FAQ Regarding RV Satellite TV
After 40 plus years of working with the Satellite Industry, following are some frequently asked questions and issues dealing with RV Satellite TV Systems...
Trouble Shooting Winegard SK7703 Trav'ler Elevation Failure, Skew Failure, Azimuth Failure, No Connection, No LNB Volatge
#1 Make sure your Winegard Satellite System is Stowed before travelling... It takes 4-5 minutes to stow so DO NOT turn off your inverter/generator, or remove shore-power until it's completely stowed... Always take a physical observation to make sure it's stowed... Simply relying on the Winegard control box, and the display light is off, may not mean it's stowed... It's possible someone disconnect the shorepower to soon... So go outside and LOOK... Trust me, I've replaced a few satellite units customers ripped off or damaged going under garage doors and low over passes... To Stow the Winegard dish simply press and release the power button... (I made this number #1 because it can be a costly mistake)... if you travel with the dish up...
#2 When deploying the Winegard Satellite Dish... Hold the Power Button for 2-3 seconds and when the second screen displays, Powering Up, then let go of the button... It will take the system about 5-7 minutes to locate and lock on to the satellites... That is, if your RV roof is level and there are no trees or mountains obstructing the line of site to the Satellites... When the Dsiplay shows (111.1 -103.3) ShawDirect, on the screen, it's locked on and ready for the receiver to obtain Satellite Signal... If the RV roof line or the turret base is more then 2-3 deg off level, the auto search will take much longer... The GPS built into the system has recorded your location and the Auto Search will go directly to the Target Area, however, it's relying on a level base... If it is off level, it will take the system up 15-30 minutes or more to locate the Satellite, because it will need to check for signal at 2 deg increments to find the signal... (So start off with a level roofline)... Thats why it's (Important) the roof line and turret are required to be on the level... got it... Good? However if the signal is blocked due to trees, mountains, or buildings, it may also search for 30 minutes and eventually automatically stow when it can't find signal... Move to a location where you have line of sight... Which brings us to #3...
#2A When Out of Range of Sat G1...
How to Program Controller to Search for F2 Satellite “111.1”
“Hit Power Button” and hold for 2 seconds, as soon as
the screen lights up, “Quickly” hit the “Enter Button” and hold
for 2 seconds and the screen displays “Enter User Menu”, then scroll to
the left “Yes” by “Hitting” the “Select Button”, when the asterisk *, is
in front of Yes, “Hit Enter Button”, and the asterisk* will be in front
of the “Search Mode”, hit “Enter Button”, and the screen will display
“Multy-Sat Mode”, now hit the “Select
Button” until the screen displays, “111” has the asterisk in front*, then hit
the “Enter Button”, then scroll to the left “Yes” with the “Select
Button” and when the * asterisk is in front of Yes, hit the “Enter
Button”… And then the screen should display “Manual 111 Selected” then
hit “Enter Twice” and continue searching… Now it will search for only Anik F2 111.1 ...
Remember at some point you will want to re-program the Controller to search for both Satellites, by entering "Multy Satellite" using the above procedure...
#3 Satellite Finder App is a Must for Auto Satellite Users... The Winegard Satellite App on the apple store is free, however there are a many other Apps you could try if you so desire... The Winegard App is simple to use... Remember to hold your phone on it's side when viewing the Satellite locations... Also stand in front, or behind, or over your Satellite Dish so the line of sight you're looking at is what your Satellite Dish will see... Yes, even tree branches will diminish the signal and most often not allow enough signal to penetrate to watch TV... When pulling into an RV Park ask the attendants if they have Satellite friendly lots... Many are RV camping locations are used to Satellite users enquiring, if the site can obtain Satellite Signal... ShawDirect Satellites are higher on the Horizon in western Canada then the Bell System and will clear the trees more often...
#4 The Satellites are in Geosynchronous orbit... About 22 thousand miles high, above the equator and in the earth orbit that allows the satellites to match the earth's rotation... This means they are always in the same location... As you travel across Canada, west to east, you're looking at the satellites from a different angle and that goes for the elevation, will change, when you go north or south... When you're in the Yukon it will seem the Dish is point toward the ground... Remember the signal from the Satellite hitting the dish at an angle as it reflects into the lnbf collector...
