To SWM or not to SWM...

[DoctorSky]

Can anyone tell me the advantages or disadvantages of using the SWM technology (one-cable version) Ka/Ku dish vs the non-SWM (4-cable version)? I already have four cables available, and also have a Spaun Multiswitch. What do I have to be careful with in each approach? Also, is there an inherent advantage or disadvantage of the SlimLine technology (AU-9) vs. the earlier AT-9 Dish?

-DoctorSky

[bobnielsen]

:welcome_s to DBSTalk!

The biggest advantage is that only one cable is required. It is also easier to diplex OTA with a SWM system, although officially Directv doesn't recommend doing so.

Zinwell multiswitches are recommended, although Spaun does make a wideband model (which is much more expensive).

The advantage of the AU-9 over the AT-9 is that the 110/119 LNB connection is internal, not requiring cables (and in some cases--WNC--a somewhat fragile connection.)

[LameLefty]

Not to take away or contradict anything Bob says, but I have an earlier-design AT-9 dish feeding an SWM8/WB68 setup in parallel. The four lines run into my crawlspace where they are split, with one half of each line feeding the SWM8 and the other half feeding the WB68. I have 8 tuners on the SWM8 and 2 on the WB68 and it all works like a charm.

The units on the SWM8 all seem to get 2-3 points higher on signal strength tests than they were doing on the WB68 by itself. Also, before putting them on the SWM8, I would occasionally get split-second 771 errors (Searching for satellite signal) on channel changes, especially in cold or rainy weather. Since I've had these boxes on the SWM8, I have NEVER seen that error.

Anyway, just my experiences. See my signature line for details of my setup.

[randyk47]

I'd second both comments above. I would add that as great as SWM is I'd not go to it just as an "upgrade" in and of itself. It's basic intent and purpose is to solve situation where you can only get one cable to a location and want to support a dual tuner receiver. There are other benefits but none, at least in my mind, sufficient to justify the expense. Change to SWM because you need it, not because it's the coolest or newest thing on the block.

[Sixto]

IHMO, a powered switch such as the SWM is the most reliable way to receive the DirecTV service.

1) a powered dish seems to make the signal more reliable, 2) removes any need for BBC's (which sometimes lose a few points of signal), 3) makes it easier to reconfigure receivers/DVR's around the home without ever needing to run a 2nd line.

[DoctorSky]

Thanks for all of the great comments and recommendations. I'm fairly comfortable for Consumer Electronics set-up and can hold my own when it comes to over-all system set-up and configuration.

However, I have found the DBS technology and set-up to be a completely different science, and certainly appreciate your experienced recommendations.

My basic problem is that I am faced with the necessary upgrade to get the new Ka/Ku band HD capabilities. I already have four cables run from the chimney to a Spaun Multiswitch, and am looking for the best way to utilize this with the upgrade.

I had assumed that all SWM set-ups used a single cable from the dish, but apparently that's not the case. Can someone please clarify? Also, in shopping for the new dish, it is difficult to tell exactly what you're getting.

Sorry for my ignorance, and much indebted to your experience and knowledge.

-DoctorSky

[SatRick]

The SWM-line dish with the Swm LNB's use the single cable output
The AU9 Slimline dish with the 4 cable output will use the SWM-8 multiswitch and opens up the possibilities for older legacy equipment
[as Randy had drilled in my head, thanks]
Both use PI/ power inserters

[randyk47]

As you have noticed there are two SWM solutions. One is installing a SWM LNB on an existing Slimline dish or having a completely new Slimline with SWM LNB installed if you're also having to upgrade/install a dish. In that case you'd only have one line from the dish to a SWM splitter from which you could support up to eight tuners. I stress tuners and not receivers as DVR's are counted as two tuners. In my case I have two DVR's and one HD receiver and those three units use of five of the available eight tuner support.

The other SWM solution, the one I use, is a SWM-8 switch/module. The SWM-8 takes the existing four input lines off of a Slimline 5LNB dish and converts that input into a single wire and runs that output to a SWM splitter from which you feed your receivers. The same eight tuner restriction exists though the SWM-8 though you can add more SWM-8 switches to feed more tuners, something you can't do with the SWM LNB. The other advantage to the SWM-8 is that it will support non-SWM capable receivers through three legacy output ports. That wasn't a factor for me but I mention it as it is a consideration for subscribers with older units they want to continue to use.

I went with the SWM-8 solution because my dish is a custom install in a very high and difficult location for me to get to. My installer did a great job and I have really good signal so I figured why mess with that. While the SWM-8 is a bit more expensive than the SWM LNB I would have had to pay to have the installer come back out so in the end I probably also saved money by doing the SWM-8 myself. The SWM-8 is pretty straight forward to set up and install. Once I'd collected the equipment it took me all of 15 minutes to install and another 30 minutes or so to bring my three receivers back on line. It's been up and running a little over a month and I've had not one problem.

SatRick - Hope I didn't drill too hard. :D

[DoctorSky]

Thanks.

I think that I've decided to use the same approach that you settled on. I'll need to upgrade the dish, but there are several advantages (as you pointed out) to using the SlimLine 5LNB dish with the four outputs, connected to the SWM-8. I can also maintain my OTA capability through the SWM-8.

DirecTV uses a 3rd Party installer here in Austin, and they have already given me the bad news that they won't install the dish on my chimney where my existing dish is. I tried pushing back through DirecTV, but got nowhere.

The question is: If I buy and install the dish, will DirecTV still swap out the new DVR Receivers for my existing HR10-250's? Does anyone have any experience with this?

As I understand it, I won't have to use the BBC's with this approach either. Correct?

-DoctorSky

[Grentz]

The question is: If I buy and install the dish, will DirecTV still swap out the new DVR Receivers for my existing HR10-250's? Does anyone have any experience with this?

As I understand it, I won't have to use the BBC's with this approach either. Correct?

-DoctorSky

My experience:

I have done all my own install work, but have had to have installers come out 2 times to "install" boxes as Directv would not ship them directly to me. First time was just to install a Tivo DVR (and they swapped out my Dish to a dual LNB model for the DVR). With my second upgrade (moving to HD) I already had upgraded to a slimline myself before they came (I had gotten the dish from a different source and decided to just put it up one day). The installers came, were happy the dish was already there, simply hooked up the boxes and tweaked the dish a bit (since I had not had a way to dial in 99/103 before), and all was well.

Most installers are happy for any additional help as long as it is done right and will usually be willing to reuse what they can from my experience with my installs and supervising other installs for some of my clients.

And you are correct, no BBCs required with the SWM setups.