LNB label says SWM, but has 4 wires, is it SWM or not?

[wtford]

I have a working Directv SD setup, but I would like to upgrade to HD.

I purchased a used H21, which is an HD capable SWM receiver. I am about to purchase a slimline dish with a sl3s4nr2-14 LNB. This LNB has 4 wire feeds coming out of it, but it says SWM on the label. I am confused as to whether this is SWM or not and if it will work with the H21.

Everywhere I have read says 4-wire means non-SWM. Is this true? Why would it say SWM on the LNB's label?

If the LNB is SWM, I would need a power-inserter as well, correct? Are the 4 wire feeds unnecessary then?

If the LNB is not SWM, would one wire from this LNB plugged into the H21 actually work? Can a SWM receiver read from a non-SWM feed?

Thanks!!

 

[raoul5788]

First off, the H21 will work on a swm or non swm system. If you are using a non swm, then you need a bbc in line. A swm setup always needs a power inserter. Now to the lnb you have. The label says swm, but it has four ports? That shouldn't be. Can you post a picture?

 

[wtford]

First off, the H21 will work on a swm or non swm system. If you are using a non swm, then you need a bbc in line. A swm setup always needs a power inserter. Now to the lnb you have. The label says swm, but it has four ports? That shouldn't be. Can you post a picture?

Thanks for the reply. Attached is a picture of the label. Sorry about the poor quality -- I am not at the site and someone else is photographing. The label shows the model of the LNB and has Directv's SWM or SWIM logo.

I was there this morning and observed that there are 4 coax feeds coming from the LNB. I requested a picture to be taken of the 4 wires. Most images from google of this LNB show only 1 wire. But this one I saw had 4 wires, similar to the other picture I attached, which I also found on google.

 

[wtford]

Thanks for the reply. Attached is a picture of the label. Sorry about the poor quality -- I am not at the site and someone else is photographing. The label shows the model of the LNB and has Directv's SWM or SWIM logo.

I was there this morning and observed that there are 4 coax feeds coming from the LNB. I requested a picture to be taken of the 4 wires. Most images from google of this LNB show only 1 wire. But this one I saw had 4 wires, similar to the other picture I attached, which I also found on google.

It really must be a mislabeled LNB. It's either a non-SWM that has a SWM label, or else it is a SWM and someone has installed too many jacks. I think I will look for another dish. Every other picture for this model number has only one jack and one wire.

 

[raoul5788]

Here's my best guess: It's a swm lnb that replaced a standard one, but the four wires weren't removed from the arm. If you remove the lnb, I'll bet there is only one cable connected to the only port. Is there a power inserter somewhere already?

 

[wtford]

Here's my best guess: It's a swm lnb that replaced a standard one, but the four wires weren't removed from the arm. If you remove the lnb, I'll bet there is only one cable connected to the only port. Is there a power inserter somewhere already?

Yeah, that must be it. If I get a chance to open it up I will. It does not come with a power inserter, unfortunately, or I could have tested it out.

 

[raoul5788]

A swm needs a power inserter to work properly. I have read of cases where they do work without one, but not for long.

 

[Jimbo]

The SWM LNB he has is the original ones (I think that they were used in the beginning of SWM).
Also, if you go to a SWM 16 (from an 8) you use this type of set up with 4 leads still from the LNB down to a SWM 16 switch.