King Dome in motion

[Acampingwewillg]

OK...wife wanted an in motion Sat for Direct TV, so while at an RV show, I found a deal on a used King Dome. No complaints so far just a question. Tonight, as I was playing with things in the drive-way, I turned on the King Dome and while it got a signal of about 67-68, I never did get any channels up and running. So just to verify all was OK, I switched on the Datron Roof Dish(an oldie but a goody) and got a signal of 95-97 on all but one transponder.(the king dome was hit and miss on the transponders lots of zero's).

I just checked on the internet to see what the manual says...my only guess right now is that I moved some components around, shifting some coax and used a couple of those 90 degree connectors on the King Dome tuner...tomorrow, I'll change those back out again and use the correct connectors(they specify Compression not crimped and to use dielectric grease on all connections). OK....am I missing anything??

I guess I find that that 30 or so difference in signal strength is a bit more than I thought it would be even though I know the Domes aren't as efficient. Sorry for being so long winded...Thanks

[Acampingwewillg]

Thanks for all the comments. I decided to remove the 90 degree coax connectors and low and behold, now I have an 85-87 signal. Guess if I want to use those darn 90' angles, I better get some quality ones. Thanks again!

[Bill_Satellite]

It is very normal for the KD (most domes) to have a lower signal strength number than your portable. Sounds like you must have an open faced Datron which has the same 18" sized dish as a portable.
If it works elsewhere but the only place you have noticed a problem is in your driveway you need to take the RV to an open Wal-Mart parking lot and see if it works before you go any further.

[Acampingwewillg]

We just got back from a trip and my wife was watching it until I pulled into the driveway. The receiver is an older one, I'd have to go out and check it out. I've always noticed that the signal strength is never even close to what I get with the Datron or with the portable dish I set up on occasion.

As to the transponders, I was only getting signal on about half of them, although as I think about it, it was not divided down the odd/even road. I'll go out again today and get exactly the info you asked here. Like I said, I bought this at a good price and I didn't get a manual with it so I've been getting that info from the internet. Is there a percentage number as to the lower signal strength associated with the smaller dish in the Dome?

OH...yes it is the KD with the digital display inside and Yes, I believe it does indicate locked on 101. One other thing that maybe an issue....when using the Datron in my driveway, it sometimes struggles to get the elevation correct because my Drive is on a slant...I'm think, that might be the same with the KD. (The elevation Datron calls for is 45 but I have to set it at 48-49 to get that 95-97 signal otherwise it just keeps searching.)

[Bill_Satellite]

Is this a KD with the digital display unit inside? If so, is it showing "locked 101"? When you had the signal strength number you mentioned was that similar on all transponders or were you only getting odd or even numbers? As mentioned above it's quite possible it was locked to the wrong satellite but it's also possible the LNB is bad. What receiver are you using?

[Ivylog]

It's locked on the wrong Sat. Common problem with a K dome.