DN satellite for the RV, no signal, help?

[Magicbus]

Can anyone help with this? Just got a Dish Network HD box & a Quad 500 Dish, but I'm not getting any signal. I've tried it at home and at a campsite and nothing at all.

 

[mnsprk]

Is it a free standing dish, and what are you connecting the cable to, direct to the box or on the built in RV connection?

 

[becky1960]

I'm assuming you have a Dish network contract to turn on box, otherwise no-go. Another thing I just learned is they are now using digital cable connections(plugs) to get the correct signal Plus you have to hit that satelite correctly in the sky..

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Why didn't you get the 1000.2, I believe that is the newest one dish uses.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DISH-NETWORK-10...RIPOD-NEW-/120578811336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

Anyway, follow the directions. It is critical to set the skew first, and make sure your, pole, tripod, etc. are level. Then use a meter to get the best elevation/azimuth, using the chart settings as a close guide. There is not a whole lot of leeway for an HD receiver, since the dish is looking at 3 satellites at once.

Also, make sure you are using a good quality coax (RG-6), with Digicon or similiar connectors.

After you set it up & take it down several times and before you go crazy, either get the Winegard Carry Out (stationary automatic) or the Vucube 3000 (in motion tracking).

 

[ElementCamper]

Agree on getting the VuCube, it looks like its so much easier to setup. Setting up for HD is a real pain as the previous poster noted, you deal with three axis, horizontal, vertical and skew to shoot three satellites. If I remember correctly with Dish they are in sort of strange multiple directions. I use DirecTV and use only a single LNB dish to shoot the one main satellite at 101 degrees, standard definition only. I believe Dish is the same way, one of the satellites has the majority of the channels.

I recently missed out on a VuCube on Craigslist for $350 which is almost half price, should have jumped on it!

 

[caveat lector]

Why didn't you get the 1000.2, I believe that is the newest one dish uses.

http://cgi.ebay.com/DISH-NETWORK-10...RIPOD-NEW-/120578811336?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

Anyway, follow the directions. It is critical to set the skew first, and make sure your, pole, tripod, etc. are level. Then use a meter to get the best elevation/azimuth, using the chart settings as a close guide. There is not a whole lot of leeway for an HD receiver, since the dish is looking at 3 satellites at once.

Also, make sure you are using a good quality coax (RG-6), with Digicon or similiar connectors.

After you set it up & take it down several times and before you go crazy, either get the Winegard Carry Out (stationary automatic) or the Vucube 3000 (in motion tracking).

Using RG-6 is very important. If your RV/TT is wired with RG-59, the signal loss can be significant enough to provide no picture.

 

[Magicbus]

Is it a free standing dish, and what are you connecting the cable to, direct to the box or on the built in RV connection?

Yes, free standing. Just to see if I could get anything, I hooked the box to a free standing TV.

I'm assuming you have a Dish network contract to turn on box, otherwise no-go. Another thing I just learned is they are now using digital cable connections(plugs) to get the correct signal Plus you have to hit that satelite correctly in the sky..

Yes we have a DN contract. Not sure about the digital plugs though.

Using RG-6 is very important. If your RV/TT is wired with RG-59, the signal loss can be significant enough to provide no picture.

The signal meter on the TV dish setup screen says zero signal.

Why didn't you get the 1000.2, I believe that is the newest one dish uses.
There is not a whole lot of leeway for an HD receiver, since the dish is looking at 3 satellites at once.
After you set it up & take it down several times and before you go crazy, either get the Winegard Carry Out (stationary automatic) or the Vucube 3000 (in motion tracking).

I'm trying to keep it simple so I picked up a tripod for the 500 dish that someone gave me and had DN setup another box. I won't be trying to get HD. I'm trying to get the 119 satellite.
The other systems you suggested are not cheap. We don't need TV while moving as we can't RV that much and can't go long distances. It's a long weekend thing, every two months or so.
I've talked to DN Tech support twice and both times they were stumped. I'm wondering if the LNBF is defective?

Thanks to everyone that has responded so far.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Have you tried bypassing the existing wiring in the RV? Some RVs have an amplifier inline that will not allow DC voltage to pass through it. Your satellite receiver places voltage on the coax cable that is needed to drive the LNB at the satellite antenna. Blocking that voltage will keep the satellite antenna from working.

 

[Magicbus]

Yes, I hooked it up directly to a free standing TV. Dish to the DN receiver, receiver to the back of the TV.
Thanks.

