No locals DTV Quartzsite.

[2oldman]

I'm in Quartzsite having trouble getting local channels on Directv.

I spent a good 2 hours yesterday with both chat and phone, and they assure me everything is fine on their end. The problem may be on my end as I cannot get any signal on the 99(s) or 103(s) birds, which I understand are the spot beam satellites. I really don't know if that's true. My 'All channels' guide shows me still getting Utah (SLC) locals, which show "771- Signal loss on Satellite in 2." To reach the dish from my RV I have two coax cables joined with one barrel connector, no splitters, Slimline SWM tripod-mounted dish, 101 sat is 95%.

I've refreshed the receiver and rebooted it several times with no luck. I've tried aiming the dish to get a 99(s) signal, but I can't get a peep out of it. Can't say I've ever had this problem where it wasn't DTV's fault because sometimes they don't put their best technicians on at night.

[2oldman]

CA Traveler wrote:
That to me is SPOT ON and per my above post this is a DTV problem (ie you still have UTAH quide - right?)

Yes I still see the Utah guide.

I'm on chat right now trying a Murrieta CA address for LA locals. Nothing is working and I'm not sure the clerk knows what she's doing as she keeps avoiding questions. If I can get LA locals I may never have to do this again as I think that spot beam is quite large.

[CA_Traveler]

2oldman wrote:

accsys wrote:
I adjusted the elevation....

After tweaking the elevation, I'm doing better:

101= 96%
99ca= 60
99cb= 79
99s =0

103ca= 60
103cb= 69
103s= 0


I refreshed the receiver, nothing. I rebooted the receiver, still no locals. If those signal readings aren't good enough, I don't know what to do from here.

That to me is SPOT ON and per my above post this is a DTV problem (ie you still have UTAH quide - right?)

[CA_Traveler]

2oldman wrote:
I'll see what's going on there. Some websites say the "s" is for spot beam, but apparently not. It's a mystery.

If I'm truly getting no spot beam reception, how is it that my receiver still updates the guide for Utah stations?

I have spot beam maps for all 3 birds and as recall 99s and 103s show zip for the transponders.

My experience: EVERY time I have your issues and have the prior quide it's a DTV problem. Sadly even though DTV thinks they made the change correctly they did not. I've even had them tell me to look on their website and I'll see the updated service address. And when I ask why I have the prior guide data the phone silence is deafening.

When they do the update correctly the receiver will start to show the updates.

And chat was a disaster so I stopped using it. Maybe I'll try one last time.

Most of the time the service address change is reasonable, however. Sure would like a phone/computer app like Dish.

[2oldman]

accsys wrote:
I adjusted the elevation....

After tweaking the elevation, I'm doing better:

101= 96%
99ca= 60
99cb= 79
99s =0

103ca= 60
103cb= 69
103s= 0


I refreshed the receiver, nothing. I rebooted the receiver, still no locals. If those signal readings aren't good enough, I don't know what to do from here.

[CA_Traveler]

accsys wrote:

CA Traveler wrote:

accsys wrote:
As I said earlier, the skew should be 109° in Quartzite in order to get 99 and 103 if you have a multi lnb slimline. If you are getting better reception on both satellites at another angle, there is something wrong with your mast or it is not plumb or your lnb arm is not straight. I used Dishpointer to get that skew.

109 would be the azimuth for Dish eastern arc from Q, so not sure what you are posting.

DTV 101 would be elevation 48, azimuth 148 magnetic and skew -19.

Dish settings are not at issue as he has DirecTV and Skew at -19° also called 109° on most slimlines and it is called 109° at the dishpointer site I referenced. Anything over 90° skew, or negative, is for west of Texas, anything less than 90° is for east of Texas - 90° is for Texas or above. My old triple LNB dish I used before HD has + and - settings but my new HD Slimline uses setting above 90° for west of Texas.

Thanks as I didn't realize that.

I haven't actually setup a dish in a few years(just push a button :B) but I'm now considering carrying a portable dish. At my daughters the dish will be 150'+ distance to clear the trees 🙂 and should be OK. So I'll need to get updated on pointing the dish.

[2oldman]

accsys wrote:
I adjusted the elevation a little and they both came in great! I believe my tripod was just a little off plumb which was causing it.

