going with 4DTV or a Dish network system

[skijay]

I am having a dilemma. I currently own a c/ku band system. It was installed by myself back in 1998. It performs great, no issues with one big exception. I am losing more channels! I will be losing Animal Planet and Discovery West. I love the system for the feeds, now I am now wondering if it is time to say farewell to it. I have two options. The first is purchasing a Motorola 4DTV side car for my current receiver. This is about $300 but will require me to have an extra receiver. (more bulk, more wires). The other issue is there are no big dish dealers left in the area and if and when a component fails such as an LNB or the actuator motor I am left to Ebay or an online merchant. Online merchants are not bad but sometimes the prices seem a little steep for "close out" items.

My other option is to get Dish network system. Currently I have a Dish 301 receiver / 20 inch dish pointed to 61.5 for SkyAngel. My plan was to purchase a Dish system (something with the 2 LNBs for the two main satellites) and have the capablility to use two receivers in the future. . If I have to have 3 dishes mounted (2 ) 61.5 single LNB for Sky Angel (1 for each receiver) and then one twin LNB dish that is fine. I will be mounting the Dish(s) to my current big dish pole. I will be using the 2 coaxs currently used for the c/ku LNBs.

Here are my questions. What twin LNB dish do I need for the two satellites and what type of switch do I need to connect the 61.5 dish ? Is there a switch to split the single LNB system to connect with the twin LNB system or should I just buy another 20 inch dish LNB and hook it to the twin LNB system. Is 150 feet too long of a coax run? There is one split in both coaxs already for a lightning surge (Panamax???) protector.

I just need the dish / LNB info, I am going to use the receiver I have already and eventually buy another 301 receiver. I am not going to buy a Dish Network promo system.I am also grandfathered in for a lower rate for my Dish network service & promo dish system from my large dish programming provider, but they want to have it professionally installed. I will self install.

[boba]

Skijay you already recognize the big dish problems. I think you may have a small dish problem also being a Sky Angel customer I think will disqualify you from any DISH promotion including the Big Dish Exchange you think you already have locked in.

[retiredTech]

As a Sky Angel customer, you will have to pay a 2nd receiver monthly charge of $5 per month if you get Dish Network. Which is unfair but the way Dish is setup, both receivers would have to be on your account. (what I mean is you can NOT use 1 receiver just for SkyAngel and one just for Dish Network)

I prefer Dish Network,
but if you have never had DirecTV,
you could get all the equipment free and installed and NOT have a second receiver charge.

That way you could watch Sky Angel on your 301

and Other programing on a DirecTV setup.

IF YOU STILL WANT DISH NETWORK
Legacy
If you use just ONE receiver for both Dish Network and Sky Angel,
then you need a Dish500 with TWIN LNB (not a dual) and an SW21 to cascade the 61.5 and the Twin(119/110). For 2 receivers you will need a dual for 61.5 and the Dish500 Twin and two SW21s and cascade both.
150 feet is too long for legacy setup so I would NOT mount the Dish500 on your C/Ku setup. (save it for fun)

DishPro
If HAVE to go 150 feet then you will have to change your current LNB for 61.5 to DishPro and get a DishProTwin Dish500 and a DishPro switch SW34.

[skijay]

I do qualify for a promo system, however I prefer to do a self install, and according to my programming provider I can not get a free dish this way as I verified this last night. I do qualify for the lower Dish rates as I am not "technically" a Dish network customer.

I thought there was an issue with long cable runs. My SkyAngel is mounted on a wooden pole, sort of in the bushes as it can not be seen from the road. I can not mount a Dish or DirectTV on my home or the SA pole due to the view to the satellites from about 110 degrees to the rest of the arc west are blocked by trees. That is why my c/ku is far from the house. I am not about to stick a pole in the middle of my yard for a dish tree.

I would consider cable TV but it gets pricey and I can not get KTLA. I am not trying to bash cable as it has it has its good qualities but I have yet to see 'non-digital' cable with a decent picture.

Can an inline amplifier be used on a Dish cable for long runs?

[retiredTech]

"I do qualify for the lower Dish rates as I am not "technically" a Dish network customer."

NEVER HEARD OF THAT! (no such promo that I'm aware of)

WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOUR RATES WOULD BE LOWER?

and HOW LONG WOULD THAT APPLY?

Anyway all you have to do is use DISH PRO LNBs and switch
to run your 150 feet. DISH PRO will work for that distance.

[xxxx]

I am having a dilemma. I currently own a c/ku band system. It was installed by myself back in 1998. It performs great, no issues with one big exception. I am losing more channels! I will be losing Animal Planet and Discovery West. I love the system for the feeds, now I am now wondering if it is time to say farewell to it. I have two options.

If you are used to CBand PQ; you will be very dissatisfied with Dish/DirecTv PQ - nothing like spending money for downgraded PQ.

You have another option: keep the BUD for movie subscriptions + wildfeeds and add a StarChoice 305 receiver + subscription for the feeds you are losing via BUD. The PQ on SC is not as good as BUD but is a heck of a lot better than E*/DTV. It uses DCII encryption - same as 4DTV

[skijay]

From what I was told there is a Big Dish user upgrade to Dish Network. The monthly rate for 50 channels was $22.99. Again, I may have confused the rep a little bit by saying I will have my own equipment and I am not taking advantage of the Free Dish system / free install.

[retiredTech]

From what I was told there is a Big Dish user upgrade to Dish Network. The monthly rate for 50 channels was $22.99. Again, I may have confused the rep a little bit by saying I will have my own equipment and I am not taking advantage of the Free Dish system / free install.

There most likely a promtion for switching from C/Ku to DishNetwork,

I don't doubt that, what I would get in writing is "how long" this rate is good for.

I suspect that that rate will only last for a limited time, I do NOT know this but seems likely a reduced rate would not appy forever.

[bar1203]

From what I was told there is a Big Dish user upgrade to Dish Network. The monthly rate for 50 channels was $22.99. Again, I may have confused the rep a little bit by saying I will have my own equipment and I am not taking advantage of the Free Dish system / free install.


As far as i know, you being a sky angel customer disqualifies you from any e* new cutomer promos. Also, never heard of any discounted rates for the big dish exhange promotion besides the $100 off annual programing for the first year. The at50 is 24.99 and there is no way of 'changing' the prices.