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Last reply · posted in Free To Air (FTA) Discussion
I have been trying to align my dish for about a week and a half. The first day i had about five sats now i am lucky to get two to lock in after trying to adjust the dish. I do not understand about locking in on the true south sat. Are you guys saying that you aim the dish to your true south and then tell the box to go to the closest sat to your true south. Then start ajusting the dish for the best quality and lock that in. Another thing i do not understand is if you lock in your closest true south sat without a motor and then have to take the dish off to mount the motor. Doesn't that then change everything so you are basically starting over? Please explain how it helps to find the sat first without a motor. I really would like to learn this but i am getting to the point where i do not know if it is worth it. I have a pansat 3500sd,Wineguard 2076 dish, SG2100 motor and the Invacom QPH-031.
8 Replies · 1521 views
T
Here's how I did it. I set the receiver to USALS and told it to go to my most southerly satellite. I had previously mounted the dish to the motor arm as straight centre as I could make it. I then moved the motor E/W on the pole until I got a signal. Peaked the elevation, then went inside. I switched receiver to Disecq 1.2 and fine tuned the E/W. Its way easier with the motor. When I got it perfect, I went up on the roof and reset the elevation. I eyeballed the dish and lnb and made a chalk mark on the edge of the roof so I knew where it should point. I then went back to USALS settting, which moved the dish. I then loosened the motor to pole mounts and moved it to line up with the chalk mark. Perfection.

Make sure you are setting your receiver to a transponder frequency that you know is active and can identify as the correct satellite you are hunting for.
M
The Pansat still thinks AMC9 is at 85. Heck, my 6000 had AMC9 at 85 still. I had to change that to 83 and add AMC2
7720driver
Spyguyfred, I recently installed my first FTA motorized system, and there are a few things that can cause confusion when alligning a dish.

The main thing is the fact that when the dish is pointed at a particular satellite, it is sometimes possible for a blindscan to find channels that are being broadcast from an adjacent satellite. This can make the installer think he is pointing at the wrong satellite, when in fact, he is pointing at the correct one (and vice versa).

For example, when I pointed my dish at AMC 1 at 103 degrees, the blindscan picked up the "Congratulations! You have a SuperDish pointed at 105" channel that is broadcast from AMC 15 at 105 degrees.

Also...all those Middle Eastern channels at the 97 degree position.....they also appeared when I blindscanned the 95 degree position satellite.

This phenomenon probably has two causes: One would be limitations in a dish's focusing ability. The second is the fact that some adjacent satellites use the same polarity for the same frequency. Thus consumers' receivers can't use polarity as a means of blocking the signal from the adjacent satellite. This is just my theory. I'm not a satellite expert. But just looking on Lyngsat , comparing frequencies and polarization of some particular adjacent satellites, I'm confident that my thinking is correct.

Other sources of confusion:

When setting the elevation of a sg2100 (or other motor) the tightening bolt is NOT the marker for the elevation scale. The marker is the little raised arrow molded into the motor casting.

The pole mount of the sg2100 is too flimsy. If you tighten the upper bolts tighter than the lower bolts, then it will make the elevation scale be off by a few degrees. Ideally, it's best to set the elevation with an inclinometer.

Extensive allignment instructions have been given on this site by people with much more experience than I have. Nevertheless, I think maybe you can gain a few insights by reading my suggestions below.

Set the motor's elevation as accurately as possible.
Set the dish's elevation according to instructions.

"South" can't be accurately found by most people using a regular compass. Thus this method can be used: In your FTA receiver, enter the latitude and longitude of your location. Determine the satellite that is closest to south from your location. It must be a Ku satellite that has an active transponder on it. (Look on the Lyngsat site.) In your FTA receiver, set the motor up for USALS. This will cause the motor to rotate to where the satellite is (once you have the motor body itself pointed straight south). Set the frequency to that of a known active transponder. Next Rotate the motor body on the pole until you get the strongest signal. "If" you are pointing at the correct satellite, then your motor body is now pointed straight south. Next, determine if you are actually pointing at the correct satellite by doing a blindscan and comparing the resulting channels to the ones that Lyngsat says should be on that satellite. Keep in mind that sometimes channels on adjacent satellites can appear on blindscans. This can be very confusing. If you think you are pointed at the right satellite, then fine tune the elevation of the dish itself for maximum signal, and tighten down the motor clamps to the pole. Blindscan several satellites close to south. If their channels are in agreement with those listed on Lyngsat or other sites, then all is well. But if the programs are generally "off" by one satellite postion (using the Lyngsat or other information), then you probably pointed the motor 2 degrees west or east of true south.
scottc98
what i've found to be a little helpful is to use a circular LNB first. It's much easier to eyeball. Set your motor to 0 and then tell your receiver to point the dish to 91 (has both L and C feeds). fine tune with the C LMB and then put the L LNB back on and try from there.

