I'm new, but...

[Gregory Pierce]

I'm trying to set up my dish at my parents, while I'm watching thier house. I have a tripod, etc.

Here's my problem...

I've got a DirectTiVo. And I've got a 3 LNB oval dish. I've got 2 cables coming out of it, even though it's got 4 outputs. They're going STRAIGHT into my TiVo. I've FINALLY pointed it, to where I get SOME kind of signal.

The only problem is, that I only get a signal on Satellite B. It's in the 90's though. And it's across every transponder. But I can't get a signal on A or C.

I ran the "guided setup". I put it on Satellite B, where it got a 94, then went to "done testing strength". That's when I got this:

Satellites in Sat 1:

101 (A): not detected
119 (B): not detected
110 (C): not detected

And I got the same thing for Sat 2.

Of course, if I bypass it, it won't do the setup.

HELP. Please. I beg you, haha.

-greg

[tbeckner]

I'm trying to set up my dish at my parents, while I'm watching thier house. I have a tripod, etc.

Here's my problem...

I've got a DirectTiVo. And I've got a 3 LNB oval dish. I've got 2 cables coming out of it, even though it's got 4 outputs. They're going STRAIGHT into my TiVo. I've FINALLY pointed it, to where I get SOME kind of signal.

The only problem is, that I only get a signal on Satellite B. It's in the 90's though. And it's across every transponder. But I can't get a signal on A or C.

I ran the "guided setup". I put it on Satellite B, where it got a 94, then went to "done testing strength". That's when I got this:

Satellites in Sat 1:

101 (A): not detected
119 (B): not detected
110 (C): not detected

And I got the same thing for Sat 2.

Of course, if I bypass it, it won't do the setup.

HELP. Please. I beg you, haha.

-gregSwitch cables on the back of the DirecTiVo and see if it is a cabling problem. I believe you still don't have the antenna pointed correctly, or you have the cable or cables connected to the wrong connections on the antenna.

[Gregory Pierce]

I'll try that, but man, it took me almost the entire day to even get the signal I did. I've been outside with a leveler and a compass, and by the looks of it, it's PERFECT. I'm so bewildered.

[Gregory Pierce]

Yep. Same thing. I switched the cables in the back, and got the same error. This dish HAS to be pointed right. it's right on my compass, it's level, all the settings seem right, and I get a GREAT signal on Satellite B.

ARGH!!

-greg

[phox_mulder]

When you did the guided setup, you told it you had the 3lnb dish, right?

And you have the "tilt" set correctly, along with azimuth and elevation?


phox

[Gregory Pierce]

When you did the guided setup, you told it you had the 3lnb dish, right?

And you have the "tilt" set correctly, along with azimuth and elevation?


phox


Yep. All that. 3 LNB with 2 cables, even. Should the 2 cables be in specific outputs from the dish? I tried the first 2 from the left first, then I tried the 2 outside ones.

-greg

[phox_mulder]

It shouldn't matter, as they are outputs of the built in multiswitch, not connected to a specific LNB.

I know when I switched from a round 1LNB dish to the oval 3LNB dish, it didn't point anywhere near where the round one was pointing, it was about 10 degrees west or so it seemed.


phox

[Gregory Pierce]

Yeah, I have an old round dish-dual LNB, that I tried first, and I couldn't get a signal at ALL.

But I'm still stuck, either way.

[Gregory Pierce]

Anyone? Anyone?

haha

[phox_mulder]

As long as the post is plumb (they have a bubble level in them), just slowly sweep west and you should get good signal on all 3 sat's.


phox

[JimSpence]

The triple LNB will be pointed about 9 degrees west of the round dish. The round dish points at 101 and the triple at 110, with the side LNBs pointing at 101 and 119 because of the geometry of the dish.

