Well, my install resulted in...

[Chuck W]

LOSING the 119 satellite, due to trees.

The guy came about 11am. He looked over my current setup(3 LNB dish on a pole) and decided, instead of using my 1.65 to 2in adapter, on the pole, he just slid a 6ft pole OVER top my existing 3 ft pole. I had been having issues with the 119 satellite and an evergrowing tree lately, so I was all for getting a little height on the dish. After installing the pole(drilled hole and used self tapping screws to secure it overtop the existing pole), he aligned it and came in and insatlled the receiver and new multiswitch.

I first saw the signal strength on 101 and 110 and was excited. They were both in the mid 90's, which was about 20 points higher than my 3 LNB. BUT, then came the shock, when it tried 119. He got NOTHING(well an occasional sniff of a signal, but nothing substantial enough for a picture). :eek2: I used to get 50's and 60's, with the 3LNB. He said he couldn't do anything else, at it was aligned as best it could be. He said the new Slimline has a lower sight for 119, than the 3 LNB. I could accept that but the dish is now twice as high, on the pole, as it used to be(6ft up, instead of 3), so I would think that would have helped. He pointed out what needs to be pruned off the tree in question, but I'm a bit PO'd that he couldn't get anything at all on 119, when I was getting 50-60, prior.

So, as a result, with the new install, I gain a couple new HD channels(mainly locals + YES HD), but lose ALL my locals in SD AND HDNet, ESPN2 HD, Discovery HD and WABC-HD(this is big because Hartford doesn't have their ABC affiliate in HD yet) and FOX5NY-HD, until I can get someone out to prune the tree.

The guy was nice and personable, but I felt he could have given it a try on getting a sniff of 119, plus he just left the multiswitch hanging and never tightened the cables on the multiswitch.

[Mike500]

There are several problem, here.

You cannot eye the actual line of sight through the trees, if the line od sight is tight. It's even hard with any hand held compass, switching between azmuth and altitude betweeen sightings. This, even taking account that the technician actually measured and sighted the aperature for th2 119 satellite. The only way to really determine precise line of sight is a surveyor's transit or theodolite.

By placing and screwing a six foot pole on the old one, the possibility of error is increased by the square of the length at the end of the pole. If he moved the dish up another three feet, unless he has precise positioning equipment, like a theodolite or surveyor's transit, he might have moved the dish to an obstructed line of sight for 119.

The proper install would be a new pole in a location with a totally clear line of sight. But that is too much work for this lazy installer.

An easy way to find if your 119 is obstructed is to use a laser level elevated to the same elevation angle as the 119 satellite and traversing it to the same azmuth position as the 119 satellite at the location of the dish itself. This can only be done at night. I'd bet, more likely than not, that the laser dot will be seen on a leaf or a branch on the tree.

[litzdog911]

You can use the moon's position in the sky tomorrow (Friday) to help you "see" where the satellites are located in the sky. See the link in my signature below.

[Chuck W]

The proper install would be a new pole in a location with a totally clear line of sight. But that is too much work for this lazy installer.


Actually, there is really not other good spot(other than putting it WAY down front of my lawn, about 5 ft from the street, which would not be feasible).

I'm almost tempted to remove the taller pole and use my adapter and resit the 5LNB on the old pole, at the old height, to see if I get something. I really don't have the time to get a tree pruner out here, for, at least a few weeks(nevermind the costs involved).

[aim2pls]

Actually, there is really not other good spot(other than putting it WAY down front of my lawn, about 5 ft from the street, which would not be feasible).

I'm almost tempted to remove the taller pole and use my adapter and resit the 5LNB on the old pole, at the old height, to see if I get something. I really don't have the time to get a tree pruner out here, for, at least a few weeks(nevermind the costs involved).

remember that trees grow and expand over time (good growing years they really grow) .. your gonna need the pruning anyway (based on your description) .. go ahead and bite the bullet

[Mike500]

Actually, there is really not other good spot(other than putting it WAY down front of my lawn, about 5 ft from the street, which would not be feasible).

I'm almost tempted to remove the taller pole and use my adapter and resit the 5LNB on the old pole, at the old height, to see if I get something. I really don't have the time to get a tree pruner out here, for, at least a few weeks(nevermind the costs involved).


Get this one on eBay...........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150143409574&rd=1&rd=1



It's got some great reviews. Nothing can be simpler. I know the one from Solid Signal. By the time you get it delivered, it's over $25. The bolts are clamped at the bottom, and the top can be skewed or moved.

It the original pole was plumb, it will also be plumb when using the eBay adapter. Also, it needs no additional screws or drilling.

[Chuck W]

Get this one on eBay...........

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=005&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=150143409574&rd=1&rd=1



It's got some great reviews. Nothing can be simpler. I know the one from Solid Signal. By the time you get it delivered, it's over $25. The bolts are clamped at the bottom, and the top can be skewed or moved.

It the original pole was plumb, it will also be plumb when using the eBay adapter. Also, it needs no additional screws or drilling.


I actually already have the Solidsignal one. I bought it prior to the install, just in case he didn't have what was needed to use the existing pole.

I put a call into a friend, who is has a tree service, so hopefully he can get out to my place, soon and do a pruning.