Dish network / Fta to Direct tv help

[me2me2]

Hello here is my dilema I am a former FTA user with 4 satellite dishes on my roof and would like to know how they can be used for Direct TV. I have no problems aiming the dishes...it is how or what swithes I would need to use to get HD Direct Tv. I think I have a direct tv phase 3 dish but don't know how to get the additional satellites to work with switches. I only need to output to 2 tv's. I prefer to install myself rather than direct tv on my roof and running wires all over and since I ran them already for my FTA's I want to keep one up. The big dish I have is a 30 inch dish with motor but could use that if I have to for the HD portion. Sorry for the rambling question.
Thanks

[matt]

You can't use a phase III dish to get D* HD. Also they aren't going to just turn you on for service like that either.

I hope I am not reading too deeply into this, but it almost looks to me like you are wanting to get free service. Please tell me I am wrong.

[CCarncross]

D*'s sats are at 99-101-103-110-119, with almost nothing left on 110 or 119, but to receive the channels on 99-101-103 u will need a newer dish as the phase III doesnt have the correct geometry nor the necessary internals to receive the current/future HD channels.

[Yoda-DBSguy]

Hello here is my dilema I am a former FTA user with 4 satellite dishes on my roof and would like to know how they can be used for Direct TV. I have no problems aiming the dishes...it is how or what swithes I would need to use to get HD Direct Tv. I think I have a direct tv phase 3 dish but don't know how to get the additional satellites to work with switches. I only need to output to 2 tv's. I prefer to install myself rather than direct tv on my roof and running wires all over and since I ran them already for my FTA's I want to keep one up. The big dish I have is a 30 inch dish with motor but could use that if I have to for the HD portion. Sorry for the rambling question.
Thanks

Scrap all the dish(s) you have as they are not compatible with the new KA signals which are used with some of DirecTV satellites including the ones offering HD and locals.

You simply need 1 dish, which hits all 5 sats including the ku and ka locations. This Dish is provided free of charge at the time of professional installation. You can get 1 advanced HD DVR and 1 basic HD receiver, the required HD Dish, and installation all for free with their current promotions for being a new customer with a 2 year commitment.

[4120 woodrow ct]

you will need a slimline dish to get HD, those old DN dishes are pretty much useless for DirecTV. Just call DirecTV, the install and dish is usually free

[Davenlr]

You can't use a phase III dish to get D* HD. Also they aren't going to just turn you on for service like that either.

I hope I am not reading too deeply into this, but it almost looks to me like you are wanting to get free service. Please tell me I am wrong.

Time to pull out the wallet. Your free key site went bye bye. 1-800-DirecTv. They will fix you right up. None of your dishes will work with DirecTv. Besides, they wont turn on an account for you unless an installer puts the system in.

[raoul5788]

A phase III dish can be used with a ka lnb to get hd, but it doesn't work nearly as well as using a Slimline dish as intended.

[curt8403]

lets just say that FTA equipment will not handle the Directv signal.

[me2me2]

Thanks for replies.
No, I am not trying to get free tv, I was trying to avoid a 2 year contract with directv. I thought and read that if you have your own equipment and don't need it installed with the right Customer Service Person they would waive or not require 2 year contract. I have no problem pulling out my wallet trust me I have a lot of money wrapped up on non-"keyed" fta. The reason to get directv is to get the mlb package. Unless someone knows a way to get the dishes aimed correctly I'll have to get stuck with the 2 year contract.
Like I was saying the 30 inch dish I know I can get Ku band signals with my lnb's and wonder if it is possible to aim a satellite at 99 and 103 with 2 k band lnbs then add another dish to pick up 101-110-119? I know I would need a switch and have a few but not sure of the wiring. Again this is not to hack or get free tv...just not have to commit for a 2 year contract.
Thanks for your interest and replies

[litzdog911]

Thanks for replies.
.....
Like I was saying the 30 inch dish I know I can get Ku band signals with my lnb's and wonder if it is possible to aim a satellite at 99 and 103 with 2 k band lnbs then add another dish to pick up 101-110-119? I know I would need a switch and have a few but not sure of the wiring....

No, there's no way to do that. See the link in my signature for known ways to combine multiple dishes/LNBs together. What you're proposing isn't technically feasible, though.

