ScottChez said:
Question:
I currently have a 501 and a 4900 on an older Dish 500 that is using Two SW21 switches.
'sounds like you have 2 Dual LNBF's on the 500. One LNBF is for the 110 satellite, and the other is for the 119. Each LNBF has two outputs, which will output either the odd or the even transponders, depending on the DC voltage level fed into it by the receiver.
A SW21 switch is used for each receiver, to connect an LBNF output from the 110 bird and the 119 bird together. The receiver sends control signals to the switch to tell it which satellite to switch to.
To add a 3rd Receiver like the 921 that requires TWO more Sat feeds, what switch do I need?
In this case, you'll have 4 tuners. The most straightforward way to do this is to replace the two SW21's with an SW64 switch. It has 4 outputs for the 4 receivers. It has 6 inputs. You'll run the 4 outputs from the LNBF's to 4 of these. Two of the inputs will be left unconnected, and would be used in the future if you add a dish for the 61.5 or 148 degree satellite.
The SW64 will configure one of the outputs on an LNBF to emit the even transponders signal, and the other output the odd transponders. This way, all of the signals are continually available to the switch, and may be routed to any of the receivers as needed.
Will it be free with the purchase?
Maybe if Dish eventually has an upgrade deal for the 921 for existing customers, but I doubt it.
Do I also have to change the older LNBs for something like Dish Pro?
Not if you get the SW64. If you get a DishPro switch, such as the DP34, then you need to get DishPro LNBF's.
It's a newer technology. DishPro LNBF's are called "stacked" LNBF's because, unlike the legacy devices where only the either the odd or the even transponders are emitted depending on the DC voltage, the DishPro devices emit both at the same time, by putting one at a higher frequency band. Thus, all the transponders from a satellite can be carried on a single cable, at the same time.
Advantages are that only one cable per satellite is needed to the LNBF's. Also, since DC voltage is not used for switching, there's no need to worry about DC loss in the cable; cable runs can therefore be longer (~200 ft. of RG-6).
What switch would I need if I also want a 148 Degree 2nd dish for my PBS Local station on the wing sat?
As I said above, the SW64 would support that. You'll need to install a second dish with a legacy Dual LNBF.
This is an OK way to proceed, unless you want to go with more than 4 tuners in the near future. Doing so gets messy and costly with the SW64. With DishPro, it's alot easier, as the DP34 switch is made to be cascadable.
I plan to order a 921 on day one, if there is not too much of a wait on delivery. Needs something for Xmas.
Good Luck.
