| Author | Message | ||
| Duane Bratvold (Connieandduane)
Registered Member Username: Connieandduane Post Number: 17 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 205.242.83.12 Rating: N/A |
OK, I bought the bus, Made it home, Let mr. Greenwood take a few shots at me, now I have a new question that I know someone has the answer. I signed up with direct tv for the bus. I have the reciever, I have the dish, (a portable one) I have watched Pops set it up a couple times, BUT, His reciever has a menu that he puts in the zip code and the gives him the direction and the elevation. I can find no where in my book that tells me what to do. I went to Direct TV's web site and now am even more confused. When I called direct TV the ladies response was just hook it uo and the reciver will do the rest. Can anyone steer me in the right direction. | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 419 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.200.108.58 Rating: N/A |
Duane, the lady is pretty much telling you correctly except that you have to be on the right menu in order to input information like zip codes. If you hit the MENU button on your remote, then hit SETTINGS and SELECT. There you will see a button on the left of your screen for SET-UP. Hit SELECT and there you will see a screen that has all of your different set-ups. From there it should be self explanatory! HTH Ace | ||
| Duane Bratvold (Connieandduane)
Registered Member Username: Connieandduane Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 205.242.83.12 Rating: N/A |
Ok, I went through the archives and read way more than I wanted to know. I just want to know is ther a web site or a book I can buy that would give me the direction an elevation to set it up. I have visions of Bob telling me to just go stand in the rain and keep turning till my wife tells me to stop. | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 36 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
it's about that easy lmao, sorry to cut in on Bob ... jim | ||
| norcal kyle (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 99 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.208.125 Rating: N/A |
LMAO! bob sure does know a lot more than me, and he sure can help a lot, but that was funny. sorry bob.  kyle in norcal 1980 Eagle 10 #30223 | ||
| Duane Kaler (Duane)
Registered Member Username: Duane Post Number: 20 Registered: 5-2006 Posted From: 69.19.14.32 Rating: N/A |
Hi Duane That screen should be easy to find in you menu but when I travel most times I don't know what my local zip is so I never use that screen. You will how ever need the screen that shows your signal strength. I put my dish next to the bus so that I can see my TV while I am pointing the dish. I point the dish in a southerly direction and start high and move back and fourth SLOWLY dropping down JUST A TAD with each pass until I pick up a signal and then fine tune it from there. It takes me less then five minutes to set mine up now. It will take you a little longer at first but after a couple of times you will get the hang of it. Good luck, Duane | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 1779 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.82.163 Rating: N/A |
Radio Shack has a cheap field strength meter that you install in the coax as it comes out of the antenna. Really simplifies finding the strongest signal and you can be 100 feet from the receiver if necessary. There was also a page in my manual that gave a chart covering the US that gave a general indication of what the general settings should be. Richard | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 485 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: |
had no idea it hurt your feelings.. it was for ALL newbys ,the wedgeie....not just you ( ! ) yep..hit menu...hit settings..hit enter zip code.it will tell you the elevation & the compass heading ...& yes it's MUCH simpler if you have your wife moveing it 1/8 inch & waiting a minute....again...was not trying to hurt your feelings...welcome aboard !!! | ||
| norcal kyle (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 100 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.208.236 Rating: N/A |
'tis all in good fun. your input is always appreciated. kyle in norcal | ||
| Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Registered Member Username: Chuckmc8 Post Number: 191 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 74.224.130.156 Rating: N/A |
Duane, here's a couple tips on setting up the dish- If you are in a place (like a campground) where other campers have dishes, aim yours the same direction as theirs. It's a good start. Then, what helps is if you are able to see the TV screen (thru the window) select installation menu, then "set up antenna" That screen will give you a bar graph with a reading from 0 to 100%. If you can watch the graph while you move the antenna, its EZ. HTH | ||
| Duane Bratvold (Connieandduane)
