Sat TV on the Cheap
- Thread starter Doc
- Start date
The house has a big skewed 3 LNB Direct TV dish aimed to approximately 210 degrees.
My receivers are 1 HD DVR in the family room, 1 HD unit in the master bedroom and the standard non HD in my office that will travel to the boat.
My receivers are 1 HD DVR in the family room, 1 HD unit in the master bedroom and the standard non HD in my office that will travel to the boat.
Doc, using the older non-HD DIRECT receiver (using 101) between the 2 locations shouldn't require changes.
I dug around in my storage trailer thinking I had a small dish with the correct LNB, no luck there. I would be very surprised if you couldn't find the dish/ LNB for DTV's 101 satellite on-line.
Billylll,
You can find them on line all day long but they are about $50-$60. I am looking for one to experiment with before I buy a Wingard portable dish that fits into it's own case for about $160.00.
That's why I am trying to find a cheap or free one to play with so I can toss it later.
If my little plan doesn't work I may buy the Wingard from Amazon Prime and return it later if it doesn't work.
You can find them on line all day long but they are about $50-$60. I am looking for one to experiment with before I buy a Wingard portable dish that fits into it's own case for about $160.00.
That's why I am trying to find a cheap or free one to play with so I can toss it later.
If my little plan doesn't work I may buy the Wingard from Amazon Prime and return it later if it doesn't work.
Doc, you need to just go for it!
Here are my experiences:
1) Like you, I was hesitant and was going to take down an old dish (non HD) that's on a rental property I have but I never got around to it. Dave (Audrey II) had a portable dish he got from another RO, offered it here and he's not too far from me so I went for it
2) I set it up on my boat, on the sunpad. First I connected straight to the receiver through a window. Once I was watching TV, I used the boat's wiring and that all worked fine. I do have one splitter but it wasn't an issue.
3) To setup, turn on Box and TV. Enter zip code and you will see the settings. You use the compass, level and height settings. When you are dialed in to where you think you need to be, on the TV you will see the signal strength with an audible alarm that helps you dial it in.
4) It really is that easy and I rarely lost a signal, I found it was pretty forgiving.
Finally, IF:
a) you are interested
b) I find a box big enough
c) you can be patient
...I will send you the BoaterEd portable satellite dish! I believe you'd be the 4th RO to own it.
It doesn't have a case but it does have a handle and the price is right.
Based on the pics, this dish either is or very closely resembles the Winegard RD-9046
Here are my experiences:
1) Like you, I was hesitant and was going to take down an old dish (non HD) that's on a rental property I have but I never got around to it. Dave (Audrey II) had a portable dish he got from another RO, offered it here and he's not too far from me so I went for it
2) I set it up on my boat, on the sunpad. First I connected straight to the receiver through a window. Once I was watching TV, I used the boat's wiring and that all worked fine. I do have one splitter but it wasn't an issue.
3) To setup, turn on Box and TV. Enter zip code and you will see the settings. You use the compass, level and height settings. When you are dialed in to where you think you need to be, on the TV you will see the signal strength with an audible alarm that helps you dial it in.
4) It really is that easy and I rarely lost a signal, I found it was pretty forgiving.
Finally, IF:
a) you are interested
b) I find a box big enough
c) you can be patient
...I will send you the BoaterEd portable satellite dish! I believe you'd be the 4th RO to own it.
It doesn't have a case but it does have a handle and the price is right.
Based on the pics, this dish either is or very closely resembles the Winegard RD-9046
Here is a new dish for $ 27.99.
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...-(46DTVDE2)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=053818480106
http://www.solidsignal.com/pview.as...-(46DTVDE2)&c=DIRECTV Dishes&sku=053818480106
Doc,
I know the difference between a TV antenna and satellite dish. It looks like this but is white: http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/167-3050.htm
I found a box, if you want this unit, PM me your address and I'll put it in the mail this week.
I know the difference between a TV antenna and satellite dish. It looks like this but is white: http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/167-3050.htm
I found a box, if you want this unit, PM me your address and I'll put it in the mail this week.
Update: Walshie was kind enough to ship me the sat dish mentioned above. It is now sitting on my boat dock working like a champ. The set up was more complicated than I expected. It is more than setting the dish to round 18" and switching from SWM to Multiswitch.
The issue is that the D12-500 receiver is normally getting fed by a triple LNB dish through a SWM switch. So when one tries to hook up a different configuration, the house settings continue to affect the system.
Lots of unplugging house input and boat dock input before I could get to a menu.
Aiming the dish to the 101 satellite took a lot of time using a cell phone compass and the elevation settings on the dish. I even put a signal strength meter in the system and failed. I finally got it aimed properly by using the smart phone app: satfinder lite. You aim it up into the sky in the direction of the 101. Lots of them up there. So, standing behind the dish, looking at the sky and making slight changes to direction and elevation I was able to get it aimed. I had my home office window open so I could hear when the transponders were beeping faster.
