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M
Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
123tim said:
Ken's right. The SF-95 is really worth it.

I am marveling at the number of posts in the new year about FTA. Maybe the time has come, huh?

I am 100% fresh (that is, Monday 10am I packed my car full of shiny new toys). The closest experience I can cite is that my dad was large into C band, back in the 80s when you could watch Wolf Blitzer talk to his cameraman.

My setup:
Dish = http://www.galaxy-marketing.com/winegard_dish.htm
Recv = http://www.galaxy-marketing.com/T100.htm
LNB = http://www.galaxy-marketing.com/techsat_tracker.htm
(I live about 10 minutes from those guys ;-) )
and, to make this on-topic, I got an SF-95 free with my purchase.

It and I are having a communication breakdown. I am able to make it squeal, but my confidence in its findings is greatly reduced because the squealing and signal level on the meter changes based on how close my hand is to the device. That smells of some kind of interference or signal leak.

My SF-95 did not come with one letter of instructions, so I am looking for input on how to best leverage this loud device. Well, actually I welcome any advice on anything (as has been the common sentiment here!).

Thanks and I look forward to my stay here,
-- /v\atthew​
8 Replies · 2012 views
M
If I remember, you simply set the meter to 5 initially and then proceed to turn it down (back towards 5) as the signal climbs and that nasty noise increases!.

That's the "instructions" that I found on the sadoun.com site. I'm having some difficulty executing them, which is why I'm seeking alternate input. I believe this situation is like trying to teach someone how to putt over the Internet, but I can't be the first chap that has run into this.

As I replied to starman345, with the SF-95 it seems to be an all or nothing situation. If the pentometer is set at 0, I get nothing. If I increase the sensitivity to around +2db, then it will eventually move. When it does move, it moves very quickly, which does not afford me an opportunity to "turn it back down toward 5".

-- /v\atthew​
G
Might be an issue or...

mdaniel said:
That's the "instructions" that I found on the sadoun.com site. I'm having some difficulty executing them, which is why I'm seeking alternate input. I believe this situation is like trying to teach someone how to putt over the Internet, but I can't be the first chap that has run into this.
As I replied to starman345, with the SF-95 it seems to be an all or nothing situation. If the pentometer is set at 0, I get nothing. If I increase the sensitivity to around +2db, then it will eventually move. When it does move, it moves very quickly, which does not afford me an opportunity to "turn it back down toward 5".
-- /v\atthew​

If you are set on a Satellite that has a strong signal this could also occur and the micro adjustment might just be too sensitive. If adjusting the dish changes the signal, stay where it seems to be highest...It is also possible that the meter has a flaw I suppose....
Jeff
starman345
We may be talking about two different things? I'm not talking about the knob on the front beside the display, I'm talking about a pot on the back of the meter usually hidden under a label. Take a screwdriver and adjust that pot.
1
Since a comment that I made seems to have started this post, I'd like to make another:
After a lot of fooling around trying different satellites and alignment techniques I renounce my previous statement about the SF 95. Don't get me wrong...I think that the SF 95 is a cool tool, but I seem to be finding that attention to precision alignment with my compass, and careful minute adjustments while watching the receiver alignment bar is working better for me. I decided this after I had a quality signal on G10R and decided to peak the signal using the SF 95. I found the SF 95 to be very indiscriminate. I was instantly pulled away from the Quality signal of G10R to some other higher level signal (From an adjacent satellite?). Maybe this can be attributed to inexperience, but I've done a good bit of alignment in my past, and I've been doing a lot of experimentation with my new system. I think that I'm going to keep my current position on alignment.
I hope that I haven't steered you wrong. Please accept my apology if you later find yourself in agreement with me.
In spite of everything that I've said, I'd still buy (and sometimes use) another SF 95 if mine were to break tomorrow.
PSB
PSB
Well said Tim1213, its a great wee tool but not a whole lot of use for FTA. As you note the stronger satellites dominate the sky and the meter will always pull you to the strongest adjacent signal.
Its better to have one rather than not have one but as is often said here in the FTA area a TV at the dish while tuning is the best way to point a dish.
Even the professional satellite identification meter I use is nothing but a small receiver and display(TV).
Scott Greczkowski
Staff member HERE TO HELP YOU! Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!

