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12-30-2012, 09:00 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Maplesville - Home Base
Posts: 3,059
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Easy (cheap) Way To Aim Satellite Dish
This is a picture of a baby monitor receiver that my daughter gave me after she no longer needed it. The camera is aimed at my television screen which is tuned to the signal strength screen in the DirecTV receiver satellite set up section. I checked reception on the remote receiver as far as 150' around my 5'er and it worked fine.
This is much cheaper than the expensive meters, especially the ones that work with SWM which I have.
This is nice and works great.
__________________
Ed
KM4STL
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, TST Systems 507 TPMS, RV Flex Armor Roof
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12-30-2012, 09:08 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Louisiana (southeastern)
Posts: 468
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Now, that is cool.
Thanks, Ed.
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Chipper
2006 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LBZ, CC, 4X4
2005 Jayco Talon ZX24-E Toy Hauler(SOLD).
2017 Forest River Hyper Lite XLR
Prodigy P2 Brake Control
12K Husky Straight Line WD Hitch
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12-30-2012, 09:56 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Saskatoon Sask Canada
Posts: 10,714
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Kool idea... till now I have just been taking my bedroom TV and DVR outside and aiming with them sitting on my truck tailgate...
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Seann
2004 Chev Silverado Duramax optioned past the max. 2009 Jayco Eagle 308 RLS 900watts of solar, Lithium batteries (400amp hour), 2000 watt (4000 surge) whole house inverter.
145days boondockinig in2023 2022/151 2021[/COLOR]
93/2020,157/2019219/2018 206/2017,215/2016, 211/2015, 196/14, 247/13, 193/12
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12-30-2012, 11:12 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: "Where we Park It"
Posts: 1,071
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Neat idea Ed.
When setting up our Dish a few days ago here in Tennessee I had the hardest time aiming using my Accutek III Meter that I have had in quite some time.
Lots of trees, mountains when I was aiming there were lots of clouds, it took me a longer (about 15 minutes) than usual but I got it.
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Robert & Bale the "Traveling Dog"
SOB
2012 GMC 3500HD DRW
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12-30-2012, 12:16 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Where ever the boss says we're going.
Posts: 15,950
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob_Fla
Neat idea Ed.
When setting up our Dish a few days ago here in Tennessee I had the hardest time aiming using my Accutek III Meter that I have had in quite some time.
Lots of trees, mountains when I was aiming there were lots of clouds, it took me a longer (about 15 minutes) than usual but I got it.
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When it comes to trees I think the best gadget made is the align-a-site.
http://www.campingworld.com/shopping...e-finder/31690
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DISNEY LOVERS
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12-31-2012, 04:57 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Maplesville - Home Base
Posts: 3,059
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I use DishPointerPro on my smart phone to find that hole in trees.
__________________
Ed
KM4STL
2006 GMC 2500HD CCSB 4x4 Duramax/Allison, Titan 52 gallon fuel tank, Prodigy Controller, B&W Companion Hitch
2010 Jayco Designer 35RLTS, Cummins/Onan RV QG 5500 EVAP, Progressive Industries EMS-PT50X, TST Systems 507 TPMS, RV Flex Armor Roof
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12-31-2012, 09:31 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,643
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The biggest problem I found in aligning a dish occurs in heavy tree cover when trying to find a line of sight to the required satellites. I've used a Suunto Tandem for this purpose for a couple of years. It's easily portable while you are dodging tree limbs looking for the LOS, and has no need for a cell phone signal. Like several of the solutions, it is easy but not especially cheap. The Suunto Tandem is a combination compass and clinometer. You use it by sighting on an object at the appropriate azimuth and then sighting on the appropriate elevation; it's pretty easy to see if the "hole" in the tree cover is large enough (or not).
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There's lots of advice and information in forums... sometimes it is correct. For example, all of my posts are made by a political appointee who got the job as a reward for contributions to my diesel bill.
2011 Jayco 28.5RLS; 2021 Chevy Duramax; Pullrite Superglide Hitch
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12-31-2012, 11:24 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 272
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Quote:
Originally Posted by edatlanta
I use DishPointerPro on my smart phone to find that hole in trees.
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Same for me on my iPhone. This app probably save my marriage as the DW would watch the TV and yell signal strength readings out the window. Not a good way to settle into a campsite!
I have a $10 inline signal strength meter which is of some minor help. But I like edatlanta's idea of using a small monitor outdoors, too! Another marriage saving idea!!
I also find the app Dish align to be of some help.
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taviking22
'06 2500 Silverado 4X4, Duramax LBZ Diesel, Firestone air bags
'08 Tracker Pro Guide V-16 Boat
'12 Pinnacle 31RLTS
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12-31-2012, 12:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Eastern Virginia
Posts: 223
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I use walkee-talkee's, which also come in handy when backing into a site. If your're by yourself, I like Ed's idea.
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Joe
2004 F150 SuperCrew Lariat, 5.4L, Max Towing, CIPA Towing Mirrows, Timbren
2006 Jay Flight, 31 BHDS
Reese Strait-Line Dual Cam
Prodigy P2
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12-31-2012, 08:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: "Where we Park It"
Posts: 1,071
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Being the tight wad I am, I bit the bullet and bought the Accutek III meter about a year ago for about $130, it powers the dish without the need for connecting the reciever.
As much as we move, it makes setup and getting all 3 satellites peaked pretty easy, for me it was money well spent.
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Robert & Bale the "Traveling Dog"
SOB
2012 GMC 3500HD DRW
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12-31-2012, 08:49 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,643
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X2 on the Acutrac III meter; it works well.
It's probably worth noting that the Acutrac III works best with a non-SWM LNB - the kind with 4 outputs as it can see signal readings from 101 and 99 and 103. But with a SWM LNB - the kind with 1 output - the Acutrac III can only see signal readings from 101 making it somewhat harder to align 99 and 103. Of course, if all you are interested in is the SD channels on 101, 99 and 103 don't really matter.
__________________
There's lots of advice and information in forums... sometimes it is correct. For example, all of my posts are made by a political appointee who got the job as a reward for contributions to my diesel bill.
2011 Jayco 28.5RLS; 2021 Chevy Duramax; Pullrite Superglide Hitch
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01-01-2013, 09:51 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Sparta, TN
Posts: 1,174
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The Align-A-Site is the best. It gives you a visual shot at that spot you need between the trees, limbs and leaves. Signal meters won't spot that hole except through trial and error. Once the satellite is found I just listen to the beeps to fine tune it.
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Chuck - Sparta, TN
2012 Jay Flight 22FB, 2 x Honda EU2000i
2013 GMC Yukon XL Denali AWD
EDUCATION is what you get when you read the fine print.....
EXPERIENCE is what you get when you don't.
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01-08-2013, 02:50 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Aldergrove British Columbia
Posts: 815
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When your using ota antenna , I found a app called Tower Radar that works excellent for scanning to find the local towers. You can turn on a satellite map that actually shows a picture of the actual tower if you zero in on the dot on the map. The price was just a few bucks for this timesaver.
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Richard
2011 Jay Feather Select 28U
2007 Silverado Crewcab LT 6.0L
Happily married and father of
two university students.
Cancer survivor
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