multi switch question

[timmymc]

I am currently using an oval 3 lnb dish for sd. I need to install a second dish for locals on the 72.5. I have been told a round 18 will work for that. I need to use a multi but don't know if i need a 3x4 or 4x4 or what the diff is or if either will work. I only have 1 ird now, a d10-300. Any help is appreciated

[roadrunner1782]

I believe the multiswitch you need is a 5x4 I might be wrong on that but someone will chime in with the right switch you need. The only thing im fairly sure of is the switch will have flex ports to hook up the 18" dish pointed at the 72.5 slot.

[carl6]

With the oval 3-LNB, you need a 6x8 multiswitch (one with flex port inputs) for the 72.5 dish. If you had the simple round 18" dish, you could get away with a 4x type switch.

Run all 4 coax from your 3 LNB dish to the 4 primary inputs on the multiswitch. Run one coax from the 72.5 dish (yes, a regular 18" round dish) and connect it to flex port 1.

I would recommend the Zinwell WB68 multiswitch, because you will very soon have your locals move from 72.5 to either 99 or 103, and will need that specific multiswitch to support that.

[texasbrit]

You might want to hold off on all of this. All the SD locals on 72.5 are moving to 99 or 103 and you will need a single 5-lnb dish, and your D10 will be replaced by DirecTV with an "HD" receiver because none of the SD receivers will see 99/103.

[timmymc]

thanks for the advice... But, a problem... I was using a 6x8 Zin and couldn't get enough power from 1 ird to power the switch. I have an recent thread "trouble shooting" where all that is discussed and after eliminating the switch all together i get 90+ signals across the board. Someone suggested a smaller switch, and, i just need to know if i need a 3x4 or 4x4... Evidently it could be quite some time b4 i get to move from a 2 dish set up...

[timmymc]

my main reason for asking is, on ebay i find 100's of 3x4, but only a few 4x4 switches...

[carl6]

Stay with the WB68, and if long runs are a power problem add a Sonora Power Inserter/phase locker
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=HRPID1422

[LameLefty]

You might want to hold off on all of this. All the SD locals on 72.5 are moving to 99 or 103 and you will need a single 5-lnb dish, and your D10 will be replaced by DirecTV with an "HD" receiver because none of the SD receivers will see 99/103.

The R22 does. ;)

[BattleZone]

my main reason for asking is, on ebay i find 100's of 3x4, but only a few 4x4 switches...

It doesn't matter, the WB68 is really your only (practical) option. A Sonora power locker might help, but what might also help is a second receiver being plugged in to the switch and supplying power, even if it isn't activated. You can probably get one super-cheap or even free on Craigslist, locally.

As others have said, in the very near future, DirecTV is going to give you a free upgrade, for both your dish and receiver, because they're moving your locals off of 72.5, so you're not going to want to spend a lot of money buying stuff that'll be replaced in the next month or two anyway.