DBSTalk Forum banner
Cancel

First Time Poster - Question about overall DirecTV Setup

1528 Views 30 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  bigkatnyc, 
B
First time poster here. This board is a wealth of knowledge and is the first place I come to research DTV issues.

So, I've had HD through DTV for a few years now; decided it was time to upgrade to a HD DVR receiver.

Two potential issues arise from this. I'm not exactly an expert w/ any of this stuff so excuse my trivial questions and non technical terminology.

1) I have only a single cable run into my apt unit. I understand to utilize the two tuners on the back of the receiver, two runs are needed. I only need to service one TV in my apt.

2) I believe my dish is fairly old. I see people discussing Slimline 3-LNB and 5-LNB models. While my dish does have 3-LNB on it only says Multiswitch on the dish. Any issues with not upgrading?

I can't get a larger dish since it most likely would require to be mounted to the roof of my apt building which is a huge no no here. The current dish is mounted on a pole on the roof.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
litzdog911
Welcome to DBSTalk!

1. Yes, you'll need to coax cables to use the dual tuner DVR feature. One cable per tuner. It will, of course, work with just one tuner, but you'll miss the dual tuner features.

2. Yes, you must upgrade to a SlimLine dish to receive the new HD channels. Your current dish cannot receive the Ka-band satellites at 99 and 103ºW that beam the HD channels. DirecTV will provide this dish with free installation when you get your HD DVR.

If dish size is a problem, you might want to wait a few more weeks until the new SlimLine3 becomes widely available. But it's still bigger than your current 3-LNB dish.
Reply
Save
Like
B
litzdog911 said:
Welcome to DBSTalk!

1. Yes, you'll need to coax cables to use the dual tuner DVR feature. One cable per tuner. It will, of course, work with just one tuner, but you'll miss the dual tuner features.

2. Yes, you must upgrade to a SlimLine dish to receive the new HD channels. Your current dish cannot receive the Ka-band satellites at 99 and 103ºW that beam the HD channels. DirecTV will provide this dish with free installation when you get your HD DVR.

If dish size is a problem, you might want to wait a few more weeks until the new SlimLine3 becomes widely available. But it's still bigger than your current 3-LNB dish.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response! Is there a dish that could be installed that would work on a pole?
Reply
Save
Like
M
Is it a dedicated pole or a utility pole shared with dishes?
Reply
Save
Like
B
Mertzen said:
Is it a dedicated pole or a utility pole shared with dishes?
Click to expand...
It's shared, but I think many of the dishes on there are no longer in use. Most if not all, could be removed.
Reply
Save
Like
M
Probably a good idea to find out for sure. If you can take them all off a bigger pipe can fit over it. Unless it is somehow strapped to it. Have any pics ?
Reply
Save
Like
evan_s
bigkatnyc said:
First time poster here. This board is a wealth of knowledge and is the first place I come to research DTV issues.

So, I've had HD through DTV for a few years now; decided it was time to upgrade to a HD DVR receiver.

Two potential issues arise from this. I'm not exactly an expert w/ any of this stuff so excuse my trivial questions and non technical terminology.

1) I have only a single cable run into my apt unit. I understand to utilize the two tuners on the back of the receiver, two runs are needed. I only need to service one TV in my apt.

2) I believe my dish is fairly old. I see people discussing Slimline 3-LNB and 5-LNB models. While my dish does have 3-LNB on it only says Multiswitch on the dish. Any issues with not upgrading?

I can't get a larger dish since it most likely would require to be mounted to the roof of my apt building which is a huge no no here. The current dish is mounted on a pole on the roof.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Click to expand...
What HD receiver do you currently have and what HD channels do you get? If you have an h20 or 21 and get more than a couple HD channels you already have the right dish for things. A Slimline 3lnb is a very new dish and actually only looks like it has 1 lnb. You might have an AT9 which is more commonly know as a sidecar dish because the 2 side lnbs are on a bolted on extra with little cables going to the main lnb.

Do you have the Phase 3 or the AT9 shown at http://www.solidsignal.com/satellite/directv_dish_antenna_types.asp
Reply
Save
Like
B
Mertzen said:
Probably a good idea to find out for sure. If you can take them all off a bigger pipe can fit over it. Unless it is somehow strapped to it. Have any pics ?
Click to expand...
I'll have to get up there tomorrow to take some. There are a few other pipes that are much thicker but not sure how wise it would be to strap a dish to them. I will have to get landlord to clarify. Are the new slimline 3 dishes available yet? If so, how much bigger is it then the Mulitswich 3 LNB dish i currently have up there?
Reply
Save
Like
M
Nah, I meant how the current dishes are up there? Strapped to the pipe or mounted. What area of NYC are you in?

Oh and it's a 'Multi Satellite' Dish .
Reply
Save
Like
evan_s
The Slimline 3 dish it's self is the exact same size as the slimline 5 and is just a different lnb as far as I've read.
Reply
Save
Like
B
evan_s said:
What HD receiver do you currently have and what HD channels do you get? If you have an h20 or 21 and get more than a couple HD channels you already have the right dish for things. A Slimline 3lnb is a very new dish and actually only looks like it has 1 lnb. You might have an AT9 which is more commonly know as a sidecar dish because the 2 side lnbs are on a bolted on extra with little cables going to the main lnb.

Do you have the Phase 3 or the AT9 shown at rl]
Click to expand...
18 Inch x 20 Inch Triple LNB DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish Antenna (OD1820-B)
That appears to be what I have up there. I'm in Astoria, Queens.
Reply
Save
Like
B
Mertzen said:
Nah, I meant how the current dishes are up there? Strapped to the pipe or mounted. What area of NYC are you in?

Oh and it's a 'Multi Satellite' Dish .
Click to expand...
They are all strapped, I believe.
Reply
Save
Like
M
You're going to have a tough time having the HSP guys mount a ka/ku dish on a pole with straps. Let's see some pics though. Maybe we can work something out if the HSP guys refuse.
Reply
Save
Like
B
I know the installer who came out years ago said he said he wouldn't be able to put a larger dish on the pole b/c it was sturdy enough. I wasn't in any position to argue w/ the man. I was w/out any TV and was pretty desperate. He found a smaller 3-LNB in the truck and put it up.
Reply
Save
Like
M
Yeah those things happen. But just today i completed a job that twice was declared 'can't be done .. ever'.
Reply
Save
Like
B
Mertzen said:
Yeah those things happen. But just today i completed a job that twice was declared 'can't be done .. ever'.
Click to expand...
Can I PM you when/if they tech shakes his head no this weekend? If they cannot install a new dish, will they at least leave the new HD DVR receiver?
Reply
Save
Like
M
Sure, you know where to find me. It's highly unlikely they will activated a box though especially with the new fangled installation verification.
Reply
Save
Like
B
so without a new dish and only having a single cable run into my apt, I am really behind the 8 ball here huh? Kind of an all or nothing when the tech shows up?
Reply
Save
Like
B
7
As promised, here are the pics of my MultiSatellite 3-LNB setup on my apt roof. Any suggestions for upgrading to a Slimline model that would fit on the same pole would be greatly appreciated!

Attachments

See less See more
Reply
Save
Like
M
It's not going to be easy. But it can be done.
Reply
Save
Like
1 - 20 of 31 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
DBSTalk Forum
A forum community dedicated to digital bit streaming enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about programming, content, and reception, home theaters, displays, models, styles, satellites, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
DIRECTV General Discussion DIRECTV HD DVR/Receiver Discussion DIRECTV Programming General DISH™ Discussion DIRECTV Installation/MDU Discussion
Top