In a message dated 1/23/99 10:29:16 AM Mountain Standard Time, afcths@amfellow.org writes:
 

I'm glad you are finding the Escapees useful, Byron. Do you have any secrets for getting a satellite signal? Sometimes I have a terrible problem finding the satellite

1. Trees in the way are problematic.

2. Not having the three legs of my tripod EXACTLY level is REAL problematic.

And, yes, the books all talk about that. But I'm such an intelligent guy, of course, that I don't need no steeeeenkin books...

So I've finally got the drill down pat now. Goes like this:

1. Turn on the TV and get to the "position dish" menu so that the loud noise can be heard outside where I'm pointing the dish, but no so loud that it bugs the neighbors in the campground.

2. Go outside with compass and three foot long level.

3. <<<>>> Put the tripod/dish on a picnic table or a piece of plywood or something known to be LEVEL. If ya put it on the ground (dirt, grass, whatever), you'll take an hour to get it right, if ya gettit at ALL.

4. set the compass down under the tripod. Set it pointing north. From the azimuth/elevation instructions on the TV's menu set the level in the exact azimuth direction and point the dish correctly in elevation.

Whoop, whoop BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Yup, the screeching tone from inside the Airstream tells me that my three minute chore is done.

I often wonder if people with dishes mounted on their motor homes and trailers have trouble...

Best regards,

Byron Hurder, KY1T
SOLO-NET ListMaster