VIP211z with Dish 1000

Kris C

Member
Original poster
Feb 21, 2006
13
5
Houston, TX
I have a Hopper 3 and fixed dish at home and purchased a VIP211z paired with a Tailgater for use with my RV. I mainly use the VIP211z at my property and have an old Dish 1000 dish with a DP Plus triple head that is pole mounted. I would prefer to use the VIP211z with the pole mounted dish for ease but am having issues aligning it. I spoke with Dish and they wanted me to create a second account and have a technician come out and align the dish. I see where they are coming from but since I am not using both receivers at the same time it doesn't totally make sense. Is there a trick to aligning and setting up the VIP211z with my OLD Dish 100 dish? What is the easiest way to get reception on all 3 satellites (I am only really interested in the HD English channels)? What dish do I choose (superdish?) and should I select a specific transponder? Thanks in advance!
 
The DPP LNB should work fine with your 211z. That said, which arc are you trying to hit? EA no longer has 3 orbitals...
 
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What settings were you using to align your old dish 1000?

Go to dishpointer.com and enter your address. I guess you would have to select (down near the bottom) a dish 1000.4, since that website doesn't show the new 1000.2 dual-LNB EA setup. That should give you the az/el settings for your dish.
 
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What settings were you using to align your old dish 1000?

Go to dishpointer.com and enter your address. I guess you would have to select (down near the bottom) a dish 1000.4, since that website doesn't show the new 1000.2 dual-LNB EA setup. That should give you the az/el settings for your dish.
I think 47 elevation, 219.1 azimuth, and 122.9 skew
 
Your HD channels are on 61.5, so that is eastern arc. If that LNB is an EA, even if it has three orbitals your 211 will work just fine because it will find nothing at the 3 site.
Houston is dual arc, either model LNB is fine. My setup is WA, getting Houston HD locals on 110.

I have a Hopper 3 and fixed dish at home and purchased a VIP211z paired with a Tailgater for use with my RV. I mainly use the VIP211z at my property and have an old Dish 1000 dish with a DP Plus triple head that is pole mounted. I would prefer to use the VIP211z with the pole mounted dish for ease but am having issues aligning it. I spoke with Dish and they wanted me to create a second account and have a technician come out and align the dish. I see where they are coming from but since I am not using both receivers at the same time it doesn't totally make sense. Is there a trick to aligning and setting up the VIP211z with my OLD Dish 100 dish? What is the easiest way to get reception on all 3 satellites (I am only really interested in the HD English channels)? What dish do I choose (superdish?) and should I select a specific transponder? Thanks in advance!
Are you sure you have a 1000 and not a 1000.2? The 1000.2 uses the DPP Triple head, while the 1000 uses a DPP Twin with a DP Single attached to the side. You can use either on your 211z. You do NOT chose super dish or alternative, those are only under certain circumstances.

I think 47 elevation, 219.1 azimuth, and 122.9 skew
Those are pretty close to mine (48 EV / 219 AZ / 124 SK). Is your mount plumb? What's your zip code? I am in the Sugar Land area, so I can try my best to assist here.

I would start by setting everything up, running a check switch without satellites (Menu > 6 > 1 > 1 > Check Switch > Test > Save Twice), then go back to the Point Dish screen (Menu > 6 > 1 > 1) and set your satellite to 119, TP 21 (21 is the hottest in the area). From there if you don't have a meter you will just need to swivel left and right on your azimuth slowly until you pick something up, once you find 119 get the signal the highest you can and then run another check switch. If you are lucky all three satellites will come in and if not you will have to see what you are receiving and adjust accordingly.
 
Houston is dual arc, either model LNB is fine. My setup is WA, getting Houston HD locals on 110.


Are you sure you have a 1000 and not a 1000.2? The 1000.2 uses the DPP Triple head, while the 1000 uses a DPP Twin with a DP Single attached to the side. You can use either on your 211z. You do NOT chose super dish or alternative, those are only under certain circumstances.


Those are pretty close to mine (48 EV / 219 AZ / 124 SK). Is your mount plumb? What's your zip code? I am in the Sugar Land area, so I can try my best to assist here.

I would start by setting everything up, running a check switch without satellites (Menu > 6 > 1 > 1 > Check Switch > Test > Save Twice), then go back to the Point Dish screen (Menu > 6 > 1 > 1) and set your satellite to 119, TP 21 (21 is the hottest in the area). From there if you don't have a meter you will just need to swivel left and right on your azimuth slowly until you pick something up, once you find 119 get the signal the highest you can and then run another check switch. If you are lucky all three satellites will come in and if not you will have to see what you are receiving and adjust accordingly.
Could be a 1000.2 dish, I will attach a pic. I believe the pole is plumb but I will have to check it again. I live in Cypress but this dish is installed in Somerville, 77879 zip. No meter but I can set up the system where I can point the dish while looking at the signal meter. There are some pretty tall trees 50-100ft away but I don't think they should be in the way. I have been able to catch one satellite but not all 3. Once I max out 119 TP 21 should I switch to 110 and 129 TP 21 and check their signals? I've also had some issues recently with my Tailgater catching all of the satellites and I even moved it from the ground to the roof of my camper. Maybe I need to try some new coax cable to make sure that isn't the issue. Thanks for your assistance!


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Could be a 1000.2 dish, I will attach a pic.
Definitely a 1000.2 . A little worried about that bumb on the left hand side of the picture, but as long as the dish is not warped you should be good.

Once I max out 119 TP 21 should I switch to 110 and 129 TP 21 and check their signals?
Yes, once 119 is maxed you can check TP 21 on each sat to get a rough idea of where you’re at. You should try to get 70+ signal strength on 119/110 and 45+ on 129. The reason you start at 119 is because that is the satellite that gets received on the middle LNB, if your mount is plub and your skew correct then 110/129 (the side LNBs) should come right in.

There are some pretty tall trees 50-100ft away but I don't think they should be in the way.
It might be a good idea to get a cellphone app that allows you to overlay the satellite belt on your phone’s camera, that way you can aim towards those trees from where the dish is to make sure they aren’t in the way. I personally use Satellite Pointer.

Maybe I need to try some new coax cable to make sure that isn't the issue. Thanks for your assistance!
Worth a shot, but if you are using good condition RG6 already then it might not make a difference.
 
Definitely a 1000.2 . A little worried about that bumb on the left hand side of the picture, but as long as the dish is not warped you should be good.


Yes, once 119 is maxed you can check TP 21 on each sat to get a rough idea of where you’re at. You should try to get 70+ signal strength on 119/110 and 45+ on 129. The reason you start at 119 is because that is the satellite that gets received on the middle LNB, if your mount is plub and your skew correct then 110/129 (the side LNBs) should come right in.


It might be a good idea to get a cellphone app that allows you to overlay the satellite belt on your phone’s camera, that way you can aim towards those trees from where the dish is to make sure they aren’t in the way. I personally use Satellite Pointer.


Worth a shot, but if you are using good condition RG6 already then it might not make a difference.

I was able to hit the 119 satellite and get a good signal but when I covered the left and right LNBs with foil I lost the signal. It looks like one of the outer LNBs is what was grabbing the signal and I could not adjust it so that the middle LNB received 119. After checking the line of sight I think that I have some tree branches in the way and I may have to move the pole. I'll try setting it up on a tripod this time before I concrete the pole in.
 
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