So let the game continue!

The last song was added by Bobby who posted...

One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters

CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!

Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game

Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.

Example:

Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow

Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio

Another example:

Ride the Lightning -- Metallica

Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne


Get it?


An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68565 Replies · 2675567 views
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dishstaller
Little Miss Dangerous - Ted Nugent
RaiderPower
Little Miss Can't Be Wrong - Spin Doctors
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sdfntx
Jump Down, Spin Around - Harry Belafonte
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long_time_Dish
Stop Draggin' My Heart Around - Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks
H
This Old HEART Of Mine(Is Weak For You)-The Isley Brothers
iJustine
Last reply · posted in iJustine
1 Replies · 9 views
T
It's not even where it folds!
SuperDish_Fan23
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
Why are ViP922s So rare? like its crazy how ebay has none, i checked everywhere, also, i got a ViP222k now, which is actually activated!
20 Replies · 500 views
S
That's not really unusual. Cable companies like to the provide the box too. The phone company provided the phones in until the government forced them to allow third-party phones.
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Almighty1
That's not really unusual. Cable companies like to the provide the box too. The phone company provided the phones in until the government forced them to allow third-party phones.
Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".
AZ.
AZ.
Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".
someone is showing their age
Almighty1
someone is showing their age
LOL. It depends if the person saw it during the years when they were actually still available which is 1968 to 1983 meaning the person could be 43-58 years old or they can even be a few years old if they learned to read and write at a young age and actually saw a telephone with that label somewhere recently just like even here in San Francisco, payphone still exist physically in public places but whether they can be used or not is a different issue. It still looks like this even today:
1792633296785.webp
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dishstaller
I opened my Radio Shack in Sept 1984 and right about that time they did the whole deregulation thing with the phone companies. I bought TONS of those phones that had been refurbished with a new outer shell. You could throw one of those out of a 3 story high window and it would still work.
That was an interesting time in history. I would have older customers come in and ask about phones.....they were terrified that they were going to get into trouble hooking up a second phone without the phone company knowing about it. One of the funniest episodes of WKRP was the one where Johnny thought the cops were showing up because they had an unregistered phone. I guess younger folks can't conceive of a time when you were limited to the number of phones you could have in your house....and limited to the length of the cord 🤣
navychop
someone is showing their age

You should hear his stories about when rocks were soft and pterodactyls were the new kid on the block!
dishstaller
One of the funniest episodes of WKRP was the one where Johnny thought the cops were showing up because they had an unregistered phone.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA0yZ1nrm6M&pp=ygUPd2tycCBwaG9uZSBjb3Bz
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
He was 71 yrs old. One of my favorite songs is Seminole Wind....the violin is killer.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sh9P3X33w
5 Replies · 45 views
FTA4PA
Rest In Peace
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M
I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song. Rest in peace Mr Anderson.
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Bobby
Rest in peace.
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comfortably_numb
Hope you're out there Swingin', John.
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dishstaller
I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song.
That's one of those songs that hits a little too close to home for me. I like the song but just can't listen to it. It's kinda like that song "Daddy never was the Cadillac kind".....reminds me too much of my Grandfather who died Feb 18, 1995.
N
Last reply · posted in DISH Network Support Forum
My OTA is not working anymore. This started after the latest update. I have the OTA dongle with a OTA antenna that I've been using for years. My hopper does not recognize the dongle anymore and when I go to the OTA setting, it has a screen that says to plug a dongle into the USB. I tried unplugging and plugging back, in the same usb port and other ports. The Hopper does not recognize it. Anyone have same issue?
201 Replies · 5114 views
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Scott Greczkowski
Did you people having this issue contact Brittany yet? Shes trying to keep track of things and it would be good for you to contact her as maybe she can get this somewhere and get fixed.

Now while unofficial, I am hearing this issue wasn't caused by DISH's software team, but was caused by a chipset driver update that seemes to have hosed some older USB devices. If this is indeed the case I can see why DISH didn't know and why they are slow in fixing it as they need the chipset company to fix its drivers and release them to DISH so they can be pushed out to all.

