Will I Need a New OTA Antenna?

[cwmcall]

I have an install scheduled for tomorrow morning for a new HR20 and the 5 LNB dish. I currently have a 3 LNB dish with an antenna mounted on it. Will this work for OTAs with the new dish and receiver or will I need a new antenna?

Thanks

CW

[Radio Enginerd]

I have an install scheduled for tomorrow morning for a new HR20 and the 5 LNB dish. I currently have a 3 LNB dish with an antenna mounted on it. Will this work for OTAs with the new dish and receiver or will I need a new antenna?

Thanks

CW

Is it a wrap around antenna? Meaning, is it connected to the Dish itself?

[cwmcall]

Is it a wrap around antenna? Meaning, is it connected to the Dish itself?

no it's not a wrap around, but it is attached to the top of the pole that the dish is mounted on.

[Radio Enginerd]

no it's not a wrap around, but it is attached to the top of the pole that the dish is mounted on.

Sounds like they may have to remount it to the new pole but you shouldn't need a new OTA antenna itself. How are you getting the feed in your house?

[cwmcall]

Sounds like they may have to remount it to the new pole but you shouldn't need a new OTA antenna itself. How are you getting the feed in your house?

I guess I'm not really sure how it gets into my house...the installer came and put it up 3 or 4 years ago and it worked so I didn't ask any questions :lol: . Let me turn that around on you...how should it get into my house when the new dish arrives?

Thanks for your help.

[Radio Enginerd]

I guess I'm not really sure how it gets into my house...the installer came and put it up 3 or 4 years ago and it worked so I didn't ask any questions :lol: . Let me turn that around on you...how should it get into my house when the new dish arrives?

Thanks for your help.

Well if it's not already, you'll want it coming in to you home on it's own wire, NOT diplexed in <- remember that word.

What is diplexing? A diplexor is a device (looks like a splitter) that allows you to combine your "over the air" antenna and satellite feed into 1 wire. Before the 5 LNB dish you could combine the 2 feeds together into 1 wire without a problem. With the newer DTV sats (to take flight later this year), diplexing for the most part will be a thing of the past. There is some new technology that will be coming to the market soon to allow you to diplex again but it's not going to be ready in time for your install.

My advice as a fellow enginerd is to have the guy run a dedicated wire into your home from the antenna. If that doesn't already exist, he's going to charge you, but it my opinion it will allow you more flexibility in the future. Or if you're savy you could do it yourself and save some money.

Let me know if you have any further questions. By the way, welcome to DBSTalk! I love your user name!

[cwmcall]

thanks for your help. now a few more questions...

if i do have the antenna run into the house on it's own line will I need to run that line all the way to the HDR20...and if so, can i split the line to all the three of the receivers throughout the house?

Thanks again!

[Radio Enginerd]

thanks for your help. now a few more questions...

if i do have the antenna run into the house on it's own line will I need to run that line all the way to the HDR20...and if so, can i split the line to all the three of the receivers throughout the house?

Thanks again!

Sorry for the 20 questions? Do you currently split your OTA feed? If so, where do you split it? Do you have a central wiring closet/cabinet in the house?

[cwmcall]

I really appreciate your help!

I have a small closet in the basement where all of the directv wires come in...and I think, but I am not sure, the antenna wire runs into the multi-switch. Is that possible?

[Radio Enginerd]

I really appreciate your help!

I have a small closet in the basement where all of the directv wires come in...and I think, but I am not sure, the antenna wire runs into the multi-switch. Is that possible?

You know, I'm not sure if it is... I would probably have them run your OTA down to that wiring point, that way you can split, amplify and distribute it to any room in your house if need be. You'll have the ability, once the new Single Wire Multiswitch is made available, to diplex OTA again to have a 1 wire solution to each of your rooms for Sat and OTA on a single cable.

What kind of hardware are you getting from DTV other than the Dish itself?

[cwmcall]

You know, I'm not sure if it is... I would probably have them run your OTA down to that wiring point, that way you can split, amplify and distribute it to any room in your house if need be. You'll have the ability, once the new Single Wire Multiswitch is made available, to diplex OTA again to have a 1 wire solution to each of your rooms for Sat and OTA on a single cable.

What kind of hardware are you getting from DTV other than the Dish itself?

Other than the dish I am getting an HR20 receiver and free installation...