Replace DPP44 -- but should I do more?

[Ferguson]

I have a system installed circa 2005 on the west coast of Florida. It has a 622, 612, 611 and 625 on it, with a DPP44 and I do use OTA. I have two dishes (sorry, not sure of model), one with 2 LNB's and one with 1 LNB, pointing to 110 and 119, and to 61.5 respectively.

Functionally it works fine, but I think the DPP44 is slightly flakey -- long story, lots of debugging, very intermittent, but let's take for granted that it is.

I was going to buy a DPP44 and just replace it, easy enough to do.

My question is whether, given the 5 year age, I should do anything more? Change dish types (I see discussion of 1000 models), how the switches work, etc?

I am not looking for a project for the sake of something to do. But seemed like a good time to ask.

[boba]

I have a system installed circa 2005 on the west coast of Florida. It has a 622, 612, 611 and 625 on it, with a DPP44 and I do use OTA. I have two dishes (sorry, not sure of model), one with 2 LNB's and one with 1 LNB, pointing to 110 and 119, and to 61.5 respectively.

Functionally it works fine, but I think the DPP44 is slightly flakey -- long story, lots of debugging, very intermittent, but let's take for granted that it is.

I was going to buy a DPP44 and just replace it, easy enough to do.

My question is whether, given the 5 year age, I should do anything more? Change dish types (I see discussion of 1000 models), how the switches work, etc?

I am not looking for a project for the sake of something to do. But seemed like a good time to ask.First check your receiver model #s you have a strange one listed. When my father lived at New Smyrna Beach he washed his car at least once a week to remove the salt spray to reduce rusting. Based on that I would suggest replacing any connections/switches/ground blocks that have been exposed to salt air. Even check the dishes and mounting hardware, I doubt the standard steel was replaced with Stainless Steel.

[Ferguson]

Re models, sorry, going by old memory:

VIP622
VIP211
VIP612
625

Cleaning and adding rust proofing is probably a good idea, I was more wondering if the current dish setup and satellites in use are still appropriate.

PS. I do subscribe to locals, Ft. Myers/Naples area.

[coldsteel]

It's possible to go with a 1-dish solution, since the HD and SD locals are on both 129/110 and 61.5. If you replace that 625 with a 722, then you could go Eastern Arc with a 1000.4 dish, may be easier to dial in than 129 on a 1000.2 dish.

[Ferguson]

It's possible to go with a 1-dish solution, since the HD and SD locals are on both 129/110 and 61.5. If you replace that 625 with a 722, then you could go Eastern Arc with a 1000.4 dish, may be easier to dial in than 129 on a 1000.2 dish.

Any real point in changing ? I have plenty of space and good view in all directions.

[coldsteel]

Any real point in changing ? I have plenty of space and good view in all directions.

You might have horizon issues with 129. Also, a newer 1000.4 dish might help if needs be, but the 625'd need to be replaced.

[boba]

If your 2 dishes are still in good shape there is no advantage to upgrading to a dish 1000.2 or a 1000.4.

[n0qcu]

If your 2 dishes are still in good shape there is no advantage to upgrading to a dish 1000.2 or a 1000.4.

Yes, there is a big advantage to upgrading the dish, the current setup is not able to receive all of the available HD channels.

[shadough]

Yes, there is a big advantage to upgrading the dish, the current setup is not able to receive all of the available HD channels.

So your saying there are HD channels on 129 that are not mirrored on 61.5?


edit:
these were the only channels I could find that were NOT mirrored on 61.5 and also not on 110 or 119 (according to lyngsat), HD channels btw:
FS Arizona
FS South
Comcast sportsnet Cali
FS Pittsburgh
FS ohio
FS Cincinnati
FS Northwest
FS Florida
Comcast sportsnet bay area
FS Midwest
FS Rocky Mtn

[coldsteel]

So your saying there are HD channels on 129 that are not mirrored on 61.5?

Sorry, but every HD channel launched since 2/1/10 is not on 61.5.

[James Long]

So your saying there are HD channels on 129 that are not mirrored on 61.5?Yes ...

We call the setup you have "split arc". You need to add either 129 or 72.7 to get the rest of your HD channels. Depending on subscription level:

9408 G4 - G4 TV (191)
9428 STYLE - Style TV (115)
9430 TRU - Tru TV (204)
9445 NATGW - National Geographic Wild (190)
9450 BBCA - BBC America (135)
9474 E! - E! Entertainment TV (114)
9482 HLMRK - Hallmark Channel (185)
9483 SMC - Sportsman Channel (395)
9520 FSC - Fox Soccer Channel (149)
9521 UNVSN - Univision (270)
9522 FTRAW - Telefutura (West)
9523 TCM - Turner Classic Movies (132)
9524 HLN - CNN Headline News (202)
9525 HISTI - History Channel International (121)
9526 ID - Investigation Discovery (192)
9527 DIY - Do It Yourself (111)
9528 GLVSN - Galavision (273)

Platinum HD
375 SHRTS - Shorts
378 INDIE - Indie Channel
379 RETRO - Retro TV
380 EPIX1 - Epix 1
381 EPIX2 - Epix 2

Premium / AEP
9512 SHO-W - Showtime West (319)

http://jameslong.name/splitarc.html

[shadough]

Yea I did see a lot of the channels you listed James not on 61. But I did see them over on either 110 or 119. This is of course according to lyngsat.

I apologize for my ignorance. I am learning too.

[James Long]

Yea I did see a lot of the channels you listed James not on 61. But I did see them over on either 110 or 119. This is of course according to lyngsat.I'd trust my list ... it is current with all of the recent additions. Lyngsat is a little out of date.

[Ferguson]

OK, so I replaced the DPP44 and nothing else.

A bit later Dish tells me I need to replace my 625, we strike a deal for a 612 (saving a whopping $7/mo).

And they show up and insist on replacing my two dishes for a 1000.4 dish. And it wouldn't go in the same place (too close to the eve given its greater vertical height)....

They finally got it all to work, so far all is OK, but I did indeed end up with additional HD channels. Or I think I did -- BBC America for example. So unless I am reading it incorrectly I think changing out the dishes may have been a good thing.

PS. I found a $50 DPP44 on Amazon -- dramatically cheaper than I expected, and to my surprise it was just fine. Appeared to be the real thing.

[Jim5506]

When the old satellite at 61.5 started going flakey, Dish added new HD channels to 129 and 72.7 (instead of 129 and 61.5), so your 61.5, 110,119 left you without any of the newer HD channels.

Now you have them all on eastern arc (61.5, 72.7 and 77).