I did a forum search and couldn't find this basic info.

It's been a while since I've done DirecTV and I'm looking for clarification on the type of dishes and wiring.

1. Is the 5 LNB slimline dish required to pick up all the current HD programming (at least for Colorado).
2. Are there two different types of LNB's with the slimline? - one with a SWM compatible switch and "regular"? If so, what is the name of is "regular" LNB.
3. Does a SWM compatible receiver have to be used with a SWM LNB, or can you use it with a different type of LNB. Is that where you use the B-band converters?

I recently installed a slimline dish with a SWM compatible receiver. I had to use the power inserter for it to work.

It also came with a 8 way splitter (looks like a regular RF splitter). I'm assuming you only have to have one receiver with the inserter between the receiver and the splitter, and then you can add as many SWM compatible receivers as needed to the splitter...

Thanks for any and all clarification!!!

I know that 110W carry most of National HD so a 3 LNB Dish will get you most HD at least. 99W and 103W are I beleive basically a repeat of 110 and 11W programming. dont know what they will do with the 72.7W slot now that bell launched their new Nimiq 5 and sold full capacity to Dish Network. Direct TV was leasing that orbital slot until 2010.

Yes there are 2 different sets of LNB's as you said. one SWM compatible , the other it is the regular called Slimline LNB I think. There is also the SWM ODU system that basically integrates the Slimline LNB and the standalone SWM into 1 complete unit. There is also the 3 LNB Slimline systemn that is not compatible with SWM technology.

Not necessarilly I beleive because the SWM compatible receiver also has another non-SWM LNB input. the H21 only has one input that is SWM compatible so I do not know in that case.

The B-Band converters are used to receive the "new" Ka band signals that carry the HD Locals so maybe your Colorado HD Locals are carried using this Ka band in the 99W or 103W slot. But if you use the SWM ODU system I beleive you no longer need the BBC or B-Band Converters.

Your last assumption is correct. You only need 1 power inserter (indoors always) to feed the splitter( could be outdoors) and then you just add up to 8 total SWM compatible receivers to the splitter. There is only 1 Wire running from the LNB to the splitter carring all potential 8 signals to the 8-way splitter so that is why is called Single Wire Multiswitch or SWM.

I hope it helped clarify.

Thanks dude

A lot of HDfan's post is not accurate.
DirecTV broadcasts from 99, 101, 103, 110 and 119, and then also from 95 (international channels) and from 72.5 (local channels in a few areas). HD national and local channels come from 99 and 103 - there are a couple on 110 and 119 but these are duplicated on 99/103 and the 110/119 versions will be going away soon.
119 carries some cities' SD locals, also carries the ethnic package, and the Hope channel.
If you don't have International, then most people need to receive signals only from 99/101/103, plus 119 if you are in one of the cities that get SD locals from 119. In Boulder your SD locals come from 101, so you don't really need 119 unless you have the ethnic package or want to watch the Hope channel.

The Slimline dish which you need for HD programming comes with different LNBs, the dish is actually the same. The LNBs are the SL3, SL5, SL3 SWM and SL5 SWM. The SL5 sees all the five satellite slots - 99/101/103/110/119, the SL3 just sees the three at 99/101/103. For you, you can use the SL5, or if you don't need 119, you can use the SL3. (Ignore 110, the few HD channels on 110 are going away - and are duplicated on 99/103 anyway). All HD receivers and DVRs on the regular SL3 and SL5 will need b-band converters to receive HD from 99/103, EXCEPT the H23 and HR23 which have wide-band tuners and so don't need the BBcs.
Or you can also use the SWM versions of the LNBs, which will give you a single wire into the house and allow you to connect both tuners of a DVR with a single cable, and don't need the BBCs.

All the types of receiver and DVR will work with the regular LNBs, but only certain types will work with SWM (D12, R16/22 and all the Hx series of receivers and the HR2x series of DVRs).

You have to use the power inserter with the SWM LNBs, because it powers the electronics in the dish. You can connect up to eight tuners to the SWM LNB using splitters - a DVR is two tuners. You can't go beyond that.

Thanks for clarifiying then. After 2 days and seing no one answered I decided to search the internet and break the ice with something. In my opinion something is always better than nothing and as we just witnessed it will at least create a contradiction that will eventually proof something not that I am a matematician but as in mathematics it also worked this time.