DISH does not hate you guys nor do they want you to buy new USB dongles. I am rather sure they didn't even know this was an issue until they saw it posted.

Again contact Brittany if you are having this issue, so she has your info and hopefully she can do something for you to keep you happy. :)
bookworm370
Did you people having this issue contact Brittany yet? Shes trying to keep track of things and it would be good for you to contact her as maybe she can get this somewhere and get fixed.

Now while unofficial, I am hearing this issue wasn't caused by DISH's software team, but was caused by a chipset driver update that seemes to have hosed some older USB devices. If this is indeed the case I can see why DISH didn't know and why they are slow in fixing it as they need the chipset company to fix its drivers and release them to DISH so they can be pushed out to all.

DISH does not hate you guys nor do they want you to buy new USB dongles. I am rather sure they didn't even know this was an issue until they saw it posted.

Again contact Brittany if you are having this issue, so she has your info and hopefully she can do something for you to keep you happy. :)
Thanks, but until they do, can't Dish just revert to the old driver that worked? Then test the new driver when delivered,d before pushing it again.

But then what does an old CIO know! I've only reamed quite a few buttholes from my people that didn't do that! ;)
S
Thanks, but until they do, can't Dish just revert to the old driver that worked? Then test the new driver when delivered,d before pushing it again.

But then what does an old CIO know! I've only reamed quite a few buttholes from my people that didn't do that! ;)
dish can't revert back to older drivers or updates. although just one reason not to buy the ota dongle!!!
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ppappas
dish can't revert back to older drivers or updates. although just one reason not to buy the ota dongle!!!
They can absolutely put the old driver back if they wanted. This is an embedded software environment in which they have total control. All they have to do if build a new version of firmware with the old OTA driver and test it of course. They just don't want to spend the resources doing so. If they are not going to continue supporting the single tuner adapter, then they have to say so.
Almighty1
They can absolutely put the old driver back if they wanted. This is an embedded software environment in which they have total control. All they have to do if build a new version of firmware with the old OTA driver and test it of course. They just don't want to spend the resources doing so. If they are not going to continue supporting the single tuner adapter, then they have to say so.
Unless of course they didn't keep a copy of the old drivers and can no longer get it. Then there is always the their support for the product is EOL after a x amount of time so it will make the consumer have to buy the current product offering.
B
Anyone heard any updates on this, I'm still having the issue so thought I'd check in.
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Almighty1
Anyone heard any updates on this, I'm still having the issue so thought I'd check in.
No updates but if you can get DISH Technical Operations to roll you back to H710 or earlier even though H708 would be best because it also eliminates another problem like in this comment, you will also no longer have the problem as long as you don't update manually or forced to any new version until the problem is fixed as the problem started in H711 and still exist in H712 and H713.
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dishstaller
Installed an off-air antenna a couple days ago for a customer who had just cancelled his Dish service. He had a dual off-air adapter and gave it to me. Cool. I'll keep it on the truck....might come in handy. Got to admit I don't watch anything as far as live tv goes anymore. Even if we have severe weather, our local channels will have a live feed on Youtube.
navychop
In other news, it was announced that the software fix for the two tin cans and a string will not be forthcoming. A hardware fix is required. However, that fix will let you receive stations from a gazillion miles away.

Truck roll charges may apply. Two year commitment required.
M
Last reply · posted in Over the Air Television By RabbitEars.Info
Interesting article about the work being done to develope an ATSC 3 converter box. Yes it does mention affordable.
6 Replies · 216 views
navychop
DEATH TO NEXGEN!
TRG
TRG
17 years ago the US turned off analog OTA signals in favor of digital broadcasting. Now the push is ATSC 3 "Nextgen TV". But nobody seems to be able to agree on DRM implementation protocols. People don't want to hook their TV up to the internet in order to watch over the air TV. At least I don't. With all the data they collect about your viewing habits the box should be given away at no cost.
navychop
Comb your hair.
primestar31
DEATH TO NEXGEN!
star trek GIF


It's dead, they just don't know it yet. They killed it by forcing DRM on it, and that TOTALLY botched implementing it.

There is absolutely NO compelling reason for anybody to switch to ATSC3.0. They only want it as a total and complete money grab.
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navychop
I truly hope you are right.
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