Upgrade to PVR?

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nh_dish

SatelliteGuys Family
Original poster
May 23, 2005
53
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NH, USA
I've searched for the answers to this, and didn't find anything, so hopefully I'm not repeating stale questions.... but honestly, I'm clueless about receiver upgrades! :p

I have a Dish 500 with a 301. Dual-twin LNB's I assume? I want to upgrade to a PVR receiver and hopefully move the 301 to my bedroom.

---Why do PVR's above 508 require a fee, but 508 doesn't? And what is a Yellow card, as oppoosed to blue or white? Do I need to activate the 508 after installed?

---Do I need a different dish or switch if I want to use PIP or if I want to watch one program and record another? What about to use the PVR and the 301, both? Do I have to run a second cable to the PVR receiver?

And finally, is there anything else that I should know before purchasing a PVR?

Thanks in advance!
 
nh_dish said:
I've searched for the answers to this, and didn't find anything, so hopefully I'm not repeating stale questions.... but honestly, I'm clueless about receiver upgrades! :p

I have a Dish 500 with a 301. Dual-twin LNB's I assume? I want to upgrade to a PVR receiver and hopefully move the 301 to my bedroom.

---Why do PVR's above 508 require a fee, but 508 doesn't? And what is a Yellow card, as oppoosed to blue or white? Do I need to activate the 508 after installed?
Click to expand...
The 508 has no fee, but the 510 does. Just a way for Dish to get more money. Yes you have to activate it. The cost is 4.99 for an extra receiver. Dish doesnt have a white card, they have ble & yellow. Both will work, but the yellow is the newest. Dish is switching the scrambling so the yellow card will be what you will need come the end of the year. If you have a blue one, dish will send out a yellow one
---Do I need a different dish or switch if I want to use PIP or if I want to watch one program and record another? What about to use the PVR and the 301, both? Do I have to run a second cable to the PVR receiver?

And finally, is there anything else that I should know before purchasing a PVR?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
you would need a line from the dish to the 2nd reciever..each receiver needs a line from the dish to the receiver.
 
Iceberg said:
each receiver needs a line from the dish to the receiver.
Click to expand...

OK, that part is obvious!! LOL ;) But, the dual-tuner PVR's (like the 721) only need one cable, or two? I ran my cable in-wall when I remodelled last year, so adding a second cable now would be a real *&^#$.
 
nh_dish said:
OK, that part is obvious!! LOL ;) But, the dual-tuner PVR's (like the 721) only need one cable, or two? I ran my cable in-wall when I remodelled last year, so adding a second cable now would be a real *&^#$.
Click to expand...

The 721/522/625 all need 2 cables coming from the dish. ( One for each Tuner )
 
Kaydigi said:
The 721/522/625 all need 2 cables coming from the dish. ( One for each Tuner )
Click to expand...

not necessarily

If you have a DishProPlus Twin or a DPP44 switch and a separator, you can run one line to the dual tuner receiver (using the DPP separator) like the 921, 942, 522, 625, 322

2 single tuner receivers would need 2 lines
 
Iceberg said:
If you have a DishProPlus Twin or a DPP44 switch and a separator, you can run one line to the dual tuner receiver (using the DPP separator) like the 921, 942, 522, 625, 322
Click to expand...

So, if I got one of those receiver models, a DPP44 switch, and a separator, I can use my existing dish and a single cable from the switch to the receiver?
 
So if you add a dual-tuner model and keep the 301 you really need to know what type of LNBs and switch you have. Dish 500 typically comes with 2 dual LNBs and SW21s or 1 Twin. I'm guessing the former since you seem to be saying there are 2 LNBs attached. You can replace the SW21s with an SW44 or SW64, or replace the duals with a Quad (legacy or DishPro). The legacy Twin will support a maximum of 2 tuners and would have to be replaced. With the DP Twin you can add a DP34 switch (or 3) for more outputs or, as Iceberg said, you could get the DPP Twin.

You could retire the 301 and get a dual-tuner dual-output 522 instead. That way the only change to your LNB/switch setup is to run a second line the same way the first one is hooked up. With the receiver in Dual mode, TV1 in the living room can watch one thing while TV2 in the bedroom watches something else. It is subject to the DVR fee but if it's the only receiver that's the same cost as adding a second one and both rooms get to use the DVR features. It also has to have the phone line connected to avoid the no-phone-line fee.

PIP doesn't require a dish or switch change (other than noted above), just a dual tuner receiver with both tuners connected as is required anyways. With the 522, 625 and 942 the receiver would be in Single mode (both connected TVs see the same thing). The 721 and 921 are Single mode only.
 
nh_dish said:
So, if I got one of those receiver models, a DPP44 switch, and a separator, I can use my existing dish and a single cable from the switch to the receiver?
Click to expand...
Only if your existing dish has DishPro LNBs. If not, replacing them with the DPP Twin will be sufficient for you.
 
And finally, is there anything else that I should know before purchasing a PVR?

If you're planning on purchasing a used receiver, be sure and get the receiver's R00____ # (found on the back of the receiver), and the smart card S00 ________# from the seller BEFORE you purchase the unit. Then, give Dish Net customer service a call to confirm there is no balance due and the account has been closed.

(Customer Service will ask for at least the R00#; some also want the S00#, but not always.)

:!: If there is a balance due, don't buy it. DishNet will not activate the receiver.
 
