Sounds like your in quite a pickle.
You wouldnt have to buy a new dish if the lnb was bad (just the lnb). And if you didnt want to call 1800DirecTv, im sure your local D retailer carries the standard lnb.(We carry them). There not much money.
A couple options (maybe).
Hook dish back up. Go to a D box.
Hit menu-Favs Setup-System Setup-SAtellite-repeat sat setup-01:Round 18 / 02:Multiswitch- view signal strength-signal meters
TURN VOLUME UP ON TV
hold dish steady to try to get signal or mount the dish on something temporary (pole,deck post, siding, wife, kids, ac unit, 67 mustang etc)
If you do not know your azimuth & elevation. Post your city, state or zip and we can get it for you