SlingBox as a Satellite Alignment Device

[alert5]

Our roof was replaced a couple of days ago and I did not ask or expect the roofers to remount the DirecTV roof mounted dish. I did not want holes drilled in the new roof at any rate. So after the installers left, I mounted a pipe on the side of the house, extending above the roof line. I tried to eyeball the az/el/tilt and did manage to get a good signal on 101 but no amount of fiddling got me close to any signal on 110 or 119.

Then I recalled someone in the SlingBox forum mentioning how he re-pointed a roof mount dish with a laptop.

I have a PocketPC (Axim5) with the mobile Sling beta software loaded and it works fine for viewing and controlling a DirecTiVo. So with PDA in hand and the satellite signal strength settings page open, it took about 10 minutes, while standing on a ladder, to get a strong signal on all three birds.

SlingBox as a satellite locator…who would of thunk it!

[wickerbill]

That's awesome. If only I had satellite then I could justify my slingbox purchase that way. For now, I'll just have to justify it for all of the other ways I use it. Now I just need to upgrade my cellphone so I can sling from anywhere.

[sloan]

When I have to point, I take a 13" TV and an old unused rca receiver.

The rca unit isn't on my account. Its just an old one that I replaced with a newer model.

I plug in the tv and receiver right there on the roof.

Clunky, but effective.