porthole
Retired
Dave - maybe a power inserter is in your future, see above.
Ventured into the satellite world and so far a bit disappointed
- Thread starter porthole
- Start date
Dave - maybe a power inserter is in your future, see above.
Well, since DTV no longer used the 110° or the 119° my $10 meter will find the 101° just as well as the $150 finder.
I don't need no steenking power inserter.
It would be nice if they were able to find the 99° and 103°.
Did you ever get your Genie working in your Cyclone? I got mine going in the BH yesterday.
Peace
Dave
I don't need no steenking power inserter.
It would be nice if they were able to find the 99° and 103°.
Did you ever get your Genie working in your Cyclone? I got mine going in the BH yesterday.
Peace
Dave
danemayer
Well-known member
Duane,
I have the predecessor to the tracker-light and it came with the power-passing splitter. But the meter still doesn't work correctly with the SWM LNB. I suspect the meter was being designed and test in the early days of SWM and that something changed slightly with SWM after the meter was finalized.
porthole
Retired
Dave - it is my understanding if you find 101, 99 and 103 are just a proper skew away.
No to the Genie. I gave up and put the antenna away. Will try when we get home. There were enough cable channels here to not miss it too much, just all the DVR stuff that wasn't DVR'd
porthole
Retired
Dan, from what I have learned, the meters "may" not supply sufficient voltage ,especially the older variants. They output 18 volts. The SWM's apparently need 21 volts. That is the reason for using the power inserter and splitter that I linked too.
Although, since I have neither, I may just be talking out my hat
Dan, from what I have learned, the meters "may" not supply sufficient voltage ,especially the older variants. They output 18 volts. The SWM's apparently need 21 volts. That is the reason for using the power inserter and splitter that I linked too.
Although, since I have neither, I may just be talking out my hat
Duane, your correct. The meters don't have the power to supply the dish w/ SWM properly. 21 volts is required which has to come from the inserter. I complete the wiring hook-up from the dish to the inserter inside the basement then I add the meter in-line by way of a second splitter and then I lock onto the signal... Once locked on to the signal, I remove the splitter and meter and power up the DVR's afterwards...
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
danemayer
Well-known member
With the Tracker Plus reading the SWM LNB, the power comes from the power inserter (not from the meter), through the power-passing splitter that came with the meter, and it still doesn't work. There's some other problem.
The RG-6 cable must attach to the power passing splitters to the "in" port and the inserter must be in line on the power side of the splitter also or you will not get enough of a signal for the receivers to operate properly. After all you hardware is setup right, go into each received and identify the proper dish (SWM) afterwards, reboot your receiver and if you picked up a strong signal on your meter, all should be good. Remember, their are different specs for the meter to locking onto a SWM 101sattelite then for a regular setup.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
porthole
Retired
So - we got home from New York. Great trip with a sad ending for us.
But - I used the trailer's SAT cable and plugged itno the house's rooftop dish. All 96-100 readings from 32 transponders on the 101 satellite.
That eliminated everything but my portable antenna.
Swapped out the portable dish's LNB and still had great signals. So it is not my wiring.
I then spent the next hour or so trying to get a signal. Just as I was about to give up I got a full lock of 95-100's on all 32.
Repeatability was at best, a bit difficult. I think I will get a meter. At least that way I can see what I am doing.
But - I used the trailer's SAT cable and plugged itno the house's rooftop dish. All 96-100 readings from 32 transponders on the 101 satellite.
That eliminated everything but my portable antenna.
Swapped out the portable dish's LNB and still had great signals. So it is not my wiring.
I then spent the next hour or so trying to get a signal. Just as I was about to give up I got a full lock of 95-100's on all 32.
Repeatability was at best, a bit difficult. I think I will get a meter. At least that way I can see what I am doing.
Last edited:
murry135
New York Chapter Leaders - retired
Hey Duane,
Sorry for your friend and your loss. Such a same. However glad to see your wiring was good I know you worked hard on this and it is frustrating when you can't lock in on anything. It took us awhile to figure out how to setup our basic system but once you get practice it works a lot easier. Like know how the meter works for you so keep us appraised.
