Directv DIY setup question

[Jeff Stone]

Hello all, I have a setup question for a DIY'er type. I recently moved (Chesapeake VA 23321) and decided to with the expenses of moving and closing and what not I would save (D* quoted me $250 for the "movers package"...yea...no) by doing my own installation which I cannot seem to get to work.

I brought all my equipment except the dish itself and bought a new SL5 SWM online for the new house to match what was at the old house.

D* setup tells me I need to be at 40 Elevation, 228 Az, and a tilt of 64. I made sure the mount was level, and set the Elevation and Tilt based on the markings on the mount itself, the Az I just used a compass and must be pretty darn close to 228.

I wired it such that the power module is on a 25 foot RG-6 from the dish to the LNB power output and then another 25 foot from the power module using RG-6 to the back of the HR24. I have zero signal on any of the transponders so being that I am new to this I figure I obviously screwed something up. I do NOT have a splitter between the dish and the receiver, only the power module is between them.

Does the Az have to be exactly spot on to get any type of signal or as long as im in the ball park should I be seeing some faint signal from any transponder? Also does my cable distances have anything to do with it from the power module to the dish/receiver? I am stuck and wanted to exhaust my options before I call up D* and fork out cash.

On a side note I DO have the green splitter with the power pass through.....I think in writing this I just found my answer...maybe....I am guessing the power module doesnt pass signal to the receiver and that you must use a separate output on the splitter to the reciever...just a guess.

Thanks for any help you all can provide!

 

[Claude Greiner]

Bring the receiver and a small Tv outside and peak the dish that way

 

[raoul5788]

Hello all, I have a setup question for a DIY'er type. I recently moved (Chesapeake VA 23321) and decided to with the expenses of moving and closing and what not I would save (D* quoted me $250 for the "movers package"...yea...no) by doing my own installation which I cannot seem to get to work.

I brought all my equipment except the dish itself and bought a new SL5 SWM online for the new house to match what was at the old house.

D* setup tells me I need to be at 40 Elevation, 228 Az, and a tilt of 64. I made sure the mount was level, and set the Elevation and Tilt based on the markings on the mount itself, the Az I just used a compass and must be pretty darn close to 228.

I wired it such that the power module is on a 25 foot RG-6 from the dish to the LNB power output and then another 25 foot from the power module using RG-6 to the back of the HR24. I have zero signal on any of the transponders so being that I am new to this I figure I obviously screwed something up. I do NOT have a splitter between the dish and the receiver, only the power module is between them.

Does the Az have to be exactly spot on to get any type of signal or as long as im in the ball park should I be seeing some faint signal from any transponder? Also does my cable distances have anything to do with it from the power module to the dish/receiver? I am stuck and wanted to exhaust my options before I call up D* and fork out cash.

On a side note I DO have the green splitter with the power pass through.....I think in writing this I just found my answer...maybe....I am guessing the power module doesnt pass signal to the receiver and that you must use a separate output on the splitter to the reciever...just a guess.

Thanks for any help you all can provide!

to Satelliteguys Jeff Stone!

A couple of "obvious" questions first. Is the lnb really a swm type with only one output? Why are you using a splitter if you have only one dvr? Just go from the lnb to the power inserter to the dvr. When you set the elevation, did you use the bracket behind the scale? Don't use the lock nut. When you check for signal strength, move the dish a little at a time and wait for the dvr to register any changes. How long have you had service? Usually the movers connection is free if it's been a year.
Good luck!

 

[whitewolf8214]

to SatelliteGuys Jeff Stone!!

 

[Jeff Stone]

to Satelliteguys Jeff Stone!

A couple of "obvious" questions first. Is the lnb really a swm type with only one output? Why are you using a splitter if you have only one dvr? Just go from the lnb to the power inserter to the dvr. When you set the elevation, did you use the bracket behind the scale? Don't use the lock nut. When you check for signal strength, move the dish a little at a time and wait for the dvr to register any changes. How long have you had service? Usually the movers connection is free if it's been a year.
Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. Yes it is a SWM and I am using a splitter because I will ultimately be connecting to the main IRD and 3 of the other smaller bedroom recievers. I ended up getting it all sorted out, the issue was a couple of things. I never noticed that the pole mount had a bubble level built into the top of it and was using my magnetic level which apparently is not close enough. Anyways I used the built-in and got it back to a true zero, and the signal jumped up to 98% without any other dish modification.

I greatly appreciate you all trying to help and it turns out it was all my own user error from the start....as I imagine is the case with most satellite newbies!

 

[raoul5788]

Excellent! I didn't figure for the mast being plumb since you thought it already was. BTW, the bubble level built into the mast isn't always that accurate, either. A post level is the best and easiest way I've found to plumb the mast.