I have tried adjusting the elevation but so far no joy. I can try again later. My top face plate is as level as I can get it and there has been no damage to either the dish or the tripod since it last worked getting locals in Ely NV.

Thanks for your suggestion.

[accsys]

2oldman,
Today when I was setting up our dish in Alabama, I had a similar issue to you- good readings on 101, low readings on 99 and 103. I tried tweaking the skew a little bit but was having trouble getting both to come up - one would get better as the other got worse. I adjusted the elevation a little and they both came in great! I believe my tripod was just a little off plumb which was causing it.

[accsys]

CA Traveler wrote:

accsys wrote:
As I said earlier, the skew should be 109° in Quartzite in order to get 99 and 103 if you have a multi lnb slimline. If you are getting better reception on both satellites at another angle, there is something wrong with your mast or it is not plumb or your lnb arm is not straight. I used Dishpointer to get that skew.

109 would be the azimuth for Dish eastern arc from Q, so not sure what you are posting.

DTV 101 would be elevation 48, azimuth 148 magnetic and skew -19.

Dish settings are not at issue as he has DirecTV and Skew at -19° also called 109° on most slimlines and it is called 109° at the dishpointer site I referenced. Anything over 90° skew, or negative, is for west of Texas, anything less than 90° is for east of Texas - 90° is for Texas or above. My old triple LNB dish I used before HD has + and - settings but my new HD Slimline uses setting above 90° for west of Texas.

[Ed_Gee]

Amazing how some here keep harping on 101, when the very original post this was clearly stated he was getting 101 at 95%. Some people here don’t know how to read a thread I guess......

[2oldman]

CA Traveler wrote:
You could also give DTV a Phoenix address. I've never had any issues with the Phoenix or LA locals in Q and the beam maps support that.
2oldman, If it doesn't work out go to Silly Als and kick back with the locals (as in people) and have great pizza and beer.

I may try that.

Al's sounds like a better idea. 🙂

CA Traveler wrote:
You should be getting 70%+ on 99 ca, cb, 103 ca, cb, 90%+ on 101. AFAIK 99s and 103s are not used..

I'll see what's going on there. Some websites say the "s" is for spot beam, but apparently not. It's a mystery.

If I'm truly getting no spot beam reception, how is it that my receiver still updates the guide for Utah stations?

[CA_Traveler]

2oldman,

You should be getting 70%+ on 99 ca, cb, 103 ca, cb, 90%+ on 101. AFAIK 99s and 103s are not used.

Your best option might be to find someone with the same dish, go there and connect your receiver to their dish. This will isolate the problem to DTV or your dish.

Your description sounds like a mechanical dish problem, but maybe a coax or LNB or alignment issue. And I can't rule out incorrect DTV service address change.

You could also give DTV a Phoenix address. I've never had any issues with the Phoenix or LA locals in Q and the beam maps support that.

Q is a good overnight stop for us when traveling EW. Occasionally we go with a club for a week in January.

2oldman, If it doesn't work out go to Silly Als and kick back with the locals (as in people) and have great pizza and beer.

[CA_Traveler]

accsys wrote:
As I said earlier, the skew should be 109° in Quartzite in order to get 99 and 103 if you have a multi lnb slimline. If you are getting better reception on both satellites at another angle, there is something wrong with your mast or it is not plumb or your lnb arm is not straight. I used Dishpointer to get that skew.

109 would be the azimuth for Dish eastern arc from Q, so not sure what you are posting.

DTV 101 would be elevation 48, azimuth 148 magnetic and skew -19.

[accsys]

2oldman wrote:

Big Katuna wrote:
I remembered something else. After peaking the 101, dropping the tilt a bit would often bring the others up.

I can set the skew to near 90 and get better signal on the 99.

As I said earlier, the skew should be 109° in Quartzite in order to get 99 and 103 if you have a multi lnb slimline. If you are getting better reception on both satellites at another angle, there is something wrong with your mast or it is not plumb or your lnb arm is not straight. I used Dishpointer to get that skew.

[2oldman]

Bill.Satellite wrote:
If you are guessing Phoenix but you are not providing a Phoenix address you have found at least 1 small part of your problem. .

I'm providing a Quartzsite address.

[2oldman]

Big Katuna wrote:
I remembered something else. After peaking the 101, dropping the tilt a bit would often bring the others up.

I can set the skew to near 90 and get better signal on the 99.