Continue using legacy receiver with SWM HD DVR

[emuman100]

I'm doing some upgrading, and I want to upgrade a legacy DIRECTV receiver to a new HD DVR, which I'm betting will only work with an SWM system(The installer will be coming at the end of the month, this is an upgrade from them, with "free, professional installation"). I have a second legacy receiver I don't want to upgrade, so what LNBs/dish antenna/multiswitches will I need?

Apparently I can only use an SWM8, which has three legacy ports, so I can use one of the ports for my legacy receiver. It has two SWM ports, which one of them will connect to an SWM splitter, port 1 of the splitter will be connected to the power inserter and then to the HD DVR, and port 2 of the splitter will connect to the second tuner of the HD DVR(assuming the HD DVR they will give me will have two inputs, maybe it only needs one with SWM, I'm not sure).

I currently have a channel master triple LNB dish with an old Sat C kit, the LNBs connect to a multiswitch on the back of the dish. Three lines are run up to it, two for a legacy SD DVR and the other is for a legacy receiver. I want to leave the lines as they are as well as the mast.

The SWM8 cannot connect to the single port of an SWM LNB, so what are my options with my current dish? What can I use to replace the existing dish and be able to run a SWM receiver and legacy receiver with one dish? I hear with "HD upgrades" Directv does not install SWM dishes, but older ones.

Thank you.

 

[JerseyMatt]

Ok, basically what it boils down to is this.. Your dish is incompatible with HD at all. You have a Phase 2 dish that looks at 101, 110, and 119. HD is on 99, 101, and 103. It also does not receive Ka signals. So you will get a new dish. You will get a Slimline 3 or 5 (depending on what bird has your locals), but it's a 50/50 shot whether it will be legacy or SWiM LNB (honestly it will most likely be SWiM).

Talk to the installer when they get there, he might have a legacy LNB on the truck. The SWiM8 would be unnecessary, as the legacy LNB works the same as your current setup. Two lines will go to the DVR (even the new ones are backward compatible) and one will go to the old receiver. You would add the SWiM8 later on if you want to add more tuners and/or MRV.

They should be able to use the existing lines provided they are in good shape, but the mount will be different. The Slimline dishes take a larger pipe and have outrigger brackets for extra stability. If this is a pole/ground mount, they can use an adapter sleeve, but for the regular roof mount it should be changed.

However if they give you a SWiM LNB, you will not be able to use your old receiver(s) at all. You will need to upgrade.

 

[emuman100]

Thanks for the reply. I checked and I'll need the 5LNB for my locals. The new SWM HD DVR will get all the HD channels including HD locals and I won't need to be connected via SWM for that?

Thank you.

 

[JerseyMatt]

No. SWiM has nothing to do with HD. It is only REQUIRED for MRV (whole home DVR), and the new H25 receiver (has no legacy input). But all of the DVRs have legacy (2 port) inputs, and can also accept SWiM on SAT 1. The only thing is that you will need B-Band Converters on the DVR to access the HD (the installer should have these), which you wouldn't with SWiM, but thats only because the SWiM LNB/SWM8 takes care of the band switching.. If you ever upgrade to SWiM (to get MRV or add more receivers), you would simply remove the BBCs.

However, unless you have a good reason for wanting to keep this legacy receiver (aside from owning it), I would just upgrade both to HD, because you should be able to get a HD DVR and a regular HD box for free with your upgrade. And it'll still cost the same, since the 'mirroring' fee becomes the 'lease' fee. Then you can have the SWiM LNB installed which simplifies everything.

 

[ShadowEKU]

Just a point of clarification... SWiM is not required for MRV, handy yes, required no. If you have a home wired network it isn't needed (and could save instal $$$). If you don't have a network SWiM will be needed

 

[emuman100]

Thank you for the reply. I wondered what the B Band converters were used for. This makes things so much simpler that I thought. I own the other receiver and I wish to continue using it.

Thank you again.

 

[JerseyMatt]

As I said, even owning the legacy receiver isn't really a good reason to jump through hoops to keep using it. You're still paying monthly for it (mirror fee). You can get the HD version of it free with your upgrade, and the mirror fee becomes a lease fee (same $6 a month).

 

[raoul5788]

As I said, even owning the legacy receiver isn't really a good reason to jump through hoops to keep using it. You're still paying monthly for it (mirror fee). You can get the HD version of it free with your upgrade, and the mirror fee becomes a lease fee (same $6 a month).

If you are talking hd, then sure you would want a Directv box, but I'd rather have my old Sony HDD200 or LG3200a. They were really good boxes, and they do ota hd as well.