Aiming Slimline SL3 SWM dish

I found using a meter to be more of a hindrance than a help.

There's already a good video meter on your TV, and you'll never shoot the wrong sat. Problem is, no beeps. Sooo.. I use a Swift Hitch camera to 'see' the TV screen from outside.

I get the settings from either the zip code, or dishpointer.com, and using a boy scout compass, can usually do it pretty quickly.

But yeah, the first dozen times will be a learning curve, for sure. I hope you have a good, solid, stable tripod, because that's about 90% of being able to aim a Slimline.

The best thing you could do for yourself is go to www.tv4rv.com and purchase their heavy duty tripod system. This will make everything so simple for you.

Bruce

You can purchase several - I know Radio Shack has one, but I didn't like it.

I put Satellite AR app on my cell phone and it works great! It will get me in the right direction and I can then tune it in, but if I'm having trouble, at dusk, if it's not cloudy, you can see the satellite and fine tune it even more.

I agree a good surveyors style tripod that lets you level perfectly is your best friend.
Dishpointer is great.

thx so far for the comments, but I am not seeing an answer to my question so let me restate...

I am looking for a recommendation for an inexpensive sat peaking meter, something cheaper than a pro model, but also something that will work for my application.

I am using an SL3 SWM Slimline dish. this is a single cable that requires a 21 V power insertion module between the receiver and the LNB

I have a good tripod and my mast is level and plumb (I got that part).

I want to be able to see instant feedback with a meter at the dish without using the TV and receiver to peak the dish signal.

I am anticipating a hookup like the diagram below. I use the SWM splitter because the power insertion is 21V and I see that most meters are designated for 13-18 volts. I may try to power the meter with two (V batteries is series.



upload pics">diagram here

Since I cannot preview if the image will show above, I will just hope it does and post.

Thanks again for your reply.

The new HR44 Genie has brought back the "beep" when aligning the dish but you have to be physically close enough to hear it. And it is a bit slow in responding to little tweaks.

The Dishpointer app will verify you have a clear shot at the satellite. I highly recommend the tripod from TV4RV (yea I know there are other places but TV4RV is great to work with). Set the elevation and skew for your location, plant the tripod per the instructions, attach the antenna and you usually are good to go (or very, very close).

I have a friend who uses a good old squeal meter to peak the signal. An Accutrac II (hard to find) is an inexpensive (~$80) meter which works really well. If you want to be sure, use a Satlook Lite meter (~$210) that identifies the satellite (including SWM systems) and makes aligning the dish child's play.

rsdata wrote:
thx so far for the comments, but I am not seeing an answer to my question so let me restate...

Since I cannot preview if the image will show above, I will just hope it does and post.

Thanks again for your reply.

To preview your post, click on the box that has a piece of paper with a magnifying glass.

Thx for the tip Popsie !

X2 on the tv4rv.com tripod.

For the meter, use the signal strength meter in the sat setup screen on your DVR and use a wireless baby monitor so you can see the signal strength from your sat location. Just aim the baby monitor camera at your TV screen and take the remote out to the sat site with you. As was previously stated the Genie HR44 brought back the beep sound also.

Go to www.tv4rv.com and read their February, 2012 newsletter about how to setup an everyday analog satellite finder gauge. This is what I used to use before I became so proficient at setting up my dish.

You will need to locate and purchase a DirecTv ASL-1 alignment signal locator which should cost somewhere around thirty bucks. DirecTv no longer stocks them, so look around online to find one. You will also need an analog signal locator.

Just go to the newsletter I mentioned and you will see how simple and inexpensive it is. If you can't find what you need, I will sell you my setup.

Bruce