bad lnb? xponders all out of whack? basic install probs

I am trying to install a basic 18 inch round directv dish, i have the mount fully level (all 4 sides of the upright pole are firm dead on level), the line of sight is clear, i have installed dishes before no prob for family and friends, i got the right elev and angle, i go into my menu for dish setup i set to round 18 inch dish, i see signal meter and transponder choices, some (most xponders) show as 0 yet some are as high as 94), everytime I try to aquire guide data it just stalls out saying searching for signal.

When I go back into the setup menu set as round dish and hit ok (confirming and redoing it) it takes me to the signal strength screen yet always reverts to a xponder that has a 0 signal, i reset the signal to one that is high 80-90 range, exit that menu, try to aquire guide data, it says searching for signal, and times out again, i go back in to setup i see yet again the transponder is on another number than what I had set it as and is reading 0, is this a bad lnb and why when i run a test does it show some as low as 41 and some as high as 94, (yet most are showing as 0).

Am I supposed to aim it off the lowest xponder reading or something?

Only thing that makes me question the lnb is this is a used dish that I got free from a neighbor who discontinued service and had it in the garage for a few years, I have a box here (left my old dish on old homes roof too lazy to pull it down) and figured i would just set up the dish part myself here vs waiting for directv guys, and overall im 99% sure im aiming right, elevation is correct (have even attempted minor alterations to fine tune more), yet when I go back into the signal screens its always showing a xponder that has a 0 signal even after I manually change the singal to a higher leveled one.


Never had a problem like this ever and its such a simple install I am pullin my hair out trying to figure this out unless it is the lnb or the dish itself is warped or something weird like that......

Any suggestions and clarification as to how that whole xponder thing works, seems like xponders 1-20ish all show 0, then from 21 or 22 up to 31ish i get most of those showing me 41,55,61,81,91,92,94 etc etc.

Bill

am I possibly aiming at the wrong bird (not 101 maybe getting 110 or something) since my xponders are all 0 from 1-22ish, if I am aiming at the 101 bird what xponders "should" be chiming in for me, in other words, on the 101 bird, if I know xponder 3 is a valid working one, i can set my xponder to 3, go outside, fiddle with adjustments to get it to find a signal on 3 then that should confirm i am on target on the right bird right?

Bill
"FTLOSM" [email protected] wrote in message news[email protected]_s52...
I am trying to install a basic 18 inch round directv dish, i have the mount fully level (all 4 sides of the upright pole are firm dead on level), the line of sight is clear, i have installed dishes before no prob for family and friends, i got the right elev and angle, i go into my menu for dish setup i set to round 18 inch dish, i see signal meter and transponder choices, some (most xponders) show as 0 yet some are as high as 94), everytime I try to aquire guide data it just stalls out saying searching for signal.

When I go back into the setup menu set as round dish and hit ok (confirming and redoing it) it takes me to the signal strength screen yet always reverts to a xponder that has a 0 signal, i reset the signal to one that is high 80-90 range, exit that menu, try to aquire guide data, it says searching for signal, and times out again, i go back in to setup i see yet again the transponder is on another number than what I had set it as and is reading 0, is this a bad lnb and why when i run a test does it show some as low as 41 and some as high as 94, (yet most are showing as 0).

Am I supposed to aim it off the lowest xponder reading or something?

Only thing that makes me question the lnb is this is a used dish that I got free from a neighbor who discontinued service and had it in the garage for a few years, I have a box here (left my old dish on old homes roof too lazy to pull it down) and figured i would just set up the dish part myself here vs waiting for directv guys, and overall im 99% sure im aiming right, elevation is correct (have even attempted minor alterations to fine tune more), yet when I go back into the signal screens its always showing a xponder that has a 0 signal even after I manually change the singal to a higher leveled one.


Never had a problem like this ever and its such a simple install I am pullin my hair out trying to figure this out unless it is the lnb or the dish itself is warped or something weird like that......

Any suggestions and clarification as to how that whole xponder thing works, seems like xponders 1-20ish all show 0, then from 21 or 22 up to 31ish i get most of those showing me 41,55,61,81,91,92,94 etc etc.

Bill

"FTLOSM" [email protected] wrote in message
news:[email protected]_s04...
am I possibly aiming at the wrong bird (not 101 maybe getting 110 or
something) since my xponders are all 0 from 1-22ish, if I am aiming at the
101 bird what xponders "should" be chiming in for me, in other words, on the
101 bird, if I know xponder 3 is a valid working one, i can set my xponder
to 3, go outside, fiddle with adjustments to get it to find a signal on 3
then that should confirm i am on target on the right bird right?

You are aiming at the 119 slot. It has only 22-32 active. 101 has 1-32. 110
has 8,10,12.

Pat

ah thank you!

Bill
"Greywolf" wrote in message
.com...
"FTLOSM" [email protected] wrote in message
news:[email protected]_s04...
am I possibly aiming at the wrong bird (not 101 maybe getting 110 or
something) since my xponders are all 0 from 1-22ish, if I am aiming at the
101 bird what xponders "should" be chiming in for me, in other words, on
the
101 bird, if I know xponder 3 is a valid working one, i can set my xponder
to 3, go outside, fiddle with adjustments to get it to find a signal on 3
then that should confirm i am on target on the right bird right?

You are aiming at the 119 slot. It has only 22-32 active. 101 has 1-32.
110
has 8,10,12.

Pat