Satellite 101 help please

[Pghwizard]

I have dish at my house and this year would like to take it on the road with us. I bought a dish on e-bay and am told all I need to do it take a box with us when we travel.
Would anyone please tell me if that is correct or not and which way dose the dish need to point? I bought a compass and one of those in line direction aimers.
And pointers on traveling and setting up your dish? Thank you all.


sorry I missed this one... Satellite set up question???

[Izzyblueye]

Yes it will work just fine. Just be sure you take your receiver with you. You will need a tripod of some sort to mount the dish on. Be sure you have plenty of RG-6 so you can clear any trees in your skypath. Every area of the U.S. has a slightly different setting. When you turn on your receiver you will be able to enter your CAMP SITE zip code. It will then tell you longtitude and Asmuth to set your dish to using your compass. It is actually very simple, once you do it, the next time will be even easier. I like to use a satellite locator available at any Radio Shack or CW and some Wal-Marts. It just helps in getting max signal strength w/o running back and forth looking at your TV screen which will tell you the same thing. However, your wife with a fam 2 way radio can tell you the same thing while you are at the dish.

[Pghwizard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzyblueye Yes it will work just fine. Just be sure you take your receiver with you. You will need a tripod of some sort to mount the dish on. Be sure you have plenty of RG-6 so you can clear any trees in your skypath. Every area of the U.S. has a slightly different setting. When you turn on your receiver you will be able to enter your CAMP SITE zip code. It will then tell you longtitude and Asmuth to set your dish to using your compass. It is actually very simple, once you do it, the next time will be even easier. I like to use a satellite locator available at any Radio Shack or CW and some Wal-Marts. It just helps in getting max signal strength w/o running back and forth looking at your TV screen which will tell you the same thing. However, your wife with a fam 2 way radio can tell you the same thing while you are at the dish.

Excellent, I have the tripod for the dish and a corkscrew stake to hold the dish from bowing over. Sounds fairly easy to do.

[paz]

Pghwizard, just so you know, you will not be able to get your local channels more than 150 to 200 miles from home. The local channels are spot beamed. We have gotten the Pgh stations as far east as the Lancaster area and as far west as Dayton, but not every time we went to those locations. You'll have to use your batwing for locals.

Without a phone line attached, you also won't be able to use your remote to order PPV. You can order online or with your cell phone, but I think there is an extra charge.

[Wayne M]

Wizard,
Haul along a couple empty 1 gallon milk containers. For those times that the ground is to hard, or you have to set the tripod on cement, bungee cord the milk containers filled with water as an anchor. Remember that you do not need a tripod that is 10 feet tall. One 2 feet tall will work just as well.

Good luck.

[Pghwizard]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz Pghwizard, just so you know, you will not be able to get your local channels more than 150 to 200 miles from home. The local channels are spot beamed. We have gotten the Pgh stations as far east as the Lancaster area and as far west as Dayton, but not every time we went to those locations. You'll have to use your batwing for locals. Without a phone line attached, you also won't be able to use your remote to order PPV. You can order online or with your cell phone, but I think there is an extra charge.

Cool with me, Actualy have a run to Hershey planned. Just want to be able to watch something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M Wizard, Haul along a couple empty 1 gallon milk containers. For those times that the ground is to hard, or you have to set the tripod on cement, bungee cord the milk containers filled with water as an anchor. Remember that you do not need a tripod that is 10 feet tall. One 2 feet tall will work just as well. Good luck.

Excellent point, will do I think my tripod is 3 foot tall.

[wa8yxm]

A few issues: If you have DISH NETWORK, they do not use 101, that is DirecTV, Dish used 3 of six birds, 110 and 119 for SD only, I think i'ts 127 on the western arc for HD,, I'm not sure what the 3 birds are on the eastern arc.

Note 2: Local network stations (NBC, CBS et-al) are usually SPOT BEAMED, think of a theater spot light, same thing, if you drive out of the spot you will be, in the dark as far as those stations are concerned.

NOw, many have gotten an RV waiveir on a house account.. Dishnetwork got in serious trouble for doing that however so their RV accounts get network service from a 3rd party now (All American Direct Communications LLC)

Direct is still selling Distant Network Servie though.

But it's not legal for them to sell it to a house account.. Some day someone will tumble to the fact they are doing it and .. Oh well. I point this out so you know.

I won't be the one to turn you in if they give you DNS on a house account.

[Ron & Dee]

I'm sure you will but just do a trial run before you leave home.

Someone mentioned above that you will need the pointing direction and elevation, but you will also need the skew to be able to get more than one satellite.

Good Luck,

Ron

[Pghwizard]

Hmmmmmm And i have Dish too...

[W4RLR]

You can get DNS on a house account IF your area does not have local channels available. There are a few places like that.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rray32539 You can get DNS on a house account IF your area does not have local channels available. There are a few places like that.

...but Pittsburgh isn't one of them.

[wa8yxm]

How to point a DISH (2 or 3 lnb) antenna method 1 and 2

First. Hook it up, Make sure the mast is plumb (use a level or plumb bob)

Next: Run a coax from any handy TV port on the RV (I added a few) to a battery operated portable color TV at the antenna site.. This beats the crap out of those "Satellite finder" meters, Though you can buy a meter that is as good as the DISH NETWORK receiver's software, it cost over $1,000 new.. Think about this.

Now, on screen (inside using hte remote) MENU = 6=1=1 and in the box provided enter the ZIP CODE of the park you are parked in.

WRITE DOWN the skew, azimuty and elevation recommendations

Outside with a 7/16" wrench

Now, pre-set Skew and Elevation to the suggestions.

SLOWLY swing the dish through an arc, starting east (Or west) of the recommendated azimuth (you may need a compas to figure this out) until the TV shows a peak.. Even more slowly peak it, note the satellite ID, if it's the one you are looking for.. GOT IT, SNUG down (Firm but not tight) the azimuth and slightly loosten the elevation, or pull/push slightly to see if you can improve signal and if so loosen, re-set elevation, and re-tighten, then touch up azimuth.. Normally SKEW will be very close.

Snug down everything go in and do a CHECK SWITCH

Method 2; If you have problems getting the proper bird

There are 2 or 3 NLB's as you stand BEHIND the dish (Looking at the mounting bolts) the LNB on the right is 110 (If you have 3 the middle one is 119)

2 LNB dish, Put a tin foil hat over one of them, aim for the other bird

3 LNB put a hat on the outside ones and aim for 119

NOTE: These directions are for the WESTERN arc

On edit: Forgot one thign... REMOVE TINFOIL HATS before doing check switch

[Wayne M]

And wear a pointed tin foil hat (think Wizard of Oz) while doing all this. It will drive your neighbors crazy trying to figure out what you are doing.

As an after thought, if they ask, tell them you are bouncing the signal off of the tin foil. Then watch how many appear outside with a tin foil hat.

[paz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wayne M And wear a pointed tin foil hat (think Wizard of Oz) while doing all this. It will drive your neighbors crazy trying to figure out what you are doing. As an after thought, if they ask, tell them you are bouncing the signal off of the tin foil. Then watch how many appear outside with a tin foil hat.

Can't wait to try it.