Satellite TV- Old dish still good?

[Mr_D]

Our dish is a Winegard RM something or other. It works fine with Direct as long as trees aren't blocking it like they did last weekend. My wife used to tent camp and got along fine, now she's upset if the satellite programming isn't working!!

[sniggles]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequim Guy sniggles, "During the summer months we use HD dish which is installed on a shed. Our dish is a HD swm set up. Which hooks to the Rig with only one coax cable connected in the bay to the cable TV input. We run 2 TV's at same time on different channels with this swm set up." Can you watch a different program on each tv AND record a different progam on each tv, all at the same time?

YES.
We are able to watch different channels at the same time. Plus record and watch a different channel at the same time on the same tv. That is what the swm set up is all about.
And as for the round dish it will not receive directv if you have a HD receiver and your account it set up for a swm dish as mine is. We even tried to run our HD receivers with a regular slimline HD dish but as long as our account is a directv HD swm account it would not work. Just a note Swm is a special head on the dish which allows for more than one tv to run different channels off of one coax cable from the dish. Besides the head on the dish there is special power pack and then a splitter also.

I don't know if that helps or makes it more confusing.

[Sequim Guy]

Thanks, this tells me that I have a lot more research to do before I start converting the MH to HD.

[Windecker]

Thanks for the information. I hate to ask a dumb question but to be sure:
If I use a HD RX direct TV on a round older dish will it work in SD?

And If I use a SD direct TV rx on a HD oval dish will it work in SD?
Thanks!
Windecker

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm In the US there are 4 Sat TV service levels. DirecTV (not DirecHDTV) nothing has changed here, if it was set up for use with DirecTV it still works with DirecTV DirecHDTV, needs a special 2 band, 3 satellite, antenna, Will still work but not for HD. DishNetwork: If it was set up for Dish Network it should still work however see notes. Dishnetwork HDTV, it might, but may need an upgrade Notes: DirecTV uses (normally) one satallite (101w) DishNetwork 2, and Dishnetwork HDTV 3. all 3 in the same band IF your dish is a MANUAL, it will work with DirecTV, Dish or Dish HD. IF it is an automatic, it may need a software upgrade for Dish or Dish HD or a controller upgrade or it may just not be possible. The dish would need a HARDWARE upgrade for DirecHDTV. Again on Dish: If the antenna (Dish) has but a single LNB lense (Dish 300/DirecTV) it will work with ONE Dish receiver. If it has two coax connectors on that LNB it will work with 2 or more DIRECTV receivers. (one connector then just one receiver) That about covers what I can offer.

[wa8yxm]

THE SHORT VERSION.

DirecTV (Not HD) uses the same antenna they have used for a long time. A SOLO (single or dual) LNB Round dish (Dual means two outputs, not two "hockey pucks")

Dish, likewise for SD (no HD) uses the same antenna they have used for years, a "Twin" (Two hockey pucks) but a single Dish Receiver can also use a solo dish, just like DirecTV (you only need to see one satellit at a time, UNLESS you have more than one receiver, Most Sat-DVR's are 2 receivers)

Dish HD uses a triple, (3 Hockey pucks) but all are in the same bnad so see pior comment about one satellit at a time with a single reciever.

DirecHDTV uses new technology (Triple header, 2 of them in a DIFFERENT band though, not compatable with the old band antennas.

NOTE: all the above applies to rooftop DOMES and portable "Carry out' type antennas as well.

[Windecker]

Thanks for the information.
Curious, what is available in a mounted Direct TV dish that is HD?
Don't see many options but I know they are there, somewhere.
Thanks
Windecker

[docj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windecker Thanks for the information. Curious, what is available in a mounted Direct TV dish that is HD? Don't see many options but I know they are there, somewhere. Thanks Windecker

When you say "mounted" dish I assume that is anything other than a carry-out. Most people who want DTV HD these days I believe are using the Winegard Trav'ler. It's an automatic full-sized dish with 3 LNB's (hockey pucks) and receives the 101, 99 and 103 satellites. We have it an think it is a great system. ~4 minutes from the time you turn it on until it locks on the satellites.

[justaroamer]

Yes, the Wineguard 3500 roof mount does HD, but don't over look the MotoSat SL5 HD antenna for Directv (also avail. for Dish), a bit harder to find, but more stable unit in wind due to larger base.
4 outputs so you can have 4 receivers.

[Windecker]

Thanks folks I will take a look. I know there are systems floating around cause all the new stuff has HD in it but the dishes don't look like what I am seeing online for sale.
Not in a huge hurry, just trying to figure it all out.
Thanks again
Windecker

[marvel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D Our dish is a Winegard RM something or other. It works fine with Direct as long as trees aren't blocking it like they did last weekend. My wife used to tent camp and got along fine, now she's upset if the satellite programming isn't working!!

Going back to the original question, I believe there is a better, cheaper and easier solution, at least if your goal is to have the highest quality video and audio in you MH.

The TVs I watch in my home and MH are HD so at home I have only HD receivers connected with HDMI so I can actually obtain the HD video and audio. I have the satellite receivers connected with HDMI in my MH for the same reasons.

It is true that Dish uses three satellites but all HD channels (that I subscribe to at least) are on 129. I found this attached list of channels on 129 and in my case every single channel I watch on a regular basis is on 129. For dish the 129 satellite uses the same frequency as the others so your existing dish that works with SD Direct TV will work with Dish HD perfectly.

I programmed a "favorites" list on the Dish reciever that includes only channels on the 129 satellite so I can scan channels effortlessly including the locals.

When I set up I only need to find the 129 location. Regarding the trees, I use the DishForMyRV app on my iphone so that I will be sure to park where the 129 sattelite is not blocked by trees.