satellite setup help

[rh71]

Installed the dish on the roof but can't get a signal at all when testing using the receiver to find signal strength. Checked elevation and azimuth (231.9 degrees from here). What's this "transponder" all about ? Anyway, the test is to get a solid tone - that's when we have a good signal, but we're getting a broken tone (every 2 seconds).

Anyone know what they're doing ?

 

[NutBucket]

I can't remember what the transponder refers to. As far as the signal goes, just keep playing with the positioning until you get something that works. That's what I did when I helped my cousin install his dish a few years back. When I did my dish, I just looked at the neighbor's to get a good starting point

 

[bandana163]

Transpoder = frequency.
Try getting a friend into helping you.

 

[edfcmc]

where did you get your position readings? Did you compensate for a magnetic compass reading if necessary?

 

[PTCvette]

Originally posted by: NutBucket
As far as the signal goes, just keep playing with the positioning until you get something that works. That's what I did when I helped my cousin install his dish a few years back. When I did my dish, I just looked at the neighbor's to get a good starting point

I second that... When I did Dish Network a few years ago, the numbers weren't quite right and I ended up having to play with it for an hour or so to find the actual spot. When I bought my house, they already had DirecTV hooked up!!!

Jeff

 

[rh71]

Well I put my zip code in the setup screen and it told me the azimuth + angle... it's set to that right now and still no go. We're also tried eyeballing the angle with another house behind us and still no go.

I'm wondering if it's a prob with the satellite / connection itself ... am I missing anything else here ? Did you guys get the separated beeps until you got it right also ?

I get 0 signal, not even the signal bar appears.

 

[nsafreak]

Which satellite & transponder do you have on the Point Dish/Signal screen? For testing purposes I would have it set to satellite 119 transponder 19.

 

[phreakah]

Originally posted by: nsafreak
Which satellite & transponder do you have on the Point Dish/Signal screen? For testing purposes I would have it set to satellite 119 transponder 19.

once you have a small signal, or even if you're confident you have it in the right direction, cycle through the transponders until you get the highest signal strength possible.. it took my friend and i a while to get his working... and when we finally did we got the damn para todos programming and all the channels were in spanish so we just had to keep moving it around.. also make sure nothing is blocking the dish's path to the sky.. like a tree or something

 

[rh71]

It defaults at transponder 2, which can be incremented up to the 30s. Shows satellite "101 (A) Satellite" (which cannot be changed). Trying transponder 19... no go so far...

 

[isekii]

Originally posted by: rh71
It defaults at transponder 2, which can be incremented up to the 30s. Shows satellite "101 (A) Satellite" (which cannot be changed). Trying transponder 19... no go so far...

are you sure you're using the right satellite ?

I'm assuimg you're using Satellite 119 and 110.

Don't worry about the transponder. If you the dish pointed in the right direction, You can flip through the transponders and see which gives you strongest signal.

Then you gotta check switch and other crap.


Im on Dish Network btw.

 

[Derango]

are you pointing it at a tree or somthing?

 

[rh71]

Absolutely clear to the skies. This same RCA Satellite (model) works fine at my parents house just down the road.

This is a DirecTV dish... I don't know about it going to 119 or 110... signal meter screen simply shows:

101 (A) Satellite
Transponder: (# here - editable) .::::::::::::: (signal strength empty)
Current Strength: (nothing here) Peak: 0

Every few seconds it flashes the text here: Try moving your dish by 3 degrees (which is useless since moving the dish 180 degrees around would show the same text).

Elevation: 35.4
Azimuth: 231.9 (think these are suggestions, and not the actual readings since they don't change, or do they?)

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: rh71
Absolutely clear to the skies. This same RCA Satellite (model) works fine at my parents house just down the road.

This is a DirecTV dish... I don't know about it going to 119 or 110... signal meter screen simply shows:

101 (A) Satellite
Transponder: (# here - editable) .::::::::::::: (signal strength empty)
Current Strength: (nothing here) Peak: 0

Every few seconds it flashes the text here: Try moving your dish by 3 degrees (which is useless since moving the dish 180 degrees around would show the same text).

Elevation: 35.4
Azimuth: 231.9 (think these are suggestions, and not the actual readings since they don't change, or do they?)

If they're accurate, they shouldn't. The satellites are in geostationary orbit, IIRC.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: rh71
Absolutely clear to the skies. This same RCA Satellite (model) works fine at my parents house just down the road.

This is a DirecTV dish... I don't know about it going to 119 or 110... signal meter screen simply shows:

101 (A) Satellite
Transponder: (# here - editable) .::::::::::::: (signal strength empty)
Current Strength: (nothing here) Peak: 0

Every few seconds it flashes the text here: Try moving your dish by 3 degrees (which is useless since moving the dish 180 degrees around would show the same text).

Elevation: 35.4
Azimuth: 231.9 (think these are suggestions, and not the actual readings since they don't change, or do they?)

If they're accurate, they shouldn't. The satellites are in geostationary orbit, IIRC.

I meant those numbers changing as I move the dish... but come to think of it... they should just be "advisory" numbers which are useless to me at this point. I'm already pointing there!

 

[wfbberzerker]

you know, when i got cable, it worked right away...

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
you know, when i got cable, it worked right away...

Yeah, same here..., but I'm greedy.

 

[phreakah]

on dish type try setting it as dual and then change the satellite to 119 to see if that helps any

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
you know, when i got cable, it worked right away...

Yeah, same here..., but I'm greedy.

And we like a clear picture. I've been less then impressed with the cable feeds people in the neighborhood have.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: phreakah
on dish type try setting it as dual and then change the satellite to 119 to see if that helps any

I just switched to OVAL dish (dual and triple), even though it's really ROUNDED (single) and then set the satellite to 119 (B) and transponders 1-21 weren't active... but 22-32 played the separating tones... so still no go.

 

[Pepsei]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: phreakah
on dish type try setting it as dual and then change the satellite to 119 to see if that helps any

I just switched to OVAL dish (dual and triple), even though it's really ROUNDED (single) and then set the satellite to 119 (B) and transponders 1-21 weren't active... but 22-32 played the separating tones... so still no go.

Ok, it is almost impossible to get 0 signal if the connection is good. check your connections. If you can, try to connect directly from the dish to the IRD and TV so you can do a quick check before running all the cables.

hmmmm, you said you're trying to hit direct tv right? I thgout 119 and 110 is for dishnetworks?

 

[rh71]

Must it be grounded when entering the house ? Right now the RG-6 cable is connected from the satellite arm directly into my IRD's "satellite in" ...

 

[Pepsei]

no grounding is required at this point.

If you're still getting nothing, I'm thinking that your LNBF is busted.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Pepsei
no grounding is required at this point.

If you're still getting nothing, I'm thinking that your LNBF is busted.

I think you might be on to something with that.

 

[rh71]

LNBF is just the round head thing that points backwards at the dish itself right ? Is this part something that becomes active only when the IRD is powered on ?

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: rh71
LNBF is just the round head thing that points backwards at the dish itself right ?

Yes.