Not an expert on this but thats what worked for me.
7720driver
Not a bad idea. You could be pretty confident that you were actually pointed at the correct circular polarized satellite (DirecTV 2 at 91.5 degrees)
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
8 Replies · 79 views
M
I Wish I Could Have Been There is an amazing song. Rest in peace Mr Anderson.
comfortably_numb
Hope you're out there Swingin', John.
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.
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dfergie
R.I.P. I thought he was older…
M
R.I.P.
Got a few songs on my 'setup' (old cell phone with music) that I can listen to while working
S
RIP
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!
25 Replies · 619 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".
Bobby
Yes, the Western Electric phones that says "Bell System Property, NOT FOR SALE, Western Electric".
In my very early work life I installed and repaired those phones.
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 🤣
llokey
In my very early work life I installed and repaired those phones.
And I kept them working through the ESS offices.
Bobby
And I kept them working through the ESS offices.
The two central offices in the area I worked were actually step by step offices. :)
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Almighty1
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 🤣
Speaking about cords, I actually did drop a Trimline phone from probably 3 feet high on the floor when I was about 10 or so and it caused a small crack, this was the one with the modular jacks and it was hooked up with I think a 50 ft or longer RJ11C cable from Radio Shack. I still use the phone today connected to a Obi VoIP adapter and the cord is my custom made 6 position RJ11C, not sure of the official name for it without looking it up and Belden MediaTwist Crescent shaped Cat6+ cable.

1792686536450.webp
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S
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:
View attachment 194957
so that persons in hiding lol:biggrin
S
remembers when ATT had stores and leased home phones
dishstaller
Pub Member / Supporter Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in The Chit Chat Club
I'm surprised Walmart hasn't banned this guy from all of their stores. He has been on their CASE the past few months.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f3zr37ekgKM?feature=share
28 Replies · 282 views
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Juan
I'm surprised Walmart hasn't banned this guy from all of their stores. He has been on their CASE the past few months.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/f3zr37ekgKM?feature=share

When walmart set a price...they weigh the container and the product...the product label only shows the weight of the product...I am sure if you brought your own plastic baggies to bring the product home you could get the cheaper price
dishstaller
When walmart set a price...they weigh the container and the product...
Then they are stupid. Everyone knows that the price per ounce should be the price per ounce of actual product.
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Juan
Then they are stupid. Everyone knows that the price per ounce should be the price per ounce of actual product.
You are paying for the whole thing
T
You are paying for the whole thing
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.
Juan
Well, the bag can't weigh that much, right? But by law food product packaging must display the actual net weight of the product, i.e., the contents of the container, so by any logic, if not law, a store's stated per-ounce cost should reflect that figure. But since there's not any law regulating shelf statements, a store can say whatever it wants without violating any rules. So I guess the answer is more consumer legislation. Or simply caveat emptor.
But a box can weigh more than an ounce..maybe 2...a can might weigh 5 ounces..a bag...not much
dishstaller
.a bag...not much
Well, according to the price per ounce on that first bag of coffee he mentions, that would mean the bag weighed over 6 ounces. That bag does NOT weigh 6 ounces. According to Google, an empty bag weighs half an ounce.
Juan
Well, according to the price per ounce on that first bag of coffee he mentions, that would mean the bag weighed over 6 ounces. That bag does NOT weigh 6 ounces. According to Google, an empty bag weighs half an ounce.
You need to weigh the actual bag...a deli bag weighs less than that but a thick coffee bag is gonna weigh around an ounce...an empty tin can has some weight
NYDutch
You need to weigh the actual bag...a deli bag weighs less than that but a thick coffee bag is gonna weigh around an ounce...an empty tin can has some weight
Products sold by the ounce, pound, etc, should always be priced for the product only. Only the shipping weight should include the packaging.
harshness
Products sold by the ounce, pound, etc, should always be priced for the product only.
Unless the specific product or its packaging is known at the time of weighing, estimating the tare weight for a PoS system is a tall order.

I'm pretty sure that produce bags can't get any thinner. ;)

You certainly don't want to put unbagged produce on a belt, scale, or in a clerk's hands (gloved or not).
Jimbo
Unless the specific product or its packaging is known at the time of weighing, estimating the tare weight for a PoS system is a tall order.

