Signal strength help in Texas

[Thelucky1]

DTV SIGNAL
What should the signal strength be in NW Texas?

Is this good or could it be tweaked for better numbers?
If so, how do I fine tune 103 & 99?

For the 101 sat I have 95-97 on all transponders.

103ca looks like this
9-16 92 77 91 82 89 84 88 86
17-24 86 84 86 82 83 83 86 84

103cb looks like this
1-8 95 93 91 91 92 91 91 90
9-16 93 91 92 93 92 94 na na

99c
1-8 86 85 83 83 86 83 85 85
9-16 85 86 87 88 88 89 na na

 

[Hutch1814]

DTV SIGNAL
What should the signal strength be in NW Texas?

Is this good or could it be tweaked for better numbers?
If so, how do I fine tune 103 & 99?

For the 101 sat I have 95-97 on all transponders.

103ca looks like this
9-16 92 77 91 82 89 84 88 86
17-24 86 84 86 82 83 83 86 84

103cb looks like this
1-8 95 93 91 91 92 91 91 90
9-16 93 91 92 93 92 94 na na

99c
1-8 86 85 83 83 86 83 85 85
9-16 85 86 87 88 88 89 na na

The dish is slightly out of alignment. Not much but you should be looking at mid 90's across all the transponders on the 99, 101, and 103

 

[Thelucky1]

The dish is slightly out of alignment. Not much but you should be looking at mid 90's across all the transponders on the 99, 101, and 103

Thx! I've installed the round 18" dishes before but not a slimline. Is this an easy adjustment? How is the best way to tweak this?

 

[dfergie]

Welcome to SatelliteGuys! Try the fine tuning aka dithering adjustments.

 

[Thelucky1]

Welcome to SatelliteGuys! Try the fine tuning aka dithering adjustments.

Ok thanks!

 

[35LKSA]

when i get to texas for the winter, i align for max signal strength on 101. then i look at 103 and 99 separately and using the adjusters fine tune to get the highest i can get on those. when i'm done i usually have signal in the 90's all over.

 

[Thelucky1]

Can you please clarify this for me? I've installed the old 18 inch dishes before. Now I want to tweak my slimline 5lnb.

Here is the alignment info:

Dishpointer.com

Satellite: 101W DIRECTV 4S | DIRECTV 9S | SES 1
Elevation: 51.0°
Azimuth (true): 178.4°
Azimuth (magn.): 171.6°
LNB Skew [?]: -1.3°

Directv receiver:
Elevation: 51.0°
Azimuth: 170°
Tilt: 91°

Which azimuth setting do I use?
How do I determine the proper tilt based on the above Lnb skew/tilt?
On azimuth adjustments, do you just loosen the 2 front nuts and the pivot bolt & nut?
Btw, the azimuth pivot bolt and nut have slots in them. What tool do I use to loosen that bolt/nut?

I appreciate your time and any help, information and suggestions you can provide.

Thanks!

 

[schneid]

You use magnetic azimuth settings. The Dishpointer ones are more accurate as they are specific to your actual location not an entire zip code. DirecTV uses the word Tilt instead of Skew and you ADD that number to 90 for your location so it is 91.3. Dishpointer is Dish centric so it's backwards. If you have an absolutely plumb mast, a dead-on compass shot at the 101, you elevation and tilt preset, you will have useable signal. As i am on the road that is good enough for me. If you want to tweak it, search DirecTV Slimline Dithering. I use an SL3 so messing with anything but peaking the 101 doesn't make much difference.

Azimuth is rotation about the compass rose left or right, east or west. Elevation is rotation from the horizon to straight up, up/down. Tilt is the rotation about an axis going straight out from your line of sight to the bird. Think of it as twisting the steering wheel on your car.

The DirecTV posted settings above are close enough but you are AZ 171.6, EL 51.0, and Tilt 91.3.

 

[Thelucky1]

You use magnetic azimuth settings. The Dishpointer ones are more accurate as they are specific to your actual location not an entire zip code. DirecTV uses the word Tilt instead of Skew and you ADD that number to 90 for your location so it is 91.3. Dishpointer is Dish centric so it's backwards. If you have an absolutely plumb mast, a dead-on compass shot at the 101, you elevation and tilt preset, you will have useable signal. As i am on the road that is good enough for me. If you want to tweak it, search DirecTV Slimline Dithering. I use an SL3 so messing with anything but peaking the 101 doesn't make much difference.

Azimuth is rotation about the compass rose left or right, east or west. Elevation is rotation from the horizon to straight up, up/down. Tilt is the rotation about an axis going straight out from your line of sight to the bird. Think of it as twisting the steering wheel on your car.

The DirecTV posted settings above are close enough but you are AZ 171.6, EL 51.0, and Tilt 91.3.

Great thank you so much!

 

[Thelucky1]

The dish is slightly out of alignment. Not much but you should be looking at mid 90's across all the transponders on the 99, 101, and 103

I assume the dishpointer.com numbers are very accurate to align the dish. After doing so, my 101s improved to 95-99. 103s are almost the same to slightly lower. 83-92. 99s are quite a lower. 74-88.

Perhaps the mast is NOT plumb? Any other suggestions?

What is the best way to use a compass? I can't quite get the hang of using the compass to help with azimuth.