Don't want a tech; roofers push. dish off Line of Sight; help

[coolcorgi]

Dish held at "ground zero" of Hurricane Ivan!! Roofing Shingles frisbee'd everywhere. While installing new roof, contractors could not resist temptation to use dish for stability/support. Knocked Line of Sight out. I really don't want to screw with customer svc, appointments, techs, etc. I'm nimble, carefull/safe, excellent ladders, tools, etc. Please help me get my Voom back.

I tinkered with it and got it close enough (above minimum allowed - I think 75% or so) to where I got the steady tone. But then the on screen set up menu started asking me some to key in ????? can't remember. Some data or channel that I just was'nt familiar with nor felt that I could just figure out by playing or "outsmarting" it. I am all about reading, researching and learning for myself......but the "owner's manual" that comes with voom box is for the simplest of simpletons - useless! Nothing!

I need my High Def back....I want my Mtv....

I DO NEED HELP WITH THE WHERE/HOW TO POINT the #'s ( 61.5? direction, height, etc.) Zip Code is 32501. I know I can "set" the "postitioning" at base and behind disk with the most basic of help/instructions.

I live in Pensacola, Florida.....32501 zip code. (ground zero)....I rode the hurricane out (Ivan). It was like a 5 hour tornado!! Probably should'nt have stayed, but that beast changed course at last minute.... started tracking (jogged) East...THEN PICKED UP SPEED!! WHOA! They are really pretty exciting. Been through bunches of em. We (I) ended up being exactly in the worst possible spot....Northeast Quadrant! I know winds were steady at 150mph and gusted to about 175! Dish's line of sight did get thrown off, but not by much!! Was able to sync it back. And when I did, I got none of the menus I am getting now after the roofers used dish to do cartwheels with. Buoy's in Gulf which register weather, water, currents, waves "maxed out" at 53 foot waves!!! Yep. Pensacola Beach got pounded with 50 foot waves for hours! Storm Surge phenomenal.

Been without Voom since 9/16/04 - night of hurricane. Will greatly appreciate the "steps" to getting my voom back.

Thanks,

Coolcorgi

 

[richard_rd]

Since you are already getting a signal of around 75% you are close, just need to fine tune it. There are two ways.

1. Go to Radio shack type electronics store and pick up a cheap Sat signal strength meter ( 25-50 bucks).

or

2. Have someone in the house look at the signal meter as you make slight adjustments in Azmith and elevation, have them read off the numbers as you move the dish, or turn the volume up real high on the tv so you can hear the signal meter on the TV, then as the signal gets higher the voume of the beeps will also get higher and closer togeather.

 

[Ilya]

But then the on screen set up menu started asking me some to key in ????? can't remember. Some data or channel that I just was'nt familiar with nor felt that I could just figure out by playing or "outsmarting" it.

Is it asking you to enter RF target number, by any chance? If so, you have selected "Aim Off-Air Antenna" menu option. You need to use "Aim Satellite Dish" instead.
Welcome to the forum, coolcorgi!

 

[TYORK]

did make sure you mask was level if it not you will have a hard time getting it back make you the mask is level if it is off any could make the world of difference and if they pull on it at all that could be the hole problem.

 

[coolcorgi]

Ilya,

I have enjoyed and benefited from your many posts for quite some time now. You are a "pillar" of the community! I don't post much, as I don't feel I have much to "give".....yet. If one reads, searchs, reviews threads.....the answers are usually there; posted from guys like yourself. There are many other "regulars", moderators and "staff" that are providing the "Boss Hog" of satelite sites/forums!!

I should have included in my initial post.....That after Hurricane Ivan, despite 160 mph sustained winds, the dish only got blown slightly out of line. I was able to just push it back in alignment fairly easy that time.... with NO ADDITIONAL STEPS OR MENU SCREENS ASKING FOR INPUT/DATA.

However, a month or so latter, The ROOFERS THREW IT OUT AGAIN. When I pushed dish back in sight and got good signal THIS SECOND TIME.......is where I am getting the menu asking me to key in info/data. This menu appears AFTER I aligned dish and would not let me continue (watch voom). Dead in the water.

