Newbie Question

[msanto]

OK, so I don't know much about Sat TV yet ... I have prob. a stupid question (or series of questions).

I had it installed by Dish Network, so I trust he set it up properly. I have a 721 and a 301.

Dumb question 1:

When I went to Setup on the 301 and looked at Point Dish (out of curiousity), I noticed it had 119 W checked and transponder 6, with a zip of 00000.

However, if I looked on the 721, it had 110 W checked and transponder 17. Signal strength is also shown as higher on the 721.

So I'm confused. The same dish can't be pointed to 2 sats at once.

Dumb Question 2:

When they install the 2nd dish for the rest of the local channels, how could I use Point Dish then? Will it list both dishes?

Dumb Question 3:

Since I live in CA, it seems to me that these dishes are aligned and pointed manually (I must admit, I did not read the installation part extensively of the manual, since it's already installed), and that the Point Dish part of the menu merely helps you to pick how to manually align the dish. Thus in the case of an earthquake ... well, I would think it would have to be manually aligned again. Or am I dense?

[TNGTony]

msanto,

Welcome.

The answer to Dumb question #1 is yes, a single dish CAN be pointed at two satellites at once. The Dish 500 is a dual focus dish that allows simultaneous reception of 110 and 119. That is why it's slightly tilted. This is to allign the dish with the Clarke Belt where all geostationary satellites reside.

The zip code in the point dish screen is only necessary to get the elevation and azimuth of the dish. I does nothing else. You can also check the signal strength of all the transponders on both satellites there. When you get out of the screen, the receiver will automatically select the correct satellite and transponder for the channel you want to watch.

Answer to dumb question 2:
Yes you will see both dishes and all three satellites in the point dish screen. Again, the receiver and the switch provided will do all the work. All you have to do is select the channel you want to watch.

Answer to dumb question 3:
Yes the dishes are aligned manually. The point Dish screen give you the coordinates. In case of an earthquake strong enough to move the dishes, first you have to rebuild your home. :) Others here will correct me if I'm mistaken.

See ya
Tony

[msanto]

OK, so the checkboxes on that Point Dish screen have nothing to do w/ the actual sat that my dish is using for a particular channel?

Forgive the obviously newbieness :-)

[TNGTony]

Nope. This is just a place to check the signals on transponders and get pointing coordinates. Take a look at www.dishchannelchart.com to see what channels are on what satellites and transponders.

See ya
Tony