I had my roof reshingled and they had to take down my directv dish for locals channels. My other dish was on the side of the house so they didn't have to touch it. Anyway, I figured no problem I have installed a few dishes before, but not one for local channels. I called Directv for the tilt, elevation and azimuth. They keep giving me the numbers for the regular satellite channels. They just won't tell me the numbers I need to tune in satellite 771. They say they have to send a tech out to do it for $80.00.:mad: I live in Cedar Rapids, IA 52402 Does anybody know these numbers or have a way to get them? I won't pay $80 to do something I can do in a few minutes.

I just went through the exact same thing, tried to do it myself and wasn't able to make it work, paid the $80.00 because no TV bites.

Here are your pointing specs:

Elevation: 49.5
Azmuth: 153.6
Tilt: 100.4

I haven't had Direct in years but it seems if you knew the direction the dish pointed in before you would be in the ball park. From there it would just take a second person to help aim for the strongest signal. What I had showed reception bars and percentage on screen and an audable also. Also any of the independant retailers should be able to give you the numbers you need. They advertise in the penny saver and newspapers every day here.

I set my dish on "Meter", then put the phone on intercom and took the handset up on the roof. I later fine tuned it when my wife was home and got a stronger signal. I didn't use the setup numbers except for elevation, then just pointed it at where the sun is at 10 am. That's what the sales guy said to do and it worked.

Ball park won't do it Dennis. That is why roofers tell you they are not responsible for it not working when they get done. You will be lucky if any of the independance retailers will give you any info either. Today, all these guys care about is their service $. When you buy a new furnace today, they all know they have a part that will fail in 4 years. None of them tell you, and they all charge to fix it. You can replace that part also in 30 seconds.

If I buy a dish, I will make sure they give me this info or I will tell them I won't buy it.
Can you imagine if everyone said the same thing??

First you have to make sure the mast ( arm) is level and plumb to start with then you can enter your settings, until that is correct you will never get anything

Do the Boxes not have a tuning section with a signal meter? I know the hardware has changed but even a paid tech is going to install and point the dish in the appx direction and tune from there isn't he? Just askin...

DishNetwork does it all on one dish, and it is very easy to aim..
just call DirectTv and tell them that if they won't give you the info you need, you will give DishNewtork a call, and that you're pretty sure they would appreciate your business.

when the roofers took it down, did they just unscrew the main bracket from the roof, or did they screw with everything else, too?
if they just took it off the roof, then it should be easy to get the dish level and pointing in the right general direction, then move it a little bit until you get a good signal.

It is much more difficult to tune the dishes in than it used to be because you have to adjust it so you can catch multiple satellites. I would suggest to either pay the $80 or buy one of the signal meters you can plug right up at the dish.

[QUOTE=novaderrik;998008]DishNetwork does it all on one dish, and it is very easy to aim..
just call DirectTv and tell them that if they won't give you the info you need, you will give DishNewtork a call, and that you're pretty sure they would appreciate your business.
QUOTE]

That's what I would tell them.

[quote=novaderrik;998008]DishNetwork does it all on one dish, and it is very easy to aim..
just call DirectTv and tell them that if they won't give you the info you need, you will give DishNewtork a call, and that you're pretty sure they would appreciate your business.
QUOTE]

That's what I would tell them.


Fees tend to "disapear" when you start using words like that.

My setup on the dish only gives my the info for the main satellite. Wife called Directv and did what you guys said about switching to Dish network. They coughed up the tilt and azimuth, but the lady said she couldn't find the elevation. As for the roofers putting the dish back, I told them to leave it down. Where the Directv installer mounted it before, snow drifts keeped building up and I would lose my signal. I had to go up on the roof 6 times this last year to clear drifts. I just planned on remounting it down by the gutter. I should just upgrade to HD, go to one dish for everthing, get a free HD receiver and then buy a HD DVR sometime. I'll have to do it by next Feb. anyway. I just hate it when big businesses have you by the balls. Thanks for the input.

DishNetwork does it all on one dish, and it is very easy to aim..
just call DirectTv and tell them that if they won't give you the info you need, you will give DishNewtork a call, and that you're pretty sure they would appreciate your business.

when the roofers took it down, did they just unscrew the main bracket from the roof, or did they screw with everything else, too?
if they just took it off the roof, then it should be easy to get the dish level and pointing in the right general direction, then move it a little bit until you get a good signal.

I honestly belive that if you do this they will send a tech for free or give you the numbers. Do you have the home protection plan? Think it cost $5.00 (my dish one does) and that should take care of it. The last time I had an issue like this Dish was not going to do anything and stuck by their guns even when I said I was going to Direct. I said to put me on the line with whom I cancel my order with and they could not/would not do it so I asked for a supervisor. About 30 seconds on the phone with someone not in India and the problem was solved!! I still have dish and to be honest I have been thinking of going back to Direct because I like the High Def channels they have but I dish is supposed to more soon.....we will see.

If they just unscrewed the satelite from the bas and did not mess with the Tilt / Azimuth / side to side etc and you kinda know where the satelite was .. put it back ..... Move the satelite side to side and when you hit a signal start to turn the dish clockwise or counterclockwise cant remember. If you have walkie talkies that be great so that way someone can tell you from inside if you hit the signal or not. and move the dish very slow and pause for a second .. if no hit then move it again slowly and pause for a second. You'll get it .. Good Luck !!

BTW .. between DTV and Dish Network .......Direct TV is WAY BETTER !!!!

From DirecTV's dish pointing web page: http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/customer/dishPointer.jsp

"A DIRECTV Multi-Satellite System needs to receive signals from more than one DIRECTV satellite orbital location.* Multi-satellite systems are tailored based on your Designated Market Area (DMA) and specific programming needs. To receive signals from multiple locations, your DIRECTV Multi-Satellite Dish must be aligned by tilt, as well as elevation and azimuth. This technical requirement makes the installation more complex, and we highly recommend you have it professionally installed.

*Some additional equipment may be required in certain areas."