When I had all the transponders at over 90% I tried to continue and the house settings caused the unit to start trying (unsuccessively) to download the advanced program guide. Once you are on that screen with a non working (boat dock) dish it will never compete and the screen is frozen. The only way to get passed this point is to plug in the house coax and let it download the guide. Then you turn the unit off and unplug all coax input. When the receiver comes up saying no signal you can get to the set up menu and select the round 18" dish and the multiswitch. Then you plug in the boat dock coax and select continue.
The next screen that comes up shows that you are locked in on the 101 but that your configuration does not match. The way to fix that is to unplug the coax and get back to the main menu where you do a "reset to defaults".
After that move you go back to the satellite menu and select the round dish and the multi switch again. This time "continue" makes the TV work.
Actually taking it to the boat for a trip is not as easy as it sounds either. You have to go through all the above steps while in the house and then when it is working, take it to the boat where it will keep the new settings until you bring it home and it gets a new sniff of Momma.
After three calls to Directv I finally got with a female tech named Irene who knew her stuff. All this rigamore is because my D 12 is SWM compatible.
Whew!
Thanks Walshie
Comments: Billylll?
The issue is that the D12-500 receiver is normally getting fed by a triple LNB dish through a SWM switch. So when one tries to hook up a different configuration, the house settings continue to affect the system.
Lots of unplugging house input and boat dock input before I could get to a menu.
Aiming the dish to the 101 satellite took a lot of time using a cell phone compass and the elevation settings on the dish. I even put a signal strength meter in the system and failed. I finally got it aimed properly by using the smart phone app: satfinder lite. You aim it up into the sky in the direction of the 101. Lots of them up there. So, standing behind the dish, looking at the sky and making slight changes to direction and elevation I was able to get it aimed. I had my home office window open so I could hear when the transponders were beeping faster.
When I had all the transponders at over 90% I tried to continue and the house settings caused the unit to start trying (unsuccessively) to download the advanced program guide. Once you are on that screen with a non working (boat dock) dish it will never compete and the screen is frozen. The only way to get passed this point is to plug in the house coax and let it download the guide. Then you turn the unit off and unplug all coax input. When the receiver comes up saying no signal you can get to the set up menu and select the round 18" dish and the multiswitch. Then you plug in the boat dock coax and select continue.
The next screen that comes up shows that you are locked in on the 101 but that your configuration does not match. The way to fix that is to unplug the coax and get back to the main menu where you do a "reset to defaults".
After that move you go back to the satellite menu and select the round dish and the multi switch again. This time "continue" makes the TV work.
Actually taking it to the boat for a trip is not as easy as it sounds either. You have to go through all the above steps while in the house and then when it is working, take it to the boat where it will keep the new settings until you bring it home and it gets a new sniff of Momma.
After three calls to Directv I finally got with a female tech named Irene who knew her stuff. All this rigamore is because my D 12 is SWM compatible.
Whew!
Thanks Walshie
Comments: Billylll?
Hello Doc, I wanted to verify a few of the comments I'm going to make and these aren't being made to be disparaging.
1st I'll address pointing the Dish, one needs to take into account magnetic declination, by definition there are two different numbers for starting to calibrate a compass for accuracy. They are called true North and Magnetic (offset) North. Depending on the method or tool you used it could have an offset of 10 to 15 degrees here in the Northeast US depending on location.
Here's a link about Magnetic Declination, http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/compass-declination.html
Let me address SWM, this is known as single wire multi-switch. In your original post you said the Sat. receiver was only used on DTV's 101 and you used on your now defunct KVH C-3. This through me off since I thought the receiver wouldn't use SWM or look for any other LNB pointed at another TV-SAT.
Here's a nice link about SWM for those who would like to learn more about it, http://www.swm8.com/swm-faq.php. I believe at home you may have the SL3S (3LNB SWM) and at the boat an LNB that pre-dates SWM. Hence the need to retrain your receivers parameters when going back and forth between both locations.
Now about the SWM or depending on the type LNB, I'm still not clear which you have? There are two varieties of the LNB - the SL3S (3LNB SWM) and the SL5S (5LNB SWM). Both work with slim-line reflectors.
I assumed (this can be a big mistake) you would be using a DTV old style 18" 101 DTV LNB and your receiver was set up for DTV 101 only.
As far as the dish style and type the receiver could care less if you are using an 18" reflector or a 12' large TVRO dish. The pointing gets more difficult as the dish size increases but the receiver doesn't compensate by either adding gain (turning up sensitivity) or attenuation (reducing gain) based on the type or size of the dish. What is important is properly matching the LNB to the receiver type for the service you want to receive.
Now I'm excited this has worked out for you. My Wife and I always enjoyed our morning coffee on our boat while watching the latest NEWs from DTV.
I hope this helps and I'm usually around if you or anyone else have additional questions.
1st I'll address pointing the Dish, one needs to take into account magnetic declination, by definition there are two different numbers for starting to calibrate a compass for accuracy. They are called true North and Magnetic (offset) North. Depending on the method or tool you used it could have an offset of 10 to 15 degrees here in the Northeast US depending on location.
