TV5 (French, International) moving Sats?

[gsalem]

I received a letter from Dish telling me to call since my TV5 add-on could be interrupted unless I make hardware changes.

Before I call a notoriously bad Dish CSR, I'd rather have info in hand. Does anyone know what is going on with the channel?

Thanks!

George

[boba]

Most internationals are moving to 118.7

[dishgrrl]

hey hey now!one may take offense to that for no apparant reasons. why notoriously bad csr/tsr?

[dishgrrl]

and yes they are moving international and some local chans on the satellites which requires a different dish .but they will upgrade your dish for free since you are already subscribed to the int'l chans !

[BattleZone]

Most internationals are moving to 118.7

...which requires that you are upgraded to a PLUS dish (500+ for basic & internationals, 1000+ for basic, internationals, and HD). Only a PLUS dish can receive 118.7.

Be happy you got notification; that generally means that your account was built correctly and that the upgrade *should* be relatively pain-free. Be aware that the Plus dish is quite large and requires two support arms, so it may need to be located somewhere other than where your existing dishes are located.

We are *required* to have the two support struts installed (given the size and wind load on the dish, this is good policy), and must cancel installs where the struts cannot be installed. Some installs may require a custom mount that is chargable to the customer.

[gsalem]

Thanks!

This is the info I wanted to know about before I called. Especially since both of my mounts wouldn't allow for support arms! :rolleyes:

George



...which requires that you are upgraded to a PLUS dish (500+ for basic & internationals, 1000+ for basic, internationals, and HD). Only a PLUS dish can receive 118.7.

Be happy you got notification; that generally means that your account was built correctly and that the upgrade *should* be relatively pain-free. Be aware that the Plus dish is quite large and requires two support arms, so it may need to be located somewhere other than where your existing dishes are located.

We are *required* to have the two support struts installed (given the size and wind load on the dish, this is good policy), and must cancel installs where the struts cannot be installed. Some installs may require a custom mount that is chargable to the customer.

[xgrep]

Just got my letter today (I get TV5 on 148, so presumably it was the channel on 61.5 that moved back in June).

I've currently got a Dish500 dish (110, 119) for the free stuff and PPV, and a small dish at 148 for TV5, so it looks like my 148 dish will be removed and the D500 replaced with a 500+ (hope it fits, not sure where this strut has to go - are there pics anywhere?).

I typically do my own installs, because (1) I often do a better job (I use an efficient, correct combination of switches and the right hardware, not what happens to be in the truck that day, and I'm a fanatic about what the job looks like), and (2) I like to know exactly what's been done. But in this case, unless I want to go buy the new dish and LNBs, I'll have to let them do it for free.

Another factor is, I subscribe *only* for TV5, which I can now get on the internet (one of my TVs is also a display for a Mac Mini). Also, I might really want the 1000+ dish, since it's still possible that I might want to get HD at some point (I already get it OTA on my TVs). Do you think it would be possible to convince them to install a 1000+ dish for me when I don't currently get HD (well, I guess I could get it for a month or something just to get the bigger dish)?

But I really don't know if I trust whoever's going to install to not make a mess of my installation. And I don't know if my site is suitable for the bigger dish. I suppose I could talk to him/her first and just send them away if I don't like what they say. If I can't get things to turn out the way I like, it won't be tragic for me to lose dishnetwork.

Anyone have any thoughts? Has anyone had a bad experience with a plus dish install?

Thanks a lot for your advice!

x (who's been away from this forum for too long!)

[xgrep]

I just realized another problem: the Plus dishes are DishPro, right? I have two receivers, a DP300 and an old 2800. The 2800 won't do DishPro, so I'm wondering if they'll upgrade me to something. Time for a call to those "no good" CSRs :-).

x

[James Long]

A plus dish isn't too hard to install ... the struts would be a good idea if it is going to catch a breeze or have other things try to move it around. Mine is shielded from the wind by my house so I didn't bother with the struts.