[phox_mulder]

Whats happening is the center LNB is seeing the 101 satellite instead of the 110, so you get great signal initially,
but since it's pointing at the wrong bird, the other two won't get anything,
and once the multiswitch takes over, none of the satellites get signal since none of them are looking at the satellite they are supposed to.

That was my problem, I "assumed" the center LNB would look at the same satellite the "center" one on the round dish was looking at, didn't think things through,
once I gave up and just started swinging way out from where I though I should be, it suddenly worked.


phox

[Gregory Pierce]

Yeah, I tried the sweeping west move tonight when I got home. Still nothing on A or C. Just B.

[Gregory Pierce]

Seriously... there's GOT to be some kind of patteren I'm missing. I've got 4 outputs on the dish LNB. SHOULDN'T there be some kind of order, or place where you come out of if you're only using 2 cables? I've tried a few, but the place where my dad's TV is set up is in the worst place in the house to hear the beeping from outside, so I'm having to run outside, back in, outside, back in. haha. I just can't find a signal, other than on the B Satellite, only.

[tbeckner]

Seriously... there's GOT to be some kind of patteren I'm missing. I've got 4 outputs on the dish LNB. SHOULDN'T there be some kind of order, or place where you come out of if you're only using 2 cables? I've tried a few, but the place where my dad's TV is set up is in the worst place in the house to hear the beeping from outside, so I'm having to run outside, back in, outside, back in. haha. I just can't find a signal, other than on the B Satellite, only.Didn't your dish come with a remote FINDER. I know my original Sony dish came with one built in and the one I bought a few years ago had a dongle the I could put between the cable and the LNB to indicate a good signal.

My recommendation, can run power to where the dish is or a near room and setup a TV and receiver and plug them in so you can see the TV?

[Gregory Pierce]

Well, I originally got a round crappy dish. I upgraded to a 3 LNB by getting one used, and I guess it didn't come with a finder.

And no, he's only got one very large, old tv.

:( haha

[rlj5242]

Seriously... there's GOT to be some kind of patteren I'm missing. I've got 4 outputs on the dish LNB. SHOULDN'T there be some kind of order, or place where you come out of if you're only using 2 cables? Seriously....Just pick any 2 outputs. Doesn't matter. They all have the ability to carry all of the signals.

I'm The only problem is, that I only get a signal on Satellite B. It's in the 90's though. And it's across every transponder. But I can't get a signal on A or C. That means B is pointed at the wrong satellite. More than likely, it's pointed at 101 or 110. Use 110 as your guide. Once you get a signal on 110, go the satellite test channels (in the 400's) and make sure 110 is coming in correctly. After that, work on your tilt to get 101 and 119.

Whats happening is the center LNB is seeing the 101 satellite instead of the 110 Due to the filters and frequency shifting, if the center LNB (sat c) were looking at the wrong satellite location he still wouldn't get all the transponders like he was stating earlier.

-Robert

[JimSpence]

To verify the five combinations from the triple LNB dish, tune to channels 490-494. Yes, I said 5. You have odd and even from 101 (A) and 119 (B) and just evens from 110 (C).

To reiterate the basics. Make sure the mast is perfectly plumb and that the tilt is set for your zipcode (This is critical because it sets the geometry of the dish to see all three sats.). Then set the elevation. Now start at the azimuth listed and move slowly back and forth to find one of the sats (I suggest Sat A (101)). Move it and pause to see if the reciever will lock on to anything.

[SeattleCarl]

... but the place where my dad's TV is set up is in the worst place in the house to hear the beeping from outside, so I'm having to run outside, back in, outside, back in. haha...

Two possible options here. The best would be to purchase a satellite signal meter. These vary in price from around $25 or $30 up to several hundred dollars. Even the cheapest will help you peak the dish. Check on-line at solidsignal or weaknees.

Option 2 is to buy a set of inexpensive 2-way radios and have someone else at the tv. This isn't as good as the first choice, but better than running back and forth.

