DSTV Dish alignment slighlty off...

xrapidx

xrapidx

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After the weekend's storm in Cape Town, our DSTV dish is slightly off its alignment, signal drops every 5 or so seconds, I called DSTV on Monday, they said call xxx company, they said they would coe yesterday afternoon, I called them again at 15:00 today, and they said they'd come ASAP - still nothing.

How difficult is it to align the dish? Can't I just get on the roof while my girlfriend watches the signal strength meter?

These guys want to charge me R450, and don't show.? :confused:
 
xrapidx said:
After the weekend's storm in Cape Town, our DSTV dish is slightly off its alignment, signal drops every 5 or so seconds, I called DSTV on Monday, they said call xxx company, they said they would coe yesterday afternoon, I called them again at 15:00 today, and they said they'd come ASAP - still nothing.

How difficult is it to align the dish? Can't I just get on the roof while my girlfriend watches the signal strength meter?

These guys want to charge me R450, and don't show.? :confused:
Click to expand...

There's a place at N1 city, just below HiFi Corp that's pretty good at this.
Can't remember their name now.
 
I've done it myself once. Also after a storm. Anything above 80% gave perfect reception for me.

Your suggestion with girlfriend checking signal strength is kinda like what I did except I had a phone in one hand and beer in the other and wife was on the roof with phone in her hand and dish in the other.

Once the signal improves get the person on the roof to move as far as reasonable away from the dish to make sure they are not interfering with the signal - a DSTV installation guy told me this but I'm not sure if it is valid.
 
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Yeah, just do it yourself. Worst thing that can happens is you totally screw up the alignment and need to get the company in to do it anyway.

I've done it before, check the LNB position as well. If the LNB is secure DON'T MOVE IT. If the dish is secure DON'T MOVE IT. One or the other has been screwed up but don't move both!
 
Sorry to hijack here for a sec.

I've been having a DSTV issue as well. Sometimes the picture just goes black and loses sound and doesn't come back. I think the menu still works in this state but in order to fix it I have to power decoder off-on. Any ideas?
 
Be sure to check the integrity of the cabling. My signal degradation was due to old cable and rusty connections rather than dish alignment.
 
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Great - they said no, cause they didnt have a high enough ladder...


I went up - shook the dish a bit...everything was stuck...came down, and satelite signal is now 82%, up from 65%...weird.
 
xrapidx said:
After the weekend's storm in Cape Town, our DSTV dish is slightly off its alignment, signal drops every 5 or so seconds, I called DSTV on Monday, they said call xxx company, they said they would coe yesterday afternoon, I called them again at 15:00 today, and they said they'd come ASAP - still nothing.

How difficult is it to align the dish? Can't I just get on the roof while my girlfriend watches the signal strength meter?

These guys want to charge me R450, and don't show.? :confused:
Click to expand...

R450?! Screw that ... you'd be better off getting a portable dish for about R800 ... they come with a little signal tweeter that you plug into the line ... it indicates when you get closer/further from the desired direction/angle. But, I installed a portable at the office yesterday without that little device ... just looked and the neighbouring buildings dish, and alligned. Done, 5 minutes and 98% quality :D
 
Flanders said:
Sorry to hijack here for a sec.

I've been having a DSTV issue as well. Sometimes the picture just goes black and loses sound and doesn't come back. I think the menu still works in this state but in order to fix it I have to power decoder off-on. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Having the same problem. And the only thing I can think of is the age of the decoder. But still clueless non the less as to what is causing it.

I went up - shook the dish a bit...everything was stuck...came down, and satelite signal is now 82%, up from 65%...weird.
Click to expand...

Just remember when there is strong wind blowing it might go down again.
I used isolation tape to tape the dam thing so it won't move but only lasted about 6 months.(that white little thing on the poll have no idea what u call it.)
 
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alf101 said:
How did u get up?
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Balcony on the second story - then the side wall, then over the roof. I showed them, but the said it was to risky/windy.

Didn't know I'd be here today - just flew back by chance :p
 
xrapidx said:
Balcony on the second story - then the side wall, then over the roof. I showed them, but the said it was to risky/windy.

Didn't know I'd be here today - just flew back by chance :p
Click to expand...

Right, and u wanted to send your expendable gf out there. ;)
 
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