Yes, the plus dish has DishPro LNBs ... you will need a DP34 or DPP44 to combine the feeds for your receivers. If you get a DPP44 you will be able to connect "legacy" receivers such as the 2800 without a legacy adapter. Officially you should have a DishPro receiver connected to port 1 of the DPP44 to make it work.

[BobaBird]

The Dish 1000+ is simply a 500+ with an extra LNB.
More info and pictures at http://www.dishuser.org/plusdish.php.

[Bill R]

hey hey now!one may take offense to that for no apparant reasons. why notoriously bad csr/tsr?

History ? :nono2:

[xgrep]

Thanks James and BobaBird for the useful info.

I called Dish to see if I could find out more, and the helpful CSR told me they would upgrade my 2800 for free (nice, since I own my receivers) in addition to putting up the 500+ dish. I asked about getting a 1000+ dish instead, but she said they wouldn't be able to do that unless I wanted to add HD to my subscription (reasonable enough, of course).

I'll be able to discuss the installation with the installer first to see if I'm going to be happy with what's proposed before the work starts. So, if all goes well, I should end up with a new receiver and a better looking site (one less dish). For free. All that so they can get my $20/mo for TV5 (and 2 receivers). Not bad.

x

[RCK49]

I am trying to use this forum for the first time. I am not a professional in this field. I did install our current system 8 years ago to get the 60.5 satellite for international programming. We also received the notification in June 08 that the signal would be moving to another location. Dish informed us that they would send out their own installers to change our setup. We live in a wooded area,I was dubious, but incouraged buy a belief it could be made to work. We have had three different installers come at this point. First, someone came to see if there was a signal, he said there was . Then another installer came to do the work, and he said there was no signal. I called Dish to try to figure out what was happening. They gave me the co-ordinates for the new location, I bought a Suunto dual inclinometer to try to determine where the satellite was (188.7). I paid tree surgeons to thin out, cut down trees to create a location plus or minus 5 degrees from the coordinates I was given. I then called Dish back to request another installation assuring them that the path was clear. A different installer came and told me it was not, and that the numbers I was given for the installation were inaccurate. We live at approximately 1000', and he says that throws off the elevation numbers. I am trying to decide what to do at this point. I am not sure they will return again, and we want the programming. I would like to do it myself, by putting up a short tower and completing the installation, but do not want to pay for all the equipment.
does anyone have thoughts as to how to proceed? We would need a new receiver as well as a Dish 500+. Of course if this location worked we would be able to get other programming as well for the first time. Thank You

[chainblu]

You would think the 2nd installer would have been kind enough to tell you what trees were blocking the signal.

I'm showing azimuth 249 and elevation 24 degrees for 119/118.7 for you. 24 degrees elevation is relatively low so I can see why trees could be a problem.

I'm showing azimuth 240 and elevation 29 degrees for 110 sat.

Maybe somebody else can confirm or deny that elevation above sea level would affect your look angles.

[RCK49]

Thanks Chainblu for the response. The numbers you provided pretty much matched what I was given by Dish.

The installer told me he could not be sure what the interference was. He was using the same sighting device I was. He made an assumption, that it was our elevation causing the problem at this point.

I have acquired a used Sat Buddy2, which I would like to try and use to find the signal. I do not have an extra dish to set up, so I have to think about the next step. I know I can not use an old Dish 500 to find the 118.7, but if it finds the 119 would that be close enough? There are used ones available that I could try to get, then perhaps I could convince Dish to come again if I proved I got the 119 Satellite?

Ultimately I will still need a Dish 500+ and a new receiver. Is there a receiver we could use that would work, but is not new to their line? Making it more affordable if I have to pay for all the equipment?

Any help would be appreciated.

[BattleZone]

If you can get 119 where the 500+ dish needs to be, you'll get 118.7 fine, BUT remember that the Plus dish is much larger and will be somewhat more limited as to where it can be mounted (it requires additional support arms).

[greatwhitenorth]

You would think the 2nd installer would have been kind enough to tell you what trees were blocking the signal.

I'm showing azimuth 249 and elevation 24 degrees for 119/118.7 for you. 24 degrees elevation is relatively low so I can see why trees could be a problem.

I'm showing azimuth 240 and elevation 29 degrees for 110 sat.

