Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum - View Single Post - 1st Time Set-Up with DIRECT TV?

H. John Kohl · 11-13-2007, 03:19 PM

The reference has good instructions on finding the satellite. Here are my abridged version. Others will address connecting up to the Monty.

Finding a satellite is like pointing a paper towel tub up into the sky and finding one star in its view. As mentioned you have two reference points you use. Those are your azimuth (left and right pointing based on a compass pointing) and Elevation (up angle above the horizon). As stated the first critical part is making sure the mast supporting the dish is perfectly vertical so use a good level. Make sure you check two sides of the mast 90 degrees apart. If this mast is straight up then 90 degrees to that is level, horizontal. Now point the dish on the proper azimuth degrees on the compass. Use the center of the feed horn as an aiming device in line with the mast. Now raise the elevation to the desired angle. If MURPHY is not around you have found your satellite. Make slight adjustments left or right to increase the signal. Then up or down. Tweak left to right again then up or down repeating until you feel you have the strongest signal.
Now if you have not found the satellite I recommend a box search. Think of a checkers board. If you consider your satellite dish pointing at the center of the board then move it left to right a couple of squares, degrees, and then raise or lower the dish a degree and then search left to right again.
I feel it is easier to move the dish left to right then it is to accurately raise it up and down free hand. So raise or lower it, tighten the screw then search left and right for the satellite. If no luck, move a little farther up or down and try again. Do not be afraid to go back to basics and start again. it can get knocked out of level.
Since the satellite signal is very week it will not work well if it has to go through trees. Therefore, ensure you have a clear view toward the satellite you are trying to access. If there are trees then you can take a paper towel tube line it up with the dish back and feed tube trying to make sure it has the same angle as the elevation. Then look through it, yes being a contortionist helps. If you can see through an opening in the trees then you should have success.
Practice helps.
Good luck.

11-13-2007, 03:19 PM	#12
H. John Kohl Montana Master Join Date: May 2003 Location: New Bern Posts: 4,294 M.O.C. #311	The reference has good instructions on finding the satellite. Here are my abridged version. Others will address connecting up to the Monty. Finding a satellite is like pointing a paper towel tub up into the sky and finding one star in its view. As mentioned you have two reference points you use. Those are your azimuth (left and right pointing based on a compass pointing) and Elevation (up angle above the horizon). As stated the first critical part is making sure the mast supporting the dish is perfectly vertical so use a good level. Make sure you check two sides of the mast 90 degrees apart. If this mast is straight up then 90 degrees to that is level, horizontal. Now point the dish on the proper azimuth degrees on the compass. Use the center of the feed horn as an aiming device in line with the mast. Now raise the elevation to the desired angle. If MURPHY is not around you have found your satellite. Make slight adjustments left or right to increase the signal. Then up or down. Tweak left to right again then up or down repeating until you feel you have the strongest signal. Now if you have not found the satellite I recommend a box search. Think of a checkers board. If you consider your satellite dish pointing at the center of the board then move it left to right a couple of squares, degrees, and then raise or lower the dish a degree and then search left to right again. I feel it is easier to move the dish left to right then it is to accurately raise it up and down free hand. So raise or lower it, tighten the screw then search left and right for the satellite. If no luck, move a little farther up or down and try again. Do not be afraid to go back to basics and start again. it can get knocked out of level. Since the satellite signal is very week it will not work well if it has to go through trees. Therefore, ensure you have a clear view toward the satellite you are trying to access. If there are trees then you can take a paper towel tube line it up with the dish back and feed tube trying to make sure it has the same angle as the elevation. Then look through it, yes being a contortionist helps. If you can see through an opening in the trees then you should have success. Practice helps. Good luck.