We're moving into a new home and setting up a new home theatre and will upgrade our current DirecTV dish to the new(ish), five LNB Ka/Ku MPEG-4 dish. We've always used Spaun, powered multi-switches but I don't know if they're really any better for twice the price of other options. We need one that will distribute to at least 12 outlets and we'll use a seperate switcher for our over-the-air antenna. I don't want to over-spend, what do you guys (the experts) reccomend?

We've always used a ChannelMaster/GainMaster larger dish for reception (to avoid rain fade), but I don't see anything like that available for the DirecTV MPEG-4 dish. Is that accurate?

Right now, only the DirecTV AT-9 and AU9-S dishes will work. Less expensive multiswitches work fine. The ones that work with Ka band signals and have at least 12 outputs are the Zinwell WB616, Spaun WBS41202NF and Spaun WBS41602NF. The Zinwell is much less and works well. Two WB68s in parallel will also work. See the pdf link at http://www.sonorastore.com/510.html
Antenna cables need to be run separately with Ka band equipment.

Right now, only the DirecTV AT-9 and AU9-S dishes will work. Less expensive multiswitches work fine. The ones that work with Ka band signals and have at least 12 outputs are the Zinwell WB616, Spaun WBS41202NF and Spaun WBS41602NF. The Zinwell is much less and works well. Two WB68s in parallel will also work. See the pdf link at http://www.sonorastore.com/510.html
Antenna cables need to be run separately with Ka band equipment.

You also left off the newer Terk MS-WB616 (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=MS-WB616) fwiw.

Though some other Terk items are "questionable", the newer Terk Multiswitch makes some sense because, just like the 5x8 before it, it has a heavy duty casing that is rated for outdoor use.

Thanks so much that's exactly the info I needed!!

You also left off the newer Terk MS-WB616 (http://www.solidsignal.com/prod_display.asp?PROD=MS-WB616) fwiw.It's worth a lot. I hadn't seen it before. Now I know it's out there. Thanks. It looks like it's a rebadged, higher priced Zinwell WB616 though. Terk's first 5x8 was a rebadged, higher priced Eagle Aspen S-4180-GX+ before the BMS-58 came out. Terk is famous for getting equipment from other manufactures, putting a new badge on it, and selling it for a premium.

It's worth a lot. I hadn't seen it before. Now I know it's out there. Thanks.

Wow....this has to be a first....the first time in over 7,000 posts that I have actually posted something you didn't know!!!!

The Apocalypse must be coming!!!!!

Current score:

Greywolf = 6,700
HDTVFanatic = 1

:D

Right now, only the DirecTV AT-9 and AU9-S dishes will work. Less expensive multiswitches work fine. The ones that work with Ka band signals and have at least 12 outputs are the Zinwell WB616, Spaun WBS41202NF and Spaun WBS41602NF. The Zinwell is much less and works well. Two WB68s in parallel will also work. See the pdf link at http://www.sonorastore.com/510.html
Antenna cables need to be run separately with Ka band equipment.

A JonFO over at Dbstalk suggests you can; power the dish by cascading in a SPAUN 5802 NF powered multiswitch to drive the dish through the new D* supplied Zimwell 6x8 multiswitch. He has a diagram which depicts this, but I cannot replicate it.
I have the SBK 5502NF and the DMK 5582 F. I have 1 HR20, and 2 HR10's, plus some other DVR's. I have not yet swapped the 3 LNB dish with the 5 LNB. I will be having my A/VA installer install the Zinwell switch. My question is three fold,
Can I use my existing pieces as add ons to the zinwell,
Will this increase my outputs from 8 to 12, and if so
Can the OTT feed still go thru the spaun.
And finally, is the Channel Vision SATBS4 (SAT-BS4) a piece that can be used at the receiver side to split the signal into 2 separate feeds. My installer seems to think this will work. I think the Channnel master product will split the signal allowing for 2 tv's to share the same signal. He is looking into this this week, but I thought I would get the opinions from those who really know.

You can cascade older equipment from the multiswitches I mentioned. You cannot put an older multiswitch between the dish and an MPEG4 receiver. All the older equipment must be downstream from the MPEG4 stuff.