Single Dish Antennas in the Pacific NW (and other locations)

[jpmarto]

Being in the Seattle area, I had to use a Dish 500 for 110/119, and a separate 24" antenna for 129. Now that Ciel 2 is deployed, has anyone gone to a single dish antenna? If so, what model and how does is it compare? I'm looking at the esthetics as well as if I get an RV and go portable.

Thanks!

 

[harshness]

The 1000.2 should be fine. I have a Dish 1000 and I'm not sure I'm going to put it back up.

 

[jpmarto]

Thanks harshness.

Let me ask a second question. I have the D500 110/119 and 24" 129 antenna through a DPP44 at home AND at my cabin, so when drag my 622 to the cabin for a few days I don't have to do a check switch. Are the LNBs on the 1000 identical to the ones I'm already using? If so, could I just buy the antenna w/o LNBs and reassemble with the existing ones?

 

[harshness]

The LNBs are similar, but the 1000.2 uses a built-in 3x3 switch.

 

[bradleys]

jpmarto,

The signal from Ciel 2 is so much stronger than the old dancing satellite that you should have no problem with the Dish 1000.2. I'm using an old Dish 1000 in Seattle, which I believe is smaller than the 1000.2. Before Ciel 2, I couldn't keep a decent signal on 129.

As far as an RV or portable, remember that the mast must be completely plumb at 90 degrees. It's hard enough to aim only two satellites with an off-plumb mast, but it's almost impossible with three satellites.

HTH

 

[kenskibum]

I asked this question a few weeks ago and a Seattle area installer said they got the word from Dish to use the 1000.2 for new installs from now on. So I plan to purchase one and do a self install to reduce the dish farm look in my front yard.

 

[jpmarto]

The 1000.2 sure looks better than what I've got now. So just to make sure I (and anyone following this thread) understand, I go out and buy a 1000.2 and run 3 lines back to the house for 3 receivers, that's it? No switches to buy or anything else? If that's the case, the prices I see for the 1000.2's are pretty reasonable.

 

[PHXHoward]

Interesting. In Phoenix, we get all of our Dish channels with one small dish on the roof.

In PNW do you need several dishes on the roof?

 

[kenskibum]

Needed 2 dishes because the old sat at the 129 location was failing, and that's where most of the HD comes from for the NW. Now it's been replaced with a new sat, so a dish just for 129 is not necessary. At least I hope that's the case because I ordered a 1000.2 on Friday.

 

[Laddyboy]

The 1000.2 sure looks better than what I've got now. So just to make sure I (and anyone following this thread) understand, I go out and buy a 1000.2 and run 3 lines back to the house for 3 receivers, that's it? No switches to buy or anything else? If that's the case, the prices I see for the 1000.2's are pretty reasonable.

Yes the 1000.2 has a built-in DPP33 switch which allows one line w/separator for up to 3 dual tuner DP receivers.

 

[jpmarto]

Thanks for the confirmation Laddyboy. I thought that was the case, but I prove daily the more I think I know the less I actually know. I'll start planning my new install.

This a great forum. Thanks to all who help out.

 

[Jim5506]

The need for a larger dish for 129 in the Pacific NW was because the 129 satellite was moved from another location and its footprint no longer covered the continental US properly.

The Florida peninsula, New England, deep south Texas and the Pacific NW were outside the primary foot print of the satellite, even if it's inertia wheels were all working perfectly, there would have still been the problem of the footprint.

The new 129 satellite was designed for the 129 slot and has both conus and spot beams pointed where they were intended.

 

[PHXHoward]

Interesting. Thanks for the explanation.