Getting harder to aim Slimline SWM

[2oldman]

I've been aiming my Slimline dish (SWM) for years without as much trouble as I'm having now. I can move maybe 50 miles, where the settings don't change that much, but it can take a half-hour or more to find the 101.

I use the "test signal strength" screen where it shows the 2 Tuners on horizontal parallel lines. I position a Swift hitch camera in front of the screen and take the little receiver with me to the dish. The beeps are really helpful, but I don't always get those. That seems weird.

The zip code locator on the TV screen shows an azimuth of 141°, but my smartphone Satfinder pro says it's 154.9. That's a big difference.

And what about this... which side of the red marker is the actual elevation? I suppose it would be the left...or the middle?



Is it possible that Direct has tightened up the angle at which you find the 101? Anyone else having more trouble?

[2oldman]

I was watching only recorded shows for a couple days while a wind storm blew through here and I took the dish down. I don't have any delay in watching recorded shows.

[CA_Traveler]

I've seen something similar in that if the HR44 doesn't get a signal for some time it then can take a long time to recognize that the signal has become available. Like maybe it's in sleep mode. Maybe related if I power it up with no dish signal it takes a long time before recorded shows can be watched.

Never tried to quantify the above but there does seem to be some sleep or timeout mode involved.

[2oldman]

Today I got a glimpse of what *may* be affecting my system.

I set up my dish today, pointed at a known correct azimuth and elevation, and, hearing no beeps, started walking back to the coach to get my swift hitch camera. As I was walking back, the beeps started up.

Hmm.. ok, that's reasonable evidence that my receiver isn't responding as fast as it should. Perhaps that's because of something I did?

The situation was this: after the receiver booted up, I connected the coax to the dish, mounted and aimed the dish. Is that an improper way to do it? It's not my usual way.. everything is usually connected and then I fire up the receiver.

[Bill_Satellite]

buc1980 wrote:
I just wander what receivers you use with the slim line dish Genie?

Slimline dish Genie? What are you referring to? The dish (antenna)? The receiver (Genie)? or something else?

[edatlanta]

buc1980 wrote:
I just wander what receivers you use with the slim line dish Genie?

I used an HR24 until about 3 years ago and then the Genie HR44. Aiming one vs the other was no different.

[buc1980]

I just wander what receivers you use with the slim line dish. Genie HR54?

[edatlanta]

I'm not having any issues with aiming my Slimline dish. I use the signal strength screen from my receiver and a wireless baby monitor. I haven't noticed any difference in doing this and this is my 10th year. Maybe I'm just lucky?

[CA_Traveler]

Replace the LNB and if that doesn't work then the coax will definitely fix the problem as it clearly couldn't be the new dish - or could it?

We all just love the shotgun approach to fixing problems and even more so when someone else is charging us for the repair!

[azrving]

2oldman wrote:

azrving wrote:
With all your money maybe you need an upgrade. ??

lol.. yeah maybe. I've always kind of enjoyed setting it up, especially those times when I put it up and it's on the signal already, just needing minor tweaking.

I don't understand why it's getting so much more fussy. I replaced the dish thinking the old one has taken too many falls. I guess the only other device it could be is the LNB.

It just seems like this stuff should either work or it doesn't.

Lol
I have to mess with you a little. It’s good to rack our brains and tinker with stuff to keep us going. I just wonder what it might be like when Im 78 and trying to call amazon or Verizon or apple tech support ??

[Bill_Satellite]

2oldman wrote:

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If something has changed, it has changed in your setup or procedure.

And nothing has, except my age. It's a puzzler.

If you accept the fact that the satellite is in a fixed location and broadcasts a fixed signal to a fixed area of the US, I suspect that it is something on your end. The foldable arms are often problematic whether new or used.

[2oldman]

edatlanta wrote:
I think you are confusing magnetic north with true north.

Somebody might be, not me.

[edatlanta]

I think you are confusing magnetic north with true north. In California there is a 13 degree east difference between magnetic and true north.

[2oldman]

CA Traveler wrote:

2oldman wrote:
My dish (foldable arm) is brand-new from tv4rv.

That doesn't eliminate a dish problem.....

It better!

Another possibility is that the receiver isn't responding to the signal as fast as it used to.. but so far that's not a reasonable guess. But getting the beeps only sometimes is weird.

[CA_Traveler]

2oldman wrote:

wires wrote:
LNB-less dish setups are cheap on the auction sites so I'd say give that a try.

I have. My dish (foldable arm) is brand-new from tv4rv.

That doesn't eliminate a dish problem but suggests LNB or coax or as you suggested a cockpit problem. :h