SWM LNB

[johnson1995]

Has anyone that originally got a legacy 5 lnb install been successful in getting D* to switch out for SWM?

[Mike Bertelson]

If it has happened it would be very rare. Usually SWM is for new installs.

With that said, it is incredibly easy to do it yourself. There is no aiming, no peaking, and no adjustments to be made to the dish.

All you have to do is unscrew the old LNB off the arm, disconnect the cables, connect the single cable to the SWM LNB, and attach it the arm. Done! :)

I know it’s that simple because that’s how I did it.

If you could get DirecTV to come out and do it you’d have to pay for the tech so for about the same or a little more you can buy the LNB from someplace like Solidsignal (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=02&p=SL5-SWM&d=DIRECTV-SL5SWM-SlimLine-Single-Wire-KaKu-Five-LNB-With-BuiltIn-Multiswitch-(SL5SWM)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=SL5-SWM).

Mike

[hilmar2k]

Has anyone that originally got a legacy 5 lnb install been successful in getting D* to switch out for SWM?

Yes, but it was because DIRECTV thought my dish was bad. They sent out a tech who I talked into upgrading me to SWM. No protection plan, and no charge. :)

[bakers12]

If it has happened it would be very rare. Usually SWM is for new installs.

With that said, it is incredibly easy to do it yourself. There is no aiming, no peaking, and no adjustments to be made to the dish.

All you have to do is unscrew the old LNB off the arm, disconnect the cables, connect the single cable to the SWM LNB, and attach it the arm. Done! :)

I know it’s that simple because that’s how I did it.

If you could get DirecTV to come out and do it you’d have to pay for the tech so for about the same or a little more you can buy the LNB from someplace like Solidsignal (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=02&p=SL5-SWM&d=DIRECTV-SL5SWM-SlimLine-Single-Wire-KaKu-Five-LNB-With-BuiltIn-Multiswitch-(SL5SWM)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=SL5-SWM).

Mike
This is identical to my experience. Believe me, I'm a complete klutz when handling tools and even I could swap the LNB.

[johnson1995]

If it has happened it would be very rare. Usually SWM is for new installs.

With that said, it is incredibly easy to do it yourself. There is no aiming, no peaking, and no adjustments to be made to the dish.

All you have to do is unscrew the old LNB off the arm, disconnect the cables, connect the single cable to the SWM LNB, and attach it the arm. Done! :)

I know it’s that simple because that’s how I did it.

If you could get DirecTV to come out and do it you’d have to pay for the tech so for about the same or a little more you can buy the LNB from someplace like Solidsignal (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=02&p=SL5-SWM&d=DIRECTV-SL5SWM-SlimLine-Single-Wire-KaKu-Five-LNB-With-BuiltIn-Multiswitch-(SL5SWM)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=SL5-SWM).

Mike

After you switch out the LNB do you just hook the cable going to the DVR to the 1st receiver connector and magically both receivers work through the one connection?

[veryoldschool]

After you switch out the LNB do you just hook the cable going to the DVR to the 1st receiver connector and magically both receivers work through the one connection?
Once the DVR reboots and detects the SWM system, then it switches both tuners over to the SAT 1 input [internally].

[Mike Bertelson]

After you switch out the LNB do you just hook the cable going to the DVR to the 1st receiver connector and magically both receivers work through the one connection?I forgot to add there is a Power Inserter (PI) that powers the SWM. It connects inline to the coax.

Once you have it all connectec you then power up the PI followed by the DVR. Once it comes up it will operate with both tuners is if you have two wires connected to it.

Mike

[johnson1995]

I forgot to add there is a Power Inserter (PI) that powers the SWM. It connects inline to the coax.

Once you have it all connectec you then power up the PI followed by the DVR. Once it comes up it will operate with both tuners is if you have two wires connected to it.

Mike

Where does the PI connect at? The LNB or the receiver. How do you power it up?

[Mike Bertelson]

Where does the PI connect at? The LNB or the receiver. How do you power it up?It plugs into a wall outlet. Mine is behind my entertainment center and is connected between my DVR and the dish. It has two coax connections on it and you have to make sure the powered side is connected to the dish and not the receiver. It will blow the receiver.

You can also have it connected to the dish without the outlet going anywhere.

I use these splitters (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=SP2WAPHL&d=Skywalker-2way-Splitter-for-Offair-and-Satellite-signals-(SKY23302D)). They are power passing to power the LNB without allowing power back down the other side to the receiver.

