[uptown88]

First of all, this is a great forum and I've spent some time here and you guys really know your stuff.

I've had Dishnetwork for several years now. I currently have a Dish500 (I believe it is the Dish500Pro due to the integrated one piece dual LNB) that feeds a Dishplayer 510 and a 301 in another room. The 510 feeds the living room only and the 301 is in the bedroom but has a splitter carrying the feed to the kitchen also. Everything works fine.

What I would like to do is add a receiver for my child's room. I think I made a mistake by buying a used 3700 receiver from a neighbor. I didn't research my purchase and now know that it is a legacy receiver and that it won't work with my current setup without an adapter of some kind. Still, I would like to use the receiver if possible. Through my research here it sounds like I need a Dishpro adaptor to use the legacy receiver with my current setup.

My first question is this: is the dishpro adaptor what I need to be able to use this legacy receiver with my system?

Second question: I have 2 outputs coming from my LNB with one running to each current receiver. I don't think I can just use a regular splitter to split one of the coaxials can I? If not, how do I get the feed for the 3rd receiver?

I know these questions are basic, but I really need some help from someone who knows about this stuff.

PS I called Dishnetwork and it seems that my 3700 receiver has the yellow card and is ready to activate when I have everything in place.

Thanks for your help.

 

[scooper]

You'll need the following
Dishpro34 switch
http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=DP34
Legacy Dishpro adapter
http://www.futurevisionsat.com/catalog/item/548160/271127.htm

Note - these are not necessarily the only places to get them, just links to show you what you need to get.

 

[garys]

You should double check the lnb, if it has a large DP logo, it is Dish Pro. If it has a large DPP logo, it is Dish Pro Plus. No markings as such would be a legacy type lnb. You may be able to verify this by going to the Installations summary screen, press menu, system setup, installation, point dish then check switch. You then need the approapriate switch to match your lnb's, DP and/or DPP could use a DP34 or a DPP44, either should work but the DP34 is cheaper. Legacy would require an sw switch (not sure what you could find). On either the DP34 or DPP44 switches, run line from 119 to input 1 and 110 to input 2, then connect your two existing coax lines to output 1 and output 2, and run a new coax line from output 3 to your new 3700. You should not need a legacy adaptor as that was need to enable an FSS lnb to be used with a legacy receiver, you do not have one so you shouldn't have to worry about it. You will need to run a check switch on all three receivers when you are done. You do not need to worry about repoint the existing dish. You can then active the 3700. You cannot use splitters on the existing lines as it will split the signal going to the two receivers in question and you will only get half the channels on one receiver and the other half on the other.

 

[uptown88]

Wow, that was fast. Thanks for the info scooper.

I do have one other question after seeing your answer. I have a second Dish500 dish that came with this receiver. Could I just put up the second dish and not use the Dishpro 34 switch? I realize I would still need to use the Dishpro adapter.

Thanks again for the quick answer.

uptown88

 

[topcat0399]

Wow, that was fast. Thanks for the info scooper.

I do have one other question after seeing your answer. I have a second Dish500 dish that came with this receiver. Could I just put up the second dish and not use the Dishpro 34 switch? I realize I would still need to use the Dishpro adapter.

Thanks again for the quick answer.

uptown88

sure you could, what kind of LNB do you have for the 2nd D500?

you want 2 dishes on your place?

 

[uptown88]

sure you could, what kind of LNB do you have for the 2nd D500?

you want 2 dishes on your place?

The second dish is the same as the first a dish500 pro. My dish is mostly hidden from view, so I don't really mind a second dish.

 

[topcat0399]

The second dish is the same as the first a dish500 pro. My dish is mostly hidden from view, so I don't really mind a second dish.

with that lnb you will still need a DP adapter. Hunt around for a Legacy Twin, or Legacy Quad, or 2 Legacy Duals and a SW21 - and youre set.

a Dish install place in your area throws this stuff away everyday.