Sorry for your friend and your loss. Such a same. However glad to see your wiring was good I know you worked hard on this and it is frustrating when you can't lock in on anything. It took us awhile to figure out how to setup our basic system but once you get practice it works a lot easier. Like know how the meter works for you so keep us appraised.
porthole
Retired
Jerry - your first strike is the the "L" series, newest version that gives you real 3 digit azimuth readings?
That is the meter I am considering. When I wired the trialer I ended up with a 4 way splitter, so # 4 went to the unused basement wall plate.
Now figuring on just using a jumper coax from the the meter to the LNB and my main SAT cable from the basement wall plate to power the meter. Have to run that coax out anyway, may as well get double duty from it.
I know several on the forum think the meters are a waste - but if you saw us at the NY rally - the frustration level was growing................
And that was with folks that are regulars with the systems.
I also now see the benefit of the survey tripods most are switching too. They are aluminun, which means you can level and aim your tripod without any magnetic interference from the steel tripods. Once leveled and the azimuth set, the rest should be easier.
That is the meter I am considering. When I wired the trialer I ended up with a 4 way splitter, so # 4 went to the unused basement wall plate.
Now figuring on just using a jumper coax from the the meter to the LNB and my main SAT cable from the basement wall plate to power the meter. Have to run that coax out anyway, may as well get double duty from it.
I know several on the forum think the meters are a waste - but if you saw us at the NY rally - the frustration level was growing................
And that was with folks that are regulars with the systems.
I also now see the benefit of the survey tripods most are switching too. They are aluminun, which means you can level and aim your tripod without any magnetic interference from the steel tripods. Once leveled and the azimuth set, the rest should be easier.
Duane, your correct on the "L" series First Strike. Great meter once you get familiar with it. Remember to input the specs for a SWM setup as they are different then the standard program. The other thing to remember is to "cap off" any splitter unused connections so you don't have a power loss. It took me all but 10 minutes to setup my tripod assembly with a strong signal today. Easy once you've done it a couple of times.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC
porthole
Retired
Well today is the day - I try once again to get a SAT signal while at camp.
I have a couple new tools in my iPhone for locating and a First Strike meter to lock on to a bird.
I have the Winegard tripod I bought from a member at Goshen to use, but yesterday I ordered to adapter kit to mount the dish on my transit tripod.
That tripod is much better suited for initial setup. For one, it is aluminum, so the compass doesn't swing around when you get near it.
I have a couple new tools in my iPhone for locating and a First Strike meter to lock on to a bird.
I have the Winegard tripod I bought from a member at Goshen to use, but yesterday I ordered to adapter kit to mount the dish on my transit tripod.
That tripod is much better suited for initial setup. For one, it is aluminum, so the compass doesn't swing around when you get near it.
porthole
Retired
Some iPhone apps.
Dish align. This one gives some detailed SAT info for data input and visual aiming.
For all of these apps I am using DirecTV SAT 101.0 W
Duane
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Dish align. This one gives some detailed SAT info for data input and visual aiming.
For all of these apps I am using DirecTV SAT 101.0 W
Duane
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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porthole
Retired
Satellite Director
1st page gives detailed LAT, LON and altitude
2nd page allows input of the SAT you want to locate and and computes location
3rd page gives a live direction finder.
Duane
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
1st page gives detailed LAT, LON and altitude
2nd page allows input of the SAT you want to locate and and computes location
3rd page gives a live direction finder.
Duane
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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porthole
Retired
Satellite locator
This uses the phones camera and you use it to scan the sky to find your SAT.
In this pic I located DirecTV 101W SAT
The app allows you to walk around and look for an opening.
As you can see I do not have a clear view.
Duane
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
This uses the phones camera and you use it to scan the sky to find your SAT.
In this pic I located DirecTV 101W SAT
The app allows you to walk around and look for an opening.
As you can see I do not have a clear view.
Duane
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
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