[Haako]

Hey All,

New here but i wanted to ask about a new HD DVR install i had done today. I had the P3 dish up and it had been rock solid since it was installed some years ago. Aligned very well - with 96%-100% in clear weather. Only about 25 feet of cable to the DVR - pretty short run.

Today the installer put up a new slimeline for the HR21-100 he brought with him. Took 4 hours to finish it all ( 1 hr of which because he admitted he screwed up and tried to install the slimline too close to the roofline and the tiles blocked the alignment - few extra holes in my wall for that)

In his hurry to finish (I was standing watching and helping him - since his partner called in sick today) - he did a couple of things i was wondering about.

1. He dident install the monopoles. Now the wall is concrete and actually took a bit of drilling to anchor the bolts as it is - so he felt he dident need them and he thought they wouldent fit (See above roof line delay) where the dish was going anyways.

2. I think he spent a grand total of 15 secs aiming the dish. He hooked up his meter, twisted the thing side to side till it peaked and declared success. I did not see him change any of other presests at any time. Im copying my stats below.

Living in South Florida - Rain Fade is a major concern here - Its like an every week thing for me during the summer - and that was with a 96%+ Signal on the P3 - Some of the readings im getting seem awfully low - especially on 99

Should i call back D* tomorrow about the work and see if someone can come out and reaim / secure the thing abit better? Or just try and re-aim it myself with the tips on the forum?

Thanks,




101

88-95-86-00-88-96-89-96
86-96-89-99-89-97-87-98
87-00-90-95-88-97-90-96
89-98-89-98-90-96-88-97

110

91-85-91

119

94-87-91
00-95-95-95-00-96-00-96

99c

74-64-79-68-74-60-77-69
75-63-77-65-78-62


99s

00-50-00-47-00-54
00-00
00-00-00-00-00-00-00

103s

Trans #17 - 69
Trans #21 - 46


103c

65-42-65-42-68-41-63-44
66-43-64-46-69-37-n/A-N/A
Trans #17 - 64
Trans #21 - 37

 

[BlueSnake]

A lot of your numbers on 99 & 103 are below 70. I would definitely call them to have your dish peaked. I think I would also express my displeasure at having to do this. That is really unacceptable for a new install.

 

[K4SMX]

Agree. You should expect to get signal strengths on 99(c) and 103(c) mostly all in the 90's. If you're lagged into masonry, I wouldn't worry about the monopoles. If you have a hurricane, the whole thing will probably blow away anyhow, if you don't take it down.....

 

[Haako]

Thanks for the advice guys! I figured the strengths were abit low. I did get a "Searching for Sat" error once while channel surfing HD last night (in pretty clear skys) - so just confirmed my fears.

I found the instruction video and instruction book for the slimline in another thread - thinking of just learning how to do it myself. The guy ran a new 4 port ground block and wired all 4 ports as part of the install - but im only using 3 lines atm. It would be easy to bring a box and portable tv right next to the dish to do a fine tune. I appear to have a 2nd-Gen mount - so it looks straight-foward enuff.

anyways - like you guys mentioned with the monopoles - in a hurricane i would probebly want to bring it in and then put it back out again - best get a rough idea of how it works.

 

[Haako]

Update: Went ahead and peaked the dish myself!

After watching the install video half a dozen times, taking notes and reading the install manual - i dragged a portable TV out under the Dish and went to work on the alignment. After about 20 minutes working with a relative and alot of back and forth checking transponders - i think im happy with the results.

I gotta say - almost every alignment bolt was loose - finger tight. The guy really dident take his time with this part at all. I ended up going about 1 turn on the EL and 3 turns on the AZ when i stopped and tighened up all the bolts properly this time.

I never would have done all this without the help posted on this forum. Thanks guys.

Here are my results - the orginal numbers are above. Let me know if anything looks wrong:

After Peaking

101

95-95-92-00-92-95-89-93
90-85-91-95-89-92-91-95
92-00-95-95-94-97-95-96
95-97-95-98-95-97-95-97


110

83-71-73

119

96-95-95
00-98-97-97-00-98-00-98

99c

83-83-82-84-83-80-83-82
81-79-80-80-82-79

103c

85-91-84-88-83-88-82-86
86-87-86-88-89-89
Trans #17 - 91
Trans #21 - 91

 

[BattleZone]

Every, and I mean EVERY slimline dish NEEDS and REQUIRES monopoles. No installer is allowed to skip them.

