Old Directv Dish with Single LNB work for HD Channels?

[lickwid]

Ok, so this is the story. Our friend subscribes to DirecTV and has a newer dish with 5 LNB's, and subscribes to one of the HD packages. This weekend, we are looking to use just his receiver to tune in a college football game on FSN HD. To clarify, this will be at a tailgate, so that's why we are looking for something simple and portable. We have a spare old round DireTV dish. My question is, if we have an old DirecTV dish with a single LNB, is this setup compatible for picking up any HD channels? I did some research, and it looks like the channel we're looking to receive, FSN West HD is located on satellite 103. Could we technically point at that particular satellite to just get that channel? Or are their newer technology LNB's to tune in HD channels? Or do you have to point at multiple satellites simultaneously to tune in HD channels?

I've been on Comcast for awhile now, so don't know the current satellite technologies. Hopefully this is a quick yes or no. Thank you.

 

[Mr Tony]

HD uses a different band (KA Band) which is higher frequencies than the regular LNB. That LNB will not work...You can use that 18" for FSN West in SD by aiming at 101W but not HD

 

[Joe Diamond]

To state it the other way...you need the Ka/Ku 5LNB dish. Do this. Mark the mast where the friend's dish is now pointed by making a line on the dish and mast. Then loosen the bolts that hold the dish on the mast until the dish will move. DO NOT touch any other settings. At the end of the arm the LNB is attached with two screws. Remove and save those, pull the LNB out and disconnect the cables...they are interchangeable so just disconnect them & then remove the dish.

You will need a 2" OD pipe for a mast and it must be "plumb" and securely attached. Point the dish SW and tune it along the compass line published in the set up info for the new zip code.

OR use a round dish...EZier!

Joe

 

[lickwid]

I appreciate the replies. Looks like we'll just bring an antenna to watch the OTA games on broadcast during the day. Then watch the game on FSN West SD in the evening. I'm pretty sure my friend lives in an apartment, so removing the dish might be a bit difficult. Good to know that the HD channels require a new LNB that can get the KA bands. I believe the SD channels are on the older KU band?

 

[Mr Tony]

yes the SD channels are on the KU/DBS band and any old Directv dish will work

 

[RBTO]

While we're on the subject of old dishes, I've seen a number of folks with a Slim Line 5 and a separate old style (single LNA) dish pointing off to the side (quite a ways removed from the direction of the SL5). I have a couple of old dishes from my pre-HD days. Is there anything I'm missing that I could use the old dish for? What are these folks doing with their arrangements?

 

[raoul5788]

While we're on the subject of old dishes, I've seen a number of folks with a Slim Line 5 and a separate old style (single LNA) dish pointing off to the side (quite a ways removed from the direction of the SL5). I have a couple of old dishes from my pre-HD days. Is there anything I'm missing that I could use the old dish for? What are these folks doing with their arrangements?

They are almost definitely getting their locals from 72.5 or internationals from 95. The locals on 72.5 are being migrated to either 99 or 103.

 

[Mr Tony]

While we're on the subject of old dishes, I've seen a number of folks with a Slim Line 5 and a separate old style (single LNA) dish pointing off to the side (quite a ways removed from the direction of the SL5). I have a couple of old dishes from my pre-HD days. Is there anything I'm missing that I could use the old dish for? What are these folks doing with their arrangements?

Since your location says Idaho I assume around Boise. The Boise locals use to be on 72 (as raoul noted) but moved to 99W. Good part is those MPEG4 only markets you pay SD prices for equipment but get the HD version. Drawback is you need a slimline dish if you have it at a cabin/lake house or no locals

 

[marquitos306]

No HD

 

[raoul5788]

No HD

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