Solid Signal is one of the few places where you can still find a Slimline-5 LNB like the one you see above. The LNB hasn’t been made in years, and there’s a good reason for it: most folks don’t need one. Do you? Answer these questions and find out!
Do you need standard definition local channels?
DIRECTV stopped activating standard definition receivers back in 2017 or so. However, those receivers are exceptionally well built and there are still many of them left in service. If you have a DIRECTV model D12 or earlier, or any receiver whose model number starts with a D, that’s a standard-definition receiver. You can generally find the model number on a green sticker on the bottom of the receiver. If that model number starts with an H, you’re ok. That receiver will pull in high-definition programming even if you’re not currently using it that way.
Are you currently running a non-SWM system?
SWM technology is DIRECTV’s name for the way that it does all residential wiring now. A single wire goes throughout the house and special splitters are used to provide signal to more than one receiver.
There are two ways of knowing if you’re running a SWM system. The first is looking at the dish itself. If there’s only one wire coming out of it and you have more than one receiver, you’re running a SWM system.
The other thing you can do on most receivers is press the DASH button (located to the left of the zero) twice. You’ll get a popup like this one. If it says “SWiM Connected” then you do have a SWM system.
If you don’t have a SWM system, you should plan on a future upgrade because DIRECTV installations are all SWM now and at some point you will need to upgrade.
Do you live in one of these cities?
If you live near one of these cities and get your local channels from it:
- Albuquerque, NM
- Buffalo, NY
- Charleston, WV
- Fresno, CA
- Greensboro, NC
- Knoxville, TN
- Little Rock, AR
- Louisville, KY
- Mobile, AL
- New Orleans, LA
- Norfolk, VA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Paducah, KY
- Parkersville, WV
- Raleigh-Durham, NC
- Richmond, VA
- Roanoke, VA
- Shreveport, LA
- Tulsa, OK
- Wilkes-Barre, PA
then you might need a Slimline-5. These are the only cities that get any local channels at all from DIRECTV’s 119 satellite location. That list is shrinking quickly as DIRECTV turns off or moves local channels off that satellite.
Keep in mind that if you have an H-series receiver, you can get high-definition local channels even if you choose to watch them on a standard-definition TV.
If the answer to all three is YES:
Have you answered “yes” to all of those? If so, you are best off just leaving things as they are until you are running a SWM system.
If you have a SWM system and you need standard-definition locals:
This is the only case where I’d recommend replacing your LNB with the Slimline-5 LNB you see above.
In all other cases…
you’re really better off changing over to this Slimline-3 Reverse-band capable LNB. This device will help you be futureproof and will also give you the ability to pull in all the latest DIRECTV content. It’s what you need if you’re upgrading to the latest and greatest DIRECTV systems.
If you want to talk more about what you need, call the experts at Solid Signal! We’re here for you during East Coast business hours. Call us at 888-233-7563. If it’s after hours, fill out the form below. We’ll get right back to you!
