Receiving OTA broadcasts with Dish 625 receiver

[areo]

Hi,

I purchased a Dish 625 receiver today to replace an old 3800 model.

I was getting all the programming that I subscribed to (Portland, OR locals and South Asian channels - SET and ZEE) via a single satellite input.

I found out that the Dish 625 receiver requires two satellite inputs. I only have one input coming into the house from the Dish antenna and Dish network tech support said that I can only receive a signal from satellite 118 from that input. So I am unable to get the Portland locals which use satellite 110.

After talking with the Dish tech support, one option is to pay Dish to modify the installation, so that I get a second input into the house for satellite 110 as required by this receiver. But the charge for the install is $99 and I would like to avoid this, if possible. The Dish antenna is on top of my two storey house, so I don't want to climb up there myself

I also have an HDTV antenna and a Channel Master D2A converter ( my TV set is an analog Toshiba TV). I have tried connecting a coax cable directly from the HDTV antenna to the antenna input of the Dish 625. I also tried connecting the antenna output to the Channel Master input and sending the Channel Master output to the antenna input of the 625. Either way, I am not able to get the local channels. I would like to be able to receive the Channel Guide info and record shows from local channels. Do you think I would be able to do this?

The other option is to get the local channels by subscribing to those channels with Dish. But that would cost me an additional $99 in install fees. Is there something I could do to receive satellite signals from 110 into my system?

areo

 

[garys]

You need something with a digital tuner to get your locals with your ota antenna. The 625 does not have one. As far as your second input, you would need to run a second line from the lnb/switch to the receiver. You don't really need a new dish setup.

 

[TheKrell]

It appears from TheList (subscription part, Dish Network All) that Portland, Oregon SD locals are indeed on 110, and (without looking) I believe the South Asian channels are on 118. This means that your 3800 (if it's receiving all those channels) must currently be seeing both satellites with your current antenna setup and your current antenna setup already includes a switch somewhere.

Your 625, after a check switch, should be able to see all the satellites and channels on one tuner that your 3800 does. I tried running mine that way for awhile and quite frankly I don't remember if it would let me watch on one tuner or not; I think it did. The "check switch" function of course takes forever to time out and complains bitterly about not getting anything on the 2nd tuner.

It might be possible that you bought a 625 without separator and already have a DishPro Plus switch. In this happy case, all you need to do is acquire a separator (cheap) and install that on the cable and hook up both tuners. Seems unlikely to me and I'll bet you have a DP34, which would require two cables to two tuners.

In the case you have a DP34, there are only two options. Either run another cable to your switch, or upgrade your switch to a DisPro Plus switch, e.g. the DPP33.

 

[boba]

You should have either a DISH 500+ or a 1000+ to receive 118.7. The 3800 is a LEGACY receiver so it won't work without a Dish Pro adapter on a Dish Pro System. To me that indicates you probably have a DISH PRO PLUS SYSTEM, Try to get a separator about $5 and connect it on the back of the 625 then try a switch test.

 

[TheKrell]

Excellent point boba. So many possibilities, so little info.

Areo, there are almost certainly two boxes (one big switch and one small adapter or power inserter) inline with your dish antenna. 3 cables should be coming out of your antenna and go to the first big (switch) box, which is very likely either a DP34 or a DPP44. To work with your 3800, the DP34 requires a little box called a DishPro adapter, which also has a wall-wart power supply. The DPP44, on the other hand, requires a power inserter, which IIRC has a power brick. Since both require a 120V receptacle, whichever one you have is likely near your 3800.

Find that 2nd little box and read what it says it is. If it's a power inserter, then do as boba said and plug it's receiver side into your 625 through a separator and you're done. If it's a DishPro adapter, then remove it and plug your 625 directly onto the antenna cable without the separator. Then at least one of your 625's tuners should work.

There is still a remote possibility that somebody unnecessarily installed a DishPro adapter, then a power inserter, then a DPP44 on your 500+ antenna. Due to cost, this seems unlikely. I'll bet you have a 500+ with 3 cables going to a DP34 and a DishPro adapter.