 

[compnurd]

Update: Went ahead and peaked the dish myself!

After watching the install video half a dozen times, taking notes and reading the install manual - i dragged a portable TV out under the Dish and went to work on the alignment. After about 20 minutes working with a relative and alot of back and forth checking transponders - i think im happy with the results.

I gotta say - almost every alignment bolt was loose - finger tight. The guy really dident take his time with this part at all. I ended up going about 1 turn on the EL and 3 turns on the AZ when i stopped and tighened up all the bolts properly this time.

I never would have done all this without the help posted on this forum. Thanks guys.

Here are my results - the orginal numbers are above. Let me know if anything looks wrong:

After Peaking

101

95-95-92-00-92-95-89-93
90-85-91-95-89-92-91-95
92-00-95-95-94-97-95-96
95-97-95-98-95-97-95-97

110

83-71-73

119

96-95-95
00-98-97-97-00-98-00-98

99c

83-83-82-84-83-80-83-82
81-79-80-80-82-79

103c

85-91-84-88-83-88-82-86
86-87-86-88-89-89
Trans #17 - 91
Trans #21 - 91

Pretty much what i have and dont have any issues

 

[bwaldron]

Every, and I mean EVERY slimline dish NEEDS and REQUIRES monopoles. No installer is allowed to skip them.

There are many Slimlines installed into concrete block walls around here without the monopoles. Many have been up since the AU9 was first introduced, through lots of wind and weather, and are just fine. Just as sturdy as a pole mount.

Now the roof -- or other types of wall -- that's a different story.

 

[Mertzen]

Every, and I mean EVERY slimline dish NEEDS and REQUIRES monopoles. No installer is allowed to skip them.

Indeed. Automatic QC failure no matter where they are installed. Brick or roof. The OP should call in to D* for a realignment and for monopoles. :nono2:

 

[Phroz]

Every, and I mean EVERY slimline dish NEEDS and REQUIRES monopoles. No installer is allowed to skip them.

FWIW, most of the slimline dishes I've seen installed around here don't have monopoles, even ones on vinyl siding.

Obviously it's not recommended, but it seems to be the norm around here.

 

[thespaceghost]

If the dish is plenty sturdy for you, I wouldn't worry about them. Most often, monopoles are only put up to pass QC, so you would be wasting your time. I have put slimlines in difficult situations where the monopoles offered no support.

Yes, two monopoles are required to pass QC, but QC is not your concern.

 

[Mike500]

I would definitley get the monoplles, if I were you.

 

[br408408]

I live in central Florida and the only Slimline dish I have seen with monopoles (and there are many Slimlines here) is mine....I put it up myself.

 

[invitation]

Was walking the pooch today and had my first sighting of a "Slimline" dish. I was very curious as I am very much considering swithcing to D* and in fact have a "Slimline" on it's way to me.

My first impression was "that thing is a monster!" Seems "Slimline" is a bit of a misnomer. Much bigger than my nice little compact Dish 1000. I will have to mount this huge dish on the roof. Fortunately I have two monopoles coming with the dish. My main concern is with snow. My Dish 1000 is placed on the side of my house near a window where I can easily reach out and clean the snow off of it.
My concern is that having to mount the so-called "Slimline" on the roof, I won't be able to access it. Since this dish is pretty big, is it reasonably resistant to rain/snow fade? Is the size of the reflector designed so as to get very strong signals, or is its size neccessary just for the purpose of receiving the 5 orbital slots?
On a more ignorant level on my part, it looked like the arm supporting the LNBF assembley is offset from the reflector. I understand that this is an offset focal point dish. I thought that the placement of the LNBFs (all on one side of the assembly) accomplished this. Are my eyes deceiving me (not the greatest eyesight)? Is this another adjustment or is the LNBF assembly relative to the reflector already fixed when I put this thing together?

 

[taz291819]

The LNBF assembly is fixed, no adjustments needed. I've had snow on the dish affect me once, and I'm in Alabama. It may possibly affect you.

 

[sonicranger001]

My signal strengths are similar to yours "pre" peaking DIY.


I was concerned at first and told myself if I have issues then I'll call and complain or peak myself.


It's been 6 months now, all winter months too and I have yet to have any "abnormal" signal loss and have yet to experience "Searching for satellite signal..."


