How hard is it to align a KaKu without a meter?

3508 Views 27 Replies 16 Participants Last post by joe diamond, Aug 23, 2008

Starsky

Discussion Starter · Aug 14, 2008

Hello everyone, new to the forum and first post here. In the past I have been able to point the oldschool 18" round dishes and 3lnb mpeg2 HD dishes with no problem at all just using someone to relay the sat signal strength from the receiver. Since the mpeg4 dishes came out, I've been getting directv to install them (since they were free upgrades). Six months ago I moved to a new condo, and had the directv mover's program install a new dish there. Well I have since put that condo up for rent, and I am staying in a new home, 8 miles south. I was wondering if I just mount that dish to my new home, but keep the tilt and elevation adjustments the same, would I be able to find signal just moving the dish side to side? I would get DirecTV to move me again, but since its the second time in 12months, they will charge me $199. Anyone in here mount a KaKu dish just using the signal meter from the receivers? Thanks

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dshu82

· #2 · Aug 14, 2008

Yes, I have found it is not that hard. Preset the dish for the Az, Elevation and Tilt settings for your zip code.

There is an installation video on solidsignal.com that is helpful to understand the basics, and in conjunction with the installation manual, should get your through it. Either have the TV close by to watch the levels or communicate via cell phone.

dshu82

· #3 · Aug 14, 2008

And :welcome_s !!!

jbast

· #4 · Aug 14, 2008

I setup a slimline 5lnb dish over 10 times a summer that I bring along camping. I level my tripod and attach the dish. I seup the HR20 DVR by zip code and then adjust the settings until I get 80% or better on 101, then adjust from there checking 119, 99 and the 103's. I usually get pretty lucky within about 5 minutes of setup.

Starsky

Discussion Starter · #5 · Aug 14, 2008

Thanks for the reply! I'm actually in the same zip code where it was previously installed. So I'm thinking not to even loosen the elevation and tilt settings. Hopefully it won't be too hard to find the signals if the arm is plumb? What sats should I peak at? Thanks, I will definitely check out those videos on solidsignal.

jbast

· #6 · Aug 14, 2008

Although it's a little more touchy than the old single or 3lnb's it can be done easily

jbast

· #7 · Aug 14, 2008

I usually try to get the best on 101, then work on the others

K4SMX

· #8 · Aug 14, 2008

101 local SD spot beams are 4, 12, 18, 20, 26 and 28. The spot beam tp which carries your local SD's should probably read 100 on your View Signal Strength page for the 101 satellite. When initially trying to acquire the 101 satellite at your new location, using the Signal Meters selection under View Signal Strength on your receiver for that particular spot beam transponder may make it easier for you to find the 101. I frequently use an old SD receiver at this stage. They don't time out, and they have a working audible response, unlike the HR's.

Rough peak the 101 by turning the dish, lock down the main mast bolts, and move on to the EL and AZ fine alignment bolts to peak one of the 103(c) tp's with an HD receiver. Don't forget to loosen the associated lock down bolts first. Then check the 99(c)'s as well. Re-tighten the lock down bolts. That should do it.

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Grentz

· #9 · Aug 14, 2008

Can easily be done with the readings from the receivers.

In fact I peaked my dish past what the installers were able to get and they were using dedicated signal meters

flipptyfloppity

· #10 · Aug 15, 2008

It's pretty easy, as long as you can get good communication between the person at the TV and the person at the dish.

AntAltMike

· #11 · Aug 15, 2008

flipptyfloppity said:
It's pretty easy, as long as you can get good communication between the person at the TV and the person at the dish.

"No, no, no! Not the other way...the other way. Move it back to where you had it."

Do any current receivers still say, "Move dish 3 degrees?"

kroche22

· #12 · Aug 15, 2008

I had an install last week. I didn't like the numbers on 99c (50-60) so I realigned last night. Not hard at all. I watched the video and brought the install manual to the roof with me. Took about 10-15 minutes. The hardest part was keeping my 11 year son on the phone and interested in doing the job. Good Luck

tkrandall

· #13 · Aug 15, 2008

I used my 13 year old. worked better. :lol:

sacalait

· #14 · Aug 15, 2008

kroche22 said:
I had an install last week. I didn't like the numbers on 99c (50-60) so I realigned last night. Not hard at all. I watched the video and brought the install manual to the roof with me. Took about 10-15 minutes. The hardest part was keeping my 11 year son on the phone and interested in doing the job. Good Luck

My six year old had a problem holding the phone too. She kept wanting to get off the ladder, get out of the rain and come back inside with me to check the signal meter. :icon_lol:

joe diamond

· #15 · Aug 15, 2008

When my son was 13 he loved to ride along on installations. By the time I had the dish up he would have all the receivers running..........I would just tune from the nearest receiver to the dish. Now that he is twenty he just looked at a slimline and asked if it could be tuned from the 101..........then said he had a class and hit the road. Good help is hard to find. Might have to start paying them.

Joe

bobnielsen

· #16 · Aug 15, 2008

sacalait said:
My six year old had a problem holding the phone too. She kept wanting to get off the ladder, get out of the rain and come back inside with me to check the signal meter. :icon_lol:

Great!

fluffybear

· #17 · Aug 15, 2008

Just make sure you tighten down the dish otherwise you might be out there again real soon.

I lived in Pamdale for a while back in the 80's. It is the only place I ever lived that a tumbleweed passed me on the Highway.

Starsky

Discussion Starter · #18 · Aug 15, 2008

fluffybear said:
Just make sure you tighten down the dish otherwise you might be out there again real soon.

I lived in Pamdale for a while back in the 80's. It is the only place I ever lived that a tumbleweed passed me on the Highway.

As much as it's grown since then, I still get the occasional tumbleweed

I'm almost done fishing the dual rg6+cat6 through the walls. I hope to line the dish up either Saturday morning or most likely Sunday morning. Thanks again for the replies everyone, I may have to employ my 6 year old son for some free lance work!

Starsky

Discussion Starter · #19 · Aug 21, 2008

Well I finally mounted the dish to the side of my house and it's as plumb as it can be. I finished it late last night so I didn't have much time to aim it. I plan on doing that tonight when I get home from work while there is still some daylight left.

Just a quick question, I was checking the signal meters on my HR20's and they don't seem to beep? Is this a bug with the HR20s? There is a window near the dish where I can listen for the beep, but I want to make sure it even beeps to begin with! If not, I guess I can use an old DirecTivo to find the 101 first.

Thanks

flipptyfloppity

· #20 · Aug 21, 2008

Starsky said:
Well I finally mounted the dish to the side of my house and it's as plumb as it can be. I finished it late last night so I didn't have much time to aim it. I plan on doing that tonight when I get home from work while there is still some daylight left.

Just a quick question, I was checking the signal meters on my HR20's and they don't seem to beep? Is this a bug with the HR20s? There is a window near the dish where I can listen for the beep, but I want to make sure it even beeps to begin with! If not, I guess I can use an old DirecTivo to find the 101 first.

Thanks

They don't beep. It's really lame.

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