Dish VIP 211 Can't Access Menu

Ok, I have a 211K not a Z so ..... Now all I need is a decent antenna, and a motive to hook it up cause it is not often I am not happy without it.

(here it is amazing.. Not only do I get good OTA, but the park has free cable too,, Had to learn how to set up my network to do both.. That was fun.. I have kind of a .. er... advanced.. television network in this RV (Think Rube Goldburg).

Bill.Satellite wrote:
I believe the OP has a 211Z which has terrible software. The 211 and 211K did not have this issue.

Ahh! Ok, I missed the 211z reference along the way. I've heard it has a few issues along those lines. Thanks, Bill...

I believe the OP has a 211Z which has terrible software. The 211 and 211K did not have this issue.

az99 wrote:
Actually it got me nowhere. Entering the * gets you to the signal screen but the signal meters are so poor they are worthless. They don't change when adjusting the dish unless you go back and change transponders.
Even after I connected it to another dish that was already aimed, the best it would do is "call dish to authorize the receiver".
I was not about to authorize it and start paying when I do not even know if I can get a signal where I want to use it.

Before I activated my 211k, I aligned my 1000.4 eastern arc dish with the three satellites using a $10 signal meter. The only thing the 211k provided at that point was the power for the meter and LNBF. Once the dish was dialed in, the 211k went through all the steps including updating the software until it stopped to wait for activation. I initially activated it using the cheapest package available ($20 Welcome Pack) until I was satisfied everything was working as it should. I now use a $65 SF-500 meter I bought on eBay to align the dish much faster. The receiver signal strength indicators work, but the response is slow and using them is not easy when the dish is strung out on 150' of cable.

Thank you. I have a 211K with Tailgater & MRTS-40. I always want to know a little more about them.

I understand not wanting to activate. I have heard that in the East, on the Tailgater, you get very spotty connection to only 1 or 2 sats.

Was the second dish configured to DISH? I know that is probably a "Duh!" question but it leads to my next question. Wouldn't the dish locking onto a sat confirm that you at least have available signal? Could a local DISH retailer assist you in confirming the tailgater connection before activating and then program your 211? Is yours a 211K or Z?

az99 wrote:
Actually it got me nowhere. Entering the * gets you to the signal screen but the signal meters are so poor they are worthless. They don't change when adjusting the dish unless you go back and change transponders.

I would not call that page worthless.. But it does help if you know which transponders carry a CONUS broadcast.. Lingsat can assist with that.

As to worthless.. Professionals use a device called a Bird-Dog, This is a signal strength meter for sat finding, I have seen them listed USED For over a thousand dollars... Works JUST like the signal strength page on a DISH receiver, The DISH receiver software is as good as the professional product.

This is what I was trying to explain in the beginning. You must jump through all of these hoops with the new receivers (including activation) before the setup menus will work properly. If you had done the authorization everything would have started working as it should. It's a real pain and Dish is working to resolve the problem but in the meantime you need to get connected to a properly pointed antenna, activate the receiver and then connect to whatever mobile antenna you choose.
This activation can also be taken care of my connecting to a Winegard Pathway or King Dome Tailgater as they use special Dish software.

Actually it got me nowhere. Entering the * gets you to the signal screen but the signal meters are so poor they are worthless. They don't change when adjusting the dish unless you go back and change transponders.
Even after I connected it to another dish that was already aimed, the best it would do is "call dish to authorize the receiver".
I was not about to authorize it and start paying when I do not even know if I can get a signal where I want to use it.

SO, did this help? Are you not going to share?

OK. What will this access give you?