FAQ: Everything you wanted to know about Legacy VS Dishpro VS DishProPlus
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The first thing you need to know when trying to understand the difference between the three technologies is the biology of a length of cable.
The outer jacket is basically there to look pretty and keep water out. The outer conductor, or braid, is designed to keep radio frequencies from interfering with the center conductor. The braid is functionally useless for grounding purposes when it comes to anything stronger than a radio frequency, EMP. The foil helps with EMP but it basically keeps the braid from ripping up the insulation when the cable flexes and bends.
All of this is designed to protect the center conductor. This thin strip of copper is your complete satellite dish communications system. Inside this wire is a whole new world.
Think of the above chart as a frequency cross-section of the center conductor. Legacy receivers and LNBF's send signals back and forth in the 900-1450MHz range. Dishpro uses two frequency ranges at the same time, both the 900-1450 and the 1450-2150 range to communicate back and forth. Dishpro is a brand name for a "stacked" frequency system.
Dishpro Plus uses the 'stacked' technology to eliminate the need to extra wires. With the use of a frequency splitter, Dishpro Plus uses one tuner in the otherwise labeled 'Legacy' range, while using the higher frequency for all of the communications between the second tuner and LNBF. To do this, Dishpro Plus uses a little more voltage when compared to DishPro and Legacy technologies.
The different technologies also have different wire range limitations. Without power boosting via a power inserter, Legacy is limited to 150 wire feet between receiver and LNBF. Dishpro is limited to 200 feet. Dishpro Plus is limited depending on the type of receiver involved. Legacy receivers limit DPP to 150 feet (when another receiver is connected), and Dishpro receivers are limited to 200 feet.
What type of LNBF's and switches that are to be used depends on what type of receiver is being used.
Legacy receivers: Legacy LNBF's and switches OR Dishpro Plus LNBF's IF more than 2 receivers are connected. Can also be attached to ports 2, 3 or 4 of a DPP44 switch. (The power inserter interferes)
DishPro receivers: All LNBF's and switches. DishPro receivers are backwards compatible with Legacy LNBF's and switches.
DishPro Plus Dual Tuners: With one cable, DPP LNBF's and switches only when used with a DPP Separator. Legacy and Dishpro LNBF's and switches will work only if a wire is run to each tuner.