I'm pretty sure that produce bags can't get any thinner. ;)

You certainly don't want to put unbagged produce on a belt, scale, or in a clerk's hands (gloved or not).
I would think that all the packaging would already be accounted for ... they weigh the container, subtract that from the scale, then add the product , so its weighing the Product only
dishstaller
but a thick coffee bag is gonna weigh around an ounce...

Obviously you didn't read my post.....google says a coffee bag weighs half an ounce. But let's say you are correct and it DOES weigh a full ounce, that would still fall 5 ounces shy for Walmart's numbers to match.
You wouldn't happen to be kin to Bernie would you
Juan
Obviously you didn't read my post.....google says a coffee bag weighs half an ounce. But let's say you are correct and it DOES weigh a full ounce, that would still fall 5 ounces shy for Walmart's numbers to match.
You wouldn't happen to be kin to Bernie would you
None of it means a hill of coffee beans...the price is the price...its not going to get any lower...as long as you pay the price on the shelf at the register..there is no crime
Gary Toma
Staff member Pub Member / Supporter Cutting Edge
Last reply · posted in DIRECTV Technical Resources Forum
The TPN Map Excel Presents all DIRECTV Channels:
​
National (50-States or wide/NAT+PR beams)
Local (Local-Into-Local or narrow/Spot beams)
​
Additional tabs provide:​
OTA the (Over-The-Air) Database
VOD (Video On_Demand) Records
Offline Records
Engr Records
Net Decoder a graphic presentation of all satellites and transponders
​
Domestic Satellites
@99W...... D11, D14
@101W.... D16
@103W.... D12, D15
@110W.... D5
@119W.... D8​

Understanding the TPN Map

Making Sense of the TPN Map Display Conventions
2155 Replies · 936017 views
coolman302003
League Pass tonight for example (it is almost a full slate tonight):
Hawks @ Magic (only Hawks feed which is easy to insert since its OTA this season and simulcast across multiple Gray Television markets, Magic signed a non- exclusive streaming deal with DAZN and also OTA)
Bucks @ Wizards (only Wizards feed easy to remap, Bucks are OTA & there own streaming service Bucks+)
Hornets @ Nets (only Nets feed which DirecTV already carries so simply YES remap, Hornets signed non-exclusive streaming deal with DAZN, also OTA)
Bulls @ Raptors (Bulls only feed via CHSN remap, its common that we don't get Raptors feeds that often)
Jazz @ Grizzlies (Jazz only feed OTA easy to insert, Grizzlies signed streaming deal with DAZN)
Pacers @ Pelicans (Pelicans only feed which is OTA easy to insert, Pacers signed streaming deal with DAZN)

Maybe it will change but it looks like DirecTV may only carry DAZN feeds on NBA LP when there is no other option, such as when two teams (either Cavaliers, Pacers, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Spurs) that are both DAZN exclusive are playing each other, we shall see as the season goes on I guess.

This NBA season will be the first in a long time where many League Pass games are carried on feeds DirecTV doesn't normally carry or are only available through OTA spot beams. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, especially whether we eventually get both home and away feeds for these teams out of market again.
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jamieh1
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Luckily my DTV stream package doesn't have a rsn fee. Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.
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K
Now in the Hornets and Hurricanes markets we just get the TV promise screen. But Directv still charges sports fee I am assuming.
Greenville-New Bern is $11.99 for MASN (Orioles) and Nationals
Raleigh is $11.99 for MASN and Nationals
Charlotte is $12.99 for BravesVision, MASN, Nationals and Reds

The fee in NC also includes the higher in state rate they have to pay for ACCN. Down in SC the fee is $15.99 as they are also a SEC state.
I'm not sure if they're doing it with those teams, but in some markets they also use the fee to cover the additional cost they have to pay for independents and MyNet stations that picked up full season NHL and NBA rights.

If you go to the TVPromise site, you'll likely be able to get a credit for not getting the Hurricanes and additional Hornets games that air on WITN-D2

Figure DTV that always says is the leader in sports would have come to an agreement by now.
Part of the hold out might be the packaging and price for outer areas like how the Thunder needs sports pack for other states. Hopefully they are also pushing for a guarantee from the teams that they would require whoever wins their local broadcasting rights in 2028 to negotiate with MVPDs. Commercial distribution rights are probably a factor too.

I'm guessing they got a deep discount for the Clippers based on how long it took them to officially announce ClipperVision and their KTLA simulcasts after they were basically handed a multi-year draft death penalty.

