Multiple dish on one property

DTV is shutting down the MPEG2 channels and moving all the local channels to the 99/103 sats.  AFAIK the 101 sat will continue to broadcast the nationwide channels in MPEG4 so any H or HR 20-24 receiver will work with the 18" dish if you can find and activate one.  You can have as many dishes as you want but you will have to buy and install them or hire someone to do it and DTV will not service them.

The Genies need a SWM slimline dish.

Thanks.....I have access to an H24 receiver, just wasn't certain compatibility to the old 18" round dish. Hoping directtv can send a flash/access card for the receiver and add it to our account. Then fingers crossed for signal. Btw, we have an antenna for local channels. Dad has trouble switching between local and sat tv....oh well.  Thanks a bunch.

DirecTV stopped reactivating old boxes within the last few years, even when they are (relatively) recent models like your H24. However, if you call them and speak to the retention department (say "cancel" at the voice prompt) they might be able to work around that, as long as that box was active on your account and not from someone else's, for the purpose of keeping a customer.

Fortunately you have the regular Genie (HR54, which is the 3rd generation) as it allows other H or HR models (or special R22) to be on the account. If ever offered, do NOT get the Genie-2 (HS17) as that forbids other receivers so would not be friendly for your barn setup as everything would have to be on the same dish.

As long as barn and home are same address/property, then just the $7 additional TV fee as normal. Though you may want to plan to one day install a new MPEG-4 dish so the barn can get the full service you're paying for. 

other Option would be to replace the 18" Dish on the barn with a Slimline Dish and a P-29 Power Supply to Power the SWIM (3) LNB then connect a receiver -Only thing you would lose is Whole home feature -meaning you would not Have Access to the recording on the Hr54. (however) You would still have all your Channels (in your Package) at the Barn.

Just Activate the H24 in your House --then Move it to the barn.

Would this slimline with 1 LNB suffice? Neighbor had this unused dish.

Curious what functionality would be lost if we continued to use the 18" round dish versus the slimline 3LNB OR SLIMLINE 1LNB. Don't need anything fancy for the barn just some stations 

Yes. It's the correct Dish with a 3lnb --NOTE as long as the dish is not mis-shaped or bent even slightly it will not get a correct signal.

It will not fit the 18" dish Mounted pole you have now. 

If the Current LNB installed Has 4 RG -ports it's Legacy LNB (meaning Using your H24 you would need a BBC added to the rear of SAT1 on the rear of the H24 to get HD Service. --You would need a(3)Lng with one RG6 Port to use the PI-29 power supply --Parts you can get on Ebay or Solid signal .com.

The 18" Dish you won't get hd or most of the channels as its SD only.

As stated before you will not get local channels with the 18" dish.

Thanks a bunch. Lots of technical part terms I have yet to learn.