[benn2004]

I currently have 4 tvs/receivers and subscribed to Dish TV via AT&T & leasing each receiver. I'm wanting to add a fifth receiver/PVR. I'm hoping a 5X8 multiswitch will get the job done with some room to spare. (I also understand that I'll need 2 connections if the if using a PVR). Is this a correct path for the 5th receiver?

If I purchase the PVR and do the install myself, will DISH require additional fees?

THanks for any help to this very green, novice.

 

[garys]

I think the 5x8 multiswitch is for DirectTV not dish, you should check which switch (dp34 or dpp44) and then cascade the approapriate switch to your current setup. Only additional fee you be dvr fee unless you have AEP or higher and the additional receiver fee.

 

[Rob Glasser]

Yes, find out which switch(es) you are currently using, after that you/we can determine what you'd need.

As for 2 connections for a PVR/DVR, that is only needed if it's a dual tuner DVR, and even then, if you go to to a DishProPlus switch you can get away with a single connection, provided you use a DishProPlus Seperator before connecting it into the DVR.

As for fees you will most likely have an additional receiver fee (if receiver is purchased) or a lease fee (if leased) as well as a DVR free, if like garys said, your not on AEP or PlatinumHD.

If you want to detail your existing equipment and planned future equipment in more detail we can provide you with more detailed answers.

 

[benn2004]

Yes, find out which switch(es) you are currently using, after that you/we can determine what you'd need.

As for 2 connections for a PVR/DVR, that is only needed if it's a dual tuner DVR, and even then, if you go to to a DishProPlus switch you can get away with a single connection, provided you use a DishProPlus Seperator before connecting it into the DVR.

As for fees you will most likely have an additional receiver fee (if receiver is purchased) or a lease fee (if leased) as well as a DVR free, if like garys said, your not on AEP or PlatinumHD.

If you want to detail your existing equipment and planned future equipment in more detail we can provide you with more detailed answers.

Thanks so much Rob for your willingness to help !

The current setup is as follows:

1. Dish/Switch: Dish Pro 500
2. DVR 522 (feeding 2 tvs)
3. Dish 311 (X2 tvs)

My goal is a fifth tv/(hdtv in future).

Note: the fifth location is approx. 150 ft. from any of the existing receivers.

Questions :

1. What are your recommendations for connecting a fifth receiver (switches et. al.)? My long term desire would be to make the fifth a HDVR set-up -- short term would be a DVR set-up.

2. Is receiver purchase (e.g. e-bay) better than lease (ATT/Dish)?

3. ATT's agreement/contract says that each account is for only four (4) receivers/locations. Do you think adding a fifth will require a second account?

3. If the answer to question 3 is yes, is there a way to split one of the existing receivers so as to make the fifth a slave (the two Dish 311 locations are not used as frequently and it wouldn't matter if one was on same channel as slave. I don't know how I could control the master receiver from 150 ft away??)

Thanks again for your help/advise.

 

[Rob Glasser]

Thanks so much Rob for your willingness to help !

The current setup is as follows:

1. Dish/Switch: Dish Pro 500
2. DVR 522 (feeding 2 tvs)
3. Dish 311 (X2 tvs)

My goal is a fifth tv/(hdtv in future).

Note: the fifth location is approx. 150 ft. from any of the existing receivers.

Questions :

1. What are your recommendations for connecting a fifth receiver (switches et. al.)? My long term desire would be to make the fifth a HDVR set-up -- short term would be a DVR set-up.

What switch do you have today? The list above doesn't list a swich model? If you have a DishPro 34 switch you can add another and cascade them to support up to 8 receivers. You would then need to run 2 cables to the 622 if you got one. If you have a DishProPlus 44 then you wouldn't need another switch since you can supply a 2 tuner DVR with a since cable. Also, going to HD is going to require a dish pointing at either the 61.5 sat or the 129 sat so you'd need another Dish or a Dish1000 for that. If you lease a 622 from DISH with their $199 promotion right now it includes all the dishes and switches you need to make it work, along with installation.

2. Is receiver purchase (e.g. e-bay) better than lease (ATT/Dish)?

That is really up to you. You need to think about how long you plan on keeping the receiver, and how much you think you can sell it for down the road if you do buy it. Personally I like leasing. I used to buy all my gear but at the rate that I upgrade gear (every couple of years) I found it was cheaper to lease.

 

[benn2004]

Rob:
Hope your still watching this thread? I can't identify a switch??? Out of the Satellite DishPro 500 four cables connect to what appears to be my old cable system. The connection includes a ground wire and a 4 port coupling like device but I cannot identify a part/switch #??

Suggestions?