#5 It's often said My Neighbor has Satellite... So it's thought, it should work at my camping lot... However, the direction and line of sight to the satellite can be like playing a game of horseshoes... It can be a matter of inches and feet... It all depends on trees and mountains in the way and line of sight... If you're in the prairies and all you have is prairy grass or down south, maybe a 6' cactus, and if your neighbor has signal, you likely could as well... In BC however, we have those massive giant 200 year old 350' Fir Trees to contend with... You may have a tree in the line of sight your neighbor doesn't...
#6 When deploying the Satellite Dish... I like to set the ShawDirect Receiver into status tech mode and you can see the signal levels as the system tunes in and peaks... To get into the status mode... On the ShawDirect Remote hit Options, scroll to the far right status icon and then hit enter twice... This will get you into the tech status mode and you can view all the signal levels... Hit exit to clear screen
#7 How To Program ShawDirect Remote to Control TV Volume... Go to the (click here) ShawDirect Remote Information site and set up procedure...
#8 You Can't get the ShawDirect Receiver Screen on your TV... The comment is, I have no TV... This could easily have been #1 on the list... because it's most often a simple issue, your tv for any reason has selected another input... Make Sure you have chosen the correct HDMI-1, 2 or 3 input on your TV, and the HDMI cable is connected at both ends... The grand-kids may have been over and used the X- box and changed the input... Most often the problem is someone switched form Sattelite to DVD player and changed the source or input mode... Use the "Source" or "Input" button on your TV remote control to change the HDMI input... :) Example, click here: TV Remote Input setup...
#9 Your ShawDirect Remote Won't Operate the Shaw Receiver... It could be a number of issues... You have more then one remote for various receivers in your system and it's been programmed with a different code and the remotes got mixed up... The batteries might need to be replaced... Remember, there is an IR-Remote for the HD-DSR800 Receivers and a UR-Remote for the HD-PVR830 Receivers... The remotes will work with each receiver, however the UR remote is designed to control the PVR830 and can communicate through walls etc... The IR needs to be line of sight to the Receiver...
#10 You're at a Campsite and Your Channels are Changing by it self... First things first, if you have two remotes in the same RV, living room, bedroom, or outside, maybe it's your own remotes causing it... Secondly it could be a neighbor who has ShawDirect Satellite at a campsite near you and their remote is effecing your receiver... Thirdly, it could be ghosts, but likely not... Sollution is to change your Remote & Receiver Address... Go to the the full ShawDirect Remote Information site and about half way down the page will be the explination as to how to change the Reciever and remote address from 000, 001 to 007 codes, so they won't interfere with each other...
#11 Contact Number for ShawDirect Satellite... (1-888-554 7827) May I suggest you put into your speed dial contact list... It's also the number you can call when you need a Satellite refresh... ShawDirect Website Packages...
#12 For ShawDirect 1 Year Warranty... Contact ShawDirect (1-888-554-7827)
#13 For Winegard 2 Year Product Warranty... Contact Winegard (1-800-788-4417) Open Monday-Friday Central time, may be open on Saturday...
#14 Have Signal but no TV- Needs a ShawDirect System Refresh is required... If your Satellite Dish has been stowed for more then 4 weeks or so, or the power has been turned completely off, even if the dish is up, the receiver will require a refresh to begin veiwing tv, because it's lost all of its current daily programming... Deploy the Satellite Dish, confirm you have a good signal by viewing in the status mode, and then Call ShawDirect... It can't refresh unless you have confirmed signal... If you Use the phone that is on file as your primary number on your ShawDirect Account, it will speed up this part of the refresh info required... Shawdirect will identify your account, by the caller-id, and then simply follow the prompts on the voice message... (1-888-554-7827) It is good to be on the tech status screen on your Receiver/TV Screen as you're doing this and you can see the status change... Again, you can only get the refresh, to work, once you have signal on the Receiver Signal Line (80) or higher... Via: our phone line using self-serve options:
- Call 1-888-554-7827.
- Press 1 for English.
- Press 1 for Shaw Direct Satellite Services.
- Press 1 to select "Product and technical support/Activate a receiver."
- This will send an automated refresh to your receiver.
- Still not working, click here for More Help