Dish alignment and the new HD channels....

[Deftones]

Here's a question I haven't seen yet.

Ok, I have this sinking feeling when the new channels go live, I won't be able to get them due to the alignment of my dish. I have nothing to believe they won't, just a sinking feeling.

If I can't get them for whatever reason, and DirecTV has to send someone out to re-align the dish, I'll have to pay for that, right?

Now, I know if you have their protection plan, from what I recall, it covers re-alignment. So, is there anything stopping me from signing up for it to cover the "just in case factor" for the month?

[say-what]

About the only thing preventing you from signing up for the month is that the plan requires a one year commitment and it doesn't take effect for 30 days.

Now they generally waive the waiting period if you call with a problem and sign up for the plan. But remember, it's for a full year, not month-by-month.

[TriggerDeems]

If it was installed within the last 90 days, you are still covered. Or, you can realign it yourself.

[Sixto]

If it was installed within the last 90 days, you are still covered. Or, you can realign it yourself.It's $70 if you don't have the protection plan, and if the dish was not installed recently.

I called but I may do it myself: http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=98802

[apexmi]

I've got the AT-9 dish and it needs to be fine tuned. the 103b tp 11 is peaking at only 51-52% is there a less expensive option than the $200+ Accutrac signal meter? All the install literature says it can't be fine tuned properly without a meter.

[Michael D'Angelo]

I would suggest not doing anything until the new channels start. When they start check your signals then.

DirecTV is still playing with the SAT.

On Wednesday I had a 95% signal on TP11.

Last night I had a 80% signal.

This morning I had a 85% signal.

Now it is at 86%.

[houskamp]

I've got the AT-9 dish and it needs to be fine tuned. the 103b tp 11 is peaking at only 51-52% is there a less expensive option than the $200+ Accutrac signal meter? All the install literature says it can't be fine tuned properly without a meter.
It's not as convienent but you can use the meters on your reciever.. I used my slingbox (in control mode for speed) and a laptop..

[apexmi]

I would suggest not doing anything until the new channels start. When they start check your signals then.

DirecTV is still playing with the SAT.

On Wednesday I had a 95% signal on TP11.

Last night I had a 80% signal.

This morning I had a 85% signal.

Now it is at 86%.


Yeah my plan is to fine tune it once everything goes live but I don't want to have to wait an extra week for a meter to ship if I'll need it to peak the dish.

[Sixto]

Yeah my plan is to fine tune it once everything goes live but I don't want to have to wait an extra week for a meter to ship if I'll need it to peak the dish.If you want to do it yourself, and you want it to be right, then it appears that you either need an Acutrac III or access to the H20/HR20 signal screens. Acutrac III seems easier and more accurate, but certainly more expensive.

I trust Stew over in the other thread if you have any questions.

[ray e]

find a way to wiew your signal meters next to your dish
i used a dvd hookup kit (converts s video to rf) coax and a small tv

used the sets signal meters and i have better signals than the
pro install up the street (the installer said i would never be able to do it w/o a meter) and my numbers avg. 5 pts higher than his. it takes some time and patience but it wasn't as bad as they said. 95 lowest 100 highest signals

good luck with yours

p.s. the wife will eventually stop laughing at you. mine did

[apexmi]

find a way to wiew your signal meters next to your dish
i used a dvd hookup kit (converts s video to rf) coax and a small tv

used the sets signal meters and i have better signals than the
pro install up the street (the installer said i would never be able to do it w/o a meter) and my numbers avg. 5 pts higher than his. it takes some time and patience but it wasn't as bad as they said. 95 lowest 100 highest signals

good luck with yours

p.s. the wife will eventually stop laughing at you. mine did


Dish is on my shed so I could actually hook up one of my boxes to an old 27" TV stored in there and view it from the shed roof. that might work

[ChrisPC]

I've adjusted and adjusted and still get 80. Oh well, I get 90s on all other sats, maybe I will with this one when it's up and running.

[jwd45244]

I've adjusted and adjusted and still get 80. Oh well, I get 90s on all other sats, maybe I will with this one when it's up and running.

It is insane to tweak a system based upon 1 data point. If you other signals are fine, leave it alone. You are actually potenially making all your reception worse. Wait until there are more TPs lit up and real content.

[apexmi]

just took down all my signals, Do I seem way off?

99
1-8 0 0 0 0 0 0 n/a n/a

101
87 85 84 95 80 94 85 94
83 86 83 98 80 95 83 95
84 0 82 98 76 95 84 95
80 89 85 44 86 95 80 95

103a
1-8 40 0 41 57 36 51 n/a n/a

103b
tp11/48

110
tp10/83 tp12/84

119
17-24 00 00 00 00 00 95 66 93
25-32 80 96 97 96 88 96 77 97

[Deftones]

Did not know that it required signing up for a year. I guess it's worth it, as even if they came out twice to align, it would pay for itself. Or, I could call up, order another HR20, and make them look at it then. LOL