Hi guys. I am a new bee. I live in an RV. I move every 1 to 2 months. I have a 1000.2 antenna with a DPH WA LNB on a nice tripod connected to a Hopper 3 via a hybrid solo hub.
At my last location (SE Minnesota), I used WA EL, AZ & SK and after about three hours of reading, aiming & re-aiming, I nailed 110W, 119W & 129W with a sig strength of 50-55 with my compass & a bubble level. Good enough.
I just relocated to Western South Dakota and tried aiming with WA nums (after ensuring plumb mast, clear line of site, etc for zip 57745 (EL 22, SK 127, AZ 2510) & could not get a lock on anything.
After several frustrating hours, I looked down the row at other RVs who had rooftop (Dish) antennas pointing a lot farther east than mine, so thought I'd try the EA nums for this location just for grins (EL 40, SK 87, AZ 190 per Dish manual for 10000.2) and I locked onto 110W & 119W but not 129W! Huh?
So why am I receiving EA birds with a WA? Also, I did chat with Dish to change my service address, but not getting any networks/locals. Must be on the 129W bird?
Second thing: I'm tired of trial and error by moving the dish, doing a switch check, trying again and again, so I convinced the wife that I need a good meter. Looking at a refurbished Birdog meter from Satellite Oasis on eBay for $189. Can't justify much more than that, so a USB Plus, Ultra, Superbuddy, etc. just doesn't make sense for my limited use. I have two different $15 cheapies and they're crap.
Besides, I like this refurbished unit since it has new battery, new case, Dish sats list already installed, OA's pretty good rep... all this in addition to the price. What are your thoughts given my limited budget but need something to make it easier to repeatedly (re) aim this thing?
Thanks guys. Feel free to redirect my post if useful.
Gene the newb...
At my last location (SE Minnesota), I used WA EL, AZ & SK and after about three hours of reading, aiming & re-aiming, I nailed 110W, 119W & 129W with a sig strength of 50-55 with my compass & a bubble level. Good enough.
I just relocated to Western South Dakota and tried aiming with WA nums (after ensuring plumb mast, clear line of site, etc for zip 57745 (EL 22, SK 127, AZ 2510) & could not get a lock on anything.
After several frustrating hours, I looked down the row at other RVs who had rooftop (Dish) antennas pointing a lot farther east than mine, so thought I'd try the EA nums for this location just for grins (EL 40, SK 87, AZ 190 per Dish manual for 10000.2) and I locked onto 110W & 119W but not 129W! Huh?
So why am I receiving EA birds with a WA? Also, I did chat with Dish to change my service address, but not getting any networks/locals. Must be on the 129W bird?
Second thing: I'm tired of trial and error by moving the dish, doing a switch check, trying again and again, so I convinced the wife that I need a good meter. Looking at a refurbished Birdog meter from Satellite Oasis on eBay for $189. Can't justify much more than that, so a USB Plus, Ultra, Superbuddy, etc. just doesn't make sense for my limited use. I have two different $15 cheapies and they're crap.
Besides, I like this refurbished unit since it has new battery, new case, Dish sats list already installed, OA's pretty good rep... all this in addition to the price. What are your thoughts given my limited budget but need something to make it easier to repeatedly (re) aim this thing?
Thanks guys. Feel free to redirect my post if useful.
Gene the newb...