Direct TV Local Channels

[froggy]

Well I hooked up the sat. dish to the receiver to the TV and got 85% on the Signal meter. We can get lots of our regular upper channels 200 and up. We DO NOT get our LOCAL channels or lower 2 thru 13. Help?

This was my first test at home in the 85737 Oro Valley AZ zip code. I get the local channels in the house using the slimline 5 – s BUT not on the receiver using the tri-pod 18-inch round dish. Any ideas?

[TURBS]

Do you have 3 lnb's?
One = normal
Two = local
Three = hd

[froggy]

I have 1 lnb

[nailit]

I'm down here in Tucson and that has happened to us with Direct TV in the 5er. Either call customer service (1-800-531-5000) or hit the reset button where you installed your card in the receiver...It will take a few minutes. We have the standard receivers in the 5er.

[TURBS]

you need at least 2 for local sorry

[mike54]

Originally Posted by f1100turbo

you need at least 2 for local sorry
Attachment 11058

since when? I only have one on my 18" round and get locals if I'm within 150 miles from home

[Big Dawg]

I use the 18" round also, and get my locals here, and when camping.

[Bama Rambler]

Some localities locals are on a different bird than the normals. Some places need to see 99 and 103 in order to get all the channels.

[frankm]

Originally Posted by mike54

since when? I only have one on my 18" round and get locals if I'm within 150 miles from home

This is the correct answer. Directv has been "spot beaming" local channels for years so if you are out of your receiver's local area it won't get local channels. Here is Directv explanation:

Why can't my mobile vehicle account have my local channels from my original location?
Due to FCC regulations, the broadcast signal for local channels may not be available in all locations. Your local channels are delivered via a spot beam satellite that targets areas immediately around a city where you live, like a spotlight. Since your mobile receiver displays the time zone from your home service address, your local channels will not be available if you leave the satellite spot beam area.

Example: If your primary receiver is in Tampa, FL, and you are in an RV in Seattle, WA, the RV receiver won't get local channels, because the satellite transmits signal only to the area around Tampa, FL. As soon as you drive your RV inside the Tampa, FL, spot beam area, you will be able receive the Tampa locals again.

DIRECTV Why can't my mobile vehicle account have my local channels from my original location?

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by frankm

This is the correct answer. Directv has been "spot beaming" local channels for years so if you are out of your receiver's local area it won't get local channels. Here is Directv explanation:



DIRECTV Why can't my mobile vehicle account have my local channels from my original location?

But, he said he was "at home" testing the sat. set up.

Froggy - Is your LNB round or slightly oval? How about the one for the house? If it's oval on the house it MAY have 2 "eyes" in the head and picks up more than the main 101 sat. I may be quessing here but, I have seen lots of combinations of LNB heads on the same dimension dishes lately.

Froggy - Just re-read your post and see that you have a Slimline 5 dish on the house. In that case, if you haven't done so already, you have to change the setting in the receiver as follows; MENU, SETTINGS, SATELLITE, and change the satellite type to the 18" round setting. With the 18" round you won't get too many HD channels. You may also have to change the following in the receiver also; MENU, SETTINGS, DISPLAY, PREFERENCES and change the "Guide channels" to SHOW SD DUPLICATES. Otherwise, you will get a lot of "searching for satellite signal" messages because it's looking for HD channels that are not being picked up by the 18"round dish which should be pointed at the 101 satellite.

[bend302]

I understand you cannot get your "home" local channels outside the spot beam area. But, can you get "Local" channels (i.e.) NBC, CBS, ABC, etc in the distant area?

In other words, if you go from Tampa to Flagstaff can you get Flagstaff locals?

Bill

[frankm]

Originally Posted by bend302

I understand you cannot get your "home" local channels outside the spot beam area. But, can you get "Local" channels (i.e.) NBC, CBS, ABC, etc in the distant area?

In other words, if you go from Tampa to Flagstaff can you get Flagstaff locals?

Bill

If I understand the Directv statement correctly:

Example: If your primary receiver is in Tampa, FL, and you are in an RV in Seattle, WA, the RV receiver won't get local channels, because the satellite transmits signal only to the area around Tampa, FL. As soon as you drive your RV inside the Tampa, FL, spot beam area, you will be able receive the Tampa locals again.

no you can't.

[rracer5]

Originally Posted by frankm

If I understand the Directv statement correctly:



no you can't.

That's because DIRECTV has your account programmed for a "specific marketing area" and they have programmed your receiver(s) to recieve only the locals in that area (home). If you were going to go out of your area, you could call them and give them the zip code of the area you are in and they would send a signal to the receiver to receive locals wherever you are. However, that being said, all receivers back at home would also be "switched" over and if anyone were still at home, they would lose the local channels at home because you have switched to the locals wherever YOU are. They can't pick and choose which receiver gets what. Any changes made affect all receivers on the account.

The only way around this is to have a separate account just for the traveling receiver. That way you could call them from anywhere and change it up as you go.

[Earth Station]

I cannot receive local channels but have been told it is because I have HD at home and only have 18" round dish. Something with which satellite it comes off of. I now need a HD Dish to receive them. Not done playing yet!