Hopper 3 Arctic circle set up.

[Gdsmith07]

From time to time it would get past the switch setup screen and move to finding satellite signal. I don’t know if it was just tricking the system out or what but I’m gonna play with it a little bit now and see if I can figure something out while it’s still together with the current parts.

I’d probably still take someone up on LNB just gotta figure out if it would hook up to the dish the same.

 

[pattykay]

Good catch, Bobby! As TheKrell said, that would act as a legacy Dish LNB, so it would not be compatible with the newer Dish Pro switches at all.


I can't zoom in far enough to read the model number (if it is shown at all on one of the stickers on top of the receiver) but that is either a 301 or a 311, as TheKrell said. If it is a 311, then it may still work for those free channels, if that is the correct Smart Card for the receiver shown in the picture. If it is a 301, then Dish no longer broadcasts in a format that it will support, so it should be taken to a recycler for proper disposal.

Okay, I remembered that there are a couple of other possible models for that old receiver, either of which would explain the separator. It could be a 322. That is a dual-tuner standard-def receiver for two TV's. It would still require a Dish Pro LNB to be able to use the separator with a single cable from the LNB. Otherwise, it would need two cables from the legacy LNB.

The other possibility is that it is a 311k. This is a receiver that was originally manufactured as a 322, but then Dish bastardized it to be able to use it as a replacement for the 301, when they were running out of stock on 311's. On the 311k, the TV2 output is disabled, so it only acts as a single-tuner receiver for one TV. It was intended to only need one cable from the LNB to one of the satellite inputs on the back of the receiver. However, after the 311k came out, some people started complaining that the receiver was giving them problems because it did not have a satellite signal on both tuners, even though you could actually only use one of the tuners. So, Dish started installing them with separators so that both tuners would have signal, to keep the receiver happy. Dish did not keep installing this model for very long after that.

 

[Gdsmith07]

Okay, I remembered that there are a couple of other possible models for that old receiver, either of which would explain the separator. It could be a 322. That is a dual-tuner standard-def receiver for two TV's. It would still require a Dish Pro LNB to be able to use the separator with a single cable from the LNB. Otherwise, it would need two cables from the legacy LNB.

The other possibility is that it is a 311k. This is a receiver that was originally manufactured as a 322, but then Dish bastardized it to be able to use it as a replacement for the 301, when they were running out of stock on 311's. On the 311k, the TV2 output is disabled, so it only acts as a single-tuner receiver for one TV. It was intended to only need one cable from the LNB to one of the satellite inputs on the back of the receiver. However, after the 311k came out, some people started complaining that the receiver was giving them problems because it did not have a satellite signal on both tuners, even though you could actually only use one of the tuners. So, Dish started installing them with separators so that both tuners would have signal, to keep the receiver happy. Dish did not keep installing this model for very long after that.

It was a receiver someone brought up to try. They were able to get the free channels at one point but them soemthing with the card happen apparently from what I’ve been told.

 

[pattykay]

It was a receiver someone brought up to try. They were able to get the free channels at one point but them soemthing with the card happen apparently from what I’ve been told.

Still, it is a receiver that you could try hooking up to that "legacy" (Directv) LNB, to see if you actually have a satellite signal. (Make sure it is not a 301 first. All of the other models that I listed will still work, as long as you have two cables from the LNB to the dual-tuner models.) Even if you can't actually receive any channels, it should still be able to show you the signal strength reading, and take a guide download. After verifying that you have good signal strength, you can change the LNB to a Dish Pro LNB, and move a cable back over to the DPH42 switch to hook up the Hopper 3.

 

[Gdsmith07]

Still, it is a receiver that you could try hooking up to that "legacy" (Directv) LNB, to see if you actually have a satellite signal. (Make sure it is not a 301 first. All of the other models that I listed will still work, as long as you have two cables from the LNB to the dual-tuner models.) Even if you can't actually receive any channels, it should still be able to show you the signal strength reading, and take a guide download. After verifying that you have good signal strength, you can change the LNB to a Dish Pro LNB, and move a cable back over to the DPH42 switch to hook up the Hopper 3.

Okay, I did run a direct line in once. I don’t believe it’s the correct card it was giving me some sort of error.

like a receiver not set up error and wouldn’t let me get to the signal set up area. It’s sounding like I may have a couple hours down time so I’ll go ahead and give it a look through tomorrow and see what I can do.

if it doesn’t do anything I’ll just continue to poke around with the Sat Signal finder until I can get something. I might look into a better signal finder. With winter storms in the area a lot of times tour dish can get moved slightly.

