need help with dish network

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toddspolaris

Member
Ok So I live near Lima ohio and just purchased dish network down here. I then bought another dish and brought it up to my cabin near Luzerne mi. Hook everything up and got two of my three satalites locked in and couldn't get the third. The two I got locked in was the 110 and 119 satalite. Then called home to the guy that installed me at home and he said I may not be able to get the 129 satelite to work for me up there. could this be true? I don't know alot about this dish setup stuff. Down how here I'm using 110, 119, and 129 satalite. could there be a different satalite to use for up north and if so what would it be and would I have to change the head on the dish? Thanks for any info. Todd
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
I had Dish & as soon as contract was over got rid of it & installed Direct TV which has been flawless. Dish did not operate well for me & every time they call I keep telling them your tech does not work up here never call again just wasting your time & mine.
 
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98panther

New member
I have and only need 119 & 110 getting both those locked in at same time was a pain. Mine is a dish 500.
Yours must be a dish1000, It looks like your local channels are on 129, that may be why.
I read that they can spot beam them to a 90-100 radius of where they are meant to be.
Sounds like you might be too far from home to get your local channels.

My account is set up with the service address up north, so I get the locals.
At home I pull them over the air anyway.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
First mistake was going with Dish. Sorry to have to break it to you. Direct works on my boat, cabin and at home with about 8 satelites for it to pick from. almost sets itself up. Been with Directv way back when it was called USSB so it has been awhile and they are miles ahead of the "other guys".
Dish should lock on anyware, If not I would fight to get out of the contract since it doesn't work.

Another idea is tell them you moved to Lucerne and have them hook you up, up there but keep billing address the same. Direct will move you for free and they always leaves the dish behind so Dish may too? there you go, ask for another reciever for $5 per month (directv's price) for up north and then bring it home. If they can't make Dish work at your "new address" then you can get out of the contract. note give them cell numbers for contact numbers, not a land line.
 
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anonomoose

New member
Polarus...you never cease to amaze me>>>"...note give them cell numbers for contact numbers, not a land line."

I am far from an expert on this stuff, but it would seem to me that since the sat is quite a distance up in the air, you should be able to hit it from Upper Michigan as well as in Lima. I do remember that dish does this quite differently than direct tv. Hitting multiple sats at the same time is never an easy task.

Before you throw in the towel, wait around on this board until you hear from a few fellows who are in the "inside" of the pay tv trade...they really know the in's and out's of it and give you the skinny....or

You could just do as Polaris says....but it's a shame that you should have to lie to any company to get the kind of service out of them that will keep you happy.
 
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fredster

New member
On Directv you can enter your zip code and dish type in the setup screen and it will tell you the degree and angle for aiming the dish....then all you need is a compass and a little fine tuning...did this when we added a 2nd directv dish at our cabin. Does Dish not offer such a feature? Seems hard to believe they don't off that......

This was on pre-high definition dishes, maybe you can't do this with high-def.....?
 
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buddah2

Member
fredster said:
.....This was on pre-high definition dishes, maybe you can't do this with high-def.....?
Click to expand...

More than likely the case.....with hi-def you have to hit five satellites simultaneously.....we had to trim a few trees to get our hi-def working right....I am talking DirecTV though.....
 
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98panther

New member
I find it funny how many use this site as the only source for all their info. LOL

PR1 is selling a load of schmidt... Direct isn't sending all info from 8 sats, each one sends different info/channels. And a Boat dish is completely different and does adjust itself. Phone has nothing to do with this, unless your going to plug a line into the receiver for PPV.

You still may not have it pointed correctly, it can be hard to do. On a satellite forum seems alot of people have trouble getting that dish.

But like your home installer already told you. You might not be able to get it from there. If 129 is your locals, it could be right in front of your face but if they don't send that signal to that location you'll may never get it. google you'll find all kinds of info on satellite spot beams and poitning them etc
 
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Yooper_Bob

New member
I am quite a ways north of you (in Marquette, in 'da UP), and my Dish is able to hit all 3 satellites....so being too far north is NOT the issue.

Its definitely an alignment issue...make sure your skew setting is correct for your location. You can find those values on the dish website.

Also...you have the right dish? The one with the 3 LNB feeds (its the oval shaped one).

Satellite 129 is surprisingly low on the horizon as you go further north....make sure you don't have any interference from trees etc.

I also have a dish set up at both home and my cabin, and carry my reciever back and forth.

