Right, the idea is that I want to use whatever LNB is at the -center- of the dish (and it could be any of them), for az and el adjust. Once that is set I then want to use the most outlying LNB to fine-tune skew. This way I can use a single-channel meter like the Birdog to get a precise result.
As far as the intricate workings of the Birdog, you know better than I. Someone skilled with the use of the Birdog meter should chime in here to answer your specific questions on its use.
I have found that holding down the power button and selecting the right DisEqc burst works very well on the Birdog, with the DishProPlus. Solved numerous problems and done many service calls with this. However I now find that after the 3-4 or 4-4 switch I can not see my birds, I guess because the switches do not pass DisEqc. So I have no idea how to sort out wiring inside a house when a switch is involved.
After the switch there should be all birds on all lines. What kind of "sorting" of the interior wiring are you doing?
Also yesterday I came across a Dish500 with two duals which was aimed at 149 for Hindi. I can not understand why they had four wires coming off the dish. Surely only the two on the LNB that's getting the bird, could work? Surely only one dual can get the bird?
In regards to the Dish 500 aimed at 149, I agree with your assertion that only one dual will receive 149. Find the lead that has the voltage on it and that lead is the one that is connected to the system. The other three should be dead, and the second line from the same dual should be useable- having the signal also.
As to why it was installed that way, it is anyones guess. I will add that many of the calls involving international programming, that I've witnessed, were wired in strange ways and often used non-Dish equipment. I will take a stab and say that many of those people had been doing their own work until the latest "complications" of new switches and HD. Just a thought. Don't tie up too much brain time trying to figure out all the things you see out there...sometimes it's good to let go of some of the questions go, at least for now. As you see more and more, some of those things will make sense later and some were just the results of an inept installer.
BTW, thanks for the tutorials on your website Jeff. Very useful.