What is a eliptical dish ? Does the new A55 Sony reciver have duel connecters so ytou can watch two different channels on one reciverv (like the dishnetwork reciver 5000) ??

Eliptical dish is needed to view stuff of second satellite - like HBO HD and HD PPV (Ch 150). Without the ellipse dish, you'd have to re-aim your dish to the other satellite and you then wouldn't get program guides. It does not allow watch one and record one (or pip).

Now that DirecTV is broadcasting local channels,in some areas the local channels come from a different satellite than the DirecTV channels. The eliptical dish is the only way to get signals from 2 sats.

In some areas (Raleigh/Durham, NC, for instance) the local programming is provided on a 3rd satellite, further complicating things.

The eliptical dish comes with a multi-switch that combines and routes the signals from all 3 satellittes. You need to have 1 RG6 running to each reciever from the dish, with a maximum of 4 receivers. (it's technically possible to run more than four receivers, but you need more hardware, and 4 wires to the dish from your distribution.)

from what I understand, the elliptical dish must be professionally installed. It is a bit tricky to get
fine tuned.

also, getting some channels (local) activated takes some time. (4 hours + from the time directv sets up the account).

The Eliptical dishes are not difficult to install. For those on Dish Network one of the info channels does an excellent job of explaining the installation process. It took me less that an hour from out of box to new setup fully installed. Now I just hope they bring up the Indianapolis Locals sometime soon.

Good info here

[Link: avsforum.com]
[Link: avsforum.com]