Pointing DirecTV dish

[Ross]

Can anyone tell me the pricedure for finding the setup menu.  Just got DirecTV to replace Dish Network.  I plugged in the reciever, powered it up and now I'm looking at a screen that says "Retrieving info from satellite" or "Searching for satllite".  Of course it can't retrieve anything because the dish is not pointed.  I've pressed every button on the remote and can't nothing happens.  Now, as I was typing this and about 15 minutes after cold booting the reciever, I got the menu screen, went to setup, entered my zipcode, pointed the dish and got a good signal.  The next screen verifys the setup and that's where it fails.  It says the reciever is not detecting a dish.  I have the reciever set to round dish, single LNB for the crankup winegard dish.  The Dish Network reciever works fine.

It seems that as long as it's "searching for satellite", it is locked up.  At some point the screen will go blank.  When that happens, I can get the setup screen to come up.  How are you guys doing this?  This was a 30 second job with Dish Network.  I guess at the moment, just being able to get to setup menu right after the reciever starts up would be a plus.

Thanks...Ross

[NJT5047]

Hi Ross,  I have never had a picture using my Wingard dish.   I can set up a portable in minutes...which is what I do.  No problem. 
It's easy to get on 210 and have a good signal..but the transponders screen will only show two or three working.   I believe 201 is Direct?  Whatever, the wrong sat is close to the correct one.   Once you're on the correct sat, all but one or two sats transponders will work.  If the Direct receiver is turned on with no signal, it'll go into a default mode and it's all over for a bit...might as well have an adult beverage and wait it out.  It'll have to be reset and run thru the setup procedure.  
You are correct with the round single LNB dish for both the Wingard rooftop and most cheap single and dual LNB dishes. 
Not at all sure what the Wingard problem is.  I"m gonna fix it or replace it with an auto unit.    I can get a signal, but no TV feed. 
I have found that if the signal is found within a short time, the reboot ain't necessary, but once the bouncing DTV logo starts, mine won't go back to the menu.   Our receivers may be different.     
The elevation is critical on DTV...one or two degrees and no feed.  Az can be off several degrees and you'll still see the satellite.   
I'd be interested in whatever you come up with on the Wingard.  Wasn't an expensive unit, but it oughta work. 
Jack's crank-up  dish works fine.   And yours apparently worked with Dish?   I had couple of DTV familiar guys try setting up my Wingard in Arcadia...didn't happen. 
Try setting up a portable, get a good signal and see if it comes on.  It should.   
Best, JR

[Ross]

I got it up and running.  My digital elevation sensor had a dead battery and I was setting the elevation by "guessing". I was on a sat but probably on the wrong one.  I put a new battery in the elevation sensor and found that I was 8 degrees off in elevation.  Once the elevation was on, it came right up.  When I tried to view a channel, I got a "channel not purchased" message.  I called customer service, entered "711" on the phone and they did some sort of automatic troubleshooting.  A few seconds later, I had a picture.  It's still no where near as easy as Dish, but the programming is better and everything is on 101, unlike Dish where some channels are on 119 and some are on 110.

Ross

[Dallas]

JR., you may have the wrong LNB on your Whinegard.

When DTV came out to set up my dish the guy had to remove my LNB and install a new one.

He said if they were more than a year or two old they wouldn't work.

Oh, and if you want to get rid of that Whinegard, keep me in mind!

Dallas

[NJT5047]

Thanks Dallas...you are likely right.  I'm gonna fix it someday.  WAAAy to cold to dink with it right now. Reckon I can graft an LNB onto the Wingard dish?   Or maybe I oughta call Wingard and whine? I mean..like it's never been used!
Ross, glad to hear you got it functioning.....now I know some of the thing should work! 
Cheers, JR

[JerryH]

Can anyone tell me the pricedure for finding the setup menu.  Just got DirecTV to replace Dish Network.  I plugged in the reciever, powered it up and now I'm looking at a screen that says "Retrieving info from satellite" or "Searching for satllite".  Of course it can't retrieve anything because the dish is not pointed.  I've pressed every button on the remote and can't nothing happens.  Now, as I was typing this and about 15 minutes after cold booting the reciever, I got the menu screen, went to setup, entered my zipcode, pointed the dish and got a good signal.  The next screen verifys the setup and that's where it fails.  It says the reciever is not detecting a dish.  I have the reciever set to round dish, single LNB for the crankup winegard dish.  The Dish Network reciever works fine.

It seems that as long as it's "searching for satellite", it is locked up.  At some point the screen will go blank.  When that happens, I can get the setup screen to come up.  How are you guys doing this?  This was a 30 second job with Dish Network.  I guess at the moment, just being able to get to setup menu right after the reciever starts up would be a plus.

Thanks...Ross

Ross:
Not sure how similar Direct is with Dish.  On the Dish receivers remote, you press "menu, 6, 1, 1" to access the point dish commands.  Select the satellite you need -- for us it's either EchoStar 119 or 110 (for locals and other channels).  Assuming yours in a home-type satellite vs. a dome-type unit?  In anycase, begin pointing the dish, the display will show the your signal strength until it locks in.  You can get the Elevation and Azimuth for your desired satellites from either the Direct or Dish websites.

Good luck,
Jerry H.

[NJT5047]

Well boys and girls,
The sat dish is working very well now.  Nothing ever wrong with it...other than it isn't perfectly level so finding a signal is (was) a royal PITA. 
The digital readout thingy fixed the problem.  It is surprising how accurate it is.  I set it up, expecting to have nothing, and damned if it didn't just...work.  I set it using the dig elevation, and sited the az...couldn't believe it.     
Now we move onto the headliner....
Thanks for all the help and advice, JR

[Ncbob]

Golly gee guys!  I'm the last one in the world who could be classified as a rocket scientist and I never have a problem with Direct setup. In fact most of the time I just go to setup and turn the volume up on the TV so I can hear the clicking through the window leaving the wife out of the equation.

Even a Cave Man can find southwest!

NCbob

[JackConrad]

It's still no where near as easy as Dish,

Ross,
   I felt the same way when we first changed from Dish to DTV, but after setting it up a few times I find DTV just as easy as the Dish was.  I guess it is what you get used to. We also keep a log of the azimuth & elevation at the different locations where we have set it up. If we go back to that area, a quick look at the log and we can usually hit it instantly.
   As was mentioned, I have found that elevation seems to be more critical than azimuth. We set elevation first, using the digital meter, then rotate through the azimuth until we hit. We then do a fine adjustment on each for the strongest signal.  Jack

[NJT5047]

Golly gee guys!  I'm the last one in the world who could be classified as a rocket scientist and I never have a problem with Direct setup. In fact most of the time I just go to setup and turn the volume up on the TV so I can hear the clicking through the window leaving the wife out of the equation.

Even a Cave Man can find southwest!

NCbob

Talking about a Winegard rooftop crankup sat dish.  I can setup a portable in no time at all.
Don't buy a rooftop manual without the digital elevation readout.  You'll be redoing the thing.
Best, JR