Just curious once inside the home what are the advantages to BSS over SWM.
Looking over dish's wiring diagrams I just don't see it, but maybe I am missing something.
The following is from a post of 5 YEARS ago, but much of it still stands today. However, I know that the Entropic CSS technology did claim a "core technology" of 12 tuners, but DirecTV implemented an 8 tuner/channel SWM LNBF system seems to have stayed with that. I don't know if DirecTV has since implemented a 12 tuner SWM LNBF for residential. DirecTV has implemented the latest version of Entropics CSS technology for MDU's, but not residential, as far as I can tell. The brains of CSS is at the LNBF, while the brains of the BSS is at the switch, either at the LNBF internal switch or at the external switch, which can be put INSIDE a dwelling protecting it from the elements. Some of the following may have changed, but I have not found any new data conflicting the following for either DircTV or Dish RESIDENTAL installs. I should add that Dish has since implemented DishPlusPro technology, and enhancement to the BSS technology. I can't find anything showing DirecTV having enhanced their BSS RESIDENTIAL install, but certainly they have enhanced their BSS for MDU installs. Again, to each his own.
Orignally posted in year 2010 in response to a post:
While there was a DirecTV Slimline reflector, I take it your mean DirecTV's SWM (sometimes referred to as "swim"), Single Wire Multi-switch system?
"DirecTV's SWM is a
Channel
Stacking
Switch (CSS) technology.
It has both advantages and disadvantages compared with DishPro systems.
DishPro is a
Band
Stacking
Switch (BSS) technology.
It has advantages and disadvantages compared with DirecTV's SWM systems.
They are
NOT compatible.
Neither the CSS nor the BSS is,
objectively, better than the other. However, Dish and DirecTV chose the system that,
subjectively, seemed the better for its situation.
All tecnology is about compromise: if you want something, you will have to give-up something else. There is a compromise to having the advantage of the single wire from the reflector to the switch, while DishPro pays for its consistently simple bandwidth advantage by requiring a wire per satellite (minus one cable if it is fed to the input port of DishPro Plus LNBF's) to the multi-switch.
DirecTV liked the single wire, while Dish might not have liked the limitations of using channels and having to use an external switch on all installs of more than one box. DirecTV's SWM Ka installs use much of the prime CATV band (B-band converters to the Ka A-band are not to be used for SWM boxes; it needs to pass the Ka in the B-band at the CATV spectrum) for transmission to the STB. Ka A-band for DirectTV uses the same spectrum as DishPro's upper band from 1650 to 2150MHz. So DirecTV's Intermediate Frequency is as follows: legacy for Ku services is still only at IF 950 to 1450MHz, Ka services at IF B-band at 250 to 750MHz, and Ka services at IF A-band 1650 to 2150Mhz. But remember SWM translates all that bandwidth to a maximum of 8 channels (one channel per tuner) serving up to 8 single tuner boxes or, by assigning each STB its own (four) spectrum with 2 channels each, up to 4 dual tuner DVR's using one multi-switch.
Also, the control frequency for the SWM is below ATSC OTA frequencies, so everything in an SWM install has to rated from 2MHz to 2150 MHz. SWM gets very complicated, but for the disadvantage of the channel spectrum to the STB's and the expense of an external switch on almost all installs, you do get the advantage of a single wire to the mult-switch. DirecTV felt it was worth it, while Dish can serve up to 4 STB's looking at 2 satellites with no external switches and keep installation costs down. Consider that after the single wire reaches the DirecTV multi-switch, cables still have to be run
from the mult-switch in a SWM install of more than ONE box, but only a single wire to each dual tuner box requiring no splitters or separators but providing signal to both tuners by connecting the cable to only tuner 1. Again, which technology (CSS or BSS) is "better" is all
subjective.
No, neither Dish nor DirecTV has the "better" system, so let's not get into any "D or E is better than the other" baloney.
."
End of year 2010 post.
2015 March 24: Dish has since implemented the DishProPlus LNBF's that are capable of looking at 4 satellites with a single cable to each STB.
While neither CSS nor BSS is objectively technologically superior than the other, there is a real world matter of cost to CSS for the aesthetics of a single wire from the reflector (or slightly easier/faster install), while Dish has a lower cost of install for RESIDENTIAL (however, CSS for MDU installs could be less expensive), but with more wires from the reflector. Yet, once installed, we the consumer have the very same high level of experience whether we are viewing via CSS or BSS. IMHO, BSS is one of the many reasons Dish still prices lower for the consumer in most cases. Indeed, Charlie Ergen had to abide by the NDS when he was trying to merge with DircTV, but looking at DirecTV's books did prompt him to mention DirecTV's "very expensive network." He was probably floored at the cost compared to his less expensive, but equally robust, at the time, network. Remember the old Hughes corporation was a defense contractor and "cost" meant nothing to them when they created DirecTV. So, DTV lives up to its legacy with something as wondrous as a single-cable from the reflector to the switch. It just wouldn't be DirecTV with more than one cable from the reflector, it adds that little "cachet" for which DirecTV has always been known.
From all I've seen, DirecTV, with its critical mass and savvy, is among the MVPD's paying the LEAST for channel content (per channel) along with Dish and a few MSO's, EXCEPT for NFL ST, and that service along with other "costs" (and that means the technical part of DirecTV) is most likely why DTV is still among the most expensive services, putting DTV pretty darn close to the FiOS expensive network. DirecTV's legacy has always been a bit more "deluxe" than Dish, and there is a slight premium to using CSS for the coolness of only a single-wire from the reflector instead of more wires from the reflector BSS with Dish's legacy of lowest possible pricing. But DirecTV is a good service with a great product, the Genie, so I would never criticize someone if they prefer DirecTV for whatever reason. Personally, I'll take a few more cables on the side of the house for a lower monthly bill and the advantages of the Hopper with Sling any day (not saying better than the Genie, just saying HWS not at all a diminished experience compared to the Genie). Sure, I would love a single-wire along the house, but I aint gonna pay for it every month in a higher monthly subscription price for the same services on DTV , along with paying for NFLST every month even if I don't subscribe to it. If I can get from DirecTV today what I get from Dish for less, then I would say bye to Dish and hello to DirecTV. But as of today, Dish wold have to piss me off before I would be willing to pay MORE than just a bit more for DTV, but I would be satisfied with DTV compared to my horrible cable company. Well, that was all for what it's worth, which may not be much.
