Alaska Dish Questions

I'm not an expert in requirements for Alaska, but I kinda feel sorry that you haven't had other responses, so I'll do the best I can.  The dish should have come with an LNB that fits on the end of the arm, and there are either 1 or 4 coax output connections.  There are also either 1 or 3 knobs on the LNB.  If there is 1 knob, then its a 3 LNB, and if there are 3 knobs then its a 5 LNB.  If there is 1 coax output, its a SWM, and if there are 4, then its not.  Post back with what you have, and we'll go from there.

OK, so you have a non-SWM system.  You will be using 2 of the 4 coax outputs from the LNB for your HR24, and you will need baseband converters for both satellite inputs.  No problem with no reception from the 110 satellite as DIRECTV no longer uses that satellite, but if you do not have a clear line of site to the 119, then you will have issues receiving guide data.  There will be no need for a second dish unless you want access to some international programming.

Thanks for all your help!  What is a baseband converter?  This LNB does not have 119, I really dont want to put up another big dish, one is more then enough!  I read somewhere about using a SWM8, but I am far from an expert.

No, this is the Alaska dish, part of a two-dish system. One dish receives 99/101/103 and the other dish (that connects to the first dish) receives 110/119. The only way you can use the 99/101/103 dish on its own is to connect it via four cables to an SWM8 multiswitch (in fact many of the earlier single dish installations in Alaska use the SWM5, which has not been available for quite a while). The SWM8 always takes guide data from 101 and therefore you don't need 119 (which in a non-SWM system carries the guide data when you are tuned to 103). 

So an SWM8 and associated power inserter are required if you don't want to use the second dish.

thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm glad texasbrit got involved in this...as I said, I'm no expert in Alaska requirements, but he's the best.

Thanks for your input as well...... 🙂

Boy, I wonder at the depth of his data base.  And, as I understand it, he works as well and contributes at dbstalk.  Go figure.