Maybe somebody else can confirm or deny that elevation above sea level would affect your look angles.

No effect whatsoever. When you consider how far away the satellites are from earth (at least 22,300 miles at the equator), the difference of even 2 miles (10,000 feet elevation) would be insignificant. I've worked for E* for 5 years now, lots of hilly terrain, never had this issue.

[RCK49]

Thanks again for your responses,

Do you have any ideas as to which receivers will work with the Dish 500+ system?

If I can not get Dish back again, I will need to know the most economical way to proceed. We have already blown any kind of budget one could come up with for this upgrade.

Thanks

[xgrep]

Just wanted to post this update on my install: the installer arrived right on time, knew what he was doing, and put up a 500+ dish on the arm that my D500 (110, 119) was on, with no struts. The location was such that it wouldn't be too windy, and the original arm was much shorter, and so not as subject to problems. For my setup (two single-tuner receivers), he installed a DP44 switch.

After some discussion, we decided to leave the 148 dish in place (not connected to anything, right now), because he said I could at some later time aim it at 121, but I'd have to get a DP64 to be able to use everything. This seemed reasonable, and it will give me a chance to play if I ever buy a 211 off eBay. But I thought that you need a different LNB to get 121, no? He seemed to think I could use the one that's on the dish now.

He did upgrade my old 2800 receiver to a 381! In practical terms, this doesn't do anything a 301 doesn't do, but it does have a DVI output, so I used that instead of the S-video that I was using with the 2800. The menus are nice and sharp :-). The programming content is not noticeably better.

Anyway, I now get TV5 on ch 731 off the 118.7 bird.

All considered, a successful adventure (except that my wife was hoping he would take down the 148 dish and take away the old 2800, which he left for me to use as a paperweight).

x

[BobaBird]

The 500+ gets 110/118.75/119 so a DP34 is sufficient for 2 single-tuners. The DPP44 would be overkill but opens the possibility of adding another sat or a dual-tuner receiver without having to run more RG6.

There aren't any subscription channels left on 121, and you won't be able to pick up that FSS slot with a standard size DBS dish and LNB anyway.

Based on your earlier posts, I think your 148 dish has a legacy LNB. If you still want to use it, get a DP Dual then you can use it for 148, 129 or (depending on your LOS from CA) 61.5.

The 381 has an OTA ATSC tuner and guide data doesn't require subscribing to locals. It also has optical audio output and component video.

[RCK49]

Just wanted to ask after reading Xgrep's story, and Bobabird's comments.

The 381 receiver Xgrep was upgraded to must be real nice, but a 301 reciever would work too, if you are trying to get the 118.7 satellite?

Are there other receivers that are usable to a low tech user?

[BobaBird]

You can use any receiver except the 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, JVC-IRR, and DISHPlayer 7100/7200 to get 118.75°. To use one of the other legacy receivers (2800, 3900, 4900, 6000) you would need a DishPro adaper or DP Plus switch (see DishPro Technology (http://www.dishuser.org/dishpro.php)) or an alternate LNB (see link in post #10). Any DishPro receiver may be used without having to worry about the DP adapter.

[xgrep]

The 381 has an OTA ATSC tuner

Wow, indeed it does! How nice, since one of my TVs is only "HD ready" and doesn't have an ATSC tuner. I can replace both the settop box and the 301 with the 381. OTA reception with the 381 is no worse than the STB it replaces, so this is really a nice bonus for me. Thanks for that info (it was in the user's guide, of course, but I hadn't gotten that far :-).

x

[xgrep]

Based on your earlier posts, I think your 148 dish has a legacy LNB. If you still want to use it, get a DP Dual then you can use it for 148, 129 or (depending on your LOS from CA) 61.5.

Correct, the LNB on my 148 dish is a legacy dual. In fact I did used to get 61.5 (it was my first and only bird for quite a while until TV5 became available on 148, but it was pretty low, and a tree has grown in front of it in the meanwhile :-). There isn't anything I desperately want to watch on 61.5, but I might fool around with 129 a bit.

Thanks again for the great info!

x