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Looking to learn how to align the DirecTV satellite dish without a meter? Undoubtedly, this is the place to be. It’s no secret that rain, snow, storms and other extreme weather conditions interfere with satellite TV signals.
You could be hanging out at home on the couch watching NBA games and out of the blue there’s no signal on the channel. When you peep outside, the sky is clear and it seems the weather is perfect for the day. There has to be another cause for the sudden loss of signal on your satellite TV service.
Well, what if we told you that you can improve signal strength without the need for a fancy satellite meter. It’s completely possible and we’ll show you how.
Table of Contents
Why you need to align your satellite dish
Is this necessary, you ask? Yes, it is and there are plenty of reasons to take the time to realign your satellite dish for better signal strength. On a day with bad weather like heavy rains or snow, poor reception is expected.
Extreme weather elements have never been good for satellite TV signals. However, when the weather is decent, yet the channels have disappeared we could assume misalignment of the dish.
In that case, it makes sense to realign your Dish and ensure the TV signals are coming through without any blockage. Common reasons why you may need to do this include;
- Missing channels
- Blurry or unclear channels and programs
- The signal has dropped entirely
This proves that realigning your satellite dish will boost the signal strength and you can enjoy a smooth TV viewing experience on DirecTV.
What is a Dish satellite meter?
Typically, the easiest way to satellite field strength is through the use of a satellite meter. It’s hands down the most convenient way you’ll ever come across. The work of a satellite meter is pretty much precise.
It detects all signals from satellites and this is exactly what’s required for dish alignment. For such a complex device, there is usually very minimal use for it. And that’s perhaps why you won’t find many people with the device tucked away somewhere in their homes.
How to align DirecTV satellite dish without meter
It helps and certainly makes a huge difference to have a satellite meter. This is because it’s convenient and you’ll spend less time realigning your dish. With that being said, the majority of the households out there don’t have a meter.
It’s a tool that mostly technicians carry. So if you are not a technician, you probably won’t have a reason to keep a satellite meter at home. Use the steps narrated below to align your DirecTV satellite dish even when you don’t own a meter.
Access DishPointer
This is the first part of the preparation. You are supposed to access the DishPointer since it’s a program that lets you align the dish according to your location. Visit DishPointer.com and enter your home address. It will display the elevation, azimuth angles as well as the needed figures for your satellite. Write it all down for use later.
Launch ‘View Signal Strength’
From your television, access the signal meter. To do this, just select the MENU button on the remote control and tap on Settings and Help. Next, tap on Satellite>View Signal Strength. While in that section, choose the Signal Meters option to view the signal strength of your DirecTV satellite dish.
With the preparations now done, let’s move on to the important part of the writing. Ensure you’ve positioned the TV in a suitable location where you’ll be able to see it well while adjusting the dish. If this isn’t possible, get someone to help you.
Step 1: Confirm the Zip Code
On the DishPointer, confirm you’ve entered the correct Zip Code or home address. This is fundamental because incorrect information would point the dish in the wrong direction. It’s preferable to use Zip Codes because these tend to be more unique.
Step 2: Loosen nuts for easy movement
With confirmation that the address is correct, proceed to loosen the nuts found on your satellite dish. Use a wrench of the same size to save time on this. Loose nuts and bolts allow free movement. However, don’t loosen them all the way. Do it just enough for the required adjustment to occur.
Step 3: Adjust the satellite dish
This is an important moment. Adjust the satellite dish as you check on the signal strength on your television. Every time you realign it, wait for some seconds so that the receiver can pick it up and stop when the signal has gotten stronger.
Step 4: Adjust elevation bolts
Once you achieve an ideal horizontal position, try to fix the elevation as well. Do this by loosening the support sleeve nuts located at the back of the dish. Don’t unscrew the nuts entirely. Leave just enough room for realignment.
Step 5: Secure all nuts
The final position should be the strongest. When it’s done, tightly secure all the nuts and bolts. This prevents the dish from moving and compromising its position.
Final Thoughts
The process of aligning a DirecTV satellite dish without the use of a meter seems pretty easy to do. But don’t get fooled. It’s not for everyone and you might have a hard time achieving a strong signal. Unless you have some technical know-how, it’s better to call in an expert from DirecTV.
They’ll fix it much faster than you. But if you’d rather have your own experience, use the guide above to align your dish perfectly.
FAQs
How do you manually align a satellite dish?
We’ve curated a guide on how you can go about this and get the strongest signal strength.
What degree is a DirecTV satellite?
It’s located at 110.1 degrees west.