 

[Rob Glasser]

Ok, doesn't sound like there is a switch in play at all right now but rather a Quad LNBF. So, in order to support a 5th receiver (a ViP622) you'd need to either add a DishProPlus 44 switch or a pair of DishPro 34 switches. Keep in mind, if you lease from Dish it comes with the installation. This will include any replacement or additional dishes for your roof and the switches necessary to run all the receivers you want to keep on your account.

 

[CABill]

I suggest you go to the signal strength screen on some existing receiver (Menu-6-1-1), select Switch Check and note what it shows for existing Switch. I agree it is likely a Quad (where the switch is internal to the LNB housing). You don't actually need to complete a Test - just note what Switch it found on the previous Test.

 

[benn2004]

I suggest you go to the signal strength screen on some existing receiver (Menu-6-1-1), select Switch Check and note what it shows for existing Switch. I agree it is likely a Quad (where the switch is internal to the LNB housing). You don't actually need to complete a Test - just note what Switch it found on the previous Test.

I checked. It is a Quad. I'm not ready for the 622 upgrade, I have no HDTV presently. If I go with a DishProPlus 44 switch will this give me a solution for a fifth receiver? It also seems that this switch requires AC power -- is that correct?

 

[CABill]

The DPP 44 will work for 4 receivers. Any number of those receivers can be a dual tuner receiver fed by a single coax. The Power inserter can be located at the receiver that goes to DPP 44 connection #1. If you don't use a DishPro PLUS switch, you need a coax run to each TUNER instead of each receiver. You may have your reasons for wanting to purchase and self install (equipment not located at the service address comes to mind), but you will need to purchase the DPP 44 (not cheap) or gang two DP34s for 8 tuner outputs. Add the cost to purchase the 622 of at least $450. There will be a $6/month Additional Receiver fee plust the $5.98 DVR every month. The monthly fee to LEASE the 622 is identical - $6 to lease and $5.98 DVR fee. You pay $199 up front and don't own the 622, but that $199 covers ALL costs to get it installed. Deduct the cost of a DPP 44 purchase from that $199 and the financial side would tend to lean toward the lease. I could swear I've heard of people getting a 622 Lease when they had an AT&T deal, but it might be they canceled the AT&T to get the 622. If you've investigated and purchase & install is the only way via AT&T, compare the price of a DPP 44 and two DP34 switches. I don't have the URL handy for the picture of how to gang DP34s but it can be found at EKB.dbstalk.com with some clicking. It might be cheaper than the DPP 44, but two new coax lines instead of just one.

 

[benn2004]

Will the 622 work with non-HDTV?

 

[benn2004]

Will the 622 work with non-HDTV?

Ok. I answered my own question by calling AT&T. I ordered the 622 service. I'm moving the 522 upstairs. THis should take two lines and will feed two tuners? The 622 will be downstairs with two tuners. How do I get the fifth tuner approx. 120 ft. away to work?

 

[greatwhitenorth]

but you will need to purchase the DPP 44 (not cheap) or gang two DP34s for 8 tuner outputs.

Bill, solid info, but it can be done with just one DP 34 and his DishPro Quad. Just run ports 1 and 2 from the DP quad into ports 1 and 2 of the DP 34, and the lines from ports 3 and 4 on his DishPro quad straight to the recievers. This will give him a total of 6 available feeds. Not a common setup, but if he's doing a self-install, might save him some money. Also Benn, as long as the reciever is within 200' of the Dish, there shouldn't be any problems. Let us know how it turned out.

 

[Rob Glasser]

Ok. I answered my own question by calling AT&T. I ordered the 622 service. I'm moving the 522 upstairs. THis should take two lines and will feed two tuners? The 622 will be downstairs with two tuners. How do I get the fifth tuner approx. 120 ft. away to work?

If you can get a DishProPlus 44 switch you can stop thinking in terms of tuners for cabling and start thinking in terms of receivers. A DPP44 switch can feed a 2-Tuner receiver with a single cable. This means with a single switch, and 4 cables coming from it you can feed your 2 311's, your 522, AND a 622. Does this help?

Otherwise if you want to keep all of this you will need a DishPro 34. In this model you'd have a single cable going to each of your 311's and then 2 cables each to your 522 and the new 622. You could feed 2 of your SD recievers directly from the Dish500 and then you'd take the other 2 outputs from the Dish500 and feed that to the DP34. However, you would then need to add another Dish to get either 61.5 or 129 orbital locations (this is where all the new HD content is). This would then run to your DP34 as well. The outputs from the DP34 would feed your other 4 tuners, 2 of which would need to be the 622 to get your HD content.

If you are going to try and use a Dish1000 for 110/119/129 locations then all this goes out the window and you are back to needing a pair of DP34 switches or an expensive DPP44 switch to feed all those locations.

