Forum Discussion

js415's avatar
js415
Explorer
Nov 09, 2015

Dish TV/Pathway X2 question

After almost a year of looking and trying to decide if we really wanted a Satellite for camping, we finally took the plunge and bought a Winegard Pathway X2 last week.

After unboxing and setting up the service with DishTV, everything went perfect. In fact, I unhooked it and hooked it back up every night for a week just to get used to the process. 5 days in row and everything was perfect.

We left our home location this past week in middle Georgia and went camping in North Georgia, just a few miles from the NC state line.

I tried for an hour or more to get the satellite set up, but it could never find a signal. When I was about ready to give up, I decided to change the set-up options from Georgia to North Carolina.

It immediately found the signal, and I had service in 5 minutes or less.

So my questions is:

Is it common that since I moved so far north from where I set it up that I needed to change the state? Is this common when moving around and should I be prepared to search other states when setting up?

I was less than 150 miles north of my home location.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Jerry

10 Replies

  • dahkota's avatar
    dahkota
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    We have been in Washington State, Oregon, and Idaho and used the eastern sats when they were easier to get due to trees. We have used the western sats on the east coast. But, we never change our service address (we like our local sports networks during baseball season, which are not spot beamed) so I can't tell you if it had any effect on local channels.

    Sometimes, when at the extreme end of a state, I have used an adjoining state to tune in the satellites on the pathway.
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2015
    The installer said you needed to use WA satellites to receive your Local Network programming in HD. If you are out of the area for your locals it doesn't matter which setup you use.
  • TriGlider's avatar
    TriGlider
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    For what it's worth the East Rim Campground has the best chance of using your X2. It's got a lot of open to the sky campsites. The West Rim side is "VERY" tree blocked.

    Alan
  • azjeffh's avatar
    azjeffh
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    Not of much value but we live in the Phoenix area and while up in Bryce Canyon this year I left the box setting to Arizona. I was able to pull up Phoenix local stations and didn't complain one bit. :) We are using the tailgater.
  • js415's avatar
    js415
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    TriGlider wrote:
    That's the beauty of the X2. Either setup works. Much easier to get around the trees when you can go to either one. Even though you were still in Georgia when you move you still need to let it find where the satellites are relative to the new location. Changing out the Zip Code in the Installation > Point Dish menu makes it an easy task.

    We were in Cloudland Canyon about a month ago and even thou we were still in North Georgia had to use their zip code to get a sat fix.

    Alan


    Perfect.

    Cloudland Canyon and Desoto are our next trips in the next few weeks, so I will try the zip code option.

    thanks,

    Jerry
  • TriGlider's avatar
    TriGlider
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    That's the beauty of the X2. Either setup works. Much easier to get around the trees when you can go to either one. Even though you were still in Georgia when you move you still need to let it find where the satellites are relative to the new location. Changing out the Zip Code in the Installation > Point Dish menu makes it an easy task.

    We were in Cloudland Canyon about a month ago and even thou we were still in North Georgia had to use their zip code to get a sat fix.

    Alan
  • js415's avatar
    js415
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    So either eastern or western arc should work? I think once it dries up here, I will go outside and try them both out and see what happens.

    I was still in Georgia, but needed to use a NC state in order to find the satellites. I guess since I was in the mountains it needed to look in another place than the "Georgia" location.....

    Jerry
  • TriGlider's avatar
    TriGlider
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    I also use an X2 and every time we move we change to the local zip code and state and the unit locates the satellites in short order. I've used east and west satellites depending on tree cover at the campgrounds. When not on the road I use the 211Z receiver at the house connected to a 1000.2 dish. I have to change the receiver settings from a 500 antenna to a super-dish and do a "Check Switch" in order to setup for the antenna change. Very easy setup.

    We just got back from Gulf Shores and was surprised to have all of the Atlanta local stations down there. We didn't bother to call Dish to change service locations and had assumed that the local spot beam from Atlanta wouldn't work down there.
  • js415's avatar
    js415
    Explorer
    Nov 09, 2015
    Bill,

    Thanks for your response. Based on other responses I have seen you post, I was hoping you would see this and give an opinion.

    I was still in Georgia, but I guess since I was so far north, I needed to use the NC setting to help it out. Sound correct?

    Another question I have is about the satellites themselves. When I set it up, the Dish Rep. told me I needed to use the western arc.

    Based on the instructions, it seems I can use either arc. Does this sound right, I would think that being located in the east, I should use the eastern arc, but maybe not?

    Next project is to get my trailer set up to use it inside for the really cold camping season.

    Thanks,

    Jerry
  • Bill_Satellite's avatar
    Bill_Satellite
    Explorer II
    Nov 09, 2015
    You do need to enter the correct State each time as it uses that information to set the proper elevation. Moving N/S will effect that elevation setting the most and moving E/W much less effect. Since it worked I would say you kinda answered your own question, however, one other thing that can cause issues is having the receiver set to a home Network (NBC, etc.) which is not available as you move away from home. Setting the receiver to a channel like CNN or Food will help prevent that issue.

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