Winegard RD-4600 connect failed w/DISH, switch=none

The RD-46 can also be used to view any of the three eastern sats at 61.5, 72.7, and 77. 61.5 is currently the primary HD sat on that arc.

These days most folks would consider 129 the main satellite as it carries the majority of the HD programming. Even with a single LNB a successful check switch is necessary for viewing. If no switch appears it's due to the fact that the antenna is not pointing to any of the available satellites.

The RD-46 should work OK. The "Switch" is used if using a dish with more than one LNB and since this model of dish has only one, no switch is required, so "None" is
a normal reading in this case. The 3 Dish satellites are at 110, 119 & 129 degrees with the main ones being 110 & 119. You can only pick up one at a time and therefore only view the channels that one is transmitting. If you have a smart phone or tablet, I have found using an app like SatFinder very helpful with aiming the Dish. Also, once you know about where the satellite is positioned, you will see if trees or tree branches could be in the way and blocking the signal.

The Dish satellites are actually widely spaced and spread across 20 degrees of sky. But, not matter, the pointing must still be done very precisely. You will not get all of your programming with that antenna since, as mentioned above, there is only 1 LNB and Dish uses 3 satellites. Your best bet is likely to point at the 129 satellite for the most HD programming. A signal meter can help locate the satellite but that older antenna can be very finicky to point. Have you ever been able to use it successfully with DirecTV or Dish? You will want to go into the receiver setup menu (used to be Menu 6-1-1, not sure about the Wally) and get to the screen where you can select a satellite and there is a signal meter. Move the antenna slowly as there is a delay as when you get a signal from the right satellite you can peak up/down/left/right. Now you could run a check switch to receive programing from that one satellite.

Gaedel1 wrote:
I have an older satellite dish on my RV which used to be connected to DirecTV, but I'm attempting a switch to DISH. I was told the Wally receiver would work. After I connected the receiver and plugged it in it went to the setup mode and failed with:

Switch = none
Reception = verified

I'm not quite sure what the Switch is. Any ideas?

Any ideas on how I should proceed?

Thanks much!

Gaedel1

If your antenna is a Winegard RD-4600 it is VERY old and will only see one satellite at a time and must be manually repositioned to another satellite to see all of DISH's programming. Also the aiming must be very precise for DISH since their satellites are closely spaced.

As previously suggested you need to go to the signal strength screen MENU-6-1-1 on the remote and see if you can locate any dish satellites. Then run check switch.

With the Dish portables the first step is always "check switch" based on what state you are in. The reflector rotates to find the sats. Sounds like it's checking connections. Not sure about that.