Bill.Satellite wrote:
Finding the satellite is a complicated process and not as simple as raising to the elevation shown on the DM and swinging the antenna around. You can blow right past the satellite before the meter has a chance to read anything. You can also get a strong signal from the wrong satellite. Be sure you have the receiver set to 18" round and then take your time. I suggest installing an in-line satellite signal receiver as they are instantaneous but the cheap ones still do not tell you if it's the right satellite. You have to wait and see if the receiver identifies it.
You need a good compass and you need to take the reading for the heading while outside and away from all that metal in the RV. Once you have the right heading, the satellite should be found within 20 degrees on either side of that heading and within 5 degrees higher or lower in elevation. You just have to work at it a bit at a time and very slowly. If you download and app like Augmented Reality's Dish Pointer you can see just about exactly where the satellites are but you still won't know exactly how the antenna is positioned as there is a 24 degree offset between the dish angle and the actual satellite elevation.
Using the DM I have been able to get my TV up and running within minutes. Let me tell you the sequence of events that have me where i am right now.
In my yard I have used the TV periodically to eliminate having to resend a signal to the receiver. The receiver is one that I had in my extra room in the house. The receiver was in my coach about 3 years or so.Everything was working fine. I could lock on a satellite within minutes.
I noticed the last time i set up the satellite it took longer and longer to get the receiver to actually produce a picture on the TV even with 90's or so numbers showing on the lines during signal set up..I forget the term it used, I think gathering data or something.
It then quit altogether. Good satellite signal numbers but no TV. So I took a receiver out of the bedroom and swapped it out. Once inside my home the receiver from the coach does not fire up the TV in the room. The card inside was discolored from heat or something.
So, I repaired the Dm and with your advice went out this morning to set the receiver to 18' round, or at least attempted to. Following a you tube video, I got to the part where i selected the 18" round, was instructed to click "continue" however there is a message below that states SWM not detected. The "continue" feature is not highlighted so clicking on does nothing.
I'm lost.
Appreciate your help, Bill.
