Dish Question

[Boomer II]

How can I test my portable dish to see if it's working, can't seem to pick up a signal. The first couple of times I used it I nailed the sattelite first try every time. Thanks for the info.

 

[y-knot]

You can get a meter that measure signal strength. There are several on the market, the analog ones are the cheapest. A company called TALCO ELECTRONICS has both analog and digital meters, and the best prices. Camping World has the analog meter also, but it 39. 95 on "sale" with them, or 9. 95 everyday at talco. www.talcoelectronics.com

 

[B.G. Smith]

Dish

Hook up the dish and turn on the receiver and TV. Go to the menue and select setup/aim satellite etc. have someone watch the TV screen while you aim the satellite, the signal strenth should appear on theTV screen. bg

 

[Boomer II]

I've done that deal, only get a Zero on the meter. That's why I think it's not working. I've got a meter but don't quite grasp the instructions that came with it. It's terrible to be electronically challenged

 

[y-knot]

I have direct tv and I can put in the local zip code, and it will tell me what elivation and asmyth I need to be set at.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Maybe?

"I've done that deal, only get a Zero on the meter. " Turn the receiver on , hook the meter in the receiver to dish line and turn the meter up until you get a response on the dial, now shake rattle and roll the dish and see if the signal improves, when you get a full scale reading, turn the meter down to half scale and do it all over again, keep doing this till you can't improve the signal anymore. Hope this helps. bg

 

[Boomer II]

Yep, that helps a lot, I'll give it a shot, appreciate the help guys.

 

[CKimball]

hey... i need to chime in here and ask a somewhat related question..... I just bought a new trailer that has three tv spaces IE living room, back bunk room for the lil cheribs and one on the bedroom... what is needed to run three tvs (or at least two) on different channels??

thanks in advance

Cameron

 

[klenger]

You need to have a separate satellite receiver for each TV that you what to have independent channel control with. A single satellite dish can be connected to up to 4 receivers, depending on the antenna type. Dual LNB antennas (supports 2 receivers) have been popular for quite some time and are available pretty cheap.

 

[JohnCooper]

If you are going to run more than 2 recievers (3 or 4) the best deal in dishes is the oval RCA dish for HDTV. I bought mine at Best Buy for $99. 00. It has 3 LNBs and a built in 4 output switch. just hook up each reciever (up to 4) directly to the dish. I recently added a Hughes Tivo box with two tuners built in to my system along with my original reciever. I had a single LNB dish. By the time I priced out a new dual LNB, a switch and the other misc hardware, I was way over the price of the HDTV dish, and now I have a dish for the camper.

 

[Tom W]

I had a problem when I first got my dish. I set it up on a porch and thought I had an unobstructed view of the satellite. Wrong, I mistakenly thought the dish pointed at the satellite. It does not, the satellite is a lot higher than it might appear, the signal enters at an angle and is reflected into the center post. The porch roof overhang was blocking the signal. Be careful if you are setting up under an awning.

 

[klenger]

the best deal in dishes is the oval RCA dish for HDTV

I got that antenna installed for free from DirecTV with a 1 year committment. I needed it to receive local Tucson TV channels. I don't know if I'd recommend it for an RV though because I think it's more critical to aim, but have not done it myself.

 

[DIESELMAN]

The larger dishes might be a PITA to aim, but Dish Network and the larger dish is the choice to make for travel up to Yukon and Alaska.

 

[Hunter1]

I have Dish Network and the plate is attached to a rubber pad that is about 18" x 18" about 3" thick that is really heavy, costs $50. I can always beat the guys with the tripod setups, I am having a beer watching TV before they even get a good start and the wind does not affect it due to its weight.



I get the local ZIp code and Dish tells me onscreen what the angles are.



I set the up and down to the correct degree, take my 2 way little level and level the rubber pad, stand behind it with my compass and check to see if there are any obstructions, move it close to the right degree South and then have the wife watch the screen, I slowly rotate the plate a little at a time to the right (I always start short of the prescribed degrees) and when she says it is ok, I stop.



This method is basically fool proof, if you have the right up and down angle and you are level at the base, you have a clear view in the right direction it is impossible not to get a signal in this manner, by slowly rotating the Dish even if you did not know the correct degree South you would find the signal by merely rotating it around, 360 degrees if need be but you would come across the signal on the way.



It usually takes me less than 5 minutes total from the time the dish comes outta the back of the truck, in the lower 48 Dish has a very strong signal and you don't have to be right on to get adequate TV



Hope this helps



Hunter1

 

[Dane]

I've installed gazillions of DirecTV dishes and from my experience -



1) Make sure the mast is level, REAL level, not just close



2) Make sure when you take your compass headings you are not near anything metal - the dish itself, chimney flashing, etc... or your headings will be off.



3) Never put the dish under anything like a tree or roof eave on a sidewall. For some reason it screws the signal. Don't tell me about microwave theory, just believe it don't work



4) Make small changes when adjusting the dish, even when probing for a signal.

 

[ImagesThatSing]

I can never make the satellite finder work

We camp every Friday Through Sunday atleast, and I set up the Dish network satellite each weekend. I could never get the satellite finder to work, never, but if I level it quickely but accurately,and point it with the compass it comes in first time every time. I wonder if there is something I am missing about the satellite finder or if it is a bum unit.



I connect the satellite finder, in line, start the tv and the receiver, but nothing changes at all adjust up, down, neutral.

But as long as it comes in first time every time with a level and compass pointed process, I can get by.



If you know what I am doing wrong, though...

 

[klenger]

ImagesThatSing



I have not used a statellite finder, but you might need to select the satellite antenna setup page on your receiver for it to output the correct signal for the finder to work. I have an old Sony SLB antenna that has a flashing LED to help with alignment, but it does not flash unless I have the (DirecTV) satellite receiver on the antenna setup page.

 

[Jack in Alaska]

Dieselman...



The 18" dish now works pretty good(but not perfect) around Anchorage. The signal has apparently been strengthened recently.

It should be ok in the Yukon also.

 

[LSeverson]

Originally posted by CKimball

I just bought a new trailer that has three tv spaces IE living room, back bunk room for the lil cheribs and one on the bedroom... what is needed to run three tvs (or at least two) on different channels??

thanks in advance

Cameron [/B]

I have exactly the same set up. I ordered a roof mounted satellite with my camper. When I got it you could only view the satellite in the living room. So I pulled the plate off the wall and re-connected the cables to a switch like this one. www.winegard.com/mobile/videosw.htm Now I can watch the DVD, VCR, SAT. , or antenna/cable on any tv in the camper. Also I separated the antenna connection and the cable connection so now I can connect a remote satellite to the outside cable connection when I can't get a clear view with the rooftop.



Now we pop a Bob the Builder in the DVD and the wife and I can watch the satellite.

 

[Utah Willie]

Check your coax. Try another you know to be good. I had a similar problem..... it was the coax... .