DirecTV Troubles

Not sure where you read that it was on round 18" but it's set on 17: slimline 3s swm.


I will do a little work on it today

OP wrote:
I have this dish, with a brand new 25' rg6 i connect it from the LNB to the power to SWiM on the right side of the power inserter. I connect a brand new rg6 from the Signal to IRD to the back of the receiver.

I turn on the receiver and go to signal strength but everything is 0 no matter what dish type i choose. Here are the options, I have tried all of them but it always wants to be on 17.

1: Round (18")

The link to the dish you bought shows that it is NOT a 18" round dish. May be you should drop back to the setup menu and check that setting again.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is to make sure the vertical staff the dish is mounted to is absolutely positively vertical. If it isn't the potential of finding sat 101 is virtually zero.

You said it's on the roof.. but are you using a tripod, or what?

Sorry, you are correct. Not a PI29 but the PI21 is correct for that setup. Assuming you have all the cabling correct, if you get no signal you don't have it pointed correctly. One problem with the SWM setup is that sometimes you can be properly pointed but the receiver won't show a signal until you do a reset. However, you can't know if you are pointed correctly to know when to do a reset. That's why I like having a separate meter but even that can trick you into a false signal.
For now, I would assume that if you followed by directions and you are sure all of your cabling is correct, your antenna is still not pointed correctly. There is a VERY steep learning curve when manually pointing an antenna. It gets easier with time and the first time can be a real pain. This also assumes that your receiver has been activated elsewhere, the software updated and you have a good known working receiver from a previous antenna connection.

going to signal strength and then to signal meters, on satellite 101* transponder 1, i should be able to just move it around until i see that it picks up a signal right?

i swear i have moved it all different directions and simply cannot get any signal. I cant even seem to find the spot where i got 57 and 58 before.

Oh and Bill we do not have the PI 29 ours is PI 21 does that make a difference?

It should look like this link to picture

Just saw Bill's post - he's the expert!!!

tfolks206 wrote:


17: Slimline-3S (SWM)

I have only once playing around with it gotten a signal and that was only on 2 channels but the strength was at 58 and 57.

So is this just because I simply am way off on the aiming? Also i should be using the same elevation settings etc that are used at my home correct?

also when i do a system test i get 1 error and that code is 41-824 (satellite dish alignment or distribution problem

From your description 17 is correct - you do have a SWM 3S dish correct???

The dish was not aimed on "target". You need to tweek it to 80+.

Sure the elevation should be the same as home assuming that is where you are are. BUT BUT BUT Is your dish support vertical etc etc etc???

Dude you had at least one of the birds and that is good news. It needed to be tweeked to improve and then it needed to be tweeked to receive all three birds.

You've made progress!!!

OK, so with that setup you should have a (post corrected) PI21 between the antenna and the receiver and the coax from the PI should go to the one input marked SWM (usually input 1) and no other cables will run to the receiver.
You need to get it set to 17 and SWM and go to signal meter and then signal strength. This screen will show the 101 and transponder 1. Move the antenna until you see signals on this screen at least in the 70's but 80-90 would be better. From here you will likely be able to make the necessary adjustments to get 99 and 103 on track but you really have nothing until you can get the 101 in your sights.

ok i will start from the beginning just to clear up the connection issues, i will need to buy a satellite finder then since this doesnt seem to be working.

I have this dish, with a brand new 25' rg6 i connect it from the LNB to the power to SWiM on the right side of the power inserter. I connect a brand new rg6 from the Signal to IRD to the back of the receiver.

I turn on the receiver and go to signal strength but everything is 0 no matter what dish type i choose. Here are the options, I have tried all of them but it always wants to be on 17.

1: Round (18")
2: 3-LNB (18"x20")
3: Slimline-3
4: Slimline-5
5: Round (18") & 72.5*
6: 3-LNB (18"x20") & 72.5*
7: Slimline-3 & 72.5*
8: Slimline-5 &72.5*
9: Round (18") & 95*
10: 3-LNB (18"x20") & 95*
11: Slimline-3 & 95*
12: Slimline-5 & 95*
13: Round & 72.5* & 95*
14: 3-LNB & 72.5* & 95*
15: Slimline-3 & 72.5* & 95*
16: Slimline-5 & 72.5* & 95*
17: Slimline-3S (SWM)
18: Slimline-5S (SWM)

I have only once playing around with it gotten a signal and that was only on 2 channels but the strength was at 58 and 57.

So is this just because I simply am way off on the aiming? Also i should be using the same elevation settings etc that are used at my home correct?

also when i do a system test i get 1 error and that code is 41-824 (satellite dish alignment or distribution problem