Low 99, 103 levels.....replace the dish?

[tuncer]

Hey folks,

Installed a AU9 5 LNB Slimline with a Zinwell 6.8 a few years ago but we've never been able to get good numbers for 99/103 despite spending "hours" of dithering. My guess is the Slimline might have been damaged during shipping (bought it on eBay) hence the problems.

Here's our typical numbers we are getting:

101 - 86 (max)
110 - 95 (max)
119 - 92 (max)
99 - 55 (max)
103 - 60 (max)

I'm beginning to think that our Slimline or LNB is bent or damaged and needs to be replaced. If so, which dish should we get? Am considering getting the new AU9-SL3-SWM. Any help would be great appreciated.

Thanks,

Tuncer

[BattleZone]

Considering that you've got everything connected via a legacy setup now, a SWM won't gain you anything, and could result in you not being supported by DirecTV, since they didn't install the SWM.

IMO, just call DirecTV for a $49 service call and have then note that you need a replacement Slimline dish.

[WestDC]

Since you've never gotten good numbers (EVER) I would call in a have a tech comeout and let them trouble shoot it, How is your line of sight? That may be a reason for low numbers as well. Unless it's clear. or just get a new lnb and give that a shot, your gonna spend $$ either with a tech call or replacement parts.

[veryoldschool]

A bent dish [reflector] can be hard to "know", but has caused problems before.
If you don't have any need for the channels off 119, then the SL3 makes sense.

[tuncer]

Thanks for the tips. Line of sight is good, no issues.

Since I'm out in the boonies, there's no chance DTV will send out a tech so I have to do the install myself. Going to order a dish and see if that fixes the issue.

[Mertzen]

Yeah, a dish has to be bent ever so slightly to mess with signals. It can be the reflector or the arm or even a combination of the whole assembly.

[veryoldschool]

Yeah, a fish has to be bent ever so slightly to mess with signals. It can be the reflector or the arm or even a combination of the whole assembly.
Now not another fishing story, :lol:

[joe diamond]

Do not forget my personal fav!

Is the mast plumb?
Before doing anything stick a level on that sucker in two directions.
If it is not plumb bend it or shim it or whatever you have to do. Then repoint the dish.

If it is plumb you are screwed...........Start over by getting a better number on 101...then 119........see what you have on 99 & 103.

Joe

[tuncer]

Yeah, I ended up moving the dish and when I put it up, I made sure the mast was plumb. I've ordered a new LNB before investing in a whole new dish to see if it might just be the LNB. The odd thing is that 101 maxes out at 85/86 and never anything higher while 110 and 119 are 95 and higher.

Tuncer

[scottp461]

Hello All,

I've had similar problems with my early slimline dish ever since 99 and 103 went online. I've re-plumed the mounting pole, changed out my LNB, replaced my mounting screws with larger ones and even bought an accutrac III+ meter that can "see" the Ka band satellites! My readings on 101 are ALL 90+ with several 100's, 110 is 95 across the board and 119 is 80+ with several 95's (not counting a fringe spot beam that reads in the high 40's). 99 and 103, on the other hand, have to be averaged (they don't peak in the same place) to read 70 to 80. Even a slight movement of the dish results in one getting better readings and the other getting worse. When I try to peak 99 or 103 only, I still can't get any better than high 80's (and the other one falls way off!!)

I've noticed that newer slimlines installed on my (condo) roof have much sturdier reflectors than mine does, especially the thickness of the flange that runs around the outside rim. It's at least twice as thick now! I've also heard of problems with "slightly warped" reflectors, so I expect that this new sturdier reflector is the solution! I had DirecTV come out to replace the dish a few months ago. He inspected it and then proceeded to re-dither it rather than replace it. He did a great job, but didn't obtain any better reading than I did (he just did it much faster than me!) 3 days later, 103's numbers started going up and 99 was going down. I spent the next 2 months (every week or two) re tweaking the alignment to re balance the numbers from 99 and 103. It finally stabilized, 2 months ago, but I still max out at 80 on 99 and 103.

I'm convinced that the reflector is warped and just bought a new (hopefully sturdier) dish on eBay. The original was installed by DirecTV. I'm hoping that this will correct my problems. Also, for anyone who's wondering, my dish is 4 stories up and there is NOTHING in it's line of sight.

If this thread is still active after I get the new dish installed, I will let you know if it fixed my problems.

[Davenlr]

Considering the low readings on 101, and the fact it is a different lnb inside the housing, it sure sounds like your reflector is not reflecting correctly. It actually sounds more to me like the arm is mounted on it wrong (if thats possible) and is either to close or to far away, from the reflector. It wouldnt matter as much on 110 and 119, as they are side slung. The arm isnt bent at all, and both bolts holding the lnb in are straight? No slop in the lnb mount? Tilt bolts are correctly set and tight? Very weird.

[tuncer]

Scott, what kind of dish did you end up buying? I'm considering getting a new one.