What did you do? Get a new receiver or find a mode that didn't include 61.5?
We must tailgate somewhat close to each other, and based on your previous posts I live across the river from you, but I use Montgomery locals on campus.
No problem getting any channels but for the first time this year during setup my screen would say "could not find all satellites," but I'd just go to view live tv and Montgomery locals, ESPNs and SEC would work.
But my main problem now is figuring out how to configure something so I can set the dish about 6 feet off the ground. Tired of my tailgating crew walking in front of the dish and blocking the signal.
Hadn't used it since Oct(went to NMS disaster but didn't set up a tailgate) and forgot to pay the Nov bill but Dish let me watch TV until the 2nd half of LSU/A&M Ohio St/Mich and then cut off my service. 30 minutes to get them and get the signal resent enough times that it worked. First setup of the season it NEVER works the first time. NEVER. Always have to call and get them to resend the signal. Been happening since 2014.
It was actually 2 things for me...my biggest problem was that I would go through the set-up process, scan for satellites, it would say not all satellites found, I would move on and all I could get was cable channels (ESPN, SECN, etc.) and I could not get any locals (CBS, FOX, etc.)
the two fixes were...
1. on the scan for satellites page, I changed the type from the standard default (110, 119, 129) to "Hybrid" which is 61.5, 110, 119. I obviously kept the state as Alabama.
2. Also, very importantly, I had a very clear view of the SW sky towards 210 degrees on the compass. that is the direction the dish pointed in when I was getting all the cable channels, so I thought that was the most important view. But as someone mentioned above, I needed a better view of the SE sky towards 120 degrees on the compass. I realized that once I got my local channels working, when I tuned to one of the local channels (like CBS), the satellite would automatically turn and point towards 120 degrees on the compass.
These two items fixed all of my problems and everything worked seamlessly, including the set-up (no phone calls to support and very quick scan and set-up ons screen). In regards to your issue with the satellite on the ground, I use the KING TR1000 tripod stand which folds up and is very easy. people walk by it and as long as they don't stand right there, its a non issue. I see some people on campus with crazy high mounts to attach the tailgater satellite too, but that seems excessive unless you are in a small spot on campus with blocked views of the sky.
hope this helps!