Aiming Direct TV SWM Dish

[rick03hd]

Need some help from all you experienced RV'ers. I will have the direct TV Genie and Joey system in My CC . I will be setting up a tripod with SWM dish. Question
Will I need a meter to setup. If so what is a good one to buy?

Any advice ya'll can give will be greatly appreciated.

[spock123]

What I need is how to fine tune it. I am afraid I might break something.


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[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by rick03hd

Need some help from all you experienced RV'ers. I will have the direct TV Genie and Joey system in My CC . I will be setting up a tripod with SWM dish. Question
Will I need a meter to setup. If so what is a good one to buy?

Any advice ya'll can give will be greatly appreciated.

I use an iPhone app to locate the satellite(s) so I can tell if trees/trailer/etc. block the antenna's "view" of them. That helps me place my antenna. Then I use the DIRECTV Genie set-up function and my TV to fine-tune the pointing. However, before I use the Genie set-up, I check and double check my antenna's settings for tilt, azimuth, elevation (especially elevation). I had to get my eyeball close to the elevation markings, else I couldn't see the index pointer for the degree marks.

Do a search for azimuth or Direct tv or DIRECTV and find many other threads where details are given and explained. Here's one: http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/f68/direct-tv-71149.html

[rick03hd]

Thanks


2015 CC 36CKTS
2011 Ford F-250
2003 Harley Ultra Classic

[rvgwen]

Rick,
We have the same problem and are looking for a solution also. We have the SWM 5 and have had limited success at aiming the way Mr. Dan laid out in the above post. We tend to move about every 2 to 3 days and in the course of a month we will have to re align 10 to 15 times. We have about a 50% success rate.
When we got back from last trip we started looking and reading many post on the SWM system and have decided a meter may be our best bet. I have not ordered yet but I will post a link to the one we landed on. I would like to find a cheaper one or just have the success Dan has but I must not be doing something just right. Max Tracker Plus Satellite Signal Meter LOCKED

[Ddubya]

The SWM 5 is very difficult to align without the proper meter. Even then it can be time consuming. I went to the SWM 3 Slimline and it is much easier. You still receive HD and local channels and enjoy your experience much more.


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[mobil]

We have a swm3 and don't own a meter. Once we have the dish mounted on the tripod we're usually good to go in 10 minutes or less. The key is to have a good stable tripod and make sure that the mast you mount your dish to is ABSOLUTELY plumb. No meter needed.

[Mr. Dan]

Doh....... too many details for an old man. My set-up is NOT SWM5.
I have "DIRECTV KAKU SWM3 SWM 3 LNB SLIMLINE KA KU DISH SL3S MPEG4 HD 4WAY NEW SATELLITE".

Sorry.

I agree with mobil above... although I made my own antenna stand for CHEAP! See at link below.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ite-71638.html

[rsdata]

I put a lot of effort to building an easy to adjust tripod to use w my SWM3 dish w Directv. I practiced on my patio aiming and pointing from a couple of different spots. I never got comfortable doing it and only got good signal after much effort. It was just not easy to level the tripod easily. I finally listened to a number of different forum posters look at the tripod offered from Satellite TV for RV - Tripod - Slimline - Dish - DirectTV - RV television - Recreational Vehicles - RVers - DishTV - Satellite Dish - FTA - Tripod. I ordered their HD tripod setup in Nov then. Ecause of the early snow this year I was not able to try it at home. I have set it up now three times in 5 weeks and I am very glad thT I have this setup. Tripod and dish setup time is less then 15 minutes after my first time. I use the built-in meter on the receiver. I have a small flat screen that i setup on a folding table near the dish for instant feedback. I have to say that i have been spot on with aiming the second and third time I setup without any fine tuning necessary. I heartily endorse the H&G ENTERPRISES tripod offered on their website.

[rick03hd]

I will give it a look.
Thanks.


2015 CC 36CKTS
2011 Ford F-250
2003 Harley Ultra Classic

[mobil]

X2 on that tripod from tv4rv.com. It's what we have.

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by rvgwen

Rick,
We have the same problem and are looking for a solution also. We have the SWM 5 and have had limited success at aiming the way Mr. Dan laid out in the above post. We tend to move about every 2 to 3 days and in the course of a month we will have to re align 10 to 15 times. We have about a 50% success rate.
When we got back from last trip we started looking and reading many post on the SWM system and have decided a meter may be our best bet. I have not ordered yet but I will post a link to the one we landed on. I would like to find a cheaper one or just have the success Dan has but I must not be doing something just right. Max Tracker Plus Satellite Signal Meter LOCKED

I'msorry you guys are having a hard setting up sat. I have DISH 1000.2 and it takes me about 20 mins. to set up and watch programs now getting
locals takes another 20 mins to download and watch. We are full time and would like the king-Flex having 2 outlets that operates 3 tv's but afraid it won't work as good as what i've got LOVE IT.
42' BH Sierra365saq GMC Sierra3500 DRW

[satdog01]

Mr Dan I am wondering what IPhone app you are using. I have use Dish Align which uses Google earth, knowing the satellite you what to hit, it draws a line from where you are standing to the satellite. If you are shooting through a tree you move over a few feet and repeat. Drop out the dish and fine tune the alinement. Bought a cheap signal finder meter off the net for $15 a couple of bucks. Helps get the highest strength as you adjust the dish, DW does have to set at the tv and shout commands to ya! I am a big fan of the manual dish, it is much bigger thus gives more area for signal. Never lost reception on rainy days. Not sure about self contained units, know the actual dish is about the size of a pie plate.