An additional and probably bigger problem I am having now is that.......I can't get any signal or green bar at all!! Zero! The mistake I made this time was loosening all nuts/bolts to allow dish to go totally "limp". I have tried shooting, tilting, up/down/sideways, etc. I AM pointing in the correct direction. But do not know exact coordinates.

In response to YOUR response, IT IS NOT THE "RF QUESTION" YOU indicated in your earlier post to me. I am not in the "AIM OFF AIR" ANTENAE mode/screen. I was definitely in "aim satelite dish" mode. Once again, I seem to remember it asking for a "channel and #" or something. If I could get a signal, I could read the prompt and post exactly what it is asking for. Right now, I need to get advice/help on how to aim, point, etc.

I just got off roof and was unable to get any signal/movement on the green bar. I really need the coordinates. Is there anyone or anywhere I can link to get this info. If you could reference me to a link, thread or manual with a walk-through, explanation, turtorial, screen steps, etc. I would like to "learn" more about the basics of this tech. I am brand new to satelite! I went to Installs Inc documents, minutes, etc found within this forum and did not find appropriate info.

I have got ladder still up, tool belt on.....If anyone can help. If I need to run to the "shack" for the "scope/meter/alignment tool" I can/will.
Please help.

Coolcorgi
(sorry for long post, I am green and want to give clearly describe situation/problem with accurate info.......and probably far too much)

 

[Ilya]

Thanks for your good words, Coolcorgi!
For Rainbow-1 azymuth and elevation you can use one of these tools:
http://www.lyngsat.com/tracker/rain1.html
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=54432&postcount=193
I am not an installer, so I can't give you the exact dish pointing instructions,
but why not call VOOM and let them re-point the dish for you?

 

[TYORK]

Here is what i come up with from the zip screen azimuth 137 Elevation 45 try that

 

[coolcorgi]

Mucho Thanks Ilya & tyork....

Ilya, I called Voom yesterday and set up svc call. I really like to take care of my own stuff when I can. Seems almost easier, faster. Much cheaper as well!

The real revelation came when I found out that those guys (contractors, construction, etc.) were nothing special, usually. And most of the time, after I started paying attention to what/how they were performing, I found out they were making all sorts of errors and were not even as updated as I was after only having read a few forums!!

I said.....shih......what am I doing paying these charletans for?! I saw that I not only could do it better, that I would do it better and correct. And that I would KNOW What/How was done......so when it got "closed" up.......I would have the peace of mind knowing that it was done properly. Almost never were their standards anywhere near what I would consider done properly.

Appreciate you guys help!!

coolcorgi

 

[Ilya]

It's just easier to do these things when you have the right equipment.
Of course you can buy your own signal meter, etc. and do it yourself, but why bother?
An experienced installer should be able to re-point the dish in just a few minutes.
Just make sure to verify that the signal quality is above 95 as measured by the STB.
Good luck!

 

[coolcorgi]

Ilya, real quick..

Really appreciate your responding to my previous posts.

Not going to have much time this week to read board.

What's up with Voom? I've been away and unable to keep current on forum. Looked like some pretty heavy "stuff" this time. It's sad and defys all reasoning. Voom is phenomenal!! People complained about the "programing" and THAT was it's strenght!! Only thing I can think is that ORIGINALLY, when dishs came it, it was the "rednecks" and hillbillys that signed up in droves. Many either had no other choice, cause they lived in the sticks; and/or the rest had no credit or had already defaulted on their bills and been disconnected with their current cable supplier!!

This would explain the bitching about Voom's programing. If "wrestling", nascar, wheel of fortune, Jerry Springer is not on 24/7.....they're going to scream. Art channels and incredibly talented foreign directors they will never appreciate!! Neither will scaling mountains, windsurfing, high def helicopter zooms over the south of France. The hight def/high res live concerts would have gone over with the original dish crowd, if it would have been exclusively country.

Voom is/was outstanding. Please pass this on if you'd like with the letters I saw being forwarded to the ceo/pres of voom.

coolcorgi

 

[Ilya]

Well said, coolcorgi! Could you please post this in the following thread. I'd rather not edit your post
Thank You letters to VOOM and Charles Dolan