Cabling question

[wimcolgate]

Hi,

With the 921 price cut, I just couldn't resist. I currently have a 501 -- which I'm going to keep and put in the kids room.

So. Here's my question. I am going with the quad LNBF to drive the 501 and 921. How should I cable this setup?

Currently my dual LNBF brings two cables out and are combined in a SW21 switch (I think that the number, as I have not been on my roof in a while :-)). One cable then comes all the way down through my basement and then back up to the 501.

I know that the 921 requires two inputs, and the 501 requires one. Since the 501 uses two LNBF's to drive its lone input, how do I drive the two 921 inputs?

I'd like to minimize the number of cables dropping down from the roof.

For anyone who has a similar setup, I'd love to hear your alternatives.

Thanks,

Wim

[SimpleSimon]

Just to be sure, your current setup is Legacy, with 2 separate LNBFs on the Dish 500. That's why the SW-21 is required - to combine the 2 separate LNBFs into a single feed - hence the "21" designation.

First, each tuner requires a separate cable all the way from the dish (or switch) to the box. For Dish 500, there's no exceptions, no alternatives, no magic.

The Quad has all the switching built-in. Each output cable can drive one tuner - no more. Therefore, one cable per tuner from the dish to the boxes.

There is an alternative that would only require 2 cables from the dish to the basement. That is a DishPro Twin LNBF, and then add a DP34 in the basement to give you the 3 required feeds.

Of course, DishPro requires more robust cable than Legacy, so because you need to run at least one more cable from the dish, you might as well run twin RG-6. So now we're back to square one, which is to put a Quad on the dish.

If it's a Legacy Quad, your third feed can be the existing cable with no issues. However, your setup is so old, it's probably time to look at replacing that cable anyway.

Bottom line, The DP Twin plus DP34 might be the best route - leaving you an open port for a wing dish. Maybe the old cable can be used for an OTA antenna to feed DTV to the 921. You haven't said anything about that side of the equation.

[wimcolgate]

Thanks for the quick response. Since the quad LNBF is being purchased from dishdepot -- I chose the DishPro quad. So it wont be a legacy quad.

If I understand what you are saying, I'm going to have 3 cables from the dish, one directly to each tuner (2 in the 921, 1 in the 501).

Should I replace the cable with 'current' cabling technology, since you mention the legacy cabling is probably not sufficient?

If so, what and where would I purchase?

Thanks,

Wim