DirecTv Antenna

[sheltie]

 ordered a DirecTv antenna from eBay and the picture they used showed three lnbs on an oblong "holder".  The one I received was a single lnb on a square holder.  If this is HD then I don't care, but nowhere does it say that it is HD.  Does anyone have any idea whether this is HD or simply SD?

[bobsharon]

If it is the latest and greatest there appears to be only one RF head.
I just had my stick house upgraded 6 weeks ago and they replaced my three head HD SWM with a single one which appears to be functionally equivalent (same antenna selection on the house receivers works).
Choices are to pull apart and get a model number on the RF head to check or fire it up and see if it works.

[Flyboy]

I agree. Fire it up and see if you receive HD.  If you don't then there may be some receiver settings than may need to be changed. Call tech support to walk you thru that and it will also answer the single LNB question.

[Gary RV Roamer]

"HD" or not depends on which satellite you are receiving. Direct's main HD channels are on a separate satellite, requiring an LNB aimed at it and a receiver set up to process the signals from it (it's a Ka band transmission, unlike the Ku band for their other satellites. The 3 LNB dish is designed to receive from three birds without re-aiming, and one of those LNBs will handle the bird that has the HD programming, while the others handle the regular channels, which are on 101 and 119 for DirectTV.

[jim and di]

The new SWM has one LNB it sees 5 birds. I have one set up now. Look for "Just Lou's posts about what is the best dish for me" the things works better that the stick house.
Jim

[taoshum]

ordered a DirecTv antenna from eBay and the picture they used showed three lnbs on an oblong "holder".  The one I received was a single lnb on a square holder.  If this is HD then I don't care, but nowhere does it say that it is HD.  Does anyone have any idea whether this is HD or simply SD?

The new HD units usually have 3 "bumps" on the surface of the LNB.  If you wanna test it, get the azmuth, elevation and tilt for your zipcode... get the base level (use a bubble, this is critical), then set the tilt and elevation, then sweep the azmuth until you max out on the 101 satellite.  You can check on 110, 119, 103 and 99 but they are usually "ok".  If you have the lead screw fine adjustment, you can turn those to get 101 even higher for a better signal.  Not as easy as the older SD dish...

[jim and di]

Taoshum,
The newest of the new has one smooth LNB, now what is inside this plastic head I do not know. The alignment is very simple with a App for the Iphone. It turns your camera into a sight tool and shows the Directv birds and the names. Just point and shoot.
Jim