Got a question for you all that use Direct TV dishes while camping. How do you set it up? I have a dish and the receiver and paid for service. Do I just connect the cable to the dish and the receiver and then from receiver to the TV? How do I aim the dish? Is there certain angles or just to the southern sky? Whats the secret?

Thanks, Matt

 

On the receiver you select menu then setup. You will be ask for the location zip code and then the angle and compass setting will appear on the screen. Aim your antenna in that direction and listen for the receiver beeping the beep will increase as you get closer to the target. The receiver and tv must be on.

hint most of us with bad hearing purchase a meter that connects in line between the antenna and receiver that shows the signal strenght. (ebay $10). Be advise the meter will detect more than just direct TV signal. After you are setup be sure to remove the meter ( I ruined a meter leaving it out in the rain.

You will have trouble under trees and if someone is standing directly in front of the antenna it will prevent a signal. Sometime it takes me 30 minutes and other times 2 or 3 minutes.

If you have direct tv at home go to menu and learn the selections to look for, especially signal strenght after you get into setup.

 

A cheap compass can help get the south direction close. And a bubble level on top of the dish antenna mount. Basically you need point to towards the south X degrees, X is based on zip code, then tilt for azimuth also based on zip code. The antenna has a numeric scale on the side so starting when it is level helps with setting azimuth. Fine tune with the signal strength meter while tve and reciever are turned on. Sounds harder than it is.

 

Go to Radio Shack and get a signal meter. Save you a lot of headaches.

 

Thanks for all the replies. I will check Radio Shack and Ebay today.

Matt

 

I use Dish Network and at home have the Dish 500 system which inputs from 2 satellites. On the road I've found that trying to hit 2 sats can be a pain so I just stick w/ 119 and fewer channels. Sometimes it's still tough, even using a signal meter, to get it aligned.

Dan

 

I made a stand out of PVC for the dish I carry in the 5th wheel. I can set it up and have a signal in less than 10 minutes. I have never had to change the settings on the dish itself I just get the stand level and find South with my GPS. Most of the time I get a good signal at South or a little East of South.

 

sore subject

 

Hunter11, Are you saying that you do not use a signal meter??? You just get your stand level and aim South or just east of South??

Matt

 

Just be sure you don't get a camping site with trees that will block the signal .

 

I just use a cheep compass, no meter. Plug in the zip in the sat box and find the elevation, point it approximately 145*-175* and sweep left and right until I get the beeps on the set. Total time including leveling is 5 minutes, once it took me about 15 minutes but I didn't have the elevation and we had dropped 6000' in elevation from the last setup.

Here is a handy link if you know where your going first.
http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/dishPointer.jsp
Just plug in the zip and it gives you the elevation and azimuth for easy setup.

 

Matt, I do not use a signal meter. I have one in the trailer and tried it one time but found I really didn't need it. We have been as far as 1500 miles from our house and I have not needed to change the elevation and azimuth settings on the dish itself. I start at due South and if I don't get a signal I move it slightly to the East and I get a good signal. Maybe I am just lucky but very rarely do I spend more than 10 minutes getting the dish setup and a good signal.

 

Alright....I need some help. How tempermental is the dish when trying to get a signal from the satelite? I was trying to do a trial run in my back yard. The problem is I have a couple big trees that still have there leaves on right in line with where I need to aim the dish. Also...the 38 degrees of angle does not look like alot of angle on the dish.....and the 213 degrees of azimuth (sp???) points the dish alittle west of due south. I could not get any % of signal at all last night. I figured I could get something.....it was all zeros. Can a dish go bad? the one I was using was from a friend....he had it in his basement for a few years. The Coax cable was working with my neighbors dish last week so the cable is good. Any ides as to what to do?

Matt

 

Which antenna are you selecting oval or round? I like the round because it just has two setting instead of three. For the round I have never had the 38 degree setting it usually app. 52.

hint: if you want to use the round antenna setting just set tilt to 0.

 

did you get your 213 azimuth from the link above? That doesn't sound right for some reason but your location is blank. I've setup mine from Nevada to Minnesota and I'm always around the 165* area south and east. Again what kind of dish and you will get nothing, 0, nada until you hit the sat and then you can tweak up,down left and right for good picture. I shoot for 80% and better but have had good picture with 65%. As for the trees the sat signal comes down at a 45* angle so imagine that as you look at the tree tops.

You need to make sure your tripod or base is level at the mast as it connects to the dish. The first time is frustrating.

good luck.