Dish Pro vs Legacy?

[bmciver]

I'm looking to upgrade my current dish 500 setup to accomadate the pvr721. I realize I deed to add the sw44 or more ideally replace my lnb's with a quad lnb. While looking at quad lnb's they come listed as dish pro or legacy quad lnb's. Is there a difference, and if so what? I'm only using dish for television and I'm not doing internet or hdtv with it... yet. What the scoop?

[drjake]

DishPro will only work with DishPro receivers unless you use legacy adapters. DishPro receivers include the 301, 501, 508 and 721. If you have any other type of receiver, you will be better off with legacy equipment (SW44, SW64 or legacy quad) as the legacy adapters are not cheap.

[scooper]

If you get the DishPro models, you need to have only 301 or 501/508 models. If you have another receiver, you need a $70 Dishpro to Legacy adapter for EACH receiver. Not to mention that in any event, you may have to replace all your RG-6 cable with new that is tested to 2.2 GHz.

Bottom line - it's probably cheaper to stick with the Legacy Quad or SW44 / SW64 (consider the SW64 if you want HD from Dish and you currently have 2 Dual LNB's)

[bmciver]

So I cannot add the Legacy quad lnb and add a pvr 721 to my setup and have it work? Also, you're saying that if I add the Dish Pro quad LNB I'd have to replace my 2000 model recieverin the upstairs living room with a 301 and it MAY not work with the current rg6? Things are sounding like Dish has made it way too difficult for anything but Sears to come out and staple cables all over the side of my house!!

Brian

[Mark Lamutt]

The 721 will work with the legacy lnbs and switches, but the 2000 will NOT work with the dishpro lnbs and switches unless you also add a dishpro legacy adaptor.

[bmciver]

I hate to bother everyone, but I'm greatly appreciating the info. I'll be replacing the 400 with the 721 and be leaving the 2700 (sorry I called it a 2000 if there is a difference) as is. The legacy quad lnb will be fine adding the 721, but if I was to go Dish pro quad lnb, the 721 will still work the same, but the 2700 will have to go and perhaps be replaced with the 301? Also in addition the 301 can't replace my 2700 on my current dish 500 setup without changing to dish pro lnb's? Also has anyone had problems adding Dish pro equipment with existing rg6 as scoopers post mentioned? I'm so glad I found this forum, the homework I'm doing certainly is paying off thanks to you all.

Brian

[scooper]

TO clarify -
If you use a DishPro LNB, you can use your current 2700 - AFTER you also purchase the $70 Dishpro-to-Lrgacy adaptor. Or, you can buy a 301 for about $100 and sell your 2700 on eBay or whatever. The 721 AND the 301 can use either Legacy LNB's OR DishPro LNB's.

The deal on the 2.2GHz RG6 is from what I've read elsewhere, from some dealer. DishPro MAY work with lower quality RG6, but do you REALLY want to chance it ?

[bmciver]

So, in a nutshell, what's the difference, or what advantages are offered by using Dish Pro? Is it simply apples and oranges, where DN decided to roll out new incompatable equipment or might I want to convert it to Dish Pro to gain some advantages. Thanks for the input, you're a great help.

Brian

[Mark Lamutt]

Brian,

I'm working up a comparison peice about the differences between DishPro and legacy technology. It'll probably be the end of the weekend or early next week before I'm done with it though. I have to learn all about it myself!

I really opened the door on this one by posting that monthly contest question, didn't I? :)

[BobaBird]

Advantages
- Less complex installation, needs only 1 RG6 from each DishPro LNB to the switch
- Far simpler way to go beyond 4 tuners
- Longer cable runs up to 200'
- Switch can query to determine if it is connected to a DP Twin or DP Singles
- Much faster switch check
- Diagnostic reporting from the LNB/switch combo (sorry, don't have more info on this)
- No power inserter needed like with SW44 and SW64 switches

Disadvantages
- Legacy receivers (4-digit models) each have to have a $69 adapter
- Existing RG59 will have to be replaced with RG6

[Mark Lamutt]

Thanks Charles! That's a great start!

[Kagato]

From what I read in the dish marketing materials they were harping on people who were still using RG-59. From what I know from buddies who install cable the RG-59 is the bane of the Digital Cable install. You gott'a pull it all out and replace it with RG-6. Oddly enough the cable company doesn't do QS.

I myself did my entire install with RG-6 Quad Shield. I'd thought about doing the whole thing with RG-11... I thought it might be a little overboard, but damn I could put the dish a block away. Snap and Seal is your friend!

[Tomsoundman]

So where do you get this high-end RG 6 and connectors/ground blocks, etc that will hold to the sweep test? I'm going to be building soon and this has me worried. Should I be or do I just need to use RG6QS?

[bmciver]

It'a all great info. Sorry I was stuck in Stamford Ct this weekend with canceled flights, but I was thinking about it a lot. I did find some rg6 quad shield that was 17 gauge, and I understand regular rg6 is 18 gauge. Perhaps this wire satifies the 2.2ghz requirement? Anyway Kagato, how do all the dish pro features work out on the rg6qs? Any issues yet? Also to back up Tomsoundman, what faceplates, groundblocks, etc did you use? Good thoughts folks.

Brian

Oh, yeah Mark let me know when the review is up and going.