satellite aiming question

Wow, thanks everyone for all the info. I didn't know about the app so will be looking into that.

We plan on doing some shorter trips for the next few months and then head out to Oregon and Washington next year which is why I wondered about the higher latitudes. Plus, our first "long trip" is going to be next month when we head up to New Hampshire to visit family.

It makes sense that we could also pick up SD programs with an HD dish but hearing that it works is comforting.

Thanks again everyone for the help.

donn0128 wrote:
The correct alignment tool makes a world of difference in how easy or difficult it is. With a Birdog alignment for an HD system takes about five minutes. Go HD and buy the right tools the first time.

Yeah if you want to spend a ton of money for one. As said, you get better at it. Get a signal meter cheap, a good compass, I've even used the one on my iphone, and a level.

Set the tilt, and angle, level the unit, then set it straight with a compass,in that order. You should be close enough to catch a signal. After that it's just fine tuning.

As said, you zoom in on the 101 satelite, get it full signal, and as long as you set the tilt right, the others just come in with it, so it's really not harder at all.

The correct alignment tool makes a world of difference in how easy or difficult it is. With a Birdog alignment for an HD system takes about five minutes. Go HD and buy the right tools the first time.

Swampman597 wrote:
is it significantly harder to line up the HD dish or just something that becomes minor?

It is at first, but you get better at it. You need only shoot one bird, and the 2 others take care of themselves.

I had a very difficult time at first, mainly because of trying to use a hand-held signal meter. DTV removed the beeps from the HD receivers, which is not a particularly good plan for those of us who set up often. I now use the 'Swift Hitch' camera to broadcast the DTV Signal Meter to me standing out at the dish. Works like a charm.

Another important part of HD is a strong, level tripod. Got mine at TV4RV. It takes some practice to set that up properly.

There are many solutions, I just gave you mine.

It would sure simplify things if you went to dish with a tailgater. Then there would be no need to aim and would give you HD. If you really want to stay with Direct and you have a smart phone an app called AR sat will show you exactly where to aim.

Unless you are going to the Arctic Circle, heading north shouldn't really change what is involved in the aiming of the dish....though maybe what was being said, was that you'll have more trees and such to contend with, because the satellite is lower on the horizon?

Your HD TV will show regular programming just fine, and unless you have to watch HD, why bother. Are you going to be full-timing, or just going on vacations? If this is just a vacation, or weekends, you will probably find out that you won't be watching as much TV, and why make it more of a hassle?

All that said, if you've got the HD Box, and that is what you plan to bring with you, you might as well just get the HD dish, and spend some money on a compass and elevation device to help line things up.