DirecTV with my roof top dish questions

[lblampman]

Hi All,

I've tried to read back through lots and lots of posts and have tried searching as well but I'm still confused (maybe even more so!).

We're living aboard full time and we had a DirecTV system installed with an HD24 DVR and HD24 receiver for our HDTVs (living room and bedroom). Everything works just fine. We've been parked at our "home" location and we had the DirecTV dish installed on the roof of the building we sit next to since we can't see over it with a dish on the motorhome.

Now we're getting ready to go spend some time away from home. We've got a roof mounted single LNB Winegard crank-up dish (I think it came with the coach when new). I know I have to connect the cable from the roof mount to the receiver and I somehow have to point the dish at a satellite but then it gets a bit muddy.

I called DirecTV and they told me that we're getting programming from two satellites with our "home" setup: 101 which carries most of the Standard Definition stuff and some High Definition and 99 which carries HD programming (but apparently on a different band; Ka instead of Ku?).

So...do I just need to point the dish to 101 everywhere we go in order to get SD programming? And do I have to tell the HD24 receiver there's a different kind of dish attached?

Also, I'm thinking of getting an HD dish on a tripod. Since we're getting all our programming from 2 satellites (according to DirecTV tech folks) why would I need a dish with 5 LNBs? Is that for other parts of the country (we're in the Pacific Northwest north of Seattle)?

THANKS for whatever help you can offer . I feel like a holiday string of lights with a couple of bulbs out, I know with a little jiggling (or replacement) all the lights will come on!

Les

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Les, I have DirecTV also. At home I have four receivers, two are recorders, none are HD. We have the mid-level programing, plus locals.
When we travel with our 5th wheel, I bring one of the recorder/receivers and an extra dish mounted on a tripod. If we're more than 75 miles of so from home we lose the locals (different bird) and because we don't have HD the only bird we need is 102, I believe.

I don't understand entirely what I'm gonna tell you here, maybe someone can elaborate if you don't get it. At home we have a SWM system to all the receivers. When traveling I have to set the receiver to 'single dish' for it to accept the signal from the satellite. Then we we get back home, I need to reset it for the SWM system.

Hope this helps.
Larry K.

[lblampman]

Hi Larry,

Thanks for the reply! It does help to know you're doing a similar thing and that it does work (and that you point at the 101 satellite).

Where do you make the change in your receiver? I've looked at the setup menus on the HD24 and haven't found a place to change the dish.

Les

[Don/Lou]

Les TO CHANGE DISH TYPE
menu
par fav setup
select
system set up
select
satellite
select
repeat sat setup
select
Dash
(new screen )switch type 02-multiswitch
dish type 03slimline or whatever highlited in yellow
select
up arrow to 01-18"round
select
Continue as requested till watch tv

[lblampman]

Don,

Thanks so much for the great information. I'm going to try it out later this afternoon or tomorrow with the roof top dish.

Les

[lblampman]

Ah...

And does anyone know when one would choose to purchase a DirecTV Slimline dish with 3 LNBs versus and Slimline with 5 LNBs?

Thanks,

Les

[codgerbill]

Regarding the dish setup...............

If all else fails call their tech (Customer Service)@ 1-800-531-5000

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lblampman Ah... And does anyone know when one would choose to purchase a DirecTV Slimline dish with 3 LNBs versus and Slimline with 5 LNBs? Thanks, Les

Les,
I'm glad Don answered your question in post #4. He said it much better than I would have.
As to which dish to buy (or pick up an abandoned one) Mine is a "3 LNB" but a single would work also as your only one one satellite. (101) I wouldn't buy the SWM (slimline) as your only using one receiver anyway, right?
Realize though when you use only the 101 sat, you only have standard resolution, I believe. Which is good enough for me. My eyes are SS age anyway.
Larry K.

[lblampman]

Hi codgerbill,

Yes sir, I've done that twice and it's always interesting conversations. The first (nice) lady told me I couldn't have my system setup the way I do because the account is for a house; even though I ordered it for the motorhome and their tech installed it in the motorhome. So that conversation ended when she couldn't understand why I didn't want to use the dish on the roof of the building.

The second call went better and I got the information about the satellites to use but she couldn't tell me what satellite to point at with only a single LNB and said I'd need to give her the zip code for another location if I wanted to know what satellite to point at when we got there. She also couldn't understand why I wouldn't use the dish they installed (even though I told her it's attached to a building and the motorhome moves).

Given my choice of calling DirecTV again from more info or asking the folks here for help it was a no brainer for me. Sorry if you feel put upon, that wasn't my intention at all.

