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Any way to connect 4 satellites to DISH 5000?

457 Views 16 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  mkerdman
Does anyone know of a way to connect four LNBs to a DISH 5000, so I can watch 61.5, 110, 119, and 148?


I presently have an SW64 switch, but that only has 6 inputs (for 3 dual LNBs).


Is there some way of daisy chaining another switch into this configuration?


If that doesn't work, I may delete the 110 LNB, because I understand the nearly all of the non-HD programming is on 119, and only the local channels are on 110, and I get the locals well enough with an OTA antenna.


Other than the local channels, what else is on 110?
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I believe that you can only get 101, 110 & 119 on a single elliptical dish. 61.5 & 148 require their own 18" dish. That would only require one feed from each of 3 dishes.
There is no way to "see" 4 Dish birds. The software will only accommodate three birds and I've heard there isn't enough memory in most units to deal with 4 birds even if the software existed.
61.5 and 148 are the same channels. 148 is intended for the west part of the US, 61.5 is for the East. I don't think you can have both connected since you'll have the same channels numbers on both.


Regarding what's on 110 besides local channels, there are some Encore, Starz and Showtimes, VH1 Classic rock, Discovery (Wings, Science, Discovery and Kids), Speedvision, HBO Comedy, and a few other movie channels. (Check out www.lynsat.com for complete list).
Is there a way to set the 61.5 and 148 on an a/b switcher? This way the software only sees 3 sats and allows you to flip a switch when changing from east to west feeds. I know that you cannot split a sat signal but does this go for a switcher also?


Just a thought.
That is the one way to do it is by running cables from the two HD satellites and using the A/B switch. The receiver will just detect automatically what is available when it's turned on. The only draw back is you MUST run cables fro the two dishes all the way to the receiver. As staed above no way currently to do 4 sats at once.
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Originally posted by ragedogg69
Is there a way to set the 61.5 and 148 on an a/b switcher? This way the software only sees 3 sats and allows you to flip a switch when changing from east to west feeds. I know that you cannot split a sat signal but does this go for a switcher also?


Just a thought.
As FrankS mentioned, you'd have to run cables from the 61.5 and 148 to the A/B switcher and then from the switcher to the SW64. I'm betting you'd also have to run a check switch each time. Right now the only reason to see both is if you want the demo channel (only on 61.5) and you're able to get Dish to give you both the east and west CBS HD feed (I don't know if they'll do this for you). Now, if Dish ever decided to carry HBO west on 148 and HBO east on 61.5, then I'd start to consider ways to see both of these birds.
I asked because I have Dish Networks set up for my RV and when I "update my RV to HD";) I plan to get CBS-HD. Now if I already receive LA and NY with my RV waiver, shouldn't I be able to get both CBS-HDs?

Thats why I asked about the switcher. I hope it wont be too hard to run the wires through the house... err, i mean moterhome:D .

Anyways I think that is aways off for now.
I spoke with a senior executive at DISH yesterday, who confirmed that it is not possible to hook up the 61.5 and 148 satellite feeds simultaneously, because they both use the same program IDs.


So even if I were to forego the 100 satellite feed, which has relatively few programs on it other than the local channels, that approach wouldn't work.


The other obvious solution would of course be to use an A/B switch and probably do a Check Switch each time I changed it, but unless that could be remotely controlled somehow it wouldn't be worth the effort.


The main reason this came up was because I sometimes get rain fade or snow accumulation on the 61.5 dish, especially since it is rather low on the horizon from Utah. The 148 bird would also be rather low, but the weather to the west is generally better.


But I understand that the demo channel is only available on 61.5, for what that's worth.


And there is still the issue of why CBS-HD NFL football is blacked out on Sundays for me, and that I'm still researching.
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My theory:

The NFL is blacking out the CBS-HD NFL games because the NY affiliate is showing a New York Jets game, while your affiliate is broadcasting a Broncos game. This gives a multiple choice for football, which should only be available to you thru NFL Sunday Ticket, which Dish doesn't have the rights to. Does Dish have this for the SD CBS as well?
I have seen at least one person that had 119, 61.5, & 148 hooked up at once.


Something about the channel changing was wonky on the 61.5 & 148 stations. I think you had to channel up/down instead of direct entry to ge the 'other satellite'.


There is no way to see all four at once.
Is there really CBS-HD NFL games being broadcast by the NY affiliate?


If so, where can I find a schedule of the NYC CBS-NFL-HD Games?


Murray Kerdman
I think Gist.com has the listings but if it doesn't, you could use any of the TV listings sites and just look at the schedule for WCBS in New York to see what they are broadcasting.
No CBS NFL Broadcast is in 1080i Hi Def.


All CBS Digital O&O stations broadcast a 4:3 Upconverted 480P at best.


Murray
BobInProvo

If you can grab a Dish 500 dish use that instead of the 18" dish and you should get MUCH better signal! You only need to use one LNBF and can leave the other side open.
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No CBS NFL Broadcast is in 1080i Hi Def.
Correct, at least for now. This will probably change for the AFC playoffs.



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All CBS Digital O&O stations broadcast a 4:3 Upconverted 480P at best.
Well, not quite. The CBS O&O stations all use an upconvertor for SD programing, so you end up with upconverted 1080i 4:3. It's not bad, to me it looks about the same as Fox 480p 4:3.
I think CBS (1080i UPCNVT) is softer for all the digital processing than FOX's less ambitious 480P.


Murray Kerdman
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