SF-1000 Signal Meter

[Mfreyder]

Has anyone ever used this meter to find DTV signals? Thinking about buying it to troubleshoot my in motion Winegard antenna.

[Bill_Satellite]

To setup the receiver for use with the Winegard dome I would recommend you set the receiver to 1-18" round. Have you verified that the dome itself has the proper dip switch settings for DirecTV (all up with #8 down)?
I assume you know you will not get HD but you will be able to use both tuners so be sure you have both cables from the antenna running to both inputs on the receiver.
Also be sure the receiver is set to multi-switch and not SWM. You will not be using a B-Band Converter. If you do not use BBC's in your home with that receiver (and you get HD at home) then your home system is setup for SWM and that will not work in an RV without the addition of the SWM8 hardware or ensuring you get the settings changed in the receiver off SWM and onto multi-switch.

[YC_1]

Has it ever worked? Even once?

[Mfreyder]

I have a HR-24/500 receiver and have tried several of the configuration settings. Problem is I have not seen any instructions from either DTV or Winegard that fits my equipment. A Winegard rep finally responded to use option 02, and I have not had time to get out there and do it. The biggest road block is getting the DVR out without my wife knowing. Seems it won't record her shows while in the RV searching. Go figure... I had to plead stupidity when questioned.

Have no idea what a B band converter is. Not sure what the HR 24 is.

[donn0128]

Have you gone thru receiver setup? I assume you have, but.....
Does the setup require a B band converter? I have had a couple of then die on me and kill my picture.

[Mfreyder]

All good points, I have a motto, you don't get what you don't pay for. So with that said, I was looking to see if anything was coming down from the antenna, and I think this little discriminator with a needle might show that. Right now I get Zero signal level on all transponders, this might tell me if the receiver is not set correctly or if the antenna really is putting out zip. Was wondering if someone else had bought and used one and if it did anything. Not intended to use on a daily basis. Suggestions?

[Teacher_s_Pet]

Using one similar to This one for a while now. Works very well when I need to set up the portable in trees or obstructions. Have a Travl'r on the roof.

[donn0128]

You can buy those cheap things for less than 20 dollars all over the place. I probably have three of them around somewhere. Sadly everything is in storage or I would give you one of them. They are nothing more than a beeper that sounds off when you receive a sat signal. You never know what sat you are getting a signal from using those things. With the Birdog you tell it what sat you want and it will only lock onto that one and rejects all others. Birdog is what DirecTV techs use to setup all new installs. You can find used ones on ebay for around 75 dollars. But if you go that way be very careful, there are some that install their own funky battery and say new battery.

[Mfreyder]

Wow, a little more $ than I was thinking of spending to troubleshoot.

[donn0128]

Birdog

[Mfreyder]

I'll Google that and see what it is.

[donn0128]

Nope I use a Birdog. Has way more functions than I know how to use.