Using my SL5, but don't need it in my area. Can i just connect the 3-eyed center one and not use a SWM?

PS, i haven't checked to see how many wires are actually from the center LNB.

Your father's dish has the Single Wire Multiswitch (SWM) built in.  Your old dish is not SWM.  So you can connect any of that dish's four outputs to your regular receiver and it should work fine, once you've aimed it of course.  You do not need a SWM Power Inserter.  Just connect any one of the dish's four outputs directly to your Receiver's SAT IN connector.  Note that those four connectors are actually the outputs of an internal multiswitch that makes ALL of the LNBs available, not just the center LNB.  

If your receiver is an HD receiver and any series other than the 23 series you will need  a Bband converter....it is built into the 23 series.... SD receivers do not need the Bband.   Dish configuration should be Slimline 5 and multiswitch.

As the other posters indicate, the dish will indeed give you reception.  However, the (programs) channels you receive will depend on whether you have HD service, a HD receiver and what programming package you subscribe to.

In other words, that dish can receive all domestic programming but which you'll be able to see depends on your equipment and package purchased.

The Slimline 5-LNB dish can receive all of DirecTV's satellites.  It doesn't matter which LNB output you use.  Re-read my earlier response. 

Oh okay. Thanks Litz. I just found it hard to believe that only one of the 4 wires is needed to get all the HD programming. Not that I discounted your response. I've been overwhelmed trying to read a bunch of other things online about swm8 and whatnots. So, it doesn't matter which of the 4?

That's right.  Those four connectors are actually the outputs of a multiswitch inside the LNB assembly.  All four outputs are identical and provide access to all satellites.  

It is actually pretty amazing isn't it?  The way it works is the HD receiver sends a unique signal UP the coax to the multiswitch in the dish.  The switch them looks at the signal and connects the feed from the correct satellite and transponder to the coax and sends it DOWN the wire.  But, best of all, those 500 or so HD programs and the 499 SD counterparts are constantly and simultaneously rattling off the dish refelector available for the LNB's to lock on in an instant.

Amazing to say the least....when asked by customers how this and MRV or On Demand work I  have reduced my explanation to "It's Magic"

hi Litz

your replys are very helpful- so i guess you agree rthat i need a bband converter with my h24 and sl5s?

but the power inserter P1-21 is not required?

marta

Huh?  

Please start a new thread with more details about your equipment and what you're trying to do.  The "SL5S" model would suggest that you have a SWM dish, and that DOES require a Power Inserter.  And it does NOT use a B-Band Converter.