HR10-250 to HR21, free upgrade...

[Markay]

I know this is probably a recurring theme here, but here's my story.

Been with DTV since 1997, upgraded to the HR10-250 about 2 years ago, and have been dreading the March 31st deadline for LA area HD locals shutting down (we get ZERO OTA reception).

DirecTV has called me about 3 times in the last 6 weeks offering a free upgrade (dish and HR21), but my wife LOVES the HDTivo and has been resisting any change because of losing DLB (her FAVORITE feature) and having to learn a new remote.

But after learning about the locals going dark, she said go for it. Plus, the CS guy promised me that we can keep our HR10-250s, so I figure we can ease into the transition.

Today the installer came and we hit our first glitch. The old dish is mounted on a short 1.5" diameter pole and the Slimline dish needs a 2" dia. pole. There is no other reasonable way to mount the dish, so the install is now on hold until I can swap in a beefier pole.

But damn, that new dish is BIG! We live in a hillside home and that thing is gonna act like a sail in the wind :eek2:

The installer also said we could keep using our original 4x8 multiswitch, but I've read otherwise here. Will it work with the new dish? (We'll need 7 lines out for our existing receivers plus the new HR21 (I've already run the coax).

Now I'm having second thoughts about the whole upgrade and my wife is freaking out. Tell me it's worth it :confused:

[flogduh]

You should be able to get the installer to bring the correct 4x8 multiswitch at no additional charge - they did that here with my upgrade.. There's an adapter you can buy yourself to utilize your existing pole as well. I'll look for the thread link and post soon.

Dan

[litzdog911]

Do a search here in the Installation Forum. You can use an adapter sleeve over your current pole to make it suitable for the SlimLine dish. You CANNOT keep your current multiswitch. The installer should replace it with a Zinwell WB68 that works with the new Ka-band satellite signals (which provide all of the new HD channels). The Zinwell WB68 should be an easy swap with your existing multiswitch (4 lines from the dish into the WB68, 8 output connections to your equipment).

Yes, it's worth it!

[flogduh]

Here's the link

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=122171&highlight=pole+adapter


Additionally, I empathize your DLB loss....Three months later and I'm still not accustom to the workaround solution that's been suggested as adequate...

[HDTVsportsfan]

If I'm reading the OP's post correctly he will have 9 tuners and the end of his upgrade. He will need to WB68's cascaded or w/ power passing splitters or the WB616. To the OP, if you end up w/ the WB616 you'll need AC power close by, it is a powered multi-switch.

[Markay]

If I'm reading the OP's post correctly he will have 9 tuners and the end of his upgrade. He will need to WB68's cascaded or w/ power passing splitters or the WB616. To the OP, if you end up w/ the WB616 you'll need AC power close by, it is a powered multi-switch.

No, just 7 tuners ... two HR10s (2 cables each = 4), and old Sony A2 (1 cable), and the HR21 (2 cables) for a total of 7. The current multiswitch is already powered, so I have AC nearby in any case.

The installer thought I was nuts when I asked about needing a new multiswitch...said the old one would work fine :nono2:

[HDTVsportsfan]

Sorry about that. The line from your post mentioned 7 PLUS the HR21.

"(We'll need 7 lines out for our existing receivers plus the new HR21)"

Anyway....yeah, little surprising some installers still don't know the older switches won't work and they need to use the Zinwells.

Good Luck to you.