Les

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by codgerbill Regarding the dish setup............... If all else fails call their tech (Customer Service)@ 1-800-531-5000

?bill?,
I'm new to DirecTV having had Dish for the last 10 years. Back when I first signed on (to Dish) they encouraged you to set up your own dish and even put instructions in the receivers owner manuals. Also, you had to buy all your own equipment. (dish & receivers)
Now days they have 'plans'. You don't 'buy' your equipment and they set it up free. I'm not so sure customer dis-service would be so willing to give you info on how to set up a dish.
Larry K.

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lblampman Hi codgerbill, Yes sir, I've done that twice and it's always interesting conversations. The first (nice) lady told me I couldn't have my system setup the way I do because the account is for a house; even though I ordered it for the motorhome and their tech installed it in the motorhome. So that conversation ended when she couldn't understand why I didn't want to use the dish on the roof of the building. The second call went better and I got the information about the satellites to use but she couldn't tell me what satellite to point at with only a single LNB and said I'd need to give her the zip code for another location if I wanted to know what satellite to point at when we got there. She also couldn't understand why I wouldn't use the dish they installed (even though I told her it's attached to a building and the motorhome moves). Given my choice of calling DirecTV again from more info or asking the folks here for help it was a no brainer for me. Sorry if you feel put upon, that wasn't my intention at all. Les

Les,
LOL
See what I mean?
Don't feel like your puttin' anyone out here, Les.
If we don't like ya... we'll ignore ya.
Larry K.

[lblampman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MICHIGAN CAMPER Les, I'm glad Don answered your question in post #4. He said it much better than I would have. As to which dish to buy (or pick up an abandoned one) Mine is a "3 LNB" but a single would work also as your only one one satellite. (101) I wouldn't buy the SWM (slimline) as your only using one receiver anyway, right? Realize though when you use only the 101 sat, you only have standard resolution, I believe. Which is good enough for me. My eyes are SS age anyway. Larry K.

Hi Larry,

I think this is where things always get confusing...there are just so many choices (options).

In the motorhome we have two HDTVs, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Right now we get HD signals and each of the TVs works fine along with the DVR.

What I'd like to do is replicate that service when we're on the road. I know I can't do that with the roof top single LNB (it's just a stop gap) so my thought is to get a multiple LNB dish and put it on a tripod so that we get all the HD programming we get now. I don't want to go with the automated roof mount; it's more money than I want to spend and up here in the Pacific Northwest we're often parked in the trees.

The part I don't know on the dish for our HD programming is whether I need a 3 LNB dish or a 5 LNB dish. My confusion comes from DirecTV telling me that we're receiving all of our current programming on two satellites (99 and 101). That makes me think that in theory a 2 LNB dish should work but I can understand going to a 3 LNB dish if that's become the "standard" so to speak but I'm totally lost as to why one would need a 5 LNB dish (and afraid not to get it if I need it in the long run).

Les

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lblampman Hi Larry, I think this is where things always get confusing...there are just so many choices (options). In the motorhome we have two HDTVs, one in the living room and one in the bedroom. Right now we get HD signals and each of the TVs works fine along with the DVR. What I'd like to do is replicate that service when we're on the road. I know I can't do that with the roof top single LNB (it's just a stop gap) so my thought is to get a multiple LNB dish and put it on a tripod so that we get all the HD programming we get now. I don't want to go with the automated roof mount; it's more money than I want to spend and up here in the Pacific Northwest we're often parked in the trees. The part I don't know on the dish for our HD programming is whether I need a 3 LNB dish or a 5 LNB dish. My confusion comes from DirecTV telling me that we're receiving all of our current programming on two satellites (99 and 101). That makes me think that in theory a 2 LNB dish should work but I can understand going to a 3 LNB dish if that's become the "standard" so to speak but I'm totally lost as to why one would need a 5 LNB dish (and afraid not to get it if I need it in the long run). Les

Les, Someone that knows more about it than myself will have to help you. Sorry.

I'm guessin' here...
Since you have two HD TV's in the MH... and you bring two receivers with you... (right so far?)
the way to go might be the SWM. It uses only one cable from the dish. Of course, you'll have to find out which dish goes with the SWM. The 101 satellite carries only the non-HD signals, I think. And the 3LNB may point to the wrong satellites for HD... not sure. (but I understand you pain)
Larry K.

[MICHIGAN CAMPER]

Les, I do remember the DirecTV installer had a lot tougher time setting up my system (SWM) than I ever had with Dish Network.
I don't know if it because of the SWM or because my locals come on a different satellite.
That's why I can set it up so easily with the RV. Only one satellite to catch. No locals or HD.
Larry K.