Why 2 LNBFs

[cwdav]

A few years ago I paid a DishNework Authorized Dealor to upgrade by dish so that I could receive local stations. As a result I now have a slightly larger dish, 2 LNBFs, 2 SW21 switches. One LNBF is labeled 119 and the other is labeled 110. The LNBF labeled 110 is non-operational and even with it removed I still receive cable channels and local stations. The LNBFs and SW21s are connected as follows: Assume the 119 LNBF's outputs are A & B and the 110 LNBF's outputs are C & D. The connections are: LNBF, A & C are connected to SW21-A and LBNF 110, B & D are connected to SW21-B. SW21-A goes to the DVR\Receiver in the den. SW21-B goes to the receiver in my office. Since LNBF 110 is removed and no C & D connections, what does the SW21s do? What does the 110 LNBF do? I sent DishNetwork an email last Wed. asking them the same question, as of today (Sat.) no answer.

 

[vegassatellite]

110 provides channels that are in the top 250 that you don't get in the top 200. There are a couple other channels as well. With it disconnected, your guide will eventually remove those channels that are on the 110. It is possible that your locals were on 110 at one point and then were later moved to 119.

It looks like KTRK used to be on 110 transponder 4 around 8/07.

 

[Mr Tony]

Houston SD locals are on 119

I would hook it back up as is and do a check switch. From the reciever, go menu 6-1-1 and there should be an option that says "check switch"...let that run and it should find both 119 & 110

what package do you have with Dish?

 

[DishSubLA]

Dish has moved channels from the 119 to the 110 slots in the past. You are best to leave the set-up as installed so that when you are granted access to a channel (such as those currently in 250, but recently made available to AT 200 subs) you will have a seamless experience and new channels and not frustration. Furthermore, should you acquire a DVR, the 9 day guide is at 110.

Put simply, Dish 500 install--both 119 and 110--has been the standard install since 1999 to allow Dish to operate the 2 sat slots, 119 & 110, as if it were ONE satellite as far as the consumer is concerned. This allows Dish to move channels between the 2 slots for best overall PQ and accessibility and overall efficiency. Those who have a 300 and are affected by such moves--meaning they would lose access to the channel--are offered FREE upgrades to Dish 500. Those with only a Dish 300 when Dish made available a few AT 250 channels to AT 200 customers means the Dish 300 people are not getting all the channels to which they are entitled. Those folks can upgrade for a fee, not for free since they are not LOSING any channels.

You want to leave the Dish 500 installed as the installer properly did so or YOU WILL have problems.

 

[cwdav]

What if the NBNF 110 is not functioning? With it removed but with the SW21s still installed with only the NBNF 119 connected to both SW21s when I peform a "Check Switch" I get both satellites 119 & 110.

 

[cwdav]

I have the "America's Top 200 with Locals", Dish Network DVR.

 

[Mr Tony]

I would add the 110 LNB back. There are some channels on that satellite that are in your package

 

[cwdav]

What if the 110 LNBF is in-operatable?

 

[Mr Tony]

are you sure?

Try this...swap the 119 & 110 LNB's around (put the LNB that "works" in the 110 slot and the "bad" one on 119 and rerun check switch. If it only shows 110 now then yes the LNB is bad. If it doesn't, then we have other issues

 

[cwdav]

Thanks, I will try this the next time that I go on the roof. FYI, I am 74 and suffer some balance problems.

 

[Mr Tony]

you might want to try and contact a local installer to see if they can do it maybe.

Checking the list of channels in the package, these are the channels on 110 that are in AT200

152 CSTV (CBS College TV)
154 NFL Network
157 Ovation
185 Hallmark
188 Soap Network
196 Current
204 Tru (Court TV)
197 Documentary
231 RFDTV
7 knock off shopping channels
6 public interest channels (the ones in the 9400 series)

so I guess unless one or more of the channels above interest you, you wouldnt need 110

 

[cwdav]

Thanks Iceberg. I just received an email reply from Dish Network Technical E-care as following:
Thank you for your email.Since I can not see your installation I am assuming with this response. You may have in the past need the second LNBF and the switch to receive both satellites you get programming from. Since you now have a new dish the switch may be located inside the LNBF and this LNBF could be a dual meaning you can run two receivers from it and you no longer would need the other LNBF and switch.
My question now is how do I tell if the 119 LBNF contains a switch?

 

[Mr Tony]

if you can see the dish look at the LNB. If it looks like one giant one then its a Twin and has the internal switch built in

or is it 2 separate LNB's like this?

 

[cwdav]

It is like the bottom photo, and two individual LBNFs. For what its worth, the upgrade to Dish 500 was started on March 3, 2000 and finally was working on March 6, 2000.

 

[Mr Tony]

OK so the switch is not built in then

 

[cwdav]

Thanks again Iceberg. Back to your earlier suggestion of switching the two LNBFs. With the original installation, if I just disconnect cables A & B I will have only LNBF 110 connected. I will repeat my original Installation: Assume the 119 LNBF's outputs are A & B and the 110 LNBF's outputs are C & D. The connections are: LNBF, A & C are connected to SW21-A and LNBF 110, B & D are connected to SW21-B. SW21-A goes to the DVR\Receiver in the den. SW21-B goes to the receiver in my office.

 

[Mr Tony]

What I mean is swap the LNB's...make the one that is normally in the 119 slot put that where 100 is and vise versa. Then run check switch. This tells the receiver which satellite positions you have set up and operating

If the receiver shows only 110 after running check switch then its probably the LNBF that is bad. If it registers 119 just fine, then we have to look at other things. But since you said it does it on both receivers, I got some good money that its a bad LNBF on 110.

By the way...what are the signal strengths on 119 right now? Can you check a few? (menu 6-1-1 and then you can change the transponder)

 

[cwdav]

Following are some of the signal strengths for 119: Transponder 03 & 09 =0, all others varied from 65 to 100 with most >70.

 

[cwdav]

Iceberg please forgive me if I don't understand the difference in swapping LNBFs 119 & 110 and just disconnecting LNBF 119 since only LNBF 110 will remain as the only LNBF connected.

 

[Mr Tony]

Following are some of the signal strengths for 119: Transponder 03 & 09 =0, all others varied from 65 to 100 with most >70.

Forgot to mention that TP 1,3,5,7,9 are spotbeams so you may get zero on those. That's fine

Numbers look good for 119