Carl

[phox_mulder]

When I was setting mine up, I had my son in the house on the phone watching the satellite signal,
I was on the roof with the cell phone moving it slightly, asking him if anything changed, moving it slightly again, asking again, etc.

After 10 minutes of this I gave up on that option and dragged the receiver and the smallest TV we have outside, propped them up on a lawn chair and ran an extra cable from the dish right to input 1, then starting swinging the dish again.

Restarted guided setup telling it that there was only 1 input.

I didn't know I wanted to be 10 degrees west of my original calculations till I swung the dish what felt like waaaayyyy west and got the signal.
Then I finished the guided setup and did some fine tuning from the signal strength page, checking all sat's and transponders.

After I got the reciever back inside, I had to repeat guided setup since it was now hooked to two satellite inputs, through an additional 5x8 switch, and an OTA antenna.

Oh, important detail.
Make sure the compass is away from the dish.
The dish is metal, and messes up the compass reading.
Best thing is to be behind the dish a ways, get your reading and eyeball a landmark in line with the azimuth degree, then move to the dish and point it in that general direction.


phox

[Gregory Pierce]

Ok, here's what I've done.

I went to the "test signal" screen. Then switched it to (C). Then I lined up the satellite until I got about a 55 (that's the best I could do), but now, I don't get a signal on (A) or (B).

[JimSpence]

Verify Sat C by tuning to ch 494. Then if that is the case, you probably have a tilt problem. You can get Sat C and not A or B if the tilt is wrong.

[Gregory Pierce]

Well, the thing is, I didn't change anything from yesterday, except the direction, and I was getting (B) yesterday.

As far as changing it to 494, it won't let me watch live TV yet. It's still trying to set up for the new dish.

[JimSpence]

I thought it was possible to bypass that stage of setup so that you can fix it later.
Possibly by hitting the TiVo button?
Anyone remember the details?

[Gregory Pierce]

Oh, yeah. You're right, you can bypass it. BUT... it then does a "Satellite info" screen where it's trying to get information from the satellite, and has a status bar (although I've yet to see it move, haha).

If it can't get past that screen, then I'm doomed to watch old TiVo repeats. :(

[goony]

Whats happening is the center LNB is seeing the 101 satellite instead of the 110, so you get great signal initially,
but since it's pointing at the wrong bird, the other two won't get anything,
and once the multiswitch takes over, none of the satellites get signal since none of them are looking at the satellite they are supposed to.

That was my problem, I "assumed" the center LNB would look at the same satellite the "center" one on the round dish was looking at, didn't think things through,
once I gave up and just started swinging way out from where I though I should be, it suddenly worked.You might try this old trick: Cover the all of the LNBs but one with foil (i.e. leave the 110 uncovered), align that LNB using the proper azimuth and elevation - once you have (say) the 110 LNB aligned/peaked on the 110 bird, then remove the foil and fiddle with the others.

I'm not familiar with the D* 'tripple dish', so I don't know if there are 3 separate single LNBs/arms, or a single and a dual - you may end up just covering half of a dual LNB with foil.

[willardcpa]

You might try this old trick: Cover the all of the LNBs but one with foil....Klaatu's not going to take kindly to that. :eek: :D

[Gregory Pierce]

Nothing has worked. :(

[JimSpence]

What if you select that you only have the round dish in the TiVo setup and align for the 101 sat (using the triple LNB dish parameters)? Then you can set it for the triple and do some tweaking.

[tivo elvis]

you say you bought a used triple lnb dish, perhaps the LNBs are broken or have been knocked around enough that they are out of alignment.

[tigersfanjj]

Haven't seen this question asked yet, so I'll ask it.

Are you sure you have a clear line of sight? You may be able to get by with a little less on the sides, but a good rule of thumb is to have a clearing of about 20 degrees on each side of where the guided setup tells you to point the dish.

Also, are there any tree limbs within 15 to 20 feet ABOVE where the dish is pointing? This can also block your line of sight.