Registered Member Username: Connieandduane Post Number: 19 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 205.242.83.12 Rating: N/A |
Oh come on Bob, I look forward to your humor. No feelings hurt! Just trying to get my Nubie digs in to you Veterans. I cherish the advice and puns you throw at me. I look forward to it. I am going to go home and mess with it tonight. We had no power at work today due to a power pole that snapped off in the last storm. All my technicians were working with flashlights all day. real fun. I am new at this bus stuff but have been an ASE master tech for 30 years. If I can ever help anyone let me know. I know cars, I rely on you folks to teach me the bus. I R a slooow lurner somtimes though..... But the wedgie was a clasic Bob Greenwood though! | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 116 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.236.20 Rating: N/A |
Once you stuff all your underwear back in, get ready for some more entertainment with your DirectTV. I bought Direct last summer and have found it to be a PITA to set up...Dish Network would be the same I would guess, and Dish uses a lower sat on the horizon. Sometimes I hit it right off. Never had the rooftop antenna work. I don't know about others receivers, but mine will knock off if it doesn't "see" a bird quickly..then it goes into the pinging DTV logo and that scrambles its little eggs. It must then be reset, and allowed time to look again. Ebay has the small signal strength meters...but they will locate any satellite..yours and others. By going to "setup" you'll find the zip code page. Be sure and use the correct setup for the type dish you are using...the elevation, which is very sensitive to error, is different for various dishes. Looking for the satellite by watching TV won't work for the type receiver I have for the above described reasons. IF you get the correct satellite the first time, the reciever locks right on and no problems. One important point is to create some sort of base, or anchor the dish so that the mast is perfectly level...then set the elevation. The azimuth can be off several degrees and still find a signal, the elevation cannot. It must be spot on. My next sat dish will be a automatic locating unit...an "in motion" unit. I like to have access to the weather channel and news... Always anchor the dish when it's set up. Depending on your base, the wind will blow the dish over about the time you sit down to eat..or it starts to rain. I've got a Wingard rooftop that was bought just before the elevation unit was available...it's totally useless. Plan to retrofit the electron elevation unit to the thing...just have not done it yet. We ususally park in shady areas, so the rooftop won't work anyway...neither would an automatic unit..so you gotta have a portable. Regarding the signal strength metere...Ebay, $9.95 just keep in mind that the unit will not ID satellites...just finds them. Sats 110 and 101 are pretty close together. When you check transponders on the setup screen, the satellite you found will be identified. 110 is to the left and up from 101....FWIW. If you got big bucks...or don't like pain, you can buy a Bird Dog satellite finder that will make the job much easier. Bird Dogs ID the sat. With a Bird Dog you can literally "search" the sky over Texas for the correct satellite. Have fun! JR BTW, I should add, that I enjoy having sat TV, and with time, you'll get better setting it up. I've set it up in minutes, only to have the sucker blow over in a rain | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 143 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 66.217.108.110 Rating: N/A |
Hey Duane? Get that satellite field strength meter, like Richard (&JR) suggested. It's around $30 at Rat Shack, Campingworld, etc... It'll make your entire life easier. And forget the zip codes... Just do what Chuck suggested, and see where the others have it facing. After you aim it a few times, you'll learn what part of the sky to generally aim it at.. The field strength meter will help you do the rest. While you're at it... You'll find the right forms to use at the DTV website, to submit your RV registration for approval. Once approved, you can pay for (and receive) both east and west coast networks. For the extra $10 per month, it's well worth it! As long as you insist it's only for the RV, you can enjoy it all in the home also.... (shhhhh) | ||
| Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member Username: Dnick85 Post Number: 71 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 66.174.93.100 Rating: N/A |
Hi Duane, Merry Christmas! Direct TV now wants us RV's to sign a form that will let us have either "west cost or East cost" local channels. [That intails New York or Los Angelas local channels.] This will be available to you where ever you go without having to enter zip codes or calling in to aquire the same. I think it will be very easy now. Hope this helps. Nick- |
