HD Local Columbus Ohio Area

[DanthemanDawg]

Having trouble getting in HD locals and some other HD channels in Columbus Ohio area. All other stations are coming in fine even digital locals, I keep getting searching for sat. signal on my HD local channels (ive also noticed that espn 206 didnt come in either). My HD channels came in fine about 3 months ago (just bought new HD tv and new receiver) thats y been 3 months since ive checked if hd was working and my warrnty is expired.

have a slimeline 5 dish
yes I have HD programming
Hr-20 HD silver receiver filter is on (had them send me a new one) and installed correctly.
6x8 multiswitch
sat settup (5 lnb multi sat)

what satellite and transponder can I check for signal strength????
I believe my dish needs adjusting if so what is the best way to adjust if im getting 80-90 signal strength on most satellites, but I did notice
Sat 101 Transponders all working 32 total
Sat 110 Transponders 3 total are working
Sat 119 Transponders 11 total are working
Sat 99a Transponders 14 total are working but getting all 0
SAt 99b Transponders 16 total are working but getting all 0
Sat 103a Transponders 7 total are working but getting all 0
Sat 103b Transponders 14 total are working but getting all 0

So are my locals have to be on 99 or 103, but which transponders can i check when I move the dish for signal strength??
And how should I adjust the dish, left right, up down, tilt up down, or angle??
I know this is going to be a pain in the as, any advice would be greatly appreciated.
And Thanks for your time in advanced.

 

[jcrandall]

WELCOME, sounds like you need to repeak. Get the highest aim on satellite 101 then use the fine tuing settings.

Here is the install manual, it may help get you started:
http://www.solidsignal.com/manuals/Slimline_Dish_Installation_Manual.pdf

 

[JAG72]

I would have to agree with Jason that you need to have your dish repeaked. It may have moved a little last month during the massive wind storm.

It also looks like you only have the H20 and not the HR20 since you are seeing 103a and 103b. My H20 is that way but the HR20 shows 103s and 103c (same with 99).

 

[DanthemanDawg]

what do you mean by repeak, readjust the dish???

 

[JAG72]

what do you mean by repeak, readjust the dish???

correct

 

[DanthemanDawg]

Hey thanks for responding so quickly I greatly appreciate everyones input.

OK so adjust the dish to get the strongest signal on 103 (I have 93% already), then what satellite do I check for signal strength to fine tune in my locals HD channels. I dont have any special tools to check signal strength just turn up the volume on tv and use receiver to check strength in my setup menu.

After reading the setup guide Im concerned that without a signal meter I wont be abel to lock in my local hd channels, has anyone had luck just using signal meter in menu screen on receiver?? I have set up many dishes but no HD dishes.
Or should I pay to have a tech come out and do it. I dont want to make things worse than they already are.

 

[JAG72]

There are many people here that have done their own tuning just using their receivers. The HD dish needs just a little more fine tuning than the older dishes. If you would like to see what type of numbers you should be getting in your area let me know.

 

[DanthemanDawg]

Yes that would be great, thanks again for all your help.

 

[JAG72]

Here is a good example of what you should be seeing on your signal strength.

 

[jcrandall]

If you flat out can't get it, there is some good news.

DirecTV is reportedly changing the service call fee from $79 to $49.

At $49, it's a bargain considering they come to you.

Read the manual for the dish though, if you're comfortable with wrenches, patient, and have a helper that can read the screen to you, it's not very hard.

After you've done it once, it's much easier.

 

[cocoon]

If you flat out can't get it, there is some good news.

DirecTV is reportedly changing the service call fee from $79 to $49.

At $49, it's a bargain considering they come to you.

Is this only if you call DirecTV or can you call any D* dealer and get that price? It's a sticky situation for me as I am a "mover".

 

[JAG72]

Is this only if you call DirecTV or can you call any D* dealer and get that price? It's a sticky situation for me as I am a "mover".

I don't 100% know but I would think that the pricing would be from Directv only. Dealers normally can charge different prices for their service.

 

[cocoon]

I don't 100% know but I would think that the pricing would be from Directv only. Dealers normally can charge different prices for their service.

That was my thought as well since DirecTV doesn't allow the customer to specify which dealer will be sent for the service call at least with the service plan.

Thanks for the signal strength screen caps my dish definitely needs to be adjusted. I had been looking for what good signal strength should be for several weeks unsuccessfully.

 

[JAG72]

Thanks for the signal strength screen caps my dish definitely needs to be adjusted. I had been looking for what good signal strength should be for several weeks unsuccessfully.

Don't forget that many of them will be dependent on the area. The ones that I posted are what the Central Ohio signal strengths should look like. If you are in a different part of the country you may get signal from transponders that I show a 0 for and vise versa.

 

[cocoon]

Don't forget that many of them will be dependent on the area. The ones that I posted are what the Central Ohio signal strengths should look like. If you are in a different part of the country you may get signal from transponders that I show a 0 for and vise versa.

If by Central Ohio you mean the area that gets WBNS for CBS my signal strength should be very close to the numbers you posted even though I'm roughly 30 miles below that DMA. That is the DMA I moved to otherwise locals would be from another state and no HD locals.

 

[JAG72]

If by Central Ohio you mean the area that gets WBNS for CBS my signal strength should be very close to the numbers you posted even though I'm roughly 30 miles below that DMA. That is the DMA I moved to otherwise locals would be from another state and no HD locals.

Maybe. It all depends on how large the spot beam for the local HD channels are. You may have a few that are a little lower than the readings posted.