Tailgate w/ DirectTv - Need Trustworthy Help

[WakeUpEchoes]

I have tried tailgating with a satellite before (a stupid little one that I bought for like $150) and it failed miserably. Couldn't get the thing to find a signal when others next to me were streaming HD. I am having another big tailgate this weekend and want to just bring my actual DirectTv satellite to the game, with my receiver and all. I know there are a ton of websites out there, but I would seriously appreciate basic, layman's advice from an IE poster. I made a holder for my satellite with a tire and steel tube coming out of the top. I literally am going to just unscrew the Satellite from my porch and just plant the thing in.

Any help would be awesome. If someone wants to just do it through PM that would suffice as well. What materials do I need? Is there something I need to buy to find the right coordinates, etc.?

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

The dish has little markings on the side.
That's the elevation set it between 39 and 40.
Your azimuth is 204.3 using a compass you can find that. 204 will be fine.
All those number are for South Bend
Dish Pointer
That web site will allow you to double check.
Put the box on signal strength and small tweaks until you dial it in perfectly.

If you have that dish don't even attempt it. Because then you need a satellite finder to fine tune it and that should only be done by an installer.

If you can lay hands on one of those and that way you don't have rip down yours.
Little known fact a dish network dish will also work if you can only find one of those.
Just make sure the LNB is good.
And if you have to use a DN dish there is a pan in the back with markings on it set those back to 0.
Any other questions feel free to PM me

 

[ND22SB]

I tailgate every ND home game and take an older Direct TV 3-LNB (not HD) satellite that I have and never used a signal finder. Yes a signal finder would take the guessing but all I do is point the dish to the southwest. 5-10 minutes later while drinking a beer and there it is.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Thanks for advice. Its DirectTv dish. The one I used before was Wineguard. Piece of sh**. The website is helpful for double checking the numbers as well. I think if I can get my actual dish out there it will work better. I hope its as easy as pointing it to southwest and by the time my beer is done it will be good to go!

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

Thanks for advice. Its DirectTv dish. The one I used before was Wineguard. Piece of sh**. The website is helpful for double checking the numbers as well. I think if I can get my actual dish out there it will work better. I hope its as easy as pointing it to southwest and by the time my beer is done it will be good to go!

Elevation and making sure the pole is level makes a big difference.
I installed for 10 years and I learned that even being 1 degree off of elevation will screw the signal up.
Get yourself a compass. Point the dish exactly where the compass tells you to. Make sure the pole is level and the elevation is set properly.
Done right you'll barely have time to crack open the beer.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Compass sounds like way to go. Don't really think I need a signal finder, especially with that website. Advice is appreciated, thanks!

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

Compass sounds like way to go. Don't really think I need a signal finder, especially with that website. Advice is appreciated, thanks!

Compass works perfectly. The reason I suggested using the signal meter built into the receiver is it lets you tune that dish perfectly using tone so you can set it so that you won't lose signal even if a little rain comes through. All you need to get signal is a signal strength of 60.
Also if you use your house dish use a permanent marker to mark the dish and the mast it's on so you can just line up the marks when you get home to align it that much quicker.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

So...still need help.

DirectTV subscription just ended, and they give you the dish when you are done. Is there any way I can use this dish at my tailgate? Is it as simple as getting a receiver/tripod? I obviously do not have DirectTV service anymore, but I have the high-powered dish.

Any help greatly appreciated.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

So...still need help.

DirectTV subscription just ended, and they give you the dish when you are done. Is there any way I can use this dish at my tailgate? Is it as simple as getting a receiver/tripod? I obviously do not have DirectTV service anymore, but I have the high-powered dish.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Same as you did before. But you'll need a directv receiver to convert the signal. And it won't work for dish because their dishes need a tilt to the dish to pickup both satellites.