Here's a link about Magnetic Declination, http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/compass-declination.html
Let me address SWM, this is known as single wire multi-switch. In your original post you said the Sat. receiver was only used on DTV's 101 and you used on your now defunct KVH C-3. This through me off since I thought the receiver wouldn't use SWM or look for any other LNB pointed at another TV-SAT.
Here's a nice link about SWM for those who would like to learn more about it, http://www.swm8.com/swm-faq.php. I believe at home you may have the SL3S (3LNB SWM) and at the boat an LNB that pre-dates SWM. Hence the need to retrain your receivers parameters when going back and forth between both locations.
Now about the SWM or depending on the type LNB, I'm still not clear which you have? There are two varieties of the LNB - the SL3S (3LNB SWM) and the SL5S (5LNB SWM). Both work with slim-line reflectors.
I assumed (this can be a big mistake) you would be using a DTV old style 18" 101 DTV LNB and your receiver was set up for DTV 101 only.
As far as the dish style and type the receiver could care less if you are using an 18" reflector or a 12' large TVRO dish. The pointing gets more difficult as the dish size increases but the receiver doesn't compensate by either adding gain (turning up sensitivity) or attenuation (reducing gain) based on the type or size of the dish. What is important is properly matching the LNB to the receiver type for the service you want to receive.
Now I'm excited this has worked out for you. My Wife and I always enjoyed our morning coffee on our boat while watching the latest NEWs from DTV.
I hope this helps and I'm usually around if you or anyone else have additional questions.
Thanks, Bill.
As for aiming I found that the satfinderlite app to be the most helpful because you hold your phone up to the sky and can see the satellites. 101 is in a arc of other satellites across the sky. The app lets you uncheck the ones close to 101 so that it stands out and is easy to find. It also gives you the azimuth and elevation of 101. Standing behind the dish and looking up at 101 gives a pretty close aiming direction. The compass app on my phone is about 5 degrees off the azimuth listed by DTV for my zip code.
As for the SWM and KVH issues, they are way above my pay grade. I just hope I can remember all the steps that DTV put me through to make it work.
As for aiming I found that the satfinderlite app to be the most helpful because you hold your phone up to the sky and can see the satellites. 101 is in a arc of other satellites across the sky. The app lets you uncheck the ones close to 101 so that it stands out and is easy to find. It also gives you the azimuth and elevation of 101. Standing behind the dish and looking up at 101 gives a pretty close aiming direction. The compass app on my phone is about 5 degrees off the azimuth listed by DTV for my zip code.
As for the SWM and KVH issues, they are way above my pay grade. I just hope I can remember all the steps that DTV put me through to make it work.
Doc, I'm happy you have it working. I guess since I had an older non-HD box for the boat, my setup was easy.
I plugged in the box, added satellite, did the setup guide to get the signal then called DirecTV (once) to add the older box to my service.
Maybe you'd be better off with an older non-HD box? I'm sure there are some on e-bay...I ditched what I had when I went to cable to save money.
I plugged in the box, added satellite, did the setup guide to get the signal then called DirecTV (once) to add the older box to my service.
Maybe you'd be better off with an older non-HD box? I'm sure there are some on e-bay...I ditched what I had when I went to cable to save money.
I have seen and purchased KVH M3 12vdc used receivers on Ebay, they are for DTV 101 only and should cost less than $200.00 to $250.00. New old stock units are $425.00 as an example only.
The Direct D12 unit can be had for $99.00 from Solid Signal.
If you go this route you will need to get the SIM credit card from Direct for activating the receiver.
The Direct D12 unit can be had for $99.00 from Solid Signal.
If you go this route you will need to get the SIM credit card from Direct for activating the receiver.
Walshie,
The box I am using is a non HD model D-12 500. But you have given me an idea of what to do to prevent having to reset it every time I take it to the boat.
I have an older D-12 100 that came with the boat which had a non working KVH C3 dish. I tossed it because it needed an $800 mother board.
I could get DTV to add the 100 to my plan and just leave it on the boat permanently. That way it will be an orphan and not related to Momma (house HD system) who is the root of the re-set problem.
Maybe 5 bucks a month?
The box I am using is a non HD model D-12 500. But you have given me an idea of what to do to prevent having to reset it every time I take it to the boat.
I have an older D-12 100 that came with the boat which had a non working KVH C3 dish. I tossed it because it needed an $800 mother board.
I could get DTV to add the 100 to my plan and just leave it on the boat permanently. That way it will be an orphan and not related to Momma (house HD system) who is the root of the re-set problem.
Maybe 5 bucks a month?
I guess this is for general information but I called DTV to see if I could activate the D12-100 that come with the boat. The answer was no because it was registered to the former owner of the boat. So it goes to the trash. Their web site states this policy but I wanted it directly from them so I called.
A new SD receiver, access card and remote control from DTV is $69.00 and the monthly fee to add it to my system is $6.99. They said that I could turn it on and off anytime that I was not using it without affecting my house plan.
I have always liked their customer service.
A new SD receiver, access card and remote control from DTV is $69.00 and the monthly fee to add it to my system is $6.99. They said that I could turn it on and off anytime that I was not using it without affecting my house plan.
I have always liked their customer service.