So...my laziness has been well spent so far

 

[firefighter4evr]

Was walking the pooch today and had my first sighting of a "Slimline" dish. I was very curious as I am very much considering swithcing to D* and in fact have a "Slimline" on it's way to me.

My first impression was "that thing is a monster!" Seems "Slimline" is a bit of a misnomer. Much bigger than my nice little compact Dish 1000. I will have to mount this huge dish on the roof. Fortunately I have two monopoles coming with the dish. My main concern is with snow. My Dish 1000 is placed on the side of my house near a window where I can easily reach out and clean the snow off of it.
My concern is that having to mount the so-called "Slimline" on the roof, I won't be able to access it. Since this dish is pretty big, is it reasonably resistant to rain/snow fade? Is the size of the reflector designed so as to get very strong signals, or is its size neccessary just for the purpose of receiving the 5 orbital slots?
On a more ignorant level on my part, it looked like the arm supporting the LNBF assembley is offset from the reflector. I understand that this is an offset focal point dish. I thought that the placement of the LNBFs (all on one side of the assembly) accomplished this. Are my eyes deceiving me (not the greatest eyesight)? Is this another adjustment or is the LNBF assembly relative to the reflector already fixed when I put this thing together?

If your worried about snow/ice on the dish and its in an area thats not easily accessible then i would recommend installing a dish heater.... they have ones that you must turn on manually and i have seen ones that are automatic...

 

[Reggie3]

Thanks for the advice guys! I figured the strengths were abit low. I did get a "Searching for Sat" error once while channel surfing HD last night (in pretty clear skys) - so just confirmed my fears.

I found the instruction video and instruction book for the slimline in another thread - thinking of just learning how to do it myself. The guy ran a new 4 port ground block and wired all 4 ports as part of the install - but im only using 3 lines atm. It would be easy to bring a box and portable tv right next to the dish to do a fine tune. I appear to have a 2nd-Gen mount - so it looks straight-foward enuff.

anyways - like you guys mentioned with the monopoles - in a hurricane i would probebly want to bring it in and then put it back out again - best get a rough idea of how it works.

Well I have the monopoles - we get hurricane force winds here in Fort Collins - not CAT 5 stuff but 70-80s occasionally - but since you are anchored into concrete I would consider that pretty strong - but if you were able to do the alignment - I'd add the bracing. Your real issue will probably never be the dish blowing away but rather items the wind is carrying with it that hits the dish.

Congrats on the good work. Not sure I would tackle the alignment on these dishes - and I have done quite a few of the older style dishes.

 

[apostille]

was checking out my mom's new D* installation and am trying to figure out if something is wrong with her setup. She got a SWMline5 dish, HR22, H21, and D12. When I check the signal strength on the HR22, it shows all zeros for many of the satellites on one tuner but it seems random. Sometimes when I scroll through and check the same satellite the strengths will pop up to ~90. I also noticed there is a "SWM" satellite listed so maybe that's the only one that is important. Anyway, I am just wondering what I really need to be looking at on there since this is my first experience with the SWM.

As far as I can tell, all her HD channels are working fine. I don't think I checked any SD channels. Also, the HR22 is on the 0290 software.

Also, thanks for all the great info on here, I have been lurking for over a year since I first got my D* setup.

 

[criminallawyer]

Here's the deal: my apartment will let me use their 5 LNB dish on the roof, but their contractor wants to charge me $80 installation fee plus $119 for a multiswitch and $119 x2 for two destackers. I have no idea why that is necessary, or how they plan on stacking HD signal. In any event, I will not pay that.

Problem is, DirecTV won't come to install a dish on my balcony because my contract is locked to only use our end provider. You see, my apartment pays for the basic DirecTV package and I just pay for extra packages/channels.

My idea, buy my own AT9 from soundsignal for $150 w/ shipping and install it myself (balcony faces south). I've watched the installation videos, read the directions. I have a balcony railing that I'd like to install on. The siding is plastic and not sturdy. Question: is there a way to pole mount this dish and if so, what do I need? I would consider either mounting to the metal railing or doing the cement bucket/pole trick.

Any ideas? Please save me the $570 that they want to charge me just for HDTV. Also, I already bought the H20 receiver (bought/leased); will I be able to aim the dish with the receiver without the acutrac device?