JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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Anyone tried to use the Winegard Trav'ler for DirecTV at high latitudes such as Alaska? We're sitting in Valdez and should have had a clear view of the 101 and 103 satellites, but were not able to receive them. An email to Winegard confirmed that the antenna will only receive signals to 15 degrees elevation. The 101 satellite for basic reception requires an elevation of 11.4 degrees from Valdez, and we could not get a lock.
I used the alternate tuning setup in the antenna documentation to limit the antenna to tune the 101 satellite. This bird will give you basic reception. I then deployed the antenna and stopped it by removing the power. Next I went up on the roof and placed a penny in the pinch point at the base of the LNB arm, and allowed the antenna to search for the 101. Surprise, surprise, we found the 101 and are now looking at DirecTV. An added benefit, we are getting SOME HD programming as a result of being able to receive the 103 bird, but not all HD channels are coming through as it appears all are not transmitted on 103.
Of course, the first time I stow the antenna the penny will drop out. I intend to wrap a piece of copper ground wire the same diameter as a penny thickness through the pinch point so I don't loose it on stowing.
Not ideal, but a partial solution for those who are in similar circumstances.
John
2008 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40' QSP
2006 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
BlueOx Aventa LX Tow Bar
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Copilot Live Laptop 10 GPS
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SCVJeff
Santa Clarita, CA.
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Joined: 07/28/2006
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So the penny pushes the feed up?.... Clever!
If you're there for awhile maybe you can use a small cable or light chain and let the feed position itself off of the top of the dish ?
Jeff - WA6EQU
'06 Itasca Meridian 34H, CAT C7/350
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96Bounder30E
Orange County, CA
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Joined: 11/21/2002
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moved from Tech issues
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JUrban
Delaware
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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SCVJeff wrote:So the penny pushes the feed up?.... Clever!
If you're there for awhile maybe you can use a small cable or light chain and let the feed position itself off of the top of the dish ? Good idea. I'm not sure how high I need to put it for areas around Fairbanks, so I didn't want to use anything permanent. If I get it too high I expect I'll loose signal strength due to the signal being shadowed and blocked by the LNB's. Right now the dish is actually looking down.
John
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