SMALL and LIGHT DirecTV HD Slimline Replacement and Tips

I have recently posted this before. I have an Align-a-Site but have opted to use a magnetic incline level which is easier to use, but no optical site for heavy tree canopy. My setup, which is similar to Schneid's, throws off the elevation scale on the 1000.2. This little level works well for me. I attach it to the LNB arm. I know the incline for my home location (48 deg.) and adjust accordingly for other locations.

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schneid wrote:
Photos here:

Wish photo's where still there!

Thought I said that in the title. YES, HD, otherwise why would I bother? What I don't know, as I don't care, is whether it will snag the 110 and 119. Nothing I watch uses those birds.

schneid wrote:
Photos here:

HD?

schneid wrote:
If I recall, Santa wasn't too happy with his First Strike. Santa bad. RUN!!!!!!!!

Big may be happy with his purchase.

If I recall, Santa wasn't too happy with his First Strike. Santa bad. RUN!!!!!!!! Seriously, First Strike and it's bro, Tracker Lite, aren't so hot in my opinion. I'd go Acutrac III Plus or the Satlook Lite unless you have big bucks. But then, the big boys are kind of complicated.

BTW, what is Santa using?

I didn't use my AAS for the first year I owned it but have now begun to rely on it. I dial in the settings, position the tripod with dish attached with one eye on it's compass and one on my tripod bubble level. Plant it and if I don't have signal, I am darn close. Unless, the deviation monster is lurking.

Big Katuna wrote:
I am hoping Santa brings me a First Strike Digital Meter this Christmas..

Santa here. PM me.

Thanks for the post. I think I will start watching for parts and put one together. I have a Slimline 5 on a surveyors tripod. About $60 spent so far. I added wingnuts to make it easy to take the dish off so it stows easier. Also replaced all the pivot point bolts and lock bolts with knobs so its easy to aim without tools. I have a 40' DP so lots of belly storage anyway.

We have two DVR's; one inside and one outside, so running one cable instead of four would be sweet. SWM could be fed thru the existing cable wiring; no more cables through the window and also let me add a tuner to the bedroom on the existing cable. If I switch to SWM, I might as well do the work and go smaller.

I agree AAS is too pricey. I LOVE Dishpointer AR.

I am hoping Santa brings me a First Strike Digital Meter this Christmas. No audible tone on the HD boxes makes it a pain. I get DW on the iPhone and she tells me the signal strength. I set up the Slimline 15-20 times per year. I have a SD dome but INSIST on HD for the outside flat screen. I am getting ready to put a flat screen inside so the dome will seldom get used.

Big Katuna wrote:
I don't see any tips; just photos. Nice setup. more details? What components eg dish and LNB is it?

I don't see anything like it on TV4RV WEBSITE.

TV4RV.com just sells nice tripods and accessories. Good place to tickle your brain too.

All my stuff came from eBay with the exception of the mast assembly/backplate which was discarded at the curb.

Materials:

DirecTV SL3. I recommend going SWM, an SL3s. Just one feed.
DirecTV 21v Power Inserter (PI). SWM needs mo' power.
DirecTV Slimline arm.
Dish 1000.2 mast assembly, backplate, arm, and dish, the 25" one.

The parts on the low end are $60 but range from $100 to free.

My arm is 18-1/2" from the front dish lip to the SL3 insertion point. I think with the Phase III backplate it was around 19". Finding the sweet-spot is by trial and error. We know this is right as the sweet-spot is pretty small. 1/4" off will kill the signal.

mikestock did a lot of research and the basics are proven.