[eakes]

With a 30 inch dish, a three LNB head and a lot of time and effort, it may be possible to retrofit the dish to work for Directv. Unfortunately, it is not very practical. It is much simpler just to get a slimline dish and be done with it. In any event, how the signal is received does not trigger a 2 year contract. That comes from the actual receiver devices.

Although there is a possibility for obtaining an 'owned' HD receiver, it is not likely. The simplest approach would be to call Directv and get a new customer install with an HD receiver such that you can watch MLB. If baseball is your only viewing desire, suspend the account at the end of baseball season until it begins the following year. This would mean a 6 month suspension each year. It would take 4 years to work off the 2 year contract, but you don't pay for service during a suspension.

[carl6]

I have no problem pulling out my wallet ... Again this is not to hack or get free tv...just not have to commit for a 2 year contract.


If the cost of pursuing this is truly not an issue, then your best option is to simply call and order service from DirecTV, let them bring the dish and receiver and do the installation, and take the contract. You save/keep most of your money up front. Then, should you decide to stop service before your commitment is up, you simply pay the pro-rated early termination fee.

Let's discuss an example. You purchase at full price new dish and receiver, do the install yourself, and somehow get a new account activated without a contract (doubt that is possible, but let's say it is for purpose of discussion). You pay up front roughly: $100 for dish, $400 for DVR, $150 for installation (if you hire it out). Your startup cost is $650.

Now, go the other way, call DirecTV. You get the same thing for $99. Your startup cost is $99, and you have a 2 year commitment. The very next day you terminate service and have to pay the $480 ETF. Now your total cost is $579. You are still $80 cheaper than going the other way.

So, you do your own install and don't pay someone for it. Now your upfront cost is $500 to own. The ETF is pro-rated at $20 a month, so after 4 months you hit the break even point, and after that your total cost for leasing is less than for owning.

[kevinturcotte]

I think *technically* he could aim 1 dish at 99 and 1 dish at 103, with a kA LNB on each, and get the signals, right? But there aren't any switches are there that will combine the individual signals?
Even if he did though, the ONLY way to activate a NEW account is with a leased receiver, and they're not going to lease him a receiver without a programming commitment.

[litzdog911]

I think *technically* he could aim 1 dish at 99 and 1 dish at 103, with a kA LNB on each, and get the signals, right? But there aren't any switches are there that will combine the individual signals?
....

Correct on both questions.

[me2me2]

I like the suspended account idea during the off season. That works best for what i really want the service for. Thanks for positive replies. Please close thread I am getting the service activated and installed hopefully Friday or Saturday.

[Davenlr]

Sorry for the assumption, but your title did say DISH network followed by former FTA user, and we all know here that FTA receivers were used to illegally get dish subscriptions until they were shut down about a month ago by the FBI, hence the assumption. My apologies.

In any case, while you can buy your own equipment, I dont know how to activate a new account without a contract. You can buy all your equipment from solidsignal.com (KAKU 3 lnb slimline dish, preferable the SWM version), HR21PRO DVR.

You can also subscribe to MLBEI from MLB.TV directly for $99 per month, and watch it on your computer, or use a computer with SageTV software, and the Playon Plugin to import the games to your network where you can watch them on any TV in the house with a SageTv media extender (more expensive in the long run, but lots of other options like Netflix, Hulu, OTA, FTA all on one box).

Enjoy baseball, whatever route you take.

[matt]

Sorry for the assumption, but your title did say DISH network followed by former FTA user, and we all know here that FTA receivers were used to illegally get dish subscriptions until they were shut down about a month ago by the FBI, hence the assumption. My apologies.



This was my assumption as well. Sorry about that.

[BattleZone]

DirecTV *does* offer owned systems with no contract. You pay something like $250 upfront and can get 1 SD-DVR and 1 SD receiver, or $350 and get 1 HD-DVR and 1 HD receiver (2 receivers are max to start), plus the dish and installation, and you OWN the equipment. It's actually a great deal, but not one that is very commonly used, so you may need to try a few CSRs in order to find one who knows how to set it up.

[curt8403]

DirecTV *does* offer owned systems with no contract. You pay something like $250 upfront and can get 1 SD-DVR and 1 SD receiver, or $350 and get 1 HD-DVR and 1 HD receiver (2 receivers are max to start), plus the dish and installation, and you OWN the equipment. It's actually a great deal, but not one that is very commonly used, so you may need to try a few CSRs in order to find one who knows how to set it up.
149 or 249 depending on equipent and 50 instal charge