I have a r-16 receiver. I'M sure having problems...lol

I'M not using a sat finder just a android to help pin point it.

I believe it's not compatible with receiver like I ebay satelliteoasis said.

But they still want me to pay the return..lol

I will attempt to give you a few pointers that may work.  BTW, you’re not the first, nor will you be the last to ask this exact question.  This will probably be confusing but I’ll try to help.

My best suggestion is to actually have an installer come out and install the antenna for you as this will be a permanent installation more or less.  Then when you arrive you should be able to make one connection and you’re good.  While not all that difficult, if you don’t know about the details it can be difficult.  But I’ll give you the basis nonetheless.

If you have already done these then good – just trying to make sure.  None of this is all that difficult if you know how.  If you don’t know how it’s next to impossible for any satellite system.  That’s why the new Winegard SWM-3 roof antennas work so well.  You don’t need to know all this.

Additionally, your receiver is an SD Standard Definition Receiver so you are correct, you only need Sat 101.

First – I must assume you have the dish connected to the receiver properly with the SWM power supply in line as per the instructions.  If you have a power supply in the trailer already it can be used. However, you can’t have two of these power supplies in series; i.e. connected together. It depends on how the trailer is wired and naturally I don’t know have that information.  Additionally I am assuming the tripod antenna (dish and LNB) you purchased is exactly the same type as the one of the roof of the RV. According to the links it appears to be.

Page 5 and 6of this link show an example of the SWM connection to the antenna and this may be helpful in connecting your external antenna even though this is for the roof mount.  The connections are the same except for the antenna control box.

  http://www.winegard.com/kbase/upload/2452282.pdf

Second – The tripod must be perfectly level.  Straight up and down; if it is not none of the alignment procedures and “numbers” will work.

Third, using the zip code of your current location obtain the skew – elevation – and azimuth from the receiver.

On the antenna:

Set the skew to the number obtained from the receiver.  Skew is the twist of the antenna.  That number will probably be in the 60’s or so depending on where you are east to west.  (As your receiver is SD this setting is actually not necessary as you only receive the SD satellite 101. I would suggest you upgrade to an HD receiver as you have the antennas for HD, but that is a choice, not a requirement.)

Set the elevation (tilt up and down) to the number obtained from the receiver making sure to use the indicator line on the dish mount.  The dish will not appear to be at the elevation angle number referenced to the horizontal because of the off-set of the LNBs (the arm with the white thing on the end.)

Set the receiver to display signal strength on Sat 101 on transponder (channel) #2.  Transponder #2 is always in use.

Using a compass point the antenna in the direction as indicated by the azimuth obtained from the receiver.

Have someone watch the signal strength meter on the receiver.  Pan the dish a bit to the left and right looking for a signal.  If you don’t get one tilt the dish up a degree or so from the number obtained from the receiver for elevation and re-pan.  If no signal tilt the dish down a degree or from the number obtained from the receiver.

At this point, assuming (hate to say that) all is connected properly you should be able to “sniff around” the direction and elevation provided by the receiver and you will find the satellite.

With the SWM system, which eliminates the need for multiple cables from the antenna, you can’t use a “cheap” meter to peak the antenna.  Just the way it is due to the electronics involved.  You have to use the receiver itself.  Except for the roof mount automatic antennas, none of these were designed to be do-it-yourself aligned or moved often.  We RVers are doing things beyond what was originally intended.  It works fine, but you have to know how.

There are antennas made that allow the use of an inexpensive meters for alignment but they require multiple cables to the receiver and in an RV that can be difficult if those cables are not already installed.

It is almost impossible to cover every possible item or procedure that could be causing you an issue.  The above are the general high points to accomplish this task.  If this doesn’t help, sorry, did my best to give you the basics.  Installers are around most areas.

Just Don wrote:

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Thanks Bill I think you did real good I understand more what you said than any one.
My receiver is a r-16 not even on the list.

Person who sold it to me isn't being very helpful actually said I could research it and find
a solution.. and was kind of if your smart enough..lol

Thanks every one I guess I'll send it back.

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Don:

Hold on just a second, please.   Your R-16 receiver is not on “what list?” 

If your R-16 is working with the roof antenna, and the roof antenna is a SWM-3, than it should work with the portable dish assuming you can get the cabling correct and point the antenna.

Now, getting more down in the weeds, IF you don’t want HD you can connect a simple to align 18” dish directly to the receiver.  There are a couple of my “It depends,” but if you want to work through this I’ll try a bit. But your R-16 not being on "a list," and it does work with the roof antenna, is confusing to me.

Either way, your choice.

Glad you followed all my list of things to do.  Your understanding all that will help you in the future.  Direct TV is really the best choice, IMO, for RV’s due to only needing one satellite under some conditions.  But just like the other systems you sort of have to understand how this stuff works and then it’s easy.

Just Don wrote:And some where in the process my tv screen says

the satellite will down loading stuff up to a 24 hours and every time I turn it on it's still doing it.

So IM lost. Now IM worried when I leave my travler I haves not going to work.SO any suggestions before I buy the next one would be greatly appreciated.

 

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Don:

Let me make sure of one thing per your comment above about "every time I turn it on it's still doing it."

You do know that the satellite receiver should be left plugged in and "on" all the time you have shore power?  Forgive the question but just making sure.

As to your issue of needing a dish outside.  This is a bit frustrating I know and to me as well because this really isn't all that complicated with a simple standard definition satellite dish is all that is needed.

May I offer this suggestion:

Go here:  http://www.solidsignal.com/

Call these people - tell them exactly what you have and want and see if they can give you a specific dish for your standard definition receiver.

It is just difficult to trouble shoot things via a forum. Also frustrating when I am quite certain this can be solved without a huge amount of money.  We do this all the time. 

Bill

NorCal Dan wrote:

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I was in a similar situation as we had the Slimline on the roof of our MH. I carried an 18" oval portable dish to use when the roof mount could not see the satellites. While not HD it did pick up all the same channels in SD. Trust me, SD is better than nothing, especially when Survivors is coming on. I did attempt to help a friend setup a SWM portable dish and I was unable to align it. Without a Birddog sat finder I would not recommend the SWM for RV'ers.

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Dan:

I agree.

SWM on the roof is a good choice as you can feed multiple tuners (2 are required per DRV) on one cable.

However, when trees, etc. are in the way, IMO, the way to go is indeed with an 18” dish which, with the proper LNB, can feed two tuners using two cables.  It's just much simpler.  (Or you can use one cable and only be able to record one program at a time.  Your choice)  But to do this get cables from the dish to the back of the receiver and you need to change the settings in the receiver (DVR) to tell it to use an 18” dish as opposed to the SWM-3.

None of this is particularly difficult unless you don’t know how.  Then it is impossible and the CSR’s at Direct or Dish have no clue about this as that is not their job and there are so few of us RVers in reality that we sort of have to teach each other as best we can.

Bill