installing another dish

[aramonee]

I want to add satellite tv to one tv in a work shop on my 20 acres. I plan to remove one of the 3 receivers in my house i don't currently use and use it in the shop with a new dish i plan to buy. I don't want HD or dvr in the shop ...just basic tv service (including local stations which i currently buy from DTV).

Several questions. The dish i have for my house has a triple lnb. Can i use one in the shop that is a single or dual lnb? Which is best? Installation instructions? Will I get local stations?

Is there an easy way for a novice to aim the dish correctly? How?

Is Ebay a good source for a dish and mount?

I am a newie and i appreciate you being gentle with my lack of knowledge on this subject!!

[davring]

Actually any dish will work for SD, but the old 18" round single LNB would be the easiest to install and align. Should be able to find them anywhere "cheap". Your receiver will give you the coordinates while running setup.

[aramonee]

Thanks.

What is SD?

Also does the receiver have the built-in capability to direct me to the satellite or do i need something extra?

[bobnielsen]

You said your current dish was a 3 LNB model. Is that a Slimline (with a single cover over the LNB antennas) or a Phase 3 (SD-only with 3 LNBs? Some areas need the 119 satellite for SD locals, in which case you would need a Phase 3.

[aramonee]

it is the circular dish with 3 separate "bulbs" .

Does SD stand for standard defintion?

[bobnielsen]

SD = standard definition.

Both types are actually elliptical, but some of the older 3 LNB dishes are close to circular. The Slimline is much larger and says "Slimline" on the dish. The SL5 has 3 of the "bulbs" and the SL3 has one. Here are pictures of each.

[aramonee]

my current one does not say slimline and it is nearly circular.

now i am confused. based on above info i planned to buy a dish with one single bulb and use it...are you saying i need the sl3 type (3 bulbs) for local and SD and one receiver?

[davring]

Bob is absolutely correct in his information, but you indicated you need SD only and a dish for it. Again, any dish will do, but the old (original) single LNB 18" round dish (not illustrated by Bob) will do fine. It is the cheapest, probably the easiest to find, and the most forgiving for alignment. The later model round dishes had a two outlet(dual) LNB, either may be used. Solid Signal (.com) has them if you can't find an old one somewhere.

http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?prod=46DTVDE2&mybuyscid=3766277483

[Davenlr]

my current one does not say slimline and it is nearly circular.

now i am confused. based on above info i planned to buy a dish with one single bulb and use it...are you saying i need the sl3 type (3 bulbs) for local and SD and one receiver?

Where in Arkansas are you? Close to Little Rock?

If you do NOT want HD, you will need a dish that picks up Satellites at 101, and 119 (the local Little Rock channels are on the satellite at 119). Any old Dual or Triple Sat, dish will work, as will two single 18" dishes with a multiswitch. All the stuff you need you should be able to get for free, people are throwing that stuff out as they upgrade to HD.


PM me where you are located in Arkansas, and Ill see if I know any installers around the area that might have some stuff that would work for you.

[carl6]

As others have noted, (with regard to standard definition) some local markets are on the 119 satellite and some local markets are on the 101 satellite. Because you currently have a dish that is able to see both 101 and 119, it is very possible that your locals come from 119 in which case you will need a comparable dish for your shop in order to get your local stations.

If you post your zip code, or what city your local stations are from, it should be possible to find out if you need 119 or not. If you do, then the easiest solution is to get a Phase III dish (that can see 101, 110 and 119) and use that. If your locals are on 101, then you can get the 18" round dish and use that.