KCFDCapt
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I purchased a tripod and a 500 series antenna from the Dish TV installer for my RV when he installed the Dish TV system on my house. When I tried to hook up my RV I had trouble finding the satellites. Long story short, the elevation setting on the dish is about 8 degrees off from what the satellite finder says to set the dish. I checked the dish on my house and found the same thing to be true.
What am I not understanding? Is the dish marked wrong? Is the chart wrong?
I was able to finally locate the 119 satellite by setting the azimuth and adjusting the elevation. I then rotated the skew setting to lock on the 110 and the 129. I found things in my driveway but am concerned as how to find a satellite when I am a thousand miles from home this summer.
HELP Mr. Wizard!
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nosticks
Tampa, Fl
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Joined: 07/21/2007
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To make any Sat finding work, you first must have a solid reference point, and that point is a plumb level mast. I had a "fun" time too finding the Sats at first. Now I use a fence post level, available at Home Depot or Lowes. It is magnetic and just clings to the mast, makes it easy to get it plumb. From that point, I set elevation using the scale on the dish. I use a good outdoor compass to get close on the azimuth. Then as I set up solo mostly, I use a Sat Meter to home in on the Sat. All this takes a few moments, the hardest part is the first step of finding reasonable level ground and getting the base level. You'll get it after a few times, and it gets easier the more you do it.
NoSticks
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More To See
San Diego Area
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I put an electronic "cube" level on the face of my dish for an elevation correct to within tenths of a degree. (They have a magnetic base.) But you have to first establish an exact elevation and then just slide the electronic level around until it agrees. Mark that spot on the face of the dish with a pencil, dye marker, etc. (Since the dish face curves, you must use a trail and error method to learn where to place the level for the correct reading. Say you have locked onto a satellite at 50 degrees elevation and maxed your signal. Then you place the electronic level all around the face of the dish until it reads 50 degrees. Mark that location for future use.)
These levels are popular with woodworkers to set saw blades to an exact angle. Cost, maybe $30 to $50.
For elevation and azimuth settings around the country, go to your dish company's web side and pick out maybe 10 or 15 locations well scattered around the country and just write down the settings. Keep this table in a handy place for future reference when setting up your dish. Maybe tape it to a hatch cover.
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JohnG3
Morro Bay, California, USA
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The iPhone has a Dish newtork satellite finder app. Uses the camera lens. Very simple to use and if you put your phone at the top of the dish, sight it in and you're done. No need to make sure everything is plumb and level.
John and Elaine. Furry ones, Mia, Buddy, Barney and Miss Chevious (MissC for short).
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Keith M
Cle Elum
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The first thing to do when setting up is go to the setup screen and input your zip code for you elevation, azimuth and skew setting. After getting those run a switch check. In my opinion always run a switch check as there may come a time when you are pointing at the satellite and you wont get a reading.
After that you can set the satellite up in as level a spot as possible. I dont spend more than a couple of minutes eyeballing the tripod for levelness. The compass is ok but I use a Garmin Etrek to get a good azimuth reading. Trouble with compasses depending on where you live they can be off as much as 23 degrees. The only true north reading is in Minnesota. You can also check your neighbors out and see which way their dishes are pointed. There are of course satellite finders and Iphone Apps that help.
I ususally try to set it up where I can see the TV with it set to the signal strength screen. That performs the same function as a satellite finder. If I cant see the screen I just turn the volume up or have my wife look at the screen while I move the satellite back and forth and up and down. If you have to listen for the satellite move the dish slowly.
The Garmin Etrek I have found to be the most valuable item as it gets you close to where it should be aimed. The Iphone app does the same thing. I would not rely on a compass unless you have a good one and take into account true north and magnetic north.
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BillandCarole
Vacaville, CA,, USA
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If your doing HD TV good luck with manual aiming. We did it and it took forever to setup every time we moved. A huge hassle. Our best solution was a solid base, absolute vertical alignment, and then watching the "signal screen on the TV when doing final alignment. We had issues locking on to the wrong satellites (there are lots of them), sighting thru trees, and faulty wires and components at times. Most of the people we talked to had the same issues. Lower resolution (Non HD) is much easier to do but HD enabled satellite receivers make doing this tough. We finally gave up and bought an Wineguard autotuning dish. Pricey (about $700), but functional when not in the trees. We still don't use it when its just an overnight stop. Pulling it out of the bin along with the 3 cables is just too much hassle when we are tired, not to mention the reverse in the morning.
Good Luck and Happy Aiming
Bill
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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It is most likely you are reading the elevation wrong.
Suggestion: Once you find the satellited.. Take a scribe or other marker and MARK the bracket at the suggested elevation. Then use that mark to set the dish.
ANd yes, it's possible it was manufactured wrong,, Or that the arm is bent (Greater possibility is bent arm)
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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RoyB
King George, VA
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When I was doing it I got pretty close everytime just using the OLD TONE BOX I got from radio shack I think it was... You can keep cutting back on threshold and keep peaking until you max out hearing the tone with most attenuation cranked in...
We just finally give up on SAt TV. Too much hassle... The new digital TV picks up all the LOCAL HD TV signals anyway. We get from 6 to 26 HD full screen local broadcast channels just about everywhere we go. (FOX-ABC-NBC-CBS-PBS) using our VIZIO 22-inch HDTV and our BATWING antenna.... They either works 100% good or nothing at all haha...
If I was FULL TIME CAMPING it would be a different story...
My Posts are IMHO based on my experiences - PM/EMAIL me
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sandstravels
NorCal refugee in South Dakota
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Winegard Trav'ler, One button aiming. Best upgrade I ever did!
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77charger
fullerton ca
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I live in so cal and use direct tv.My dish is a non hd version that i use for camping.Been doing this for about 6-7 years using a plastic tri pod from camping world.
I have a good compass which really makes it easy and i set it up at home the first time to tri pod also had a bubble level to attach so i did that started adjustments with bubble in middle at home so it makes a great starting point.
Once i got a signal at home i had a good reference point to start from tri pod level according to bubble.Then turn dish to where compass readings are.What i have found is that from home,lake havsu,glamis,barstow,vegas,pismo beach,local mountains,and lake powell i dont need any adjustments for up and down its just a minor left or right and not by many degrees(usually just a couple).
Now what i do before set up is figure out where i will pt my dish at get compass out figure my setting and draw a line in the dirt or sand,Then place tri pod with dish pointing where i want it at then level my tri pod.Most of the time its already got a signal when i turn tv on or will need a very minor left or right turn.
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