 

[Lil' Lisa]

Yes, I hooked it up directly to a free standing TV. Dish to the DN receiver, receiver to the back of the TV.
Thanks.

Well, it sounds like you have everything covered then. The only other advice I can give you is to try again and be patient. Sometimes it goes easy, other times it can be a bear. We have DirecTV (non digital) and I know that is far easier to set up than Dish Network or DirecTV digital. We only deal with elevation and azimuth, no skew.

 

[mnsprk]

I used to have DISH (switched to DIRECT) and when I would start setting it up I would cover the 110 LNB with aluminum foil and start getting the signal on 119 and go from there. If you don't have a meter setting up a multi LNB dish can be Royal PITA. They are very, very sensitive to being set exactly perfect.

Another issue can be a cable problem sat signals are very sensitive to bad coax.

 

[Magicbus]

They are very, very sensitive to being set exactly perfect.

Thanks mnsprk.
What I'm not clear on is, if the dish is not aimed exactly right, but in the ballpark, should I see some movement on the signal meter?

 

[des1954]

We started with DN years ago and switched to Direct. The DN satellite was very hard to zero in on. My DH is the techie, so I can't explain the why's - something to do with the DN satellite being too far north for Florida to receive a strong signal. We could NEVER site in the DN dish at FtW and it was very difficult at our former home in Bradenton (no trees in the way there). Once we changed to DirectTV, no problems at the Fort or at home (except when bad storms come from the south).

Good luck!

 

[mnsprk]

Thanks mnsprk.
What I'm not clear on is, if the dish is not aimed exactly right, but in the ballpark, should I see some movement on the signal meter?

Being in the ballpark is usually only a couple degrees off. The other thing you will find is a hand held tuning meter may move but it is not the right SAT. Dish, Direct, Express Vu are all pretty close together 101 degrees, 103, degress, 105 degrees, 110 degrees, etc.

With your tripod perfectly perpendicular, and the skew,and elevation set exactly right you should start moving the dish very very slowly side to side sometimes it even takes a second or two for the meter on the receiver to respond. I would start at the azimuth called for and move a degree or two to the right or left and stop for a sec each time you move.

Something else that can drive you crazy is your compass can be affected by the metal in the tripod by a couple degrees if you are too close.

 

[IslandHtsCampers]

check you stinger(the single conductor int he center). If there is a single strand or piece of foil or braid from the shield touching the stinger, you might as well be using nylon rope for wire. Satellite systems as well as digital systems are very touchy when it comes to the condition of the COAX.

 

[medic9016]

Thanks mnsprk.
What I'm not clear on is, if the dish is not aimed exactly right, but in the ballpark, should I see some movement on the signal meter?

You will need to move the dish pretty slow. I found when setting up my DN in my travel trailer, the signal is slow to pick up on the tv. Did you already do a check switch? You will need the signal first.

 

[Magicbus]

Did you already do a check switch? You will need the signal first.

Thanks medic9016 for your response.
Yes, no signal no matter where I aim it. I've tried it at home with a stand alone TV and again at a CG. As I said in the OP, two DN phone tech support people walked me through the dish pointing process and they were stumped. I think one way to isolate the problem is to find someone with the same setup and borrow their dish to see if it's my dish that is the problem.

 

[mnsprk]

Thanks medic9016 for your response.
Yes, no signal no matter where I aim it. I've tried it at home with a stand alone TV and again at a CG. As I said in the OP, two DN phone tech support people walked me through the dish pointing process and they were stumped. I think one way to isolate the problem is to find someone with the same setup and borrow their dish to see if it's my dish that is the problem.

Just a couple more ideas!

Have you tried changing the cable from the dish to the box? Also be sure the center wire is not too short it should be sticking out about 1/8" past the end of the connector.

 

[ftwildernessrick]

If you know someone else who has a free standing dish, try using theirs to see if it will work with your wiring. One other thing, there are two of CATV type connectors on the back of your box that should have a short lead from both that goes to a coupler, then a single line to your satellite.

Also, do you have an inline meter? They tend to be more sensitive and respond faster than the signal indicator screen on the TV.

I would always recommend either buying your cables or get someone from a dish installer to make them for you. Cables are critical.

 

[DisCamper]

One trip to the fort I spent 2 ½ hours trying to get satellite I got so mad I kicked the dish over the signal meter went to 100% so the whole trip the dish just laid there