Need Help with 1000.4 Setup

[Jerry_Roberts]

Here is the deal: a couple years ago, I switched from directv to dish network. I was only using a single lmb receiver with directv. I had no problems what so ever. Now, I pourchased a dish 1000.2 around the same time that I switched providers. I'm finally getting around to try out the new hd dish.

Okay so, I set the skew, elevation and plumbed the tripod. Next, I connected the rg6 cable to the middle lmb. Then, I mounted the dish and used a compass to find the azimuth. I connected the rg6 to a vip211k receiver; and then the 211k to a Hdtv with a hdmi cable. I went into dish pointer on the receiver and could not get a signal. I tried different satellites and ports on the 1000.2 without any prevail.

So, after a few hours and beers later, I called it quits. I tried again a few days later and came to the conclusion that the 1000.2 didn't have a clear line of view to the sky. I decided to order a 1000.4 lmb and use it on the dish that came with the 1000.2 (and this might have something to do with my next problem), I will explain.

Okay, after receiving the 1000.4, I set it up the same way as described above-and to my surprise I picked up satellite 61.5. I had about a 41 percent signal and all channels seem to be working. However, I could not get 72 or 77 and I even tried connecting two receivers and tvs at the same time. I did get 72 to come in but it said wrong satellite and would show a complete signal lost when trying to view programs.

Now, could this be because the skew is off? I read this morning that the dish from a 1000.2 and 1000.4 are different. They are opposite which means my dish would have been tilted the opposite way. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[TechWriter]

Jerry Roberts wrote:

I decided to order a 1000.4 lmb and use it on the dish that came with the 1000.2 (and this might have something to do with my next problem), I will explain.

Yes, that is the problem. Don't mix LNB arms between a 1000.4 and a 1000.2. You may get a sat or Tierra del Fuego.

Here's my advice:

(1) Put the original 1000.2 LNB arm back on. If the 1000.2 arm has 3 LNBs, then it's for the Western Arc sats (110, 119, 129). If the 1000.2 arm has 2 LNBs, then it's for two of the Eastern Arc sats (61.5 and 72).

(2) Get the azimuth, skew, and elevation settings from either the ZIP code manual that shipped with the dish or from www.dishpointer.com.

(3) Level your tripod. Hopefully you're using a heavy-duty one like those on www.tv4rv.com.

(4) Aim the dish and peak the sat signal(s) -- this step is easier said than done. I use an Accutrac III Plus because it displays the signal strength of all 3 sats simultaneously. This makes sat acquisition fairly easy.

[Jerry_Roberts]

I'm such a newb. Okay, so here is the quote that made me confused: "Note that skew on an EA dish is on the opposite side of 90 from a WA dish or D500". Also, I had the eastern and western arcs confused. The 1000.2 that I have is a western arc snd the 1000.4 is a eastern arc. I called dish and the rep said, there is no difference in the antennas that come with a ea and wa lnbs. Sorry for the confusion and again I'm new at this.

[Jerry_Roberts]

Jay, I'm having trouble finding the post regarding the 1000.2 eastern arc dish and instead of the 1000.2 lmb, using a 1000.4 western arc lmb. I may have misinterpreted the posts. If not, it states if you are using a setup like this the skew setting needs a minor adjustment. For example, if I had a 1000.4 western arc lmb and dish and a skew setting of 40 then the rotation on the dish would be counter clockwise (if standing behind dish). Now, by using a 1000.4 western arc lmb and a 1000.2 eastern arc dish, you would use the settings for a 1000.4 wertern arc dish and lmb; however, if you were to rotate the skew to 40, it would move clockwise instead of the needed counter clockwise. The problem is the numbers on a 1000.2 and 1000.4 dish are different. So, instead of setting the skew to 40, you would center the skew and turn it counter clockwise 40 clicks which should be the 80 mark. But again, I'm new to these HD dishes and I may have misread the post. Howevet, I will give it a try tomorrow and post my results.

[donn0128]

Sounds like you need some better alignment tools. Look at a used Birdog on ebay for starters. When you have hit the right satellite it will show you signal quality also. Then a simple switch to the other birds and you can see signal strength there also.

[Jay_Pat]

My understanding is the 1000.4 is a wider dish due to extra spacing of satellites. Meaning the 1000.2 antenna may not work with the 1000.4 LNB.
I have the 1000.4 antenna and using the eastern arc.

I checked my settings for where I am now.
Eastern arc settings are:
AZ 181
EL 40
SK 125

Western arc settings ar:
AZ 241
EL 26
SK 125

I'm not seeing what you are saying.
As said, I'm new with using and pointing the satellite.
Pat

[Jerry_Roberts]

I understand, however, my problem maybe related to the different skews on 1000.2 dish and 1000.4 dish. I'm using a 1000.4 lmb on a 1000.2 dish. By my understanding, the skew settings are opposite each other. I didn't find this out until today, so I will try reversing the skew. For example, say I need a skew setting of 40, I would set the skew to 80, which is 40 degrees in the oppositre direction. So basically, instead rotating the dish clockwise, I would rotate it couter clockwise (standing behind dish of course).

Also, I will try to get satellite 72 in first then work on the others. If this doesn't work then maybe I will give your routine a try.

[Jay_Pat]

I'm new to using Dish and the 1000.4 antenna.
I can find 61.5 using the settings from my zipcode list.
To get all three sats, I move the antenna to my right when standing behind the antenna. I adjust with azimuth and elevation only.
Run the switch check.
Just takes a little time to find all three sats.
Once I get all three, the next time I set up and use the switch check, if I get the "less than last time", sat message, (I know, lots of commas) I know to re-adjust and then run "check switch".
I hope this makes sense...
Pat

I have the 1000.2, LNB. Have not tried to point it. May be the same procedure.