Dish Pro Plus Switches and LNBs

Dish Pro Plus is the third and current generation of Dish Network switch technology. All new installations done by Dish Network use Dish Pro Plus equipment. When connected to a single tuner receiver, a DPP switch behaves exactly the same way as a Dish Pro switch - odd and even transponders are sent down the line in a single block from 950-2150 MHz. The primary advantage to Dish Pro Plus is that it eliminates the need to run multiple cables to dual tuner receivers. When connected to a dual tuner receiver like the DP322 or ViP222 the switch sends the signal for tuner 1 at 950-1450 MHz and the signal for tuner 2 at 1650-2150 MHz. In this way a Dish Pro Plus switch is able to send signals for two tuners over a single cable without using any more bandwidth than Dish Pro. Since it uses the same frequencies as Dish Pro, Dish Pro Plus is subject to the same limitations - all cabling, couplers and connectors need to be rated to 2150 MHz. Dish Pro Plus is limited to cable runs of 250 feet from switch to dish. Because the signal for tuner 2 is sent at a much higher frequency, it will often experience problems before tuner 1.

All Dish Pro Plus equipment is compatible with all Dish Network receivers, including legacy receivers and Hopper and Joey. Legacy receivers require a power inserter to provide the proper current, unless there is at least one Dish Pro or ViP receiver connected to the same switch. Hopper and Joey systems require a dpX Node between the system and DPP switch. Dish Pro Plus LNBs can be connected to a Dish Pro or Dish Pro Plus switch when more outputs are required. All Dish Pro LNBs may be connected to any Dish Pro Plus switch.

DPP Separators

The separator is installed behind the receiver. It has an input which is connected to the satellite feed and two outputs, one for each tuner of a dual tuner receiver. The separator is essentially a band filter, it passes 950-1450 MHz to tuner 1 and 1650-2150 MHz to tuner 2, while only allowing DC power and DiSEqC commands to pass to the switch from tuner 1. The switch sends separate signals consisting of either even or odd transponders for one satellite to each tuner. Two cable runs are required when a separator is not used with a dual tuner, in which case the receiver treats the switch as a Dish Pro switch. Recently, Dish has started shipping separators with a built-in diplexer called a triplexer. These work the same way as a separator connected inline with a diplexer. Separators should be used with dual tuner receivers whenever DPP switches are used, running separate lines from a DPP switch to each tuner works but is undocumented and may cause unforseen problems. Seperators should never be used on single-tuner receivers or the 311k.

DPP LNBs

Twin

The Twin is the Dish Pro Plus version of the original Twin. It's physically interchangeable with the legacy Twin and Dish Pro Twin. It contains two Dish Pro LNBs for 110° and 119° with an integrated Dish Pro Plus switch with two outputs for two single or dual tuner receivers for up to four rooms, and one external LNB input. The DPP Twin is currently supplied by Dish for new Dish 500 installations. It was an integral part of the original Dish 1000, which used a DPP Twin for 110° and 119° and a DP Dual connected to the external LNB input for 129°. It shows up on a check switch as "DPP Twin", "DPP Twin w/ Separator" or "DPP Twin, Dual" for the original Dish 1000.

1000.2 Western Arc Triple

The 1000.2 is the dish most commonly installed for new customers. The 1K2 WA receives all MPEG-2 SD and MPEG-4 HD programming and local channels. The 1K2 WA integrates three Dish Pro DBS LNBs receiving 110°/119°/129° and a DPP switch with three outputs and one external LNB input. The external input is rarely used except when there is no line of sight to all three satellites from any one location, in which case a wing dish (a Dish 500 with a single LNB bracket and DP Dual) is used. The external input may also be used in conjunction with a Super Dish or Plus dish to add FSS programming. The 1K2 is most commonly used in the western half of the country, and/or for accounts with mixed SD and HD equipment, and/or where there is no line of sight to the eastern arc satellites, and/or for local programming in some smaller markets where the local channels are unavailable on the eastern arc. These show up on a check switch as "DPP 1K2" or DPP 1K2 w/ Seperator.

