adding a third box - can I?

Okay, you have the original Dish 1000 with a DPP Twin and a DP Dual LNB. This is a common combo, but one that doesn't make things quite as easy as we'd like. This dish has been discontinued and replaced with the Dish 1000.2, which would have been better, as your dish only supports 2 receivers, while the 1000.2 supports 3. It is also easier to aim and gets a bit better signal. Swapping out your old dish for a 1000.2 is the cheapest way to upgrade, but you'll only have 3 outputs. That's enough for the 3rd receiver, but not to give you an "always hot" 4th line for moving the receiver when you want.

A DPP44 switch would give you 4 outputs, and you wouldn't need to change dishes. You would need to change how they are connected, though. Right now, your DP Dual (the single LNB) is connected into the DPP Twin (the "double" LNB), because the DPP Twin has a switch inside of it. To use the 44 switch, the switch in the DPP Twin is bypassed, and the DP Dual must be connected directly the 3rd input on the DPP44. The outputs of the DPP Twin get connected to the first two ports. There is an instruction booklet that comes with the switch, and a diagram on the switch itself.

Also, the DPP44 uses a power inserter, which can be added "in-line" behind one of your receivers. This is important: it must be put on the line that goes into the FIRST output on the switch, and the switch is marked to this effect.

DPP44 Switch Installation Guide

dendox said:

do I just call dish and ask for this stuff?

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You could. If you can DIY, you can buy the parts elsewhere and save money. But, if you don't feel confident about doing that, let Dish do it, as they'll have the parts, tools, and experience to do it right.

lets say I get a new 1000.2 and go that route. Can there be the three lines coming out that are hot to run all of the inside TVs with a way to switch the play room line from hot to not and the outdoor line from not to hot? maybe even just unscrewing a line one place and screwing a different one in?

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The 3 lines coming from the dish should go into a ground block.




Normally, the ground block is placed near the service entrance, where the power meter and cable feed are. If your extra line is already run to that point, it would simply be a matter of unscrewing one cable and screwing another one on, to "energize" the line with dish signal.

maybe a splitter with a switch on it that allows me to choose which output line is active? does this even exist?

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No splitters or manual switches allowed. Remember the receiver not only gets signal from the dish, but also sends DC voltage TO the dish. Thus, when you are switching lines, you should unplug the receiver first and not plug it back in until the lines are reconnected. A short can damage the sat tuner and/or power supply in the receiver, and possibly the LNB too.