 

[scooper]

If you're going to do a 2nd Dish, try to get Legacy LNB equipment

http://www.dishdepot.com/lnbfs.jsp - stop at DISH Network Legacy QUAD LNBF $44.99

 

[uptown88]

Ok, guys, thanks for all the information. I appreciate your willingness to help me. I think I'll just use the second dish and round up a legacy LNB. I'll check with the local installer contractors to see if they will sell me one cheap. I have a feeling they replace them with Dishpro LNBs all the time when customers upgrade from legacy equipment.

Thanks again.

uptown88

 

[boba]

Ok, guys, thanks for all the information. I appreciate your willingness to help me. I think I'll just use the second dish and round up a legacy LNB. I'll check with the local installer contractors to see if they will sell me one cheap. I have a feeling they replace them with Dishpro LNBs all the time when customers upgrade from legacy equipment.

Thanks again.

uptown88

You said the second dish came with the 3700. Double chack the electronics on that dish, they needed Legacy to operate the 3700. A Legacy Twin and a Dish Pro Twin look the same except for the black DP on the back.

 

[uptown88]

Boba,
Good idea, it had crossed my mind after my last post. I'll check it before proceeding any further. I bet it is actually a legacy lnb.

Thanks.

 

[uptown88]

Hey guys. I checked the LNB and it turns out is a Dishpro Plus LNB. I have the second dish temporarily installed. I read somewhere that if I hook up one of my dishpro receivers, the legacy receiver will work with the dish pro plus LNB.

I think the best way for me to proceed is to either get a legacy twin lnb (they are cheap on Ebay and maybe free from my local installers) or bite the bullet and buy a 301 off of Ebay.

Nothing is ever easy. I should have researched these receivers better before spending $50 on the dish and legacy receivers. I am definitely leaning towards getting a legacy twin LNB and keeping the receivers. That way, if I decide to activate the other receiver (I'd love to have one in the workshop) at a later time, it should be a simple plug and play.

Any opinions?

 

[scooper]

If you're saying the LNB for your other 2 receivers is a DishProPlus or can be changed to one - all you need to add is a DPP44 switch and you're set for the 3rd receiver (and 4th) (whether it is Legacy or DishPro). No DishPro adapter needed.

 

[boba]

The simple suggestion is connect either of your existing receivers 510/301 to the new dish and connect the 3700 to the new dish. The DPP Twin may work with just the 3700 connected but it draws more power than the Legacy LNB so it may tax the 3700 power supply which is why the DP Receivers are suggested. Even though they are probably located close together you may need to extend the cable from the original dish to the new dish, an F-81 female splice and a short RG6 cable should do it.

 

[uptown88]

Thanks again for the help. After I get off work tonight I'm going to hook the 510 and the 3700 to the Dishproplus LNB and then hook the 301 to the original dishpro LNB. I believe that will be the least amount of trouble and still get the job done.

Thanks guys, I'll let you know how it works.

uptown88

 

[scooper]

Make sure you do "Check Switch" on each receiver .

 

[uptown88]

Well, I'm still striking out left and right. I have the Dishproplus LNB connected to the 510 and 3700 receiver. The 510 works fine but the 3700 fails the check switch test and never picks up the satellite signal. I have checked the cable several times and ruled that out as a cause. The 301 works fine hooked to the same cable.

I'm pulling out my hair on this because I should have just bought a 301 in the first place, but I thought this 2 dish setup would work.

Everything is working fine except that I can't seem to even get a satellite signal on the 3700.

Any suggestions?

 

[boba]

Why did your friend get rid of the 3700?

 

[BattleZone]

You can get a used 301 for $50 from Dish, and less from eBay or Craigslist. Don't spend too much time messing with that slow, ancient 3700.

 

[Mr-Rick]

with that lnb you will still need a DP adapter. Hunt around for a Legacy Twin, or Legacy Quad, or 2 Legacy Duals and a SW21 - and youre set.

a Dish install place in your area throws this stuff away everyday.

I don't know about that. We don't throw out anything that is not broken. Legacy lnb's are used for prepaid or free-for-all.