Tips on peaking DirecTV HD dish install (5 lnb)

[stonoguy]

I recently purchase a DirecTV Slimline (5 lnb dish) from a guy at a yard sale for $10.00 (what a deal).....don't really need the programming
on 110 & 119. Trying to peak the other 3 (99, 101 & 103). Have peaked the 101....most of transponders are in the upper 90s.
On 99c, transponders are in the 70s, 99s transponders are in the 60s. On 103ca transponders are in the 40s.........
103cb transponders are in the 50s.........103s transponders are in the 20s.
I am installing this dish at a 2nd home and while peaking, the rain set in and I couldn't complete the install before I had to leave.
I have never have peaked a HD dish. SD dishes are a piece of cake. Any tips on peaking this dish. I'd like to do this myself.

Thanks for any help!!!!

 

[Hutch1814]

I recently purchase a DirecTV Slimline (5 lnb dish) from a guy at a yard sale for $10.00 (what a deal).....don't really need the programming
on 110 & 119. Trying to peak the other 3 (99, 101 & 103). Have peaked the 101....most of transponders are in the upper 90s.
On 99c, transponders are in the 70s, 99s transponders are in the 60s. On 103ca transponders are in the 40s.........
103cb transponders are in the 50s.........103s transponders are in the 20s.
I am installing this dish at a 2nd home and while peaking, the rain set in and I couldn't complete the install before I had to leave.
I have never have peaked a HD dish. SD dishes are a piece of cake. Any tips on peaking this dish. I'd like to do this myself.

Thanks for any help!!!!

First off make sure your mast is level and plumb. Without it being level and plumb you're fighting a losing battle. Once you get this and you have you tilt set correctly you just need to use the fine tune adjustment to dial it in. Slow is the key when dithering a slimline dish if you don't have a meter

 

[jcrandall]

Remember 99s and 103s are spotbeams, don't pay attention to those.

You need to really work on the 103ca/103cb signal using the fine tuning knobs on the back of the slimline.

 

[stonoguy]

For my information, what exactly are spot beams?? I have heard/seen this term previously but I didn't have a clue what this meant. Please elaborant. Thanks!

 

[dfergie]

Spot beams are the locals, so called because the signal covers a relatively small area.

 

[Joe Diamond]

Spot beams are the locals, so called because the signal covers a relatively small area.

Exactly!
And I think the aspect to stress is that no amount of tuning will give a customer in Northern Virginia the local stations for NY or NJ. Directv (and DISH) are controlled by the FCC and cannot legally sell signal for local markets outside those markets. Within the spot beam footprint some drifting might occur but it is minor and not covered on this site.

The other point to stress might be that this equipment should not be installed in bad weather. It is dangerous to climb around on buildings during storms. The tech will not get accurate adjustments during "rain fade." No amount of bitching on the phone will change atmospheric conditions.

A practical thing to remember is that the dish is an antenna and it is a unit; as you move one adjustment alignment changes.....like a car headlight........all the lights point in the same direction as you adjust directions with the steering wheel. The final tuning that is locked in will be a compromise to get the "peak" signal available in any location. As atmospheric conditions change it is normal for the numbers to change and no additional adjustments are necessary...................or service calls.......or bitching on the phone.

As you tune these dishes you make sure the mast is plumb and there is a clear line of sight (LOS). Then, working slowly, you dial in the AZ, EL & SKEW. Tune the 101 to the best signal you can get. The 99c & 103c are on either side of the 101 and a very fine adjustment will bring up their signal as the 101 signal goes down a little. In setup make sure the correct dish has been selected.

Enjoy

Joe