How many LNBs to get Total Choice Plus, local, and NFL?

[jnmunsey]

Hi I want to confirm that a single LNB can receive Total Choice Plus, locals in Houston TX, and NFL Sunday ticket..

According to the DTV site Houston is ok.

AFAIK it will all work..

My parents have a Dual LNB Dish 500 setup now but I want them to have a dual tuner Tivo - the Dish PVR501/508 doesn't have that.

There will also be another receiver in another room..

I am aware a multiswitch will be needed for all of this.

Any info is appreciated.

Thanks

John M

[spanishannouncetable]

All TC+/ Houston local/ NFLST programming comes from 101, so you will need only -

1) An 18" dish. No 18x24 dish necessary
2) A single dual-output standard LNB. No Dish Pro twin or quad LNBs
3) A (minimum) 4x4 standard multiswitch. No Dish Network sw21, sw42, or sw64
4) 2 lines from the switch to the DirecTiVo + a 3rd line to the standard receiver

[Karl Foster]

You will NOT need a 4X4 multi-switch. If you are getting your locals via Directv a 18" round dish requies a 2X4 multi-switch. You only need two inputs on the switch. The dual-LNB on the dish (yes-you have to have a dual-LNB) will have two wires which will go into the multi-swich on one end, and the three lines (two DirecTivo and one standard receiver) will come out the other end. A 2X4 multi-swich or 3X4 multi-switch can be found pretty inexpensively now at Best Buy or Curcuit City.

[jnmunsey]

Thanks, but I am confused. Why would I need a dual LNB? I thought only ONE satellite supplies TC+, houston local, and NFL... The other 2 satellites are for HDTV and international correct?

Additionally, if that is correct and only a single LNB is required, would I not only need one output into the multiswitch and then 3 outputs to the receivers(2 to tivo and 1 to the other)?

Please clarify.

Thanks again,

John M

Originally posted by karl_f
You will NOT need a 4X4 multi-switch. If you are getting your locals via Directv a 18" round dish requies a 2X4 multi-switch. You only need two inputs on the switch. The dual-LNB on the dish (yes-you have to have a dual-LNB) will have two wires which will go into the multi-swich on one end, and the three lines (two DirecTivo and one standard receiver) will come out the other end. A 2X4 multi-swich or 3X4 multi-switch can be found pretty inexpensively now at Best Buy or Curcuit City.

[Karl Foster]

I'm not a technical expert, but I can tell you that in order to get two or more receivers on Directv, you have to a dual-lnb. They look exactly the same from the outside, and the dish (18") is exactly the same. The only difference is that there are two coax's coming from the dual and one coming from the single. An oval dish (used for HDTV, and some LIL markets) has two dual-lnb's therefore necessitating a 4X4 multi-switch. Hope that helps.

Here is what the differences look like. You can see the single with only one outgoing coax and the dual has two:

[jnmunsey]

Well ok I was thinking an LNB was that whole piece that sticks out of the dish. I tried to do some research but came up a little short. There doesn't seem to be a FAQ here..

What is the big thing that sticks out? What is a LNB? What is an LNBF? What is it called if you have two of those things sticking out(where the parabolic signal is focused)?

Am I correct in saying a single "thing" sticking out can have 2 LNBs and then two outputs as well - each one containing the signal for both LNBs?

Any help is appreciated.

All I want to know is if this package - SAT-T60/S70 Dual-LNB Combination (http://www.americansatellite.com/products/viewprod.asp?nav=&SID=RPJHWG5590527TUV6WWWNAU51VYGGTVOW&ITEM=833) will allow TC+ locals and NFL...

Thanks

John M



Originally posted by karl_f
I'm not a technical expert, but I can tell you that in order to get two or more receivers on Directv, you have to a dual-lnb. They look exactly the same from the outside, and the dish (18") is exactly the same. The only difference is that there are two coax's coming from the dual and one coming from the single. An oval dish (used for HDTV, and some LIL markets) has two dual-lnb's therefore necessitating a 4X4 multi-switch. Hope that helps.

Here is what the differences look like. You can see the single with only one outgoing coax and the dual has two:

[Karl Foster]

That system is EXACTLY what you need in your area to receive the programming you are wanting. You will not need to buy anything else. You need a dual-LNB, 18" dish, a multi-switch, and the receivers. If you are wanting HDTV or Para Todos programming, you need dual-arm oval dish, but from what you described, you don't need that.

BTW, you'll (or whoever you are getting this for) will love the Directivo.

[spanishannouncetable]

karl_f is correct - you only NEED a 2x4 or 3x4 switch. My bad :p

The 4x4 is only necessary if you have a 18x24 dish OR a 2 dish (1 @ 101, 1 @ 119) set-up for watching NASA and Public Access channels from the 119 sat. I have the 2 dish set-up and just automatically recommend getting a 4x4 switch to anyone with an extra dish lying around. They are also cheap - I got mine for $30 :)