Superdish or dual dish setup?

[mobil1]

I've talked to a few installers and have gotten different stories...

We are getting locals as of tomorrow on the 121 bird. Unfortunately, there is a 4-6 week wait for an upgrade to the Superdish. Is it possible to do a 2 dish set up instead of the Superdish?

I'm looking to do a 20" w/ non-DP twin LNB, a 18" w/ single LNB and a SW21. Some installers say this will work, some don't. The ones that don't say so because the Superdish supposedly has a combo of high and low power LNBs because 121 has low power signal (?).

Can someone clarify?

Thanks

[boba]

121 is a FSS satellite not a DBS satellite it uses a lower frequency for it's signals, do to it's lower power and 2 degree spacing you need a 36" dish or larger to pick up the signal.

[TonyM]

There is a way of doing it without the SuperDish.

From what you put, you only have one receiver, correct??


Here is what you would need
-20" Dish 500 with Legacy (non Dish Pro) Twin
-1 SW21 switch
-1 dish at least 30"
-1 KU or FSS LNB

The 121 or 105 satellites are FSS (or KU Band) and are lower powered. The LNB is different than the DBS ones.

After you've mounted the 30" dish, hook it up directly to your receiver, choose 121 satellite and Transponder 1. When you tune it, GO SLOWLY (1/8 inch at a time) and wait 2 or 3 seconds before moving. FSS takes longer to tune in. Once you've tuned it in, hook the Twin from your Dish500 to "1" of the Sw21 switch and the 121 dish to the "2" of the switch. You have to do a check switch on the receiver once you're done.

I had one setup for 121 and it took me maybe an hour total from the time I mounted it to being finished. Once you've got your elevation and azimuth, it is pretty simple.

Please note Homemade Superdish is not supported by Dish Network...but hey, that's what we're here for :)

[TonyM]

121 is a FSS satellite not a DBS satellite it uses a lower frequency for it's signals, do to it's lower power and 2 degree spacing you need a 36" dish or larger to pick up the signal.

30" minimum

[kwajr]

30" minimum
you know you could probaly get a primstar dish to work right i know as i drive around here i see a lot still up

[junki]

you know you could probaly get a primstar dish to work right i know as i drive around here i see a lot still up

Primestar will work tied into a sw21 and a legacy twin. I have done it but would not recommend it.

[sikma]

I did a poor man's superdish using a primestar, dish500 and a sw64. Total cost $120 and about 1 hour......worked for me.

[junki]

Primestar will work tied into a sw21 and a legacy twin. I have done it but would not recommend it.
Old Charter Dishes will work also

[Jacob S]

I seen those Charter dishes when they were using them. They had special switches connected to it and a skew with two lnbf's. That is something I would like to have but are hard to find if you could find any at all, since one could probably get it cheap and is pretty close to what the SuperDish is (except it is legacy, not DishPro).