The only issue you may run into, is that your local programming (which likely comes from 129), is not available at your second location. Spot beams are used to carry local programming, and you are likely outside of your local spot beam. You should still be able to lock on to the satellite, but your smart card (in your receiver) probably will not be able to pick up any of your local channels.

http://www.jameslong.name/e129s.html
 
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98panther

New member
First time I set up myself was really frustating, had a little whistle meter that was junk. Yelling back and forth into the cabin, made us crazy.
Finally brought the receiver and a small 9" tv out, set it up on another ladder so I could see it when I had the dish in my hands.

Mark your spots when the 2 are good then Just move it around and figure out where the problem sat is, then go back and figure out how to get all 3.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
98panther said:
I find it funny how many use this site as the only source for all their info. LOL

PR1 is selling a load of schmidt... Direct isn't sending all info from 8 sats, each one sends different info/channels. And a Boat dish is completely different and does adjust itself. Phone has nothing to do with this, unless your going to plug a line into the receiver for PPV.

You still may not have it pointed correctly, it can be hard to do. On a satellite forum seems alot of people have trouble getting that dish.

But like your home installer already told you. You might not be able to get it from there. If 129 is your locals, it could be right in front of your face but if they don't send that signal to that location you'll may never get it. google you'll find all kinds of info on satellite spot beams and poitning them etc
Click to expand...

Excuse me??? I set up my Cabin and boat and the Direct guy set up my house. did everything I stated, no BS. There is a signal strength section that you bring up on your screen, as your wife or other loved one who is on the roof nudges the dish you watch the signal go up or down. I used a copass to get a ball park on the angle and the dish gives you angle by zip code. As far as the cell number, that's what they got and it works. You can not order movies but so what that is what Netflix is for. Come on over and I will show you how well this 82" tv works in HD, that I set up. Directv is the best hands down. Note: 2 recievers, one at home and the other goes between the boat and up north. No dishes get moved and Directv installer gave my the boat and up north dish for No charge.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
98panther said:
First time I set up myself was really frustating, had a little whistle meter that was junk. Yelling back and forth into the cabin, made us crazy.
Finally brought the receiver and a small 9" tv out, set it up on another ladder so I could see it when I had the dish in my hands.

Mark your spots when the 2 are good then Just move it around and figure out where the problem sat is, then go back and figure out how to get all 3.
Click to expand...

Great idea. Oh and lots of beer.
 
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polarisrider1

New member
anonomoose said:
Polarus...you never cease to amaze me>>>"...note give them cell numbers for contact numbers, not a land line."

I am far from an expert on this stuff, but it would seem to me that since the sat is quite a distance up in the air, you should be able to hit it from Upper Michigan as well as in Lima. I do remember that dish does this quite differently than direct tv. Hitting multiple sats at the same time is never an easy task.

Before you throw in the towel, wait around on this board until you hear from a few fellows who are in the "inside" of the pay tv trade...they really know the in's and out's of it and give you the skinny....or

You could just do as Polaris says....but it's a shame that you should have to lie to any company to get the kind of service out of them that will keep you happy.
Click to expand...

It's called playing their game, but just a little better. I only have cell phones and Directv will take that.
 
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Polarice

New member
I have dish in Ottawa county in oh and Alger county in the UP. I'm not familiar with moving the dish. I have a full time bill for my home in oh and I put the cabin on pause when I'm not there.

I usually stay at the cabin for a week tops and my bill is $15/mo with movie channels and sportsman, etc. I just have to call and put it on pause. That's $5.00/mo. Total is still 15 if I go once a month.

They set it up in the middle of the Hiawatha. They were able to get hd and local no problem. We cut down a tree just in case after they got the signal. Never had an issue until the wet heavy got on there and I wiped it off...good to go.
 
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snocrazy

Active member
It is not just a matter of pointing at those satellites mentioned.
There are many transponders on each of the satellites. Certain one carry specific regions local programming. These local channels transponders are typically "spot beams" which are targeting at specific geographic locations.
The channels that are available to North America for example use a "conus beam".

You need to look up you local channels on this site to see what satellites and transponders on the satellite the channels are carried on.
Then look at the "spot beam" on the map to see if your northern house is geographically located in the "spot beam".

Really good resource for this stuff....
www.satelliteguys.us
Here is a picture of the Ohio channel spot beam.
http://satmaps.satelliteguys.us/home/ciel-2-129w-sb25-eastern-ohio
As you can see, it does not appear to cover the upper half of the mitten and none of the UP.

I am in the Munising area and get all of the Chicago local channels. I have the standard 3 satellite and also use a wing dish focused specifically on the local channel satellite.

Hope this helps. Don't listen to all of the Dish Network haters. Best HD and DVR available.
 
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