be problematic with this SW64/SW21 config in that at times timers would not fire if the receiver was turned off. But again this was a year or two ago. Not sure if this has been fixed.

So going with a DPP44 or a SW64/21 would depend on which receiver models you have, and how many recievers you want to see both 148 and 61.5.
If you want voom HD channels plus your must carry locals from 148, a SW64/21 should work ok on the HD receivers. If you want sky angel plus your locals on all your receivers, you may have to try out the both SW64/21 as well as the DPP44 and see if there are any issues with your receivers.

With the legacy SW64/21 configs, I would recommend putting 119 (1a/1b), 110 (2a/2b) and 148 (3a/3b) in that order on the SW64, and 61.5 by itself on the SW21s. Or you can put 119 (1a/1b), 110 (2a/2b) and 61.5 (3a/3b) in that order on the SW64, and 148 by itself on the SW21s. Other combinations could be more problematic.

If you have dual tuner recievers, both tuners must see the exact same config, or else problems will result.

And remember to check the "superdish" option when running check switch with the SW64/21 config, or else it will not work.

Hope this helps.

 

[JPointerWI]

If you have a model 2700, 2800, 3000,3700, 4000, or any DishPro receiver, it should work as long as you have the most recent software. The 3000/4000 receivers will not work with a superdish, only a Dish 500 and Dish 300's (they cant receive the FSS signal from the 105/121 satellites). The problem with previous versions was that the receiver would see duplicate channels on the 61.5 and 148 satellites and the guide would get seriously messed up. The latest version handles any conflicts taht may come up.

 

[kelder539]

My installer is coming tomorrow, so I will have to give him this info... if anyone else has any other ideas, keep them coming!!!

 

[kelder539]

My installer came, said his GM wouldnt let him install a "4th" DBS location on my system. I showed him all the diagrams and screen shots. They told me that they could "re-point" my 61.5 to the 148 satellite, but since I have sky angel, that would not be an alternative. I spent 2 hours on the phone with customer service being transferred from one to the next to the next, and finally got to a dispute resolution specialist who gave me his personal number and how to get ahold of him right away when I call in. He said he was going to try to email the GM in Kent, WA who is in charge of our area and try to convince him to install the system. I am very upset right now with Dish for not being able to provide me with the proper system to get my MUST carries.

 

[miguelaqui]

Sounds like they just do not want to pay for the DPP44 switch. From my understanding, in many areas, the DNSC, that's the local people, is reimbursed for the materials by E* for the materials used. If the GM says that E* will not reimburse him for the DPP44, he will not install it.

As far as the 4 sat location, I was told by one person,per E*'s email, that they do not do 4 sat installs; I wanted to get 105 for locals and 121 for internationals. I was told by another that it could be done, but I would only be able to use the promotion for one of them.

As far as the MUST carries, they could simply tell you to use 2 receivers; one for Sky Angel, the other for Dish Network, being that they are 2 different services.

At least you let then know that it was technically possible!

I am very interested to see what the outcome will be.

 

[kelder539]

I talked to E* and they said that they were going to reimburse the DNSC for the switch, and he was baffled why the DNSC GM wouldn't authorize the install.

 

[kelder539]

After getting in touch with the "Dispute Resolution Specialist" and he sent an email to the DNSC GM, Dish Local called me back on Monday and said.... So, when can we come and install this thing? So, as I sit here, they are installing it. So, if anyone has any unresolved problems, call 1800-334-DISH and ask for the Executive Resolution Team. They ROCK!!!

 

[HDTVFanAtic]

I have nothing but Dish 6000 units and a 3x4 switch. I care nothing about 119, so I have 61.5/110/148 all working fine through the switch - which really had me confused as everyone (not here) that was supposedly in the know said it could not be done. Never a check switch issue popping up either. And all this was legacy equipment.

I suppose I could put a sw21 inline with a receiver if I really wanted anything on 119 that I cannot pick up through one of my many other sources, but as I only care about HD - it wasn't an issue.

 

[andrews777]

I will note that I had 110/119 and 61.5 for several years. Someone attempted to install for 148 at one point, and gave up after not figuring out how to do it. I think I had 2 501 receivers at the time.

I tried again early this year, when I had 2 522 receivers for a while. After a bit of pushing with the tech person at Dish, I got them to install the 148 dish for my final locals. It worked fine.

I did just downgrade to SkyAngel only, so I don't use it now, but it does work! I have a DP43 if I remember right.

Brad