Scott's DirecTV Diary Comments

[Scott Greczkowski]

I am going slowly plus taking care of other things.

I just updated my diary, but I am very happy. Yes I am going slow but I am really taking it all in, seeing what each part does. This slimline dish is a very well thought out Dish.

 

[rad]

I unhooked the Dish from my Lacuna Meter and hooked it up to the H20 HD Receiver, and got the install screen. and did a check and all LNB's were OK except for the KA one. (But I hear the H20 does not work correctly on the signal meter for the KA.) I am assuming since I have all the other 4 satellites peeked that I should be on or close with the KA.

Scott, do the install for the new CE code tonight. The prior update fixed the issue with signal readings on 99 and 103 being NFG. On the last CE there was a problem where it would take almost 60 seconds to go between transponders so give it time (hopefully they fixed it with tonights CE).

 

[iceturkee]

hope flash is keeping prize goddess company.

 

[mikew]

I am going slowly plus taking care of other things.

I just updated my diary, but I am very happy. Yes I am going slow but I am really taking it all in, seeing what each part does. This slimline dish is a very well thought out Dish.

When I look at the construction of my Slimline, I am very impressed to see how it all fits together and its ability to be adjusted to fit nearly any situation.

 

[mikew]

Scott...

If you can manage it, don't forget there is another CE update tonight. You'll get a look at the new User Interface and, from my experience, all of the "trick play" features seem to be working great.

Another piece of advice...
Don't forget to set up your HR20 remote for RF. Even though there is no external antenna for it, the HR20 remote works very well in RF mode.

 

[Jimbo]

He isn't even up on the ladder yet. I'm sure the professional installer would have done it more quickly! But, he's having fun, so I guess I will leave him alone.

Yes,
Having Scott set it all up himself will give him a better understanding of how it all works.
I have always done my installs myself, with the exception of 1, the AT-9 I had done by D*, mainly because it was free, I have since put up others as well.

If he's having fun and it sounds like he is, he must be succeding !!!:up

Thats a good thing, and Welcome to D*, what took ya so long ???

PG, It's great to have you jumping in on the forums too

Jimbo

 

[Brewer4]

Scott...

If you can manage it, don't forget there is another CE update tonight. You'll get a look at the new User Interface and, from my experience, all of the "trick play" features seem to be working great.

Another piece of advice...
Don't forget to set up your HR20 remote for RF. Even though there is no external antenna for it, the HR20 remote works very well in RF mode.

Yep, get both H20 and HR20 releases. So far, great for me on both units.

The only problem with RF, you cant make your unit work on Slingbox with Infrared blasters or a Harmony. RF is great if you have a plain setup which I highly doubt Scott ever does that.

 

[rad]

Scott, after you download the CE you should check the signal readings again to see if they come up since what you have reported on a number of TPs are lower then what you should be getting. Here's what I'm seeing down in Austin:

101
TP 1 - 96 96 97 0 95 98 92 99
TP 9 - 95 96 91 100 91 99 94 100
TP 17 - 96 0 92 100 95 100 95 100
TP 25 - 95 99 95 96 97 98 95 99

119
TP 22 - 99 0 99
TP 25 - 36 100 99 98 0 100 0 100

110
TP 8 - 96
TP 10 - 95
TP 12 - 96

99(B)
TP 1 - 0 0 100 56 0 61

103(A)
TP 1 - 98 75 88 100 95 80
TP 17 - 0

Of course 99 and 103 are all spots so those numbers for you don't mean squat but 110 which is all CONUS is low. I don't remember what software release D* fixed the signal readings hopefully after you do the CE they'll all bounce up and you won't need to play with the dish again.

 

[Brewer4]

The H20 has traditionally shown lower ratings. It will be interesting to see what they are after he downloads the newer version. Here are my signals. My AT9 was professionally installed and the best ratings I ever had on 101, 110, and 119. I am in Central Connecticut as well.

101 - 88 to 100
110 - 94 to 95
119 - 95 to 100
99 (b) - 100, 100, 88, 98, 100, 100
103 (a) - 95, 75, 0, 90, 93, 69, 0 (T17)

 

[rad]

Scott, you're new numbers using 200C code are MUCH better, shouldn't have many problems with those readings. Nice job on the alignment.

 

[Brewer4]

Scott, you're new numbers using 200C code are MUCH better, shouldn't have many problems with those readings. Nice job on the alignment.

Yep good job. We are a few towns away and your numbers are right on.

 

[Bob Nielsen]

Scott...

If you can manage it, don't forget there is another CE update tonight. You'll get a look at the new User Interface and, from my experience, all of the "trick play" features seem to be working great.

Another piece of advice...
Don't forget to set up your HR20 remote for RF. Even though there is no external antenna for it, the HR20 remote works very well in RF mode.

I thought the new interface was only on the HR20 (which Scott hasn't received yet). It's sort of bright(!) but I am already getting used to it. The CEs seem to be coming fairly often (with a few national updates in between) so it probably won't be too much of a wait.

 

[iceturkee]

my last software download was may 16. i've had 5 since i reactivated my account february 8.

 

[jcrandall]

I thought the new interface was only on the HR20 (which Scott hasn't received yet). It's sort of bright(!) but I am already getting used to it. The CEs seem to be coming fairly often (with a few national updates in between) so it probably won't be too much of a wait.

The GUI is MUCH brighter, I first thought it was D* method of energy star - bright enough to turn off all your lights.

I really like some things - the status / color button line on the bottom is nice. I really struggled knowing what the buttons did with the old GUI - red/green looks the same to me, but now all 4 are always displayed instead of just one or two.

The software is much more stable than 8 months ago - I really enjoy the HR20 now.

 

[Jimbo]

Hey guys (and gals),
How is it, that Scott's Signal strengh numbers would improve after he downloaded the latest update ???

That seems odd, that woukld require a stonger signal sent from the sat and Everyones numbers should be better.....

What am I missing here ???

Jimbo

 

[ScoBuck]

Scott - when is your next OPEN Dish installation date? lol

 

[iceturkee]

i wondered that myself jimbo.

 

[rad]

Hey guys (and gals),
How is it, that Scott's Signal strengh numbers would improve after he downloaded the latest update ???

That seems odd, that woukld require a stonger signal sent from the sat and Everyones numbers should be better.....

What am I missing here ???

Jimbo

Jimbo, the H20's had a problem in the national release of the software that showed the signal readings lower then they actually were, which was corrected in the CE release software which he installed last night. The actual signals did not change, just how the box reported them.

 

[ScoBuck]

i wondered that myself jimbo.

I don't run my H20s anymore since I put in my 2 HD-DVRs, but I remember that the H20 signal meters were always way off - and inaccurate. I am thinking as mentioned that the new CE code has made the needed software corrections and the signal readings are now just accurate - they seem to match the numbers I get on my HR20 now.

 

[raoul5788]

Yep good job. We are a few towns away and your numbers are right on.

I'm in Cheshire, about as close as you are to Scott. My numbers are just about the same as his, except on sat 103, my t2 reading is only 65, and my t17 reading is 89, not 0. I wonder why I have a reading on t17 and you two don't?