Has anyone switched to DirecTV lately?

Bill.Satellite wrote:

SNIP You will not get DirecTV HD programming with any dome and you will have to ensure that DirecTV does not provide you with the H25/HR34/HR44 receivers as these require the SWM technology which no dome contains. SNIP

Bill, Thanks for providing the model numbers of the receivers that require SWM. I searched all over the Direct TV web site and couldn't locate them.

I edited my earlier post to include them.

aruba5er wrote:
I never could get dish with my Weingard moving view model MV3500A auto finding reciever. I had Direct and wish to go back to them. I have e mailed them and called them to find out if this will work with todays Direct tv. So far no answer. Now that's CUSTOMER SERVICE. What is SWM and what does it mean. It appears I have an expensive paperweight on my camper roof.

It's hard to tell who "them" is. DirecTV will work with the Winegard dome systems as long as you ensure you have the proper switches set under the dome. You will not get DirecTV HD programming with any dome and you will have to ensure that DirecTV does not provide you with the H25/HR34/HR44 receivers as these require the SWM technology which no dome contains. You can update a dome to SWM for a couple of hundred dollars but you would be better off simply not going that route. If you will only use the receiver in the RV I would have them provide (or go buy) a D12 standard def receiver. If you will use it at home and in the RV just be sure they leave you at least one non-SWM receiver. The H24 is a good HD receiver which would work for HD at home and SD in the RV.

SWM=Single wire multiswitch. An LNB designed to provide a one coax cable hookup to a receiver with multiple tuners (maybe via a Power inserter).

I never could get dish with my Weingard moving view model MV3500A auto finding reciever. I had Direct and wish to go back to them. I have e mailed them and called them to find out if this will work with todays Direct tv. So far no answer. Now that's CUSTOMER SERVICE. What is SWM and what does it mean. It appears I have an expensive paperweight on my camper roof.

If you have been pointing a Dish antenna, you will find that pointing a DirecTV antenna with the SL3 LNB is actually easier. The satellites are all located only 4 degrees apart so when you find 101 you have likely found the others as well. Very little tilt (skew) is required and only a small opening in the trees is necessary to locate all DTV satellites vs. nearly 20 degrees of open sky to find all of the Dish satellites.

We had a non SWM Winegard SK3005 installed and just provided our service center with the SWM switch and the inserter. No issues at all.

Many Direct receivers are capable of both SWM and non SWM.
The H24 and many earlier ones can be set in the menu for either SWM or non SWM.

Some later ones -H25-HR34- HR44 are only SWM comparable.
There are two versions of the Slimline dishes - SWM and non SWM.
You have to match the dish and the receiver.

If you have a non SWM dish - like my Winegard Traveler SK3005 - Winegard makes a kit that will convert a non SWM dish to a SWM one.

Movin' on wrote:
The "new" SWM technology that doesn't work with the old system. I guess if you have had Direcdtv for awhile you still use the old system. Wish we could.

SWM is no big deal. As said, you need a PI (power inserter) and a few more cables. Plenty 'o instructions on the 'net to set it up. I've been with DTV for 15 years.

SWM is nice because you need only one cable to the box.

I am a long time DTV customer. I just converted my RV to SWM. it isn't any harder to set up than the old system. You need a power inserter but its simple to connect.
You need to understand how to navigate the setup menus on the sat box. If you have never set up a dish or used the menus, it would wise to have someone walk you through it. I set up my HD slimline dish in a few minutes several times per year.

I got DirectTV about 3 or 4 months ago. It took a little learning, but once you get the hang of it, it isn't bad. You don't need any expensive meters or classes. Your installer should show you how to set it up.
I use an Orientering compass. It helps get an exact azmuth. Just pay attention to your aiming. The only problem I have had was once when the aiming info was incorrect. It said the tilt should be 82. After a few hours of sweating and cussing, I called customer support and was told the tilt should be 94. Made the agent hold while I went out and changed it to 94. Bang! singles in the high 90s. Just be as exact as you can when aiming your dish.