[Tabb]

I've just spent the last 2 hours reading about Dish testing and I am officially more confused than when I started!!

I just bought a Dish 4000 receiver and a dual LNB from Ebay. Do I also need some kind of switch as well to get Dish 500? I am planning to hook the LNB up to my existing DTV dish. Is this doable?

I am a little torn as to which way I should go. Should I go plastic or Atmeg or emulation? Is the Magic Card better than Atmeg?

I know, I know!! Another God @#@# DTV refugee!!! PLEASE HELP! or point me in the right direction!

[LocoMex]

I'm a newbie in this arena too. But, I have done some reading. For what it is worth, a 4000 series IRD is sometimes called a grey box. There is no port to Jtag the receiver and save the Tsop and Effrom. So, before you put the 4000 in the stream, you might consider installing a good Tsop and Effrom lock.

I don't know if your DVT dish will work with Dish, but I think it will after you realign the dish. In Mexico, it takes two dishes to receive 119 and 110. That means a SW-21 switch. If you are able to use the dual LNB you got on Ebay, you will need a SW-21 switch also.

If you're thinking Magic Card, beware. I bought two M.C. with loaders. The loaders lock up and quit responding, so I have never been able to program the cards. The dealer says it's a computer problem, but if you read some of the discussions on Magic Card, you'll find this is a very common occurrance. For me, the magic card sucks.

The only other thing I have been successfull at is programing plastic in Nagraedit. But, I still have not been able to get PPV channels. I'm a newbie too, so take these comments for what they are worth. Good Luck. LocoMex

[FreshManDTV]

You'll spend a lot more than 2 hours to mess with Dish. You shouldn't buy anything for Dish unless you understand it a little bit. I spent a good 4 weeks readding before I do anything. So plan to do a lot more reading when you got time.

You can use any DTV dish, without changing the LNB, to get DISH (just re-aim to 119 and/or 110). The only thing that won't work is DTV multiswitch, if you have one. As far as how to get TV, it's the matter of prefference. You just have to readding the pro & con of each and decide which is best for you. I am using card & emu now and love it.

If you have a card, do not put it in the stream. If you plan to emu, get a junk computer somewhere. I use max/mel for emu bc I'd like to buy parts and assemble myself. You can buy the whole package if you wish.

You'll also need a JTAG, an absolute must (your 4000 won't need it though), and ISO programmer if you want to use card. EEPROM & TSOP locks are optionals, I don't have any of them.

I considered myself a newbie as well. Anyway, set out a good several weeks to catch it. Good luck.

[Tabb]

I spent another couple hours reading after I posted and found the 4000 has no Jtag port as you both have said. But I got it pretty cheap and it came with a ROM 3, so not a total loss i guess. I am going to try and get a 301.10 to test instead.

Thanks for the help.