use of dish receiver to aim dish

OK, thanks guys. that was what I was hoping for.
bumpy

The bottom line, Bumpy, is yes, you can use the receiver to point the dish, even if it isn't activated. I know Dish, and I assume DTV as well, have a few promotional channels that are not encrypted, so you can even verify your TV hook up before activating. The receiver is the only item that gets activated, not the dish itself. You can readily move an activated receiver from one dish to another, although dissimilar dish models will require running a "Check switch" to update the receiver for each setup.

With the older dishes when you first hooked up you went MENU 6-1-1 as I recall and that took you to antenna pointing.. At this point you may or may not be "Authorised" it makes no differnece,, Now using a battery operated portable TV at the antenna site (or a 120 volt one for that matter) aim your dish (Enter zip code first).

once you have got the dish aimed you go to CHECK DISH, this is where it checks for authorization.

On some of the newer ones you have to wait for the thing to stop trying to aim a Tailgater, once it gets to that step you hit the "*" button, then I think it takes you to Menu 6 1 1, if not you have to go there.

From there it is the same procedure.

I use two simple apps on my Ipad.
" Dish Align " which gives very precise direction to the satellite, with both an arrow and audible signal and
"SatFinder Lite" which shows the satellite on an arc when held up to the sky, giving you the azumith and direction. Both can be set to which ever satellite you are looking for, with literally hundreds available. Both are FREE aps available for Ipad or Iphone in the Appstore.
Takes me about 5 minutes to set up my tripod dish, without even turning on the TV inside until finished and I can usually get a 98% signal strength.
One of our local satellite dish installers uses both apps for installs.

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
Yes. A reciever must be aimed and locked on to be authorized.
I use a Radio Shack satellite finder between the dish and reciever to tune in. Takes about 2 minutes to set up. A quality compass, 7 1/6 wrench, level and the finder are all it takes.
I also use a DeWalt surveyors tripod, that lets you set up on unlevel ground by lengthening the legs as needed to level the mounting post. very stable.

thanks, so I can use an unauthorized/registered/etc. receiver, hook it to my dish and TV and go thru the setup procedure getting signal strength etc. before I bring my "legal" receivers to hook up?
bumpy

Yes. A reciever must be aimed and locked on to be authorized.
I use a Radio Shack satellite finder between the dish and reciever to tune in. Takes about 2 minutes to set up. A quality compass, 7 1/6 wrench, level and the finder are all it takes.
I also use a DeWalt surveyors tripod, that lets you set up on unlevel ground by lengthening the legs as needed to level the mounting post. very stable.