aiming HD dish

BiknSwans · 06-05-2009, 08:50 AM

When local HD channels became available in Jacksonville FL, I had Dish upgrade my service. They replaced two antennas with a new single one and which now uses satellites 61.5, 72 and 77. All was fine for a while, but one afternoon I lost the Weather Channel, channel 214, satellite 61.5, transponder 32. The signal strength was about 8, but there were some storms in the area. The next day the signal strength was about 18. My buddy watched the meter and I pushed gently on each side of the dish. At one point the signal strength increased to 40, so I knew that I could improve things by re-aiming the dish.

At the same time I wanted to use the sturdier, galvanized pipe that wasn't being used now because the diameter was too large for the new dish bracket. I bought a reducer and the nipple and moved the dish from the fencepost I had been using to the heavier pipe. I tuned the receiver to channel 214, hooked up my meter at the dish and rotated the dish until I got a maximum signal. Then I disconnected the meter, connected the cable, and went inside to double check the signal level at the TV using the Dish receiver's menu. The signal was either 0 or very low on all the satellite's and transponders I checked.

I kept trying different satellites and transponders and rotating the dish, but I could get little improvement. I also swapped out the cable that went between the barrel connector at the dish and the ground connector nearby, but that made little or no difference.

I gave up and called Dish and they will be sending out a tech on Tuesday, but I would like to do what I can before then.

Luckily the local HD channels are coming through just fine, thanks to the help from this forum a little while ago. Thanks again for that.

Am I following the correct procedure for aiming the antenna? I bring up the antenna aiming menu, choose a satellite and transponder, and go outside and use the meter to aim the dish. Maybe things have changed with the new dish and I'm not aware of the changes.

oljim · 06-06-2009, 08:10 AM

Your best bet is hook a small TV to TV2 output where you can see it from the dish, the $10 meter does not know what sat or transponder it is reading

18 is # 1 · 06-06-2009, 01:22 PM

It's best to shelter the dish as much as possible and to mount on a solid medium like brick instead of wood (roof or siding). Like you, we get tremendous storms, but it takes a real frog strangler for me to lose my signal.

BiknSwans · 06-06-2009, 04:35 PM

I agree. I don't have one, but that's probably the way to go. I just got ahold of the detailed installation manual for the new dish, the 1000.4, so I'll give that a try once I regain my confindence.
Meanwhile, I was finally able to get back to where I was before. The alignment isn't perfect, but everything is working again. I've cancelled my appointment with the Dish technician.

BiknSwans · 06-06-2009, 04:38 PM

That's a really nice installation. I normally have little or no trouble with rainstorms either, but what got me going was seeing that the signal jumped up when I just touched the dish with my finger. That told me that things weren't quite right.

When I finish up the installation procedure recommended by DishNetwork, I'll let you know how it went. Thanks for your help.

06-05-2009, 08:50 AM	#1
BiknSwans My plasma is High Def. Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 7	aiming HD dish When local HD channels became available in Jacksonville FL, I had Dish upgrade my service. They replaced two antennas with a new single one and which now uses satellites 61.5, 72 and 77. All was fine for a while, but one afternoon I lost the Weather Channel, channel 214, satellite 61.5, transponder 32. The signal strength was about 8, but there were some storms in the area. The next day the signal strength was about 18. My buddy watched the meter and I pushed gently on each side of the dish. At one point the signal strength increased to 40, so I knew that I could improve things by re-aiming the dish. At the same time I wanted to use the sturdier, galvanized pipe that wasn't being used now because the diameter was too large for the new dish bracket. I bought a reducer and the nipple and moved the dish from the fencepost I had been using to the heavier pipe. I tuned the receiver to channel 214, hooked up my meter at the dish and rotated the dish until I got a maximum signal. Then I disconnected the meter, connected the cable, and went inside to double check the signal level at the TV using the Dish receiver's menu. The signal was either 0 or very low on all the satellite's and transponders I checked. I kept trying different satellites and transponders and rotating the dish, but I could get little improvement. I also swapped out the cable that went between the barrel connector at the dish and the ground connector nearby, but that made little or no difference. I gave up and called Dish and they will be sending out a tech on Tuesday, but I would like to do what I can before then. Luckily the local HD channels are coming through just fine, thanks to the help from this forum a little while ago. Thanks again for that. Am I following the correct procedure for aiming the antenna? I bring up the antenna aiming menu, choose a satellite and transponder, and go outside and use the meter to aim the dish. Maybe things have changed with the new dish and I'm not aware of the changes.

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06-06-2009, 08:10 AM	#2
oljim High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 82	Your best bet is hook a small TV to TV2 output where you can see it from the dish, the $10 meter does not know what sat or transponder it is reading

06-06-2009, 04:35 PM	#4
BiknSwans My plasma is High Def. Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 7	I agree. I don't have one, but that's probably the way to go. I just got ahold of the detailed installation manual for the new dish, the 1000.4, so I'll give that a try once I regain my confindence. Meanwhile, I was finally able to get back to where I was before. The alignment isn't perfect, but everything is working again. I've cancelled my appointment with the Dish technician.

06-06-2009, 04:38 PM	#5
BiknSwans My plasma is High Def. Join Date: May 2008 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 7	That's a really nice installation. I normally have little or no trouble with rainstorms either, but what got me going was seeing that the signal jumped up when I just touched the dish with my finger. That told me that things weren't quite right. When I finish up the installation procedure recommended by DishNetwork, I'll let you know how it went. Thanks for your help.