721 Hookup Options

[cfisher]

Hi all...hopefully you guys can dumb this stuff down enough for me.

I have a Dish 500 on the roof with 2 cables running from it (installed approximately 1 yr ago) and two receivers - a 508 and what was a 4000. The 4000 has died and I want to replace it with a 721.

I realize the 721 needs 1 more cable to it in order to function.

My installer wants to replace my current LNB with a Quad LNB and run two more cables. I asked him about something I thought I read here that said using a DishPro LNB (Twin) and a series of 34 switches you could feed up to 12 recievers. This would have the advantage for me of not having to run any more cables from outside.

The installer didn't really have a good answer for me and I wasn't exactly positive about what I was talking about. Is there any reason I SHOULDN'T use a Quad LNB beside the hassle of bringing more cables into the house?

Thanks in advance!

[BobaBird]

Dumb it down?:sure: Us? :scratch:

I'm guessing you currently have a Twin LNB. Swapping it out for a Quad is the simplest way to go until you factor in extra run(s) of cable coming through the wall. I don't know of any other reason to not use the Quad.

If you decide to convert to DishPro, make sure all the existing cable from dish to receiver is RG6. This will involve swapping your Twin for a DishPro Twin (or 2 DP Single LNBFs) and adding a DP34 switch which can be placed inside. Actually a DP Quad could be used intead of the DP Twin/DP34 combo but, like the legacy Quad, it would require another hole in your wall.

Sounds like you already have a pretty good understanding of what you need.

[cfisher]

Thanks - I'm going to have them put the legacy Quad up on the roof - that way I've got plenty of options later on. It sounds like I can always add switches to break things up even further if need be.

I guess I was hung up on the 'legacy' stuff - I don't want to install something already 'obsolete' but in this case it does not appear that 'legacy' carries that meaning.

Thanks for the help!

[boba]

With the receivers that you have I would suggest you go with a Dish Pro quad. As long as you are planning on buying the quad the price should be the same and you will be ready for future expansion of the system.

[BobaBird]

Agreed. As long as you have to change and have settled on the Quad, make it the DP Quad. If you ever go beyond 4 tuners you can just add a DP34 to give you 6 outputs. With the legacy Quad you would have to add 2 SW44s or SW64s in parallel configuration or convert to DishPro then. Downside of the DP Quad is having to buy an adapter to use it with legacy receivers, but that's not an issue for you.