What do I need?

[Red-Rover]

I have a Direct TV receiver, model H35-600, with HD capability that I have borrowed from my stick and brick. I also have a Winegard GM-MP 1 "carry out" dish. I am not able to to receive Direct TV channels 1-100 but every channel above 100 seems okay but none are High Definition. I would love an automatic satellite finder for much $$$$$ but cannot justify for 30 days use each year. What are my low cost options for a manual set dish that will receive all channels in HD like at home?

[Bill_Satellite]

Unless you plan to be in that area for an extended period I would not be concerned about going larger than the current 23 x 33 inch dish. Worst case you should be able to center the antenna and point to the 101 only when that far up and still get all of the SD programming. To go larger you are going to be looking at a really big dish that you are stuck with for the rest of your travels.

[2oldman]

Red-Rover wrote:
.. Canadian Maritimes in a couple of months where the satellites are much lower on the Southern horizon. Would a larger dish help there?

yes

[Red-Rover]

Thank you Bill Satellite for the complete explanation. I now understand the capability of the automatic units. Kind of headed in the direction of a full size dish like at home to satisfy my needs cheaply. No more difficult to aim, only extra storage between between destinations.
You were also perfectly correct about the Direct Receiver model number. A second inspection shows that it is an H23-600. Don't know where that other number came from.
Headed to the Canadian Maritimes in a couple of months where the satellites are much lower on the Southern horizon. Would a larger dish help there?

[Bill_Satellite]

Red-Rover wrote:
I have a Direct TV receiver, model H35-600, with HD capability that I have borrowed from my stick and brick. I also have a Winegard GM-MP 1 "carry out" dish. I am not able to to receive Direct TV channels 1-100 but every channel above 100 seems okay but none are High Definition. I would love an automatic satellite finder for much $$$$$ but cannot justify for 30 days use each year. What are my low cost options for a manual set dish that will receive all channels in HD like at home?

There is not an H35. There is a H/HR24, H25 (SWM), HR34 and HR44 (Genie and SWM). Not sure which you are using.
No single LNB antenna can provide you with DirecTV HD but the MP1 will give you all of the SD programming from DTV. You can even get the Network programming IF AND ONLY IF these are coming from the 101 satellite as well. If they are not, they might be coming from the 119 satellite and you could repoint the MP1 to 119 for those. This does take some time and not terribly convenient, but it might work.
The automatic dome antennas will toggle between the 2 satellites to allow you to watch both but in SD only. If you want it all and you want it at the lowest cost you will want to buy an open faced antenna just like the one on your home and set it up on either a home made stand or mount it on a surveyor type tripod. If you can point the MP1, you can point one of these antennas just as easily and you can have it all.
Hopefully, you understand that the Network programming will only be available (no matter the antenna) while you are close enough to home to receive that programming. The Networks are all spot beamed and driving more than 200-400 miles from home will usually be far enough for those Networks to disappear. When that happens you don't suddenly get the Networks from the new area, you simply get no Networks at all.
That's when you want to have a good working roof mounted OTA TV antenna so you can use satellite to watch all the "cable" channels and the OTA antenna to watch NBC and the like.

[K_Charles]

We have directv at home and I used to take one box from the house and use the antenna for locals. Now we have directv at home and dish in the TT because it's easy to change the locals on dish.

[Red-Rover]

K Charles wrote:
Directv saves 1 - 100 for local channels so your address has to be where your TT is. Locals in one area may not be on the same satilite as other areas.

Thats interesting -- I knew I would not receive my local network stations but expected to be able to get locally broadcast network. Included in channels 1-100 is WGN Chicago, a "superstation" I have watched throughout the nation, in motel rooms.
What you are saying is that my problem is not the dish/antenna but the Direct TV Receiver/card that prevents me from receiving network broadcasts and other channels between 2 and 100? This would be true even if I purchase a $600 "automatic" dish?

[DutchmenSport]

1mtnman wrote:
You could purchase a Direct TV HD dish for about $60.00 and a tripod for another $60.00 and use your current receiver. Then you could learn to setup you dish aimed at the satellite you desire. And I might add you can also be frustrated like those of us who use this method.
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WELL SAID! :M

[K_Charles]

Directv saves 1 - 100 for local channels so your address has to be where your TT is. Locals in one area may not be on the same satilite as other areas.

[2oldman]

A slimline dish from any of a number of sales outlets, and a sturdy tripod from tv4rvs.com

[DavisK]

You can use that Winegard Carryout with Dish and receive HD channels. You also only have to pay for the time you use it.

[1mtnman]

You could purchase a Direct TV HD dish for about $60.00 and a tripod for another $60.00 and use your current receiver. Then you could learn to setup you dish aimed at the satellite you desire. And I might add you can also be frustrated like those of us who use this method.
.