Strange Directv Question

[4kiddad]

Hello all and thank you in advance for your help. I am getting perfect reception on all channels EXCEPT my local channels in my fifth wheel. We are in our permanent spot at a lake about 40 miles from home. Have been here in 2 different sites for 3 years. Problem just started couple of weeks ago. Directv says problem with one satellite & I should change service address to lake address so they can send tech. I am hesitant to do that BUT this is about to drive me crazy! I don't understand why I am good on every satellite but local channel one! Any DIY suggestions?? Please!!

[Bill_Satellite]

No, all of the 4 ports provide the same output.
It's pretty easy to see if you are getting all of the necessary satellites. Just go into the receiver setup and follow Menu>Settings>Satellite>Repeat Satellite Setup>(ensure you have the proper antenna type selected)>Signal Strength>Signal meter. Check all and verify a good signal on all.

[4kiddad]

I think Randu is closest to my solution. I have same equipment I have had for last 3 years. We moved RV about 100 feet North of old position and moved satellite & tripod with it. So I had to re-align. In fact, directv said that it seems to be just the one satellite I can't zero in on. So, I guess my next question is does it make a difference which of the 4 positions on the LNB I screw the 2 coax cables into? This weekend I will try a re-alignment. Hopefully I can get it fixed. Thanks for everything folks. I appreciate all of the thoughtful responses

[Poppa_Clay]

Maybe it is your dish.
I could not get locals on the new dish that I bought for or MH. talked to a Direct service man and he told me I had the wrong dish. I had an 18" round and it will not pick up locals. He fixed me up with an 18X20 and it works great with locals now.

[Randu]

I suspect that the main 101 sat is coming in strong so you get all main channels. My locals are on 119 sat and I find that it gets blocked by trees many times and blocks locals when the 101 main comes in strong. Just for ballpark, if I'm looking at the south western sky-- 101 comes in at about a 1 o'clock position in the sky but 119 is more like 2:30 and off to the right. Positions will be closer for you since you are much farther south than I am.
Randu

[Bill_Satellite]

While it's "possible", it's highly unlikely that you would lose your locals after moving only 40 miles. What antenna type are you using? Did you verify that this antenna could receive your locals while you were still at home? Not all antennas can receive all of the DirecTV programming so it's important that you give us as much info as possible.
Moving out of your zip code is not enough to lose your programming unless you were barely receiving a signal to begin with.

[JoeGood988]

Directv is correct...we've had DTV for around 10 years. We have a billing address and a service address. Billing naturally is where to send the bill....service address is where we're parked. Most people think local channels are the local channels where the billing address is....nope...service address locals will change as you move. When I'm in the Denver area, I plug in the zip code for the colorado area I'm parked and get Denver locals....when in Seattle, the same thing. Wintering in Arizona I get Phoenix local channels. It's a $5 a month extra charge to get local channels where you're parked.

[RoyB]

My DirecTv local stations would dissappear when I got beyond my ZIP CODE. This is normal... I suspect some areas are larger than others. Years past we could see our local stations anywhere we were at. This changed about five years ago I think it was... 40 miles outside your local assigned address does sound like a bit far to still get your local stations.

If was going to be outside my original assigned zipcode location I could call them and temporary change my local address. I think they only would do this for just a couple of times over the year.

Seems like I hear DISH NETWORK has no problem in doing this change anytime you wish...

If this is going to be your new permanent address then I would put in a change order.

Roy Ken

[donn0128]

Locals usually come off one bird while the other channels come from a second bird. I would go do a realignment of your antenna and see what happens.

[I_am_still_wayn]

1. Did you at one time receive the local channels with the equipment you have installed?
2. Try resetting the receiver.
3. Are you using a receiver from home that you take back and forth? If so, is the receiver compatible with the dish at your permanent site?
4. Local channels are spot beamed, and I suppose the 40 miles took you outside of that spot beam, but that seems unlikely.