The Predators and Pistons channels are using feeds supplied by Scripps Sports

The Heat likely depends on whoever they sign for the Fort Myers DMA, as there's no point in paying a high price for the Heat just for that DMA when WPLG is streaming it for free on their app and website for viewers in the Miami DMA, and they already carry the West Palm Beach station.
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cp2k
If you go to the TVPromise site, you'll likely be able to get a credit for not getting the Hurricanes and additional Hornets games that air on WITN-D2

I tried this with both the Hurricanes and Hornets since I'm in upstate SC, and wasn't offered any kind of credit by the site. It's not a huge deal to me as I can pick up WSOC/WAXN over the air at my location even though I'm outside the Charlotte market.
TheRatPatrol
I thought the NBA TV contracts were short term as the NBA is trying to get all of the teams into in an all in one streaming app?
Bruce
Supporting Founder Lifetime Supporter
Last reply · posted in Internet Television (IPTV) Discussion Forum
I was reading this article


That said this-
Last summer, for the first time, streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime claimed the largest share of the television viewing audience, surpassing both cable and broadcast TV. Streaming captured 34.8 percent of July viewers, according to Nielsen data, compared to 34.4 percent for cable and 21.6 percent for broadcast.

And then, sometime in the second half of 2022, cord-cutters became the majority. The share of cable and satellite television subscribers dipped to 48 percent, according to a report from Samba TV, a television technology company.


Now I do not consider those with YTTV and the likes, Cord Cutters, but they still do not have Traditional Cable/Satellite delivered Live TV, so I decided to do the math.

There are, now, 129 Million Households in the United States.

In 2015, there were 100 Million Cable/Sat Subscribers , no streaming Live TV Service.

Today, there are 66 Million Live TV subscribers, including Cable, Satellite and Streaming.

Roughly, Streaming Live TV has 14 Million subs including all of them.

So that means, Cable/Satellite now has, roughly, 51 Million Households

So in just 8 years, lost 49% of their subscribers and by the end of this year, expected sub count to be, roughly, 45 million households.

That means a total loss of 55% since 2015 at the end of 2023.

But out of 129 Million households, 45 million will mean only 35% will get Cable/Satellite Delivered Live TV by the end of 2023.

Imagine what 2024 will be like.
874 Replies · 71298 views
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dishdude
I like the updates, please keep them coming Bruce
MikeD-C05
My 26 year old son doesn't want to use traditional sat or cable now and only uses streaming apps and he is not on them as much as we were with satellite, using it for back ground noise while we do other things around the house. He doesn't even care about antenna ota TV either. Mind you he had a satellite receiver in his room since he was born and didn't want one after he got to be a teenager. So I took it out. I mainly used it to load up kid shows on the Dvr , so he would be entertained while I was doing stuff around the house when he was a baby and toddler. So Gen Z will not care one bit about live TV services going the way of the Dodo bird.
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Bruce
Some interesting information was in this article-


This first-

The total pay-TV sector (traditional service providers and virtual MVPDs) shed 885,000 subscribers in Q2 2026

So with the loss of 2.03 Million in the first quarter, already at 2.915 Million gone this year, two quarters left to report.

#2-

The segment ended Q2 with 61.51 million subs comprising 27.5 million cable video subs, 21.42 million vMVPD customers, 9.56 million satellite TV customers, and 3.01 million telco TV subs.

There are approximately 133.97 million households in the United States, according to recent YCharts US Households Data from mid-2026.

That means more than 72 Million households do not have a paid live TV service, about 54% of the total.

What is worse, 7 years ago, paid live TV had over 80% of the population subscribing ( about 100 Million), almost all were Cable/Satellite customers.

Today, only about 37 Million subscribe to Cable/Satellite, less than 28% of our population.

#3-

At one time, Satellite TV (Dish and DirecTV), had about 34 Million subscribers added together, now, 9.56 Million.

That is over a 70% loss for those who subscribe to Satellite TV.

For Cable TV, not as bad, since they have broadband to help against the losses ( bundles), but as more options appear ( 5G, fiber, starlink, etc), I expect a big increase in those leaving cable.

Also expect YTTV to really start gaining even more subscribers, for those who still wish to have a live TV service, based on price point and it is a really great service.
Bruce
Looks like Optimum Communications ( formerly CableVision) is collapsing, due to it's high debt, lenders/creditors are taking over-

Bruce
Sony is discontinuing it's last 4K disc player, Panasonic has been rumored to be doing the same, the end of physical media is unfortunately, about to happen.

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