Tailgate Setup Issue

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amm601

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Oct 21, 2009
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Charlotte
I have an H21 that i just bought and it is working just fine when set up on my home SWM system. However when I set it up outside at the tailgate w my extra 18 in dual LNB dish and set it up as such, I cannot get any signal when aimed in the right direction. I even bought the dishpointer app for my iphone and still can't get anything. All zeros on the 101 sattelite. Is the LNB busted, did I set something up wrong? Please help! Thanks.
 
I have an H21 that i just bought and it is working just fine when set up on my home SWM system. However when I set it up outside at the tailgate w my extra 18 in dual LNB dish and set it up as such, I cannot get any signal when aimed in the right direction. I even bought the dishpointer app for my iphone and still can't get anything. All zeros on the 101 sattelite. Is the LNB busted, did I set something up wrong? Please help! Thanks.

If your tripod is level, you have a clear LOS and you set the box to the proper LNB and preset the EL on the 18", you should be set - could either be the coax to the LNB or the LNB.

If you are using a regular compass - you need to compensate as much as 10 to12 degrees depending where you are - so don't fall in love with getting the compass nailed to your aim unless you do the math for the conversion and factor it in. Otherwise, a very slow scan usually does it.

Take it out in your driveway and set the whole thing up with a different coax. Pan slowly back & forth maybe an 1/8 inch at a time. If it still doesn't sniff the sat - I'd replace the LNB.

Just my 2 pennies worth. Coax is cheaper than an LNB.
 
Last edited:
amm601

I assume you are using a different coaxial cable than what you have at home. Start by checking the connectors on the cable and center conductor. If you have a continuity meter, check for any short circuit on the cable. If cable is fine, check your elevation angle on dish. Now aim dish at correct azimuth angle.

You can use this calculator to get the correct angles:
Satellite Look Angles Satellite Heading Calculator Azimuth Elevation Skew Tilt LNBF Latitude and Longitude values

If all are good, replace the LNBF and try again. If the LNBF you have is old, it could be bad.

LNBF #1 here should work fine as a replacement: DIRECTV LNB LNBF Dual Single DSS Standard and Universal
 
If your tripod is level, you have a clear LOS and you set the box to the proper LNB and preset the EL on the 18", you should be set - could either be the coax to the LNB or the LNB.

If you are using a regular compass - you need to compensate as much as 10 to12 degrees depending where you are - so don't fall in love with getting the compass nailed to your aim unless you do the math for the conversion and factor it in. Otherwise, a very slow scan usually does it.

Take it out in your driveway and set the whole thing up with a different coax. Pan slowly back & forth maybe an 1/8 inch at a time. If it still doesn't sniff the sat - I'd replace the LNB.

Just my 2 pennies worth. Coax is cheaper than an LNB.
I'm with Mike 100% on this one. Set it all up at home under more easily controllable conditions. With my 18" dish on gameday I can set it up in one or two minutes (literally) because the elevation is set... all I do it pan a little bit.:cool:
 
Thanks guys. I have used 3 different lines of coax and haven't seen anything other than zeros on the transponders on 101. Considering the amount of sat setups in our lot on gameday i can't imagine it to be this difficult. I guess I got what I paid for w/ the $5 dish off craigs list. I'm working on finding a new lnb and or dish before sunday but I think I am too late. Will let you know what happens.

One thing that I would like conf on is if the H21 will give me any issues since it makes me select SWM on Multi Switch. Will this prevent me from it working without being on a swm or switch?

Also since it gives me the option to select 18'' round it should work w/ a good lnb right?

Thanks!
 
why cant you just run a coax from the switch out to your reciever in your driveway rather than setting up a whole new dish for a reciever if youre only in your driveway???


btw make sure you use RG-6 cable, if the switch is outside, run it around to your driveway for that tailgate party only... if its inside, route it out some how to your driveway.. saves you from buying another dish and hassle to tune it in.
 
Thanks guys. I have used 3 different lines of coax and haven't seen anything other than zeros on the transponders on 101. Considering the amount of sat setups in our lot on gameday i can't imagine it to be this difficult. I guess I got what I paid for w/ the $5 dish off craigs list. I'm working on finding a new lnb and or dish before sunday but I think I am too late. Will let you know what happens.

One thing that I would like conf on is if the H21 will give me any issues since it makes me select SWM on Multi Switch. Will this prevent me from it working without being on a swm or switch?

Also since it gives me the option to select 18'' round it should work w/ a good lnb right?

Thanks!

If you tried different coax, then it's gotta be the LNB. Those old ones are really cheap - new or used. If you were closer I'd give you one gratis out of the parts pile - but that certainly wouldn't help you for this weekend.

When you select the 18" hardware on the HD boxes you basically "dumb" the box down to a SD one - with all of your programming coming off of 101.

You MIGHT be able to get one from a local DTV installer - I'd take a quick run through the local yellow pages - best way I know of to get one for this weekend.

Keep at it - it's worth it!
 
well you wouldnt recieve HD and locals wouldnt come in..


simple and to advoid buying a dish.. why not just cable from SWITCH on the current install on the house to drive way.. hook your reciever in and done...


instead going the hard way and doing all this headache work.
 
well you wouldnt recieve HD and locals wouldnt come in..


simple and to advoid buying a dish.. why not just cable from SWITCH on the current install on the house to drive way.. hook your reciever in and done...


instead going the hard way and doing all this headache work.

I think you are missing the point. This is for a tailgate party in the parking lot at a football game.

Thanks for the help.
 
If you tried different coax, then it's gotta be the LNB. Those old ones are really cheap - new or used. If you were closer I'd give you one gratis out of the parts pile - but that certainly wouldn't help you for this weekend.

When you select the 18" hardware on the HD boxes you basically "dumb" the box down to a SD one - with all of your programming coming off of 101.

You MIGHT be able to get one from a local DTV installer - I'd take a quick run through the local yellow pages - best way I know of to get one for this weekend.

Keep at it - it's worth it!


Thanks Mike! I'll give it a try.

One last question. Are the SD channels of the sunday ticket on the 101 sat?
 
well you wouldnt recieve HD and locals wouldnt come in..


simple and to advoid buying a dish.. why not just cable from SWITCH on the current install on the house to drive way.. hook your reciever in and done...


instead going the hard way and doing all this headache work.

Um, if you would actually read the OP's post he is tailgating with an 18" dish - but doing the TEMP setup in his driveway just to test the unit.

Know I'm in SOCAL where folks do things a little bit differently, but I rarely see folks TAILGATING IN THEIR OWN FREAKIN DRIVEWAY every week, even out here.

Common sense, apparently not so common.

You must just be swamped with "installs" - almost 400 posts in barely a month - most with misguided info.

Last reply from me to you - enjoy :).
 
some do watch football in their own driveway and grille.



nope.. cant do 400 installs in one day. im a remote tech (if you had been reading) and i only had one job today and 2 yesterday.. its slow right now... so i had time to be online.
 
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