Community Forums

mjeffrey · 07-25-2015, 09:44 PM

We have been running into camp sites with no open view to the southwest for the western arc sats 110, 119, 129.

We can manually configure our Dish Travel'er to search for 61.5 instead and get most of our regular channels, although most in SD not HD. So far 61.5 also has had locals in HD, or I just use a service address that I know has locals on 61.5, so we get our network shows without having to rely on OTA signal strength.

Is a pain to do the Check Switch when reconfiguring, but better than no sats at all.

Just a friendly reminder that a blocked south western sky is not a show stopper. Ha!

desertvette · 07-25-2015, 11:02 PM

Hi, we have the same set up. Would you mind explaining how to configure it to search for the 61.5 signal? Thanks!

TechWriter · 07-26-2015, 08:15 AM

See "Manual Operation" (page 2) in Winegard Travler SK-1000 Manual.

mjeffrey · 07-26-2015, 09:27 PM

Yes the process is in the instruction manual.

Satellite 72.7 has a lot more HD but no locals.

I was not able to get my system to lock onto 72.7, but if I power down the Winegard box when the signal strength is good, it works just fine (after check switch).

I have an email into Winegard on the no-lock onto 72.7, but no response yet.

az99 · 07-27-2015, 05:16 AM

Winegard likely won't respond or a rep with no knowledge will tell you that you are doing something wrong.

72.7 sat DOES NOT WORK in manual mode. It will never lock on and stop searching. It is a know problem that they refuse to fix. Winegard says there is no demand for EA sats.
One day, hopefully soon, they will pull their heads out of their butts and realize that it is used and needed on much of the east coast and especially the NE.

They know of the bug as if you look at the new sales info for that unit it only says 61.5 can be viewed manually.

Here is the trick someone on here a while back shared. Set you receiver to the point dish setup screen. Go to sat 72. In the Trav'ler manual menu go to 72. Watch the your signal meter closely. It will stop and search at 72 for a few seconds but never lock. When the signal is good, unplug it or press POWER and SELECT at the same time.
Run your check switch and you have 72.7 programming. You should be able to get much of what is on 61 from your OTA antenna.

Good Luck

Duner · 07-27-2015, 11:56 AM

Thanks folks for all the good info.

I was hoping to learn from you guys how to dial in 2 or 3 eastern arc sat simultaneously. Wishful thinking?

I installed the Traveler last Summer and love it. We're from the Southwest with less forest and steep angles ......no issues. But now we're headed north and east and each stop gets more difficult getting open sky site. We're 60 miles northeast of Cincinnati, OH and I see that sat 129 is down to 25 deg elevation.
In a couple of weeks we'll be in upstate New York and I expect to learn how to use sat 61.5 or 72.7 for the 1st time.

Thx,
Bill

mjeffrey · 07-27-2015, 01:34 PM

The spread between the eastern arc satellites is not the same as the west so pointing east doesn't get more than one satellite.

When trying to get 72.7 I had to turn off the unit once the 72.7 signal strength was good. Sometimes during power down the Dish would move just a bit more and I would have to repeat the process to actually lock in a strong signal. Sounds like this it's a know issue without a fix.

mjeffrey · 07-27-2015, 01:37 PM

The Fort Wayne HD locals are on 61.5 and appear to have the full CONUS satellite beam, not a spot beam. If I was only using 61.5, that would be a good "local" to have as we drive around. Wouldn't have to update Dish every time we moved.

az99 · 07-27-2015, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duner

Thanks folks for all the good info.

But now we're headed north and east and each stop gets more difficult getting open sky site. We're 60 miles northeast of Cincinnati, OH and I see that sat 129 is down to 25 deg elevation.
In a couple of weeks we'll be in upstate New York and I expect to learn how to use sat 61.5 or 72.7 for the 1st time.

Thx,
Bill

That is what Winegard is ignoring. Dish has not installed anything other that EA for quite a few years on the east coast. There is not even HD locals on the WA sats anymore.
I can tell you from experience that unless you aim across a lake or park in a big open field, you won't be using WA in upstate NY.

You will quickly get the knack of shutoff on 72. It does pause there for a while as it really is trying to lock on. I pull the plug on the control box which stops it instantly.

I have a few more work arounds I am going to try in the next couple of weeks.