SEARCHING FOR SATELLITE SIGNAL
If you're experiencing trouble with your satellite signal, the first step is to ensure your antenna has a clear view of the southern sky. Most antennas seek the Western Arc satellites, which are positioned above the equator south of Arizona, California, and farther west over the Pacific Ocean. Trees, other campers, or even mountains can obstruct the signal. If you have a portable antenna, try relocating it to different areas to improve signal reception. After verifying all antenna settings, if issues persist, contact your antenna manufacturer or the Dish Outdoors Technical Support Team for further assistance:
- Dish Outdoors: 800-472-1039
- King Controls: 800-982-9920
- Winegard: 800-788-4417
- KVH: 401-847-3327
- RF Mogul: 801-895-3308
DISH CUSTOMERS CAN NOW REQUEST REAUTHORIZATION ONLINE
For DISH Outdoors customers, if your equipment and programming have not been used for two or more weeks, reauthorization may be necessary. A sign that reauthorization is needed is if you only receive Dish promotional and PPV channels. To re-activate, follow these steps:
- Set up your DISH Outdoors system and ensure you receive a satellite signal.
- Sign in to your My Dish account and select the "Dish Outdoors" option.
- Find and click the "REAUTHORIZE NOW" button.
- Wait 5 minutes for service to return.
ALREADY HAVE A SATELLITE ANTENNA?
If you already own an automatic or mobile antenna and want to know if it's compatible with the Pay-As-You-Go program from DISH, you're in luck. Most DISH-compatible antennas from manufacturers like Winegard, King Controls, and KVH, especially those built in the last 3-4 years, are likely to work with DISH services. For older antennas, particularly those bought second-hand or factory-equipped on RVs, it's best to contact the manufacturer to verify current compatibility with DISH. Sometimes, updates or revised hardware may be needed for reliable operation.
EASTERN ARC CHANNEL SWAP AND THE PATHWAY X2
Recently, Dish has moved core programming channels from Satellite 72 to Satellite 61.5. Most subscribers won't notice this change. However, if you use a Pathway X2 antenna in "2 receiver mode," you might be experiencing channel loss. To fix this, set the X2 to "1 receiver mode." This change allows the antenna to access all satellites and channels, though it limits the second receiver to the satellite chosen by the main receiver. You can reset the second receiver for each satellite if needed.
By following these tips and troubleshooting steps, you can ensure a smoother and more reliable satellite viewing experience.