 

[HipKat]

One thing, you are correct about that dish only hitting one Sat. You'd need 2 Dishes, pointing at 2 Sats running into the 42 Switch, which would combine them. I think once you get the correct LNBF, you'll be in business!

 

[TheKrell]

I’d probably still take someone up on LNB just gotta figure out if it would hook up to the dish the same.

Note that there is an adapter/yoke on the LNB that differs from the DirecTV version. The Dish LNB has one curved side, making it appear more like the letter D. This may give you grief trying to mount it securely in the right spot.

It could be a 322.

The right hand side looks different from the picture of a 322 I found. For one thing, the 322 has silver buttons, whereas on the 311 they are black. If this receiver was returning some free channels recently, then I think it can't be a 301.

 

[pattykay]

Okay, I did run a direct line in once. I don’t believe it’s the correct card it was giving me some sort of error.

like a receiver not set up error and wouldn’t let me get to the signal set up area. It’s sounding like I may have a couple hours down time so I’ll go ahead and give it a look through tomorrow and see what I can do.

if it doesn’t do anything I’ll just continue to poke around with the Sat Signal finder until I can get something. I might look into a better signal finder. With winter storms in the area a lot of times tour dish can get moved slightly.

If that receiver won't let you get to the signal set up area, then I do have an old dual-tuner receiver that I could send you for this purpose, if you are interested. You would have to pay the shipping, of course. Still, that would be a lot cheaper than buying a new good-quality signal finder meter.

 

[Gdsmith07]

One thing, you are correct about that dish only hitting one Sat. You'd need 2 Dishes, pointing at 2 Sats running into the 42 Switch, which would combine them. I think once you get the correct LNBF, you'll be in business!

Alright so I only need the one satellite signal though to be able to use the 42 switch and the hopper 3 ???!

 

[Gdsmith07]

If that receiver won't let you get to the signal set up area, then I do have an old dual-tuner receiver that I could send you for this purpose, if you are interested. You would have to pay the shipping, of course. Still, that would be a lot cheaper than buying a new good-quality signal finder meter.

I might have to take you up on that as well, I just need to find an LNBF and make sure that the LNBF can easily attach to my dish.

they looked like they attached a little different than the older styles.

 

[Gdsmith07]

Note that there is an adapter/yoke on the LNB that differs from the DirecTV version. The Dish LNB has one curved side, making it appear more like the letter D. This may give you grief trying to mount it securely in the right spot.

The right hand side looks different from the picture of a 322 I found. For one thing, the 322 has silver buttons, whereas on the 311 they are black. If this receiver was returning some free channels recently, then I think it can't be a 301.

I can’t say how recently, I would say within the last 2 years but not Within the last year. I’ll take a better picture so we can wrap up
On the receiver!

We had another worker come into the camp and according to them this wasn’t the original LNB for the system. The LNB was stolen and the person who stole it replaced it with this LNB.

 

[eddie willers]

It’s sounding like I may have a couple hours down time so I’ll go ahead and give it a look through tomorrow and see what I can do.

Just curious. How many hours of sunlight do you have now?

 

[HipKat]

Alright so I only need the one satellite signal though to be able to use the 42 switch and the hopper 3 ???!

Correct, but you'd only pick up the channels, obviously, coming of that particular Satellite

 

[HipKat]

I can’t say how recently, I would say within the last 2 years but not Within the last year. I’ll take a better picture so we can wrap up
On the receiver!

We had another worker come into the camp and according to them this wasn’t the original LNB for the system. The LNB was stolen and the person who stole it replaced it with this LNB.

Which explains the electrical tape holding it on?

 

[Gdsmith07]

Just curious. How many hours of sunlight do you have now?

Zero
Ours of sunlight currently, it’s more like a dusk for an hour or so. The sun never crests the horizon. Wont again until January February.

 

[Gdsmith07]

Correct, but you'd only pick up the channels, obviously, coming of that particular Satellite

I’d get most of the channels with sat 119° though correct ? From what I understand.

 

[Gdsmith07]

Which explains the electrical tape holding it on?

absolutely explains the electrical tape
Holding the LNB on. Which I thought was just it being old raggedy and a little screwed up.

 

[TheKrell]

Correct, but you'd only pick up the channels, obviously, coming of that particular Satellite

Do you remember where the 9-day guide is coming from? I hope it's 119!

 

[eddie willers]

Zero
Ours of sunlight currently, it’s more like a dusk for an hour or so. The sun never crests the horizon. Wont again until January February.

If you wait until June, you'd have all day.

 

[Gdsmith07]

If you wait until June, you'd have all day.

Yeah man, 24 hour sun messes me up more than 24 hours darkness.

sometimes you don’t realize how late it is when you’re working.