Mike

[hdtvfan0001]

It plugs into a wall outlet. Mine is behind my entertainment center and is connected between my DVR and the dish. It has two coax connections on it and you have to make sure the powered side is connected to the dish and not the receiver. It will blow the receiver.

You can also have it connected to the dish without the outlet going anywhere.

I use these splitters (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=SP2WAPHL&d=Skywalker-2way-Splitter-for-Offair-and-Satellite-signals-(SKY23302D)). They are power passing to power the LNB without allowing power back down the other side to the receiver.

Mike
I can testify that I use the same splitters as well...trouble free for years now...so would also recommend them.

[gulfwarvet]

It plugs into a wall outlet. Mine is behind my entertainment center and is connected between my DVR and the dish. It has two coax connections on it and you have to make sure the powered side is connected to the dish and not the receiver. It will blow the receiver.

You can also have it connected to the dish without the outlet going anywhere.

I use these splitters (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=SP2WAPHL&d=Skywalker-2way-Splitter-for-Offair-and-Satellite-signals-(SKY23302D)). They are power passing to power the LNB without allowing power back down the other side to the receiver.

Mike

I can testify that I use the same splitters as well...trouble free for years now...so would also recommend them.


same here, never had any issues with them.

[Grentz]

The skywalker splitters are awesome. Have used a few of them and always work great and very little signal loss.

[SlimyPizza]

Yes, but it was because DIRECTV thought my dish was bad. They sent out a tech who I talked into upgrading me to SWM. No protection plan, and no charge. :)

I recently had a DTV tech out to realign my 5 LNB dish. He said I must have had my dish for a long time (3yrs) and suggested I upgrade to the newer SWM dish (at no charge) but I told him no. I didn't see the reason for switching dishes and just had him tweak the one I have. Is there some inherent advantage in the SWM dish? I asked the tech that and he said no.

[veryoldschool]

Is there some inherent advantage in the SWM dish? I asked the tech that and he said no.
"At this time", it would just be the single wire setup, but DirecTV's future plans have new features planned for SWiM systems [mostly network related].

[SlimyPizza]

"At this time", it would just be the single wire setup, but DirecTV's future plans have new features planned for SWiM systems [mostly network related].

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of is the SWM dish less susceptible to rain fade, less prone to drift, capable of getting higher signal strengths relative to the dish I have - things like that. Already having a working 2-line installation, I wouldn't consider a single line installation to be an advantage. I'm therefore glad that I kept my existing dish instead of taking the installer's offer to upgrade. I can always do that later if some of these other features materialize.

[veryoldschool]

I guess I was thinking more along the lines of is the SWM dish less susceptible to rain fade.
If the rain is heavy enough you would still have fade, "but" there is some [15 dB] gain added in the SWiM as the signals start dropping that can help reduce the onset of rainfade.

[Grentz]

Just to clarify, it is still the same dish reflector/pole if you have a slimline dish currently. They just swap the LNB assembly (the part at the end of the arm that has the white caps facing the dish).

[vollmey]

It plugs into a wall outlet. Mine is behind my entertainment center and is connected between my DVR and the dish. It has two coax connections on it and you have to make sure the powered side is connected to the dish and not the receiver. It will blow the receiver.

You can also have it connected to the dish without the outlet going anywhere.

I use these splitters (http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.asp?mc=03&p=SP2WAPHL&d=Skywalker-2way-Splitter-for-Offair-and-Satellite-signals-(SKY23302D)). They are power passing to power the LNB without allowing power back down the other side to the receiver.

Mike

I just ordered one of these, I just got SL3 since my locals come off the 99. Question, do I need a power inserter for each receiver?

[dsw2112]

I just ordered one of these, I just got SL3 since my locals come off the 99. Question, do I need a power inserter for each receiver?

No, just one PI is necessary.

[Mike Bertelson]

I just ordered one of these, I just got SL3 since my locals come off the 99. Question, do I need a power inserter for each receiver?The PI provides power to the SWModule so one is all you need.

You just have to make sure that you connect the correct sides of the PI. The receivers don't like having 29VDC applied to them. :eek2:

IIRC, on the newer PIs the SWM side of the PI is color coded (red I think) so it's easy to identify. :)

Mike

[vollmey]

Thanks guys!!

[vollmey]

One last question. I will assume since I went with the Skywalker splitters that I will not have any power problems coming back down from the dish. I see a few splitters on solidsignal that actually have powers sides to them.