DISH Playmaker keeps moving (searching?)

[herbsells]

We have been using a VP-211k receiver with a stationary dish for about 5 months now with no problems. We recently bought a DISH Playmaker portable unit and, although it is working well ... I hear it whizzing and whirring about every few minutes, as if the dish inside is moving and "looking" for a signal - even when the TV and VP-211k are turned off.
I called Winegard and the tech on the phone told me that it's due to DISH changing their programming - even when I asked "Every few minutes"? - She said "Oh yes, they are constantly changing programming".

The stationary dish worked fine -- satellites are supposed to be "stationary" to earth's orbit.

Why would this need to keep moving? Any ideas
Thanks for your input.

[MisterT]

it is NOT due to Dish 'changing' their programming... it is due to the nature of how these units are built and designed. Every 30seconds or so, it 're orients' itself to make sure that it's still on the satellite. Since these units are designed and engineered to be used with RVs, many times mounted on the roof, the object is to give the user the best experience by continually making sure the satellite is still in view. While it's not going to work if you actually move the Tailgater to another location, it makes up for slight movement by wind or movement within the coach itself.

Even with your Receiver 'OFF', the system continues to provide power to the Tailgater in order to keep it on the satellite for when you do turn the receiver back on to watch tv. It also does it in order to download updates at the set time each day, even with the receiver off.

We installed an A/B switch for our Tailgater since it is mounted above our bed on the roof, and makes these movements during the night. When I'm finished watching tv for the night, I hit the switch and it removes the 12v power between the receiver and the satellite, so no movement during the night.

[herbsells]

Thank you SO much for the detailed info. That all makes perfect sense, it would have just been so much better if Winegard had just told me that from the beginning. At least now I know it is not a PROBLEM with the unit, that it is working as it should.
Thanks again,