HD Installation with Dish 500+ and 61.5 Bird

[glamanks]

Hello,

This is my first post in this community. I have a Dish 500+ which is receiving 110, 119, 118.7 using DP34 switch. I also have a separate 61.5 bird which I no longer use (not sure if its connected on SW21 on the roof).

I would like to receive HD programming. I have subscribed to AT200.

I have also subscribed to South Asian programming that is available on 61.5 as well as 118.7.

Can I receive any HD channels with my current setup of 110, 119, 118.7?

If not, one option I was thinking was to disconnect 118.7 feed from DP34 and instead, connect the 61.5 feed from the separate dish. Is this option the most hassle free? What are other better options?

When will south asian programming be removed from 61.5 that will force me to transition back to 118.7?

Will cascading SW21 and DP34 work if I want to keep all 4 birds?

Thanks.

 

[MikeFr]

Welcome.. I have the same setup as yourself. You'll need the 61.5 location to receive most, but not all, of the available HD channels.

Depending on the location of your locals you should be able to receive them currently also.
Dish is currently sending all of their national HD from either 129 or 72.7.

There has never been a hard date for removal of internationals from 61.5. I would say it isn't going to happen now with the Eastern/Western Arc plans.

I believe some in PA have been able to get 129 signal instead of 72.7 but that may leave you without locals.

An Eastern Arc dish 1000.4 would provide you with 61.5/72.7/77 locations.

 

[TimberWolf]

There is a bracket you can attach to the 118.7 lnb to add another dual lnb to pick up 129 if you have line of sight to it. You will need a dpp44 instead of a dp34. You will still get your locals but possibly not in HD

 

[glamanks]

Thanks for the response. I will check if I have LOS to 129. If not, I will probably buy and install 1000.4 and connect 118 to 1000.4's 4th input. DPP44 and 1000.4 are about the same $ i think.

 

[glamanks]

TimberWolf, in addition to the bracket, will I need Dish Pro Single LNB or Dual? What is the best way to check LOS on 129 with least disturbance to the existing setup?

 

[TimberWolf]

dishpro single or dual will work

129 is farther right and much lower elevation than 119/118.7

dishpointer or the signal strength screen should be able to give you the exact settings