Dish vs. DirectTV local feed?

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

Hello...

I currently have a Dish 500 system and receive my local channels. For
various reasons, I am trying to switch to Direct TV.

I had one of the first Direct TV systems in this neck of the woods many
years ago. Dish was the first to offer local channels, so I switched.

Currently where I live, obtaining the proper signal from 110 and 119 on
Dish was a little diffcult due to the surrounding terrain. But...I was
able to manage it. When I previously had Direct TV, using just the 18"
and single satellite, my reception was great. The azimuth that I need
for Direct TV is a MUCH easier one to use. The elevation makes for a
totally clear line of sight as well.

Anyway, to my question.....

My Dish system requires an azimuth of 235. My old DirectTV was around
212 or so. I am looking up the valley, and have PERFECT line of sight
from 160 to 230. Absolutely NO obstructions of any kind especially at
elevation of 42.5 with Direct's "old" system (no locals). Of
course...the Dish Network is on my "fringe" for line of sight, but...it
does work.

Direct TV specs call for the same azimuth as before. I do realize that
to get local channels I will need the larger Direct TV dish with the
multi-LNB. The tech came here to install and after his survey informed
me that I WOULD NOT be able to receive locals with DirectTV. He said
that he could not get the "119" satellite that my locals were on.
But...I get my locals from the "119" satellite on Dish Network. Since
I can receive locals from Dish at 119, shouldn't I be able to receive
locals from DirectTV's "119"?

I don't know a whole lot about this. I do know, however, when I first
got Dish Network, their tech also told me that I would not be able to
receive the locals, that the satellite was not in a clear enough line
of site. After convincing him to at least try, he discovered that I
COULD receive it. That is how close to the fringe I am. Trying to
"eyeball" it doesn't work here.

Should I be able to receive locals from DirectTV if I can from Dish?

Location is east KY. Zip is 41616.

Thanks for any help...


HCII

Archived from groups: alt.satellite.tv (More info?)

Theoretically, no. However, I have talked with a lot of folks with DirecTV
multi-sat dishes who have trouble "maintaining" the 119 bird signal. It
comes and goes according to atmospheric conditions. The dishes are parabolic
as to allow to receive from more than one geo-stationery bird at the same
time. I've always found the spot beams (where the locals come from) to be
stronger on the 101 bird. A few cities on the east coast get the locals on
the "C" sat at 110. The latency problems with the 110 and 119 seem to happen
west of the Mississippi. HI-DEF is an animal all by itself, and there's
black-outs with it all over.

I was looking for something else when I stumbled onto your post regarding locals on the 119 sat position.

You are north and east of where I install and you seem to be in a one dish market using the third generation triple sat dish because the dish mounted by the installer from DirecTv would fit on the Dish 500 mount as opposed to the Slim Line Au9 DirecTv Ka/KU Dish which requires the 2" mast mount. Your assumption that if Dish Networks dish was receiving the 119 orbital location, so should the DirecTv antenna is right. Way to trust your gut!! I install both of these products not to mention others and when I install Dish Network I use a meter that will positively ID birds that I am pointing at. Here's the thing, when ID the 119 Satellite it comes back as the DIRECTV 119 ORBITAL LOCATION FOUND. Kind of Ironic huh?

Just a side note... your installer(s) probably were worried about a potential obstruction and went to a percieved "safe" spot and still struck out. Just too bad they planted another mast on your building, but look at the bright side, you now have a great mount location for the outdoor off-air antenna you always wanted.