Diplex OTA antenna instead of a satellite?

[DallasDave]

I have an HR10-250 with the OTA antenna feed diplexed into one of the satellite feeds. The DirecTV tech was going to run a separate line for the antenna, but he said that the construction of my home would not allow him to feed another line through my wall to the TV.

To compensate me for other problems (I won't go into here), DirecTV has offered to upgrade me to the 5 LNB dish. I know the HR10-250 will not decode MPEG4, but I have heard on this forum that the 5 LNB dish is desirable because it provides better protection against rain fade, etc.. I have also heard that the 5 LNB dish does not allow the antenna line to be diplexed into the satellite feed, which would then necessitate running a separate line for the antenna…which cannot be done for the reasons stated above.

My understanding is that some of satellites picked up by the 5 LNB dish broadcast MPEG 4 only and aren't of use to the HR10-250. My question is: if I decided not to "view" one of the MPEG 4 satellites, could I then diplex the OTA antenna feed onto one of the satellite lines?

I'd appreciate any info and/or advice.

[dswallow]

I have an HR10-250 with the OTA antenna feed diplexed into one of the satellite feeds. The DirecTV tech was going to run a separate line for the antenna, but he said that the construction of my home would not allow him to feed another line through my wall to the TV.

To compensate me for other problems (I won't go into here), DirecTV has offered to upgrade me to the 5 LNB dish. I know the HR10-250 will not decode MPEG4, but I have heard on this forum that the 5 LNB dish is desirable because it provides better protection against rain fade, etc.. I have also heard that the 5 LNB dish does not allow the antenna line to be diplexed into the satellite feed, which would then necessitate running a separate line for the antenna…which cannot be done for the reasons stated above.

My understanding is that some of satellites picked up by the 5 LNB dish broadcast MPEG 4 only and aren't of use to the HR10-250. My question is: if I decided not to "view" one of the MPEG 4 satellites, could I then diplex the OTA antenna feed onto one of the satellite lines?

I'd appreciate any info and/or advice.
You can diplex an OTA (or cable) signal over any of the connections that you don't need for MPEG-4 signals. And actually it's only about 1/2 of the MPEG-4 signals that would be affected since the other half are carried at frequencies above the Ku-band satellite signals.

I doubt there's really any significant benefit of the 5-LNB over the 3-LNB or single LNB dishes; while the overall dish itself might be a little larger; the area focused on any given LNB is roughly the same. If there's any real benefit, it's from the precision aiming that must be done to ensure a good Ka-band signal; now your dish is also aimed better for the Ku-band signals.

[DallasDave]

Thanks, Doug.

I thought there was more advantage to the 5-LNB dish.

[price3]

Also, just to point out it IS possible to run another line into your house. It may be expensive, but it is possible.

[TyroneShoes]

...I doubt there's really any significant benefit of the 5-LNB over the 3-LNB or single LNB dishes...
I agree. Any time you have more LNBFs, you are dealing with a compromise. The 3 LNBF dish had to be larger, and the 5 has to be larger yet, to compensate. A multi-dish can not be parabolic in both axes, it must be spherical in one axis, which makes it less efficient, and aiming becomes progressively more of a compromise as you add focal points. I would guess that each is engineered for similar fade margin, but there is considerable corporate pressure to keep the dish as small as possible.