Installation w/o signal from 119?

[sbayne]

With my current two lnb dish and Directv Tivo box I get a signal strength above 92 on all transponders but 28 (it usually stays in the low 80s, but sometimes I've seen it in the low 70s).

I now have an HDTV so I want to feed it HD signals. I live in the wooded rolling hills of southern Fairfield County in Connecticut, so my NYC HD locals over the air doesn't seem like a possibility. So, I was hoping to upgrade my Directv service to HD.

I had an HR20 installation scheduled for yesterday, but the installer said he could not get a line of sight for the 119 satellite. Without that signal he said he would not be able to properly point the dish. So he did not do the installation and a technical supervisor is supposed to come out to evaluate my situation.

So I have two questions:
1) If I am willing to live without the programing sent from satellite 119, is it really impossible to set up the AT9 without signal from 119?
2) If the dish could be set up to receive all the other satellites, what programing would I be missing by not getting 119?

Thanks for your advice,


Steve

[bobnielsen]

With my current two lnb dish and Directv Tivo box I get a signal strength above 92 on all transponders but 28 (it usually stays in the low 80s, but sometimes I've seen it in the low 70s).

I now have an HDTV so I want to feed it HD signals. I live in the wooded rolling hills of southern Fairfield County in Connecticut, so my NYC HD locals over the air doesn't seem like a possibility. So, I was hoping to upgrade my Directv service to HD.

I had an HR20 installation scheduled for yesterday, but the installer said he could not get a line of sight for the 119 satellite. Without that signal he said he would not be able to properly point the dish. So he did not do the installation and a technical supervisor is supposed to come out to evaluate my situation.

So I have two questions:
1) If I am willing to live without the programing sent from satellite 119, is it really impossible to set up the AT9 without signal from 119?
2) If the dish could be set up to receive all the other satellites, what programing would I be missing by not getting 119?

Thanks for your advice,


Steve

The 2-LNB dishes are used for 101 and 119, so if you are getting your locals from 119 you must already have a clear view of that location. You can check the signal strength on your current receiver and dish to verify that.

Here is a list of the programming on 119:

http://www.lyngsat.com/packages/directvusa119.html

It is possible to set up the AT9 with only 101. Whether installers are allowed to do so is another question, of course. It is also possible to use more than one dish if you can find a location which sees 110 and 119 but not 101 (it is much simpler if 110 and 119 are using the same location). There is a thread about doing this on these forums.

[litzdog911]

You can doublecheck the installer's site survey yourself using the Sun. Today might be a couple days past the perfect days for your location, but it's still very close. Check out this information .....
http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=63277

You might be able to find a suitable location where you new dish will "see" all 5 of the key satellites.

[mailiang]

Be patient and stick with the AT9. ALL NY HD locals will soon be changed to the 103 bird.

Ian ;)

[AnonomissX]

A substantial amount of HD programming comes off the 119.

However, currently, the HD network channels (abc, nbc, cbs, and fox) for New York and LA are on the 101 (A) satellite, in mpeg2. As mailiang stated, they will be moving to the 103, and become mpeg4. If you don't get the HD package, it won't affect you as much, but usually when you order an HD receiver, you get the HD package free for 4 months, and not getting the 119 will suck very much.

Did the installer say the 103 couldn't get signal?

In any case, I would want a dish location that got all the signals, the 119 included!!!

[satguy22]

your hd channels come on both 119 and 110.

[sbayne]

Thanks for your replies!

Following Litzdog911's advice about the location of the satellites in relation to the sun, I believe I found a location in my yard about 60 feet from the house that should be able to see all five satellites. I've marked the spot so that the technical supervisor can do a test of signal strength from there.

Would an installation where the dish is located on the lawn 60 feet from the house count as a "standard professional installation" or should I expect the installer to charge something for an installation like this?

Thanks,


Steve

[paulman182]

My AT9 is about 60 feet from the house, installed on a pole, and it was free.

I think policies vary from company to company, however.