Antenna Mounts

[Rural User]

I installed and activated a dish system for a lakeside cabin yesterday. It is a simple system, a purchased 1000.2 DPP dish and one Wally on a FLEX package. I did a temporary antenna mount on an old Wildblue pole that was handy. The Wildblue pole had a 2 3/8” to 2” adapter on it. I took that adapter off and used a split tail 1.66” adapter that clamps to the wall of the larger 2.375” pole pipe. It is kind of a kluge but it worked for a temporary mount. For my address in central Texas a dish pointer app called for elevation 47.9, azimuth 216.5 and skew 120.8. After a little trial and error efforts I got locked in with signal strength of low seventies on sat 110 and 119 and signal strength of 40 on sat 129. From searching the forum I have the impression that getting a lower signal strength reading on sat 129 is not unusual.

I have two questions:

First, if I wanted to tweak the antenna position for a stronger signal on sat 129 what sequence and in what direction should I try moving from the elevation, azimuth and skew setting I currently have that are giving good sat 110 and 119 signals.

Second, I plan to do a more permanent roof eve mount. The cabin has an old antenna already in place. It is a very solid mount that is well braced but it is a 2” mast. I have thought about taking the old antenna off the mast and using a 2” to 1.66” adapter to mount the DISH antenna. I know it is probably not to DISH code but does anyone ever use an existing 2” mast to mount a DISH antenna?

Thanks, this forum was very helpful in providing the information I needed to get the system up with a minimum of frustration.

 

[JSheridan]

I installed and activated a dish system for a lakeside cabin yesterday. It is a simple system, a purchased 1000.2 DPP dish and one Wally on a FLEX package. I did a temporary antenna mount on an old Wildblue pole that was handy. The Wildblue pole had a 2 3/8” to 2” adapter on it. I took that adapter off and used a split tail 1.66” adapter that clamps to the wall of the larger 2.375” pole pipe. It is kind of a kluge but it worked for a temporary mount. For my address in central Texas a dish pointer app called for elevation 47.9, azimuth 216.5 and skew 120.8. After a little trial and error efforts I got locked in with signal strength of low seventies on sat 110 and 119 and signal strength of 40 on sat 129. From searching the forum I have the impression that getting a lower signal strength reading on sat 129 is not unusual.

I have two questions:

First, if I wanted to tweak the antenna position for a stronger signal on sat 129 what sequence and in what direction should I try moving from the elevation, azimuth and skew setting I currently have that are giving good sat 110 and 119 signals.

Second, I plan to do a more permanent roof eve mount. The cabin has an old antenna already in place. It is a very solid mount that is well braced but it is a 2” mast. I have thought about taking the old antenna off the mast and using a 2” to 1.66” adapter to mount the DISH antenna. I know it is probably not to DISH code but does anyone ever use an existing 2” mast to mount a DISH antenna?

Thanks, this forum was very helpful in providing the information I needed to get the system up with a minimum of frustration.

Here's what you want if you can find a single one. These are lots of 5.

Pipe Adapter 2in to 1.66in - Lot of 5 683615344778 | eBay

 

[HipKat]

You're so close to being where you want to be with the 129 (50ish), no one can tell you which way to go, because it's millimeters off on any possible direction

 

[Jim5506]

Stand behind the dish and with the bolts still tight, gently warp the dish left, right, up and down to see if any improvement in the signal occurs (hold it a few seconds so your helper can see the signal change).

That will give you clues as to what to do. NOTE - do not bend the dish just put slight pressure on it to gently shift it right , left , up or down.