Can I get D* if the 119 degree satellite has no line of sight?

[thenamesash]

I believe that I have correctly determined the D* Sat locations. I need to understand what happens if I can't get one of them with the new eliptical dish that it appears I need to get HD progamming from D*. I think that the new eliptical dish pulls in 6 Satellites ranging from 99 degrees W to 119 degrees W longitude. From what I can find, the increments for these 6 satellites are 99 degrees, 101 degrees, 102 degrees (new Sat that has all the new HD channels coming this month and next), 103 degrees, 110 degrees and 119 degrees W longitude. What that means from my calculations based on where I live in the VT and accounting for a -16degrees deflection true north to magnetic north is that these satellites range from about 200 degrees magnetic north to 221 degrees magenetic north with heights ranging from 32 degrees to 22 degrees respectively. I spent some time walking around my property on on my roof and it looks like I have a mounting location that will get all the satellites except the one at 219 degrees W longitude (222 degrees magnetic north from my location). ESPN2HD appears to be on that satellite as well as the locals and a bunch of other foreign stuff I don't care about. Since I have OTA, the locals are not an issue and I can deal with no ESPN2 HD. So my question: Can I get DirecTV if I can't pick up the 119 degree West longitude satellite? Or do I need to get a signal from all satellites including that one in order for them to sell me the package? I just canned Comcast after 13 years and E* came out and said no-go for signal since they have satellites in the 240-255 degrees magnetic north from my location and said they "couldn't" sell me the package even though I could get most of their HD channels (located about 180 degrees magnetic north from my location) due to needing to get "other" information from satellites in the 240-255 degree orientation. Thanks for any help sorting this out!

[Stuart Sweet]

:welcome_s, thenamesash!

If you can't see 119, there are some channels you won't be able to get.

You might check out this thread:

http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=96144

[paulman182]

Most installers will not put the dish up without being able to see from 99 to 119.

They are afraid of customer complaints and possible chargebacks.

My installer insisted on much more sky view than is really needed--that is just what they are told to do. Your installer may have been trained differently.

[thenamesash]

:welcome_s, thenamesash!

If you can't see 119, there are some channels you won't be able to get.

You might check out this thread:


Thank you for the links! So it looks like the only non-Local HD channels at the 119 degree satellite are ESPN2 and HDNet. I could care less about these 2 channels. I have an OTA antenna and get all my locals right now - actually that's all I have right now, but they are all HD :) I just got back from Circuit City a few hours ago and order D*, they are coming out this Saturday and I am psyched. Had Comcast/Adelphia for 13 years and sick of the poor channel selection and constant raising of rates and removal of channels. I have an H20 question: if I plug in my OTA antenna RG6 and then the input from the actual dish, will the H20 integrate my OTA channels into the lineup so I don't need to change inputs which is what I needed to do when I had Comcast? Thanks and appreciate the welcome!

[BGreen965]

Yes, you can plug your OTA in to the box and the channels will show up in the guide and function just like a sat channel. I currently don't have LOS to 119 either but was able to convince the installer to do the job after much haggling and waiver signing...your success may vary. Hopefully, ESPN2 and the NYC locals will be mirrored on the new 102.775 sat and the 119 will no longer be important for HD.

[techrep]

Thank you for the links! So it looks like the only non-Local HD channels at the 119 degree satellite are ESPN2 and HDNet. I could care less about these 2 channels. I have an OTA antenna and get all my locals right now - actually that's all I have right now, but they are all HD :) I just got back from Circuit City a few hours ago and order D*, they are coming out this Saturday and I am psyched. Had Comcast/Adelphia for 13 years and sick of the poor channel selection and constant raising of rates and removal of channels. I have an H20 question: if I plug in my OTA antenna RG6 and then the input from the actual dish, will the H20 integrate my OTA channels into the lineup so I don't need to change inputs which is what I needed to do when I had Comcast? Thanks and appreciate the welcome!

Yes it will. The actual broadcast frequency will be converted to the actual assigned channel number and then displayed as 6.1, 10.1 ,26.1, etc. Some will have a .2, .3, .4, etc (6.2, 6.3) as well.

[thenamesash]

Yes it will. The actual broadcast frequency will be converted to the actual assigned channel number and then displayed as 6.1, 10.1 ,26.1, etc. Some will have a .2, .3, .4, etc (6.2, 6.3) as well.

O.k., so that's what my OTA tuner does now, shows 3.1, 3.2, 33.1, 33.2,33.3, etc. It will be nice to have them all integrated into a single source like the H20. Now I just hope that I did my calculations correctly and that I am able to get a good signal when they come out. If I have done them correctly, things are looking better for me because I just talked to my neighbor and the tree that I think blocks the 119 degrees satellite is one he doesn't mind if I cut down!! :)

[Tom Robertson]

Welcome to the forums, thenamesash! :welcome_s

Sometimes you can get DIRECTV to install the 5lnb under these circumstances, but I would warn the CSR to mark it down on the work order that you are waiving access to 119°.

That said, you don't say what is blocking your LOS. Can you go higher to clear? Trim the trees, if that is the problem? Often a great installer can find a way with a bit of ingenuity.

Cheers,
Tom