 

[CABill]

it can be done with just one DP 34 and his DishPro Quad.

I NEVER would have thought of that! That would really make a self install pretty cheap (other thay purchase of the 622). As long as it is a lease through AT&T, benn2004 shouldn't have to worry about it. But I imagine that they have the same 4 tuner LEASE limitation.

I also shouldn't have said 622. I misread his post and thought he said he WAS ready for a 622 (but didn't yet have an HDTV). If he isn't getting an HDTV sometime soon, he'll either be paying the HD Enable $6/month or even more for the HD programming with the 622.

I too would like to hear what eventually happens via the AT&T program upgrade.

 

[benn2004]

I NEVER would have thought of that! That would really make a self install pretty cheap (other thay purchase of the 622). As long as it is a lease through AT&T, benn2004 shouldn't have to worry about it. But I imagine that they have the same 4 tuner LEASE limitation.

I also shouldn't have said 622. I misread his post and thought he said he WAS ready for a 622 (but didn't yet have an HDTV). If he isn't getting an HDTV sometime soon, he'll either be paying the HD Enable $6/month or even more for the HD programming with the 622.

I too would like to hear what eventually happens via the AT&T program upgrade.

AT&T has scheduled the upgrade to 622 for Thursday (10/26/06) afternoon. I suspect I'll have little to no input on the type of switch that is installed. I've outlined my goal above (keep the 522; add the 622 and then, if AT&T will let me, keep the 311 for fifth unit -- so far, they're telling me to send both 311s back - we'll see). If I must send both 311s back I'm assuming I can purchase one.

Does anyone have any idea how much installers will listen to customers with regard to equipment/setup?? I plan to have a hard copy of these postings/conversations to share with him/her.
Thanks to all for your insightful, informative and helpful advise.

benn2004

 

[greatwhitenorth]

AT&T has scheduled the upgrade to 622 for Thursday (10/26/06) afternoon. I suspect I'll have little to no input on the type of switch that is installed. I've outlined my goal above (keep the 522; add the 622 and then, if AT&T will let me, keep the 311 for fifth unit -- so far, they're telling me to send both 311s back - we'll see). If I must send both 311s back I'm assuming I can purchase one.

Does anyone have any idea how much installers will listen to customers with regard to equipment/setup?? I plan to have a hard copy of these postings/conversations to share with him/her.
Thanks to all for your insightful, informative and helpful advise.

benn2004

I work for Dish Network Service Corp. I can't speak for subcontractors (some great, some horrible, some in the middle), but we are trained to listen to the customer and review every step of the installation with the customer. If you get a subcontractor, make sure they listen and answer your questions. There are more good installers out there then bad ones, I think, but ask the installer all the questions you need to, and make sure you're satisfied with the answers. Good luck!

 

[CABill]

In 9 years of service, nobody from DISH has ever been to my house, but I'd expect the installer to help as much as he CAN. He may be limited some by what he can do - they can't give a DPP 44 to everyone that says they will be needing it.

Your current programming only requires 110 and 119 on a Dish 500, but the HD channels will require either 129 or 61.5. Depending on how far south you are in Texas, you may not be able to get 129. See http://ekb.dbstalk.com/pictures/Dish1000Exclusions.jpg. If you are in a colored area, they would have to add 61.5 instead of 129. The Quad can't get you the 3rd sat location all by itself, but can with a DP34 as Rob and greatwhitenorth described. An installer would also be able to supply two dual tuner receivers by replacing the Quad with a DPP Twin. You wouldn't want that because it limits you to two receivers. My GUESS is that he has the leeway to go with the DP34 if you tell him you are going to purchase a 311 if they won't let you keep the 5th tuner active (and they probably won't). A DPP 44 would allow you to later add two receivers (single/dual tuner) and a DP 34 would allow you to add two tuners.

You shouldn't have to add the DishHD programming immediately, but they do charge an extra $6/month (HD Enable fee) if you don't subscribe to a DishHD package with a ViP 622. Even with an SD TV, you can see the difference between ESPN and ESPN-HD. They will be adding the 3rd sat on the assumption that you will subscribe to the HD programming.

Afterthought - does anybody know what happens if he only returns one of the 311's? I seem to recall that if you don't return something, they charge you list price . That might be the best way to "purchase" it. Can't hurt to ask AT&T?

 

[benn2004]

The installer came. Put the 522 I had upstairs. Slaved the other upstairs tv and the "fifth" tv as TV2. 622 + TV2 downstairs. Did it all without adding a switch but now I have room to add "fifth" receiver when I want. Thanks to all for your advise/input.

 

[Rob Glasser]

Glad it worked out well for you. Hope you enjoy your new receiver.