Directv on Big Truck

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T1950

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Jan 1, 2010
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Oregon
Hi ya'll, Im a truck driver and just signed up for Directv. I am planning on taking one of the recievers on the truck with me, I have a acquired an extra dish ( this one has 3 "eyes"). I have it mounted on a mast on the back of the truck that I can raise and lower as well as rotate. My questions are: 1) I noticed this dish has a "tilt" adjustment as well as elevation and azimuth, will I need to adjust the tilt each time I stop? 2) Will this dish with 3 "eyes" work for my application? 3) I was thinking about placing my signal meter in a clear waterproof box so I dont have to hook it up each time I stop, will it affect the reception if I leave the meter attatched? 4) Any other experience in this type of application would be greatly appreciated.
 

Mr Tony

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Nov 17, 2003
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welcome :wave

I moved this to the Directv forum so you'll get the correct info (you had posted in the Dish forum)
 

jdspencer

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Oct 22, 2004
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Binghamton, NY
Your dish most likely is for receiving the 101, 110, and 119 satellites. The channels oin 110 and 119 are getting fewer and fewer. That dish also would require the tilt be adjusted for each location you stop. My suggestion would be to get a regular round dish with one LNB to get the 101 sat. This would be much easier to set up as the tilt isn't applicable for this dish.

Now if you want HD in your truck, you'll need the slimline dish to receive the 99 and 103 sats. You'll also need an HD receiver.
The slimline also has a tilt adjustment.
 

Jimbo

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Your dish most likely is for receiving the 101, 110, and 119 satellites. The channels oin 110 and 119 are getting fewer and fewer. That dish also would require the tilt be adjusted for each location you stop. My suggestion would be to get a regular round dish with one LNB to get the 101 sat. This would be much easier to set up as the tilt isn't applicable for this dish.

Now if you want HD in your truck, you'll need the slimline dish to receive the 99 and 103 sats. You'll also need an HD receiver.
The slimline also has a tilt adjustment.

Or if he's REALLY into it, he could look into the ones that do the self adjusting, but they are major money. They also have ones that you can use while driving, also very expensive.
 

T1950

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Jan 1, 2010
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Oregon
Thanks for the replies. Eventually I would like to get the VuQube, but will wait to see how much I use the satellite whle on the road. Can I set the tilt to 0 deg and only aim it at the 101 sat? or will I need to get a different dish? I have an extra single LNB DishNetwork dish, I dont suppose that will work. Thanks again
 

Jimbo

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Thanks for the replies. Eventually I would like to get the VuQube, but will wait to see how much I use the satellite whle on the road. Can I set the tilt to 0 deg and only aim it at the 101 sat? or will I need to get a different dish? I have an extra single LNB DishNetwork dish, I dont suppose that will work. Thanks again

The Cube may be a good way to go, depends on your situation.

You cannot use the DN dish.

As for the tilt, you'll probably always have a tilt of some sort when your hitting more than one sat.

How far are you traveling ? Are we talking city to city across the country ?
If so, your setting will change with each city.
If your in the same general area, maybe not so much.
 

jdspencer

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Oct 22, 2004
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Binghamton, NY
That dish primarily is aligned to 110 and the tilt is used to receive 101 and 119. So setting the tilt to 0 would only help if you want 110. And, before you ask, the 110 LNB is different from the 101 and 119.

If the LNB on the Dish Network dish is of the correct type, that dish might work.
Try to set it up and see what happens.
 

rglore

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Mar 12, 2006
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A legacy (not DP or DPP) Dish LNB will work. Tilt (skew) doesn't matter if you are only trying to pick up single satellite unless you want to set the dish elevation to the chart for your location when using a multi head LNB.
 

T1950

Member
Jan 1, 2010
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Oregon
Jimbo, Yea I run cross country and never know where I will land from day to day. The Directv installer will be here tomorrow, maybe he can tell me if the setup I have on my truck will work or if I need to get a different dish. I know I will have to change the elevation and azimuth each time, but was hoping to not have to mess with the tilt. Im not worried about HD or even local channels, just some sort of entertainment.
 

Jimbo

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T1950,
These are the ones that set themselves up pretty much that I was thinking of, but they are pricey, but if you do this for a living, it might be worth it for you.
You just have to make sure your not parked under anything, or trees.

Thanks Charper for looking these up :up

Jimbo
 

T1950

Member
Jan 1, 2010
12
0
Oregon
Yea I will probably do something like that or the VuQube in the future, but for now have to do it the hard way.
 

T1950

Member
Jan 1, 2010
12
0
Oregon
Installer got me all setup in the house and gave me an 18" single LNB dish for the truck. After a couple of hours of experimentation on the truck I finally got it setup (at the house). Now just need to practice and develope a system for setting up while on the road. Biggest problem I can see is getting the mast on the back of the truck plumb. Thanks for all your help.
 

Jimbo

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Installer got me all setup in the house and gave me an 18" single LNB dish for the truck. After a couple of hours of experimentation on the truck I finally got it setup (at the house). Now just need to practice and develope a system for setting up while on the road. Biggest problem I can see is getting the mast on the back of the truck plumb. Thanks for all your help.

How about taking a tripod with you ?
The truck would have to be level anytime you go to use it.

My Dad use to have a nice set up built with PVC to mount the dish on, on his 5th wheel, but the RV is always leveled when setting it up, your truck would not be.
 

T1950

Member
Jan 1, 2010
12
0
Oregon
I thought about the tripod approach, but being in truckstops with trucks constantly manuevering around each other, Im affraid the tripod would get in the way. I figured a way to get it plumb due to the amount of lateral movement by loosening the "U" bolts that hold the mast in place, I use a small magnetic level the adjust the mast. Its not the ideal setup, but will work for now, until I have another brainstorm.
 

Jimbo

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Jul 14, 2005
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NW Ohio - Buckeye Country
I thought about the tripod approach, but being in truckstops with trucks constantly manuevering around each other, Im affraid the tripod would get in the way. I figured a way to get it plumb due to the amount of lateral movement by loosening the "U" bolts that hold the mast in place, I use a small magnetic level the adjust the mast. Its not the ideal setup, but will work for now, until I have another brainstorm.

Now that's dedication ! :)
 

cybok0

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Oct 23, 2006
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Sha Ka Ree.
I thought about the tripod approach, but being in truckstops with trucks constantly manuevering around each other, Im affraid the tripod would get in the way. I figured a way to get it plumb due to the amount of lateral movement by loosening the "U" bolts that hold the mast in place, I use a small magnetic level the adjust the mast. Its not the ideal setup, but will work for now, until I have another brainstorm.


I use to deive truck and I noticed a lot of trucks with D*, check some truckstops for D* salesman, they can help, they hook them up for trucks.

I always saw them on the loadbar holders.
 
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