- February 27, 2023
- Category: Blog
The Dish Smartbox 2 and DIRECTV COM3000 Headend TV System are both super-compact TV headend distribution systems, but they have some key differences.
What is a headend anyway?
A headend is a system that allows for multiple channels to be distributed over the same wire. All the necessary cable, off-air, internet, or satellite receivers are located in one place. Using modulators, each signal is placed on just one small chunk of the overall frequencies that a coax cable can carry.
You’ve seen headends in use in hotels, where you get a handful of channels on the hotel TV. They’re also useful in businesses, private yachts, bars, restaurants, and many other commercial environment. A headend is easier to wire and maintain than putting individual receivers in rooms.
So will you need a special TV?
The COM3000 and Smartbox systems use special hardware to give the best possible quality. Each actually puts real satellite receivers into their systems which means the signals are pristine when they get to the television. This has made the content providers nervous.
Believe it or not, content providers think people check into hotel rooms to steal TV programs and make digital copies of them. Of course they don’t. Of course that’s silly. But that’s what they think.
In order to make these compact headends possible, both DIRECTV and DISH have entered into contracts saying that they will encrypt the TV content they put out. Special TVs with Pro:Idiom encryption can be used, or a Pro:Idiom converter box can also be used. The encryption can only be bypassed for test purposes by a technician.
The good news is that these special TVs don’t cost any more than other quality TV. No, they won’t compete with the TVs you get at the local Walmart. But if you’re outfitting a hotel with quality televisions designed to last 5-7 years of heavy use, you’ll find that the cost difference is pretty minimal. You just want to plan ahead in order to make sure you don’t need those converter boxes. While they aren’t expensive it’s an expense you won’t need if you plan ahead.
The Dish Smartbox 2 is a satellite-based TV distribution system that uses a single wire to deliver both satellite and IP signals to a property, eliminating the need for multiple cables. The Smartbox 2 also supports up to 16 tuners, allowing for a greater number of channels to be distributed to a property. The Smartbox 2 also offers advanced features such as 4K resolution and remote management capabilities.
The DIRECTV COM3000 Headend TV System, on the other hand, is a headend system that uses multiple satellite dishes and a centralized distribution hub to deliver TV signals to a property. The COM3000 is capable of supporting up to 138 channels and also offers advanced features such as 4K resolution and a user-friendly interface.
In summary, the main differences between the Dish Smartbox 2 and DIRECTV COM3000 Headend TV System are the method of distribution and the number of channels supported. The Smartbox 2 uses a single wire to deliver both satellite and IP signals, while the COM3000 uses multiple satellite dishes and a centralized distribution hub. The Smartbox 2 supports up to 16 tuners, while the COM3000 supports up to 138 channels. The choice between these two systems ultimately depends on the specific needs and requirements of the property in question.