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Useful Terms
Useful Terms
If you’re not an audio/video wizard, you may find yourself stumbling over some of the
names, features and functions of various pieces of equipment. Here’s a quick reference to
help you understand some of the terms you may encounter during installation.
Satellite Dish Antennas—Types and Terms
Round Single Satellite Dish Antenna, Oval 2 Satellite Dish Antenna, and Oval 3
Satellite Dish Antenna: The names Round single, Oval 2, and Oval 3 satellite dish
antennas refer to both the most common shape of the dish and the number of satellites
from which a dish can receive information. To determine what type of dish you have, look
at the arm extending out from the dish. At the end of this arm are one or more “fingers”
ending in mushroom shaped parts pointing back at the dish. A single satellite dish antenna
has one of these “fingers” pointing back at the dish, a 2 satellite dish antenna has two, and
a 3 satellite dish antenna has three. If you own a 2 or 3 satellite dish antenna, your DVR
will not work properly unless you have connected a multiswitch with at least four inputs
and two outputs. For a definition of a multiswitch, see page 6.
Single LNB and Dual LNB Satellite Dish Antennas: Single LNB and Dual LNB refer to
the number of independent signals a dish can send to your audio/video equipment. A
Single LNB sends one signal and has one jack, or connector, inside the arm extending
from the dish. A Dual LNB sends two signals and has two jacks. The easiest way to
determine what type of dish you have is to consult the documentation that came with the
dish. Disassembling the dish to determine its type is not recommended.
Satellite Receiver: A satellite receiver does what its name suggests and more. It
“receives” the signal from your satellite dish antenna, then translates it into a signal your
TV can understand, then sends it to the TV. Your DIRECTV
®
DVR has a built-in satellite
receiver.
Round Single
satellite dish
antenna
Oval 2
satellite dish
antenna
Oval 3
satellite dish
antenna
Single LNB
(Single Satellite)
Dual LNB
(Single Satellite)