aiming my directv dish

Often a receiver reset will fix this with just a push of the red reset button. You might also want to check the receiver settings in the Repeat Satellite Setup menu. If you are using a standard round 18" antenna then the #1 18" round would be the correct setting.

crazy thing is, sometimes when I set it up I get all of them and other times I don't... all within my local area.

Yer lower channels would not be available if you were out of your local channel halo.

The owner of an 18" antenna would only be pointing toward the DirecTV 101 satellite.

Executive wrote:
Not sure what you guys are doing, but I've been using DirecTV for the past seven years. My remote dish is a single LNB 18" round dish. I have my receivers set to Slimline 5 at the suggestion of DirecTV. I have two cables from the LNB running into my coach. I pick up all channels from Channel 2 all the way thru the music stations. 800+. Never had a problem picking up the satellites. I use the SatFinder app to get a general idea of the location of the sats then use the sat meter function on the TV screen. Once it gets into the 80-90 range, I lock everything in place and enjoy myself. Takes about 3-5 minutes total....Dennis

Dennis, which sat do you pick with SatFinder?

Executive wrote:
Not sure what you guys are doing, but I've been using DirecTV for the past seven years. My remote dish is a single LNB 18" round dish. I have my receivers set to Slimline 5 at the suggestion of DirecTV. I have two cables from the LNB running into my coach. I pick up all channels from Channel 2 all the way thru the music stations. 800+. Never had a problem picking up the satellites. I use the SatFinder app to get a general idea of the location of the sats then use the sat meter function on the TV screen. Once it gets into the 80-90 range, I lock everything in place and enjoy myself. Takes about 3-5 minutes total....Dennis

These guys are likely doing everything correctly. If you want HD you cannot use an 18" dish. If you want locals and they are only broadcast on the 99 or 103 you cannot use an 18" dish. If just depends upon where you are located and what you are trying to do.

I have a single LNB and SD for the motorhome. DirectTV has the aiming information on the website. When I get a "10" on the strength meter, I lock it down and enjoy.

On mine,, channel 202 starts the DirecTV stations (CNN). Locals I pickup on the Batwing. Everything goes thru a passive switchbox. Bought at CW years ago. Simple. Just push the button you want. Whatever I have at home (except for the networks when I'm out of the spot beam)) I have in the RV.

g'luck!

Not sure what you guys are doing, but I've been using DirecTV for the past seven years. My remote dish is a single LNB 18" round dish. I have my receivers set to Slimline 5 at the suggestion of DirecTV. I have two cables from the LNB running into my coach. I pick up all channels from Channel 2 all the way thru the music stations. 800+. Never had a problem picking up the satellites. I use the SatFinder app to get a general idea of the location of the sats then use the sat meter function on the TV screen. Once it gets into the 80-90 range, I lock everything in place and enjoy myself. Takes about 3-5 minutes total....Dennis

Channels below channel 70 are going to be local and they are going to be spot-beamed. In many cases that means you need to be able to point the antenna to all 3 DTV satellites OR you may be able to get these channels in SD only by changing the settings in your receiver to allow SD reception. If you have done that already while pointing at 101 only then it's likely you are either outside your home area (usually 100-300 miles from home) or the locals are on 99 or 103 which requires a different LNB.

For SD content all you need is to lock in sat 101 to receive whatever programming you have subscribed to. The round 18" Directv dish can only acquire a single sat while the larger oval dish can attain all three sats which will provide all the HD/SD channels Directv carries.

We purchased the same slimline HD dish we have at home for RVing, acquiring all three sats for HD programming is not any different than acquiring just sat 101 as long as dish has been set to pointing parameters as outlined by receiver or whatever app is used.

Whether you lock in just sat 101 or all three Directv sats, you should always receive all the channels you have subscribed to just like at home. How the sat dish is pointed shouldn't increase or decrease the Directv programming you have under your current plan with the exception of free previews.

It is possible to have less channels when attempting to acquire all three satellites, which can occur when just 2 of the three available satellites are locked in. With Directv you always lock in sat 101, for HD sat dish just properly set tilt and other 2 sats should come right in.