1000.4 Eastern Arc Triple

The 1000.4 is a slightly larger dish, so the LNBFs from the 1000.2 are physically incompatible. The 1K4 eastern arc contains three Dish Pro DBS LNBs for reception of 61.5°/72°/77° and a DPP switch with an external LNB input. These were only produced for a few years. Dish no longer maintains a satellite at 77°, so these are no longer actively produced or installed, but they are still availble as replacement parts. New eastern arc installations instead use the 1K2 EA. The eastern arc is all MPEG-4, so this LNB is incompatible with all MPEG-2 (SD) receivers.  It will show up on a check switch as "DPP 1K4" or DPP 1K4 w/ Separator".

1000.4 Western Arc Triple

Dish Network briefly considered switching from the 1000.2 to the 1000.4, and produced the 1K4 western arc as a step towards this. It contains three Dish Pro DBS LNBs for reception of 110°/119°/129° connected to a DPP switch with three outputs and one external LNB input. Its application and appearance is similar to the 1K2WA, but since the 1000.4 is a slightly larger dish the LNBFs from the 1000.2 are physically incompatible. The 1K4 dish and by extension its LNBs are no longer produced or used for new installations, but are sometimes available as replacement parts. When replacement parts are unavailable, the standard practice is to replace the dish with a 1K2.  This LNB shows up on a check switch as "DPP 1K4 WA" or DPP 1K4 WA w/ Separator"

1000.2 Eastern Arc Twin

Dish decided to discontinue the 1000.4 dishes and standardize on an eastern and western version of the 1000.2 instead. The 1K2 EA contains two Dish Pro DBS LNBs for reception of 61.5°/72° connected to a DPP switch with three outputs and no external inputs. The 1K2 EA receives all MPEG-4 SD and HD programming including (most) local channels. The eastern arc is all MPEG-4, so this LNB is incompatible with all MPEG-2 (SD) receivers. It shows up on a check switch as "DPP EA TWIN" or "DPP EA TWIN w/ Separator"

DPP 500+

The DPP 500+ is used on new installations of the Dish 500+ and Dish 1000+. It has two feedhorns with three LNBs for reception of the DBS and FSS satellites at 119° and the DBS satellite at 110°. It comes with three outputs for three single or dual tuners for up to six rooms. In the 1000+, a bracket and external LNB input is provided for the addition of a DP Dual for reception of 129°. The DPP 500+ is only compatible with the Plus dish. It shows up on a check switch as "DPP 500+" or "DPP 500+ w/ Separator".

DPP Switches

DPP33

A 3 input, 3 output switch capable of supporting three single or dual tuner receivers for up to six rooms. The DPP33 is relatively rare, it was mainly used with later Super Dishes and in conjunction with a DP Dual for upgrades from the DP Twin Dish 500 to a Dish 1000. Unlike other Dish Pro and Dish Pro Plus switches, it has no outputs for connecting additional switches. If more outputs are required a satellite grade splitter must be used to send the signal to any additional switches. The DPP33 does not require a power inserter. These are no longer produced or used on new installations. They show up in a check switch as "DPP33" or "DPP33 w/ Separator".

DPP44

The DPP44 is the primary switch used for new installations where a standalone switch is required. It has four Dish Pro inputs and four Dish Pro Plus outputs, for up to four single or dual tuner receivers for up to eight rooms. The DPP44 has signal output ports on its right side which allow trunking up to three switches together. A single Dish 500 or Dish 1000 using DP Duals is capable of supporting a maximum of  six switches, for up to 24 single or dual tuner receivers for a maximum of 48 rooms.

Its most common use in new installations is in setups that require more than the three outputs available on the Dish 1K2 LNBs, and on Plus Dishes that use the older dual band LNB. Any Dish Pro or Dish Pro Plus LNB  may be used as a source for the DPP44. When switched LNBs like the 1K2 are used with the DPP44 each port defaults to a separate satellite. The DPP44 should always be used with the power inserter. No additional power inserters are required when using legacy receivers with this switch. There are two separate versions of the DPP44, one with a chrome finish and one with a gray powder coat finish. Only the powder coated version is NFPA approved for use as a grounding block. An external ground block should be used with the chrome finish version. This switch shows up on a check switch as "DPP44" or "DPP44 w/ Separator".