The system I have is about 3 years old. My Dish 500 has the twin LNB (in one housing) with 2 outputs each. It has 2 SW21 switches.

Currently, I have only one switch installed, for the living room. The other pair of outputs are unused. Adding the switch & cable for the bedroom will be easy.

My primary concern is finding a solution that will not require running a second cable to the living room receiver. Is there anyplace that I can see a wiring diagram for the DPP twin or the DPP44 switch installation?

Thanks to everyone for your help thus far. It's greatly appreciated!
 
I suspect you've confused the names of the LNBs. If you are using an SW21 and don't have a second dish, you have 2 dual output LNBs. See the pictures at http://ekb.dbstalk.com/82 and a more detailed explanation at the "here's why" link in my sig.

Single = 1 LNB, 1 output
Dual = 1 LNB, 2 outputs, same size as a Single
Twin = 2 LNBs, 2 outputs, about 6" wide
Quad = 2 LNBs, 4 outputs, same size as a Twin

DPP44
Connects 4 satellites to 4 receivers. Has pass-through outputs to chain 2 more switches to support 12 receivers from one dish assembly. When used with a DishPro Separator can feed a dual-tuner model off 1 run of RG6. Legacy receivers do not need the DishPro adapter and will recognize the switch as an SW64 or SW64/SW21 cascade. If used with receivers that don't recognize SuperDISH, the SuperDISH slot should be connected to input 4.
Diagram: http://www.dishretailer.com/ts2003/3/MVC-024S.JPG
Diagram: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=36319
Photo: http://www.dishretailer.com/ts2003/3/MVC-017S.JPG
Photo: http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=1032
Separator: http://www.dishretailer.com/ts2003/3/MVC-021S.JPG

DPP Twin
Adds a satellite input to the DP Twin. Can feed 2 dual-tuner models using 1 run of RG6 for each when used with a DishPro Separator. Available Jan 2005.
Info: http://www.dishretailer.com/dpp/dpptwin.pdf
Diagram: http://www.dishretailer.com/ts2003/3/MVC-025S.JPG
Photo: http://www.satelliteguys.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=1032
 
Ok, I have the Dish 500 with 2 duals. Yes, they are seperate... not the single 6" housing. My receiver is a 301.

Thank you BobaBird for clearing up my terminology!

So, after reading all your links, it looks like I need to upgrade more than just the receiver? UUGGH....
 
OK.. so this topic is from a while back. And, no, I still haven't actually upgraded yet. Summer was pretty busy, but with the cold headed in... I'll be watching a lot more TV!

To clarify, I have the Dish 500 with 2 dual LNB's (Sad, I know). I'm still looking at a dual tuner receiver, probably a left over 721. I am limited to a single feed to that receiver. I will be moving my 301 to my bedroom with a new feed.

I have a good idea what I need to do, from the previous help. I'm just not sure if I'm looking for a Legacy quad or a DPP twin or something else? Can I just replace the current LNB's and keep the rest of the dish? And the 301 will still be compatible with the newer LNB?

Thanks again for all the help.
 
One more question... I think I know the answer...

Wouldn't a new Dish1000 setup have the LNB that I need, plus the ability for future expansion? Then I'd just need the DPP44 and demultiplexer?

Thanks again!
 
Tom_T. said:
[

If you're planning on purchasing a used receiver, be sure and get the receiver's R00____ # (found on the back of the receiver), and the smart card S00 ________# from the seller BEFORE you purchase the unit. Then, give Dish Net customer service a call to confirm there is no balance due and the account has been closed.

(Customer Service will ask for at least the R00#; some also want the S00#, but not always.)

:!: If there is a balance due, don't buy it. DishNet will not activate the receiver.
Click to expand...

Is this correct? If the previous owner did not have his receiver connected to a phone, possibly in anticipation of dropping the service, the receiver would not have called home with the purchases. When the new owner hooks it up to the phone line it will now do so. Certainly checking to make sure the receiver hasn't been reported stolen and to verify that there is no knownknown balance is a good idea.
 
What's sad about having 2 duals? Mine are connected to an SW44 :)

You don't want the legacy Quad because all legacy and standard DishPro (not Plus) configurations require a separate line to each tuner. Nothing wrong with it, but you've said you can't add a line to that room.

The DPP Twin is probably your best solution. The 721 incompatibility problem somehow escaped mention earlier but for the record since the L177 software update the 721 CAN be used with the DPP Twin and DPP Separator.

The 301 and other DishPro receivers will work just fine with DP, DPP and legacy LNBs and switches.

The Dish 1000 comes with the DPP Twin and adds the 129° slot to your setup. If you go beyond 2 receivers you can add the DPP44.
 
nh_dish,

You should really consider DN's current Dishn' it Up offer. $100 gets you a 522 (or probably a 625 because many installers no longer stock the former). They will replace your old LNB with a DPP Twin, so just one line coming into the house from the dish. Have had mine about two weeks and love it.
 
BobaBird said:
The DPP Twin is probably your best solution. The 721 incompatibility problem somehow escaped mention earlier but for the record since the L177 software update the 721 CAN be used with the DPP Twin and DPP Separator.
Click to expand...
That's the first I've heard of this. Can you point me to something that supports it?
 
Well, forget the Dish 1000... I live in New England, and from the map I just saw at Dish Network... I can't get the 129° signal!! Yet one more service not available in "the sticks"... :-(
 
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