[Mr. Dan]

Originally Posted by satdog01

Mr Dan I am wondering what IPhone app you are using. I have use Dish Align which uses Google earth, knowing the satellite you what to hit, it draws a line from where you are standing to the satellite. If you are shooting through a tree you move over a few feet and repeat. Drop out the dish and fine tune the alinement. Bought a cheap signal finder meter off the net for $15 a couple of bucks. Helps get the highest strength as you adjust the dish, DW does have to set at the tv and shout commands to ya! I am a big fan of the manual dish, it is much bigger thus gives more area for signal. Never lost reception on rainy days. Not sure about self contained units, know the actual dish is about the size of a pie plate.

I use SatFinder Lite.

[satdog01]

Mr Dan thanks for pointing me to the app. Looks like it could be useful. Will get to check it out next week. Leaving on 12 day rv trip to a couple areas in LA. Hoping to catch some Madi Grais parade outside NO with some friends then move over to Baton Rouge for a few, then back to TN

[RickV]

I use a an app called Satfinder Lite on my S5. It uses the camera and shows the satellite arc super imposed on the screen so you just move around until you find the sweet spot through the trees. It has the option to only show the satellites you need I use the 99,101, 103 satellites with my swm3 setup but I live on the east coast. Also once you line up the cross hairs with the satellite arc it will show the elevation to set your dish to. I put on the signal strength meter on the TV and I have a pair of walkies the Wife calls out the strength numbers as I make adjustments once I get above 95% signal that's close enough. Also the 101 satellite is the main one so that is what I use for aiming.

[dicky1243]

Originally Posted by satdog01

Mr Dan I am wondering what IPhone app you are using. I have use Dish Align which uses Google earth, knowing the satellite you what to hit, it draws a line from where you are standing to the satellite. If you are shooting through a tree you move over a few feet and repeat. Drop out the dish and fine tune the alinement. Bought a cheap signal finder meter off the net for $15 a couple of bucks. Helps get the highest strength as you adjust the dish, DW does have to set at the tv and shout commands to ya! I am a big fan of the manual dish, it is much bigger thus gives more area for signal. Never lost reception on rainy days. Not sure about self contained units, know the actual dish is about the size of a pie plate.

I too like the big Dishnetwork dish the dishman gave a manual for my 1000.2 with every zip code setting and they are spot on for either eastern or western settings. We are fulltime and spend 365 days a yr. in our 5ver.Dick & Nancy

[satdog01]

Thanks for the walkie talkie idea rickV, have a couple of laying around. Started using my cell phone through Bluetooth on the tv for backing up, let's me use both hands when backing up the hill when stroreing the TT between trips.

For you guys needing extra outputs on the sat receiver. I bought a rv modulator years ago, they still sell around $40 for a decent one. With both direct and Dish receivers the primary output and secondary will run at the same time. So I hook up the den TV to the HDMI on the dish receiver, then plug the modulater into the AV jacks of the receiver. The output of the modulator is coax which goes into the cable jack in the entertainment center. This setup lights up both the bedroom and outside jacks as if you have cable TV. Not high def but works great, note all tvs run on same channel that receiver is on. Okay for me and DW as we generally watch same channel. Let's me cook outside while she preps the rest of meal inside. Went to this setup so we can watch SEC football games.

[textman]

two for this tripod. easiest way to setup the HD dishes! worth the money for sure!

Originally Posted by rsdata

I put a lot of effort to building an easy to adjust tripod to use w my SWM3 dish w Directv. I practiced on my patio aiming and pointing from a couple of different spots. I never got comfortable doing it and only got good signal after much effort. It was just not easy to level the tripod easily. I finally listened to a number of different forum posters look at the tripod offered from Satellite TV for RV - Tripod - Slimline - Dish - DirectTV - RV television - Recreational Vehicles - RVers - DishTV - Satellite Dish - FTA - Tripod. I ordered their HD tripod setup in Nov then. Ecause of the early snow this year I was not able to try it at home. I have set it up now three times in 5 weeks and I am very glad thT I have this setup. Tripod and dish setup time is less then 15 minutes after my first time. I use the built-in meter on the receiver. I have a small flat screen that i setup on a folding table near the dish for instant feedback. I have to say that i have been spot on with aiming the second and third time I setup without any fine tuning necessary. I heartily endorse the H&G ENTERPRISES tripod offered on their website.

[Ddubya]

Here is my tripod and mount. I have added a spreader to the tripod to keep